Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-26
ADMIRAL LUCE's QUICK WORK.
Hayti Did Not Hesitate About Giving
Up the Ship.


A special from Kingston, Jamaica, December
"a, to the New York Herald. tells this interest
ing story of the surrender of the steamer Haytien
Hayti's black ruler, General Legitime, passed
from triumph to humiliation in quick success
sion last week. On Sunday he was elected
president. on Tuesday he was inaugurated, and
on Thursday he was forced to surrender the
steamer Haytien Republic under peril of bonn
bardment by the Galena and Yantic. have
just arrived here from Port au Prince in the
Arran, which left there last Friday The Sun
day previous was the day fixed for the joint
session of the senate and assembly to elect
president. When the joint convention met it
was. of course, foregone conclusion that Gen.
eral Legitime would be elected president, and
the deputies fastened to do what was expected
OF them. FOrty-four votes were recorded for
Legltime; all other candidates. 0. Then the
populace gave itself up to hilarity and tafia.
Tuesday was inauguration day and a gen.
eral holiday was decreed. The ceremonies
consisted of the usual Inauguration oath-taking
in public, pompous high mass at the cathe-
drai and grand parade of the tatterdermal-
lion troops and banquet at the palace in the
afternoon. The whole population. the troops
and the officials. were on prolonged jamboree
| all that day and the next
Possibly that fact may account for the failure
save the Haytien government the humiliation
of being forced to surrender the steamer
Haytien Republic to the United States war
ships Tuesday evening Mr.. Peters. the agent
for the Atlas line of steamers notified Presi-
dent Legitime that. in accordance with a
| contract his company had made with Minister
Preston in New York. he had brought a crew for
the Haytien Republic, and was ready to take
her north at once. President Legitme promised
to lay the matter before the cabinet and a
anl.f h.l1
18th.
Whether the president and his advisers were
really incapable of grasping Minister Prestons
plan or were merely temporarily belligerent
from enthusiasm and tafia, it is not possible to
state. The result was. however, that the min
lister of foreign affairs notified Mr. Peters that
the government could not understand Minister
Prestons scheme. and therefore would not send
the vessel to New York.
Early Thursday morning the Yantic and Ga
lena, the latter flying the flag of Rear Admiral
Luce, arrived in the outer harbOr. Admiral
Luce quickly shifted his flag to the Yantic and
the latter steamed into the inner harbor An
choriDg a short cable length from the Haytien
Republic the Iantic ran hawser from her
stern to the alleged prize, and simultaneously
sent her gig, containing Commander Heyer
man and Flag Lieutenant Meigs, ashore to
communicate with Minister Thompson. These
officers then accompanied the minister to the
presidents palace and demanded the delivery
of the Haytien Republic to the United
States naval commander in the out
er harbor. If the steamer were not
delivered before sunset the United States ships
would take her by force, and if resistance were
offered they would shell the city. In order
that there should be no delay the Galena sent
boats to the vessels in the harbor to get out of
range; and the foreign consus were notified
of the possibility of an early beginning of
hOstilities. The admirals demand also called
for salute CT twenty-one guns to the United
States flag and the payment of an indemnity to
the owners of the Haytien Republic.
Legitime and his advisers suddenly realized
that they had an elephant on their hands. 1t
was evident that they no longer regarded the
seizure of vessel flying the United States flag
as such smart piece of business after ALL In
hot haste they hurried a small steamer along
side the Haytien Republic. from whose mast
head and peak still fioated the national colors,
which plucky Capt. Compton had insisted on
keeping there. The captain was on hand to
receive the ship back and at 5 o'clock she was
tOwed to the outer harbor and brought to
anchor near the Galena. Then the Haytien
gunboat Dessalines ran the stars and stripes I'D
to her foremost head and fired salute of
twenty-one guns. The Galena returned the
salute. The vessel was released under protest,
although the Haytians had agreed to abide by
the decision of our government.
A crew for the Haytien Republic will be Sc
lected from the crews of the Galena and
Yantic, and the steamer will at once be started
for New York. since it is desirable to get her
out of the yellow fever locality quickly as
possible.
1t is reported that the indemnity demanded
for the Haytien Republics owners and the
United States government was $3.50. 900.
Admiral Luce will shortly come to Kingston
to get coal. one vessel remaining while the
other fills her bunkers. and then they will ex-
change places. there is no telling what may
happen in Port au Prince. Every one there
surprised at the prompt steps taken byAd-
miral Luce, who acted with great courtesy but
unbending firmness When l left on Friday
for this port, most of the Haytians were drunk
or rapidly becoming SO. and it would take little
to create a riot or even a revolution.