Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-12-25
VICTORY is OURS.
The Haytian Republic Surren
dered by HaytI.
TwENTY-ONE SHOTS FIRED IN TOKEN
OF HER OBEIsANCE.

ference in Hayti--The OGiciaI Notice
Received in Washington.
KINGsTowN, Jamaica, Dec. 26-Hayti's
black ruler, Gen. Legitime, passed from
triumph to humiliation in quick succession
last week. On Sunday he was elected presi-
dent, on Tuesday he was inaugurated, and
on Thursday he was forced to surrender the
steamer Haytian Republic under peril of
bombardment by the Galena and Yantic.
have just arrived here from Port-au-
Prince in the Arran, which left there last
Friday, The Sunday previous the day fixed
for the joint session Of the senate and assem-
bly, to elect president. When the joint
convention met it was, of course, a foregone
conclusion, that Gen. Legitime would be
elected president, and the deputies hastened
to do what was expected of them. Forty
four votes were recorded for Legitime; all
other candidates nothing Then the popu-
lace gave itself up to hilarity and tafa
Tuesday was Inauguration day and gen.
eral holiday was decreed The ceremonies
consisted of the usual Inauguration oath-tak-
ing in public, pompous high mass at the
cathedral, a grand parade Sf the taterdema-
lion troops and banquet at the palace in the
afternoon The whole population, the troops
and the officials, were on prolonged jam
boree all that day and the next
Possibly that fact may account for the fail
ure of Minister Preston's well planned
scheme to save the Haytian government the
humiliation of being forced to surrender the
steamer Haytian Republic to the United
States warships. Thursday evening Mr..
Peters, the agent for the Atlas line of steam
ers, notified President Legitime that in ac-
cordance with contract his company had
made with Minister Preston in New York,
he had brought crew for the Haytian Re
public and was ready to take her north at
once. President Legitime promised to lay
the matter before the cab ct, and cabinet
meeting was held next mo- ling, the 10th.
Whether the president and his advisers
were really incapable of grasping Minister
Preston's plan, or were temporarily merely
beliigerent from enthusiasm and tafa, it is
not possible to state. The result was, how
ever, that the minister of foreign affairs
notified Mr. Peters that the government
could not understand Minister Preston's
scheme, and therefore would not send the
vessel to New York.
Early Thursday morning the Yantic and
Galena, the latter flying the flag of Rear Ad-
miral Luce, arrived in the outer harbor. Ad-
miral Luce quickly shifted his flag to the
Yantic, and the latter steamed into the inner
harbor. Anchoring short cable length
from the Haytian Republic, the Yantie ran
hawser from her stern to the alleged prize
and simultaneously sent her gig, containing
Commander Heyerman and Flag Lieut.
Meigs ashore to communicate with Minister
Thompson.
These officers then accompanied the minis
ter to the presidents palace, and demanded
the delivery of the Haytian Republic to the
United States naval commander in the outer
harbor. If the steamer were not delivered
before sunset the United States ships would
take her by force, and if resistance were Of
fered they would shell the city. In order that
there should be no delay the Galena sent
boats to the vessels in the harbor with word
to get out of range, and the foreign consuls
were notified of the possibility of an early be-
ginning of hostilities. The admiral's demand
also called for a salute of twenty-one guns to
the United States flag, and the payment of
an indemnity to the owners of the Haytian
Republic.
IGS lullllC uIll LIS tltlN lSSIS oNlluculy Icul-
lied that they had an elephant on their hands.
1t was evident that they no longer regarded
the seizure Of a vessel flying the United States
flag as such smart piece of business after
all In hot haste they hurried small
steamer alongside of the Haytian Republic,
from whose masthead and peak still tioated
the National colors which plucky Capt
Compton had insisted on keeping shore
The captain was on hand to receive his
ship back, and at 5 o'clock she was towed to
the harbor, and brought to anchor near the
Galena. Then the Haytian gunboat Des-
salines run the stars and stripes up to her
foremost head and fired salute of twenty
one guns. The Galena returned the salute
The vessel was released under protest,
although the Haytains agreed to abide by the
decision of our government
A crew for the Haytian Republic will be
selected 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 as
quickly as possible. 1t is reported that the
indemnity demanded for the Haytian Repub-
lies owners and the United States govern
ment was S350,000.