New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-09
REPORTS FULL OF CONTRADICTIONS.

PUTTING AN ARMoR BELT on THE MADRID
WATCHED BY THE HAYTIAN MINISTER.
Minister Preston found much to comment upon
in the cOresp spondence from IIayu published yes
terday, and especially criticised the contradictory
statements regarding the intentions and the move
menis of the Legitime and Hyppolite forces He
received official information contradictory to the
statement that the insurgents were within twenty
FIVE miles OF Port Prince Relative TO the reported
battle OF Hnche, on December ol which the cor
respondents have stated resulted In a victory for
Hyppolie.7 Minister Preston commented u have
the official fact that HnChc is really In the possession
of the regular forces of President Legitine can
also deny the statement that 1t is only fen miles
from the frontier, for the fact Is that 1t IS about
syty-fvc miles from Cape Hayten and about seventy
FIVE miles from Port au- Prince, nearly midway be-
tween the two. The regulars have also besieged ST.
Marc and have got possession Of Mfrabelas, Ncrrees
Mt Rous and VALERIE The latter was The last
place taken by Legme up to latest reports and this
Is within forty miles of Cape Iayten, or Hyppoles
stronghold"
Sixty men were at work yesterday on the iron
steamer Madrid, which is reported to have been pur
chased BY Hyppolite's representative. She lies at
the Erie Basin, and no one besides the "otKncn ana
samuel Holmes, the representative OF the owner Is
allowed on board. Minister Preston has his detectives
on the alert watching everything that IS done upon
her with the intention of preventing her becoming
the pIoneer or any other vessel of Hyppoltes Navy
Mr. Holmes also has his detectives there 10 prevent
the curious from going board Hahdrew
Robins "a Westinghouse engine ana boiiol DWldihS
firm are doing the work upon her under MI Holiness
direction. and he busies himself between The vessel
and the Washngtonst. works. The "ofRmen are
at present putting an armOr belt around hcr waist
above the water line, and also putting packing OF
wood ten twelve inches thick from Inc wafer ilhe
to the top of the rail- and will put heavy stce! plate
on the outside Of that
Repairs arc being made TO the engines ana nc"
boilers will probably be put IN although thc contract
has not been given yet RumOr said yesterday that
Mr. Holmes had bought the vessel on his own ac-
count with a guarantee that II he should NJ ont tho
vessel and deliver her OFF Cape llayten ms would r-
ceive 100000 II he should be successiui ne would
make 300, 900 clear. 1t will be six weeks at least
before she Is ready.
bit of news reached this city yesterday Which,
II true either disposcs OF tho charges OF rapacy
made against President Solomon, who was accused OF
carving of Haytl's treasury when he aDulcaed ana
went 10 France, else IL shows that thc treasury "as
at a sadly low ebb His entire estate, personal ana
real is found TO be only Sl6O,OUO, ana us ~luo"
claim for her dover rights (hc had no childreW Is
disputed nv his sister the wife Of Emile Pierre cx-
Senator OF IIayh The grounds OF the slt arc 'hatl
although Madame salomons marriage was soiemhlzed
by tho Catholic Church. a civil nafllaeo, aS 'qhird
by the French laws, did not take piac'' honcc th'
r9a,rIsge ,I was NOT Iegal one Madame Pierre Is
now on her way from Paris 10 Poria'I-frlnc