The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-12-26
CAPE HAYTI BOMBARDED.
People Flee to the Mountains Leaving the
Sick to Their Fate.


Sick to Their Fate.
New YORK, December l8-Capt. Kelly,
of the steamer Saginaw, which arrived
from Hayti to-day, will not make any re-
port of Haytian affairs, but it is learned
from other sources that the steamer Hay
tian Republic was still in the harbor of
Port au Prince when the Saginaw sailed.
Passengers by the Saginaw bring impor-
tant news from Hayti. On the morning
of December 5th the passengers state that
four of Legitime's men-of-war, the Dessa-
lines, Belize, Toussaint and LOverture
and one other bombarded Cape Hayti
The gun boats dropped anchor four or
five miles off the shore, lying broadside
to the town.
THE GUNS WERE FIRED
with blank cartridges to give notice OF
the warlike intentions and the foreign
consuls in the city sent out petition to
the commander Of the feet asking time to
get out Of the city. They we're given
thirty-six hours to evacuate the town.
The people fed into the hills taking all
their possessions they could conveniently
carry. The supply Of pack mules being
limited to fifty or sixty animals, they were
in great demand and fabulous prices were
paid to convey a single mule load of the
more valuable effects of the wealthy to
place Of safety. Those of the poorer
classes who were fortunate enough to
own mule preferred renting it out to
using the animal tosaye their own goods.
Shortly after day break on the second
day after the arrival Of the feet the Hay
tian officers
TURNED THEIR GUNS
on the town and the bombardment com
menced. Operations were begun at this
early hour because favoring tide ena-
bled the four vessels to lay broadslde to
the town. The Toussiant fired the first
shot, which went whistling through the
air and buried itself in the sand on the
beach just in front of the frail thatched
bamboo houses Of the poorer natives. The
other vessels followed suit and fred wide
". In few minutes, however, the shots
began to tear through the town, demol-
ishing the frail structures. The bamboo
huts succombed easily, but the stone
buildings in.the central and more elevat-
ed portion Of the town we're not SO easily
DESTROYED, the heavy walls resisting for
several hours Despite the warning they
had received to
LEAVE THE FATED TOWN,
many of the residents clung to their habl-
tations In fact it was impossible to re-
move many Of the sick in the city within
the time allotted by Legitime. On top
of all the houses in which sick person
was known to be white flag was placed
but shot and shell we're no respectors OF
the appealing emblems None OF the
people who arrived to-day could estimate
with any degree Of accuracy the number
killed but it is thought fifteen or twenty
at least have succumbed to the deadly
fire. Legitime is by degrees losing the
confidence of the people.
The agents of the steamship Haytlan
Republic are much surprised at the re-
port that their vessel will sail for Haytl
to-day in charge of an American crew
which sailed from here last week on the
Atlas line ship Alene, to be delivered at
an American port subject to the disposal
Of this government. Mr.. Austin one OF
the agents says Il don't see what either
Hayti or the Atlas people gain by this.
doubt very much whether they can bring
the Haytian Republic up here. She has
no stores, no fuel or anything else on
board, and she must be in bad condition
They say she will leaYe this morning
The Galena will be there to-day, and will
probably reach them before she can sail.
sunnose the Galena viii take possession
Of her at once. Mr.. Morse, one OF the
owners. is on the Galena, and be will take
charge Of his vessel"
MissouIa Fire.