The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-27
HAYTIAN HOSTILITIES.
Progress of the Revolution in
the Black Republic.
Grand Saline Totally Destroyed and
the Dessalines Sunk.

A town burned to ashes A man -of-war
sunk with all on board A general deserts
from Legitime with $4,000 and 1000 men.
These are the striking items of news
brought by the steamer William Coleman
that has just arrived. at New York from
Gonaiyes, Hayti. This puts an entirely new
face on Haytian affairs and offsets to Ger
tain extent the bombastic cables sent by
Legitime to this country.
The William Coleman has touched at Vera
Cruz and some Haytian ports. She steamed
into the port of Gonaives, which is situated
thirty-two miles north Of st. Marc Captain
Scott found the town completely fortified:
heavy stockade having been erected around
the outskirts and two forts composed OF
sand banks and piles erected at the mouth of
the harbor.
Captain Scott went ashore and there
learned that the day previous, about +. M NJ,
steamed up to Gonaives Bay with the inten-
tion of bombarding the town. She recon
noitred for q position q little, seemingly
afraid of the forts, and she had reason
to be, for they. suddenly opened
fire on her from both Sides This treatment
seemed somewhat discourteous to the COM
mauder Of the Dessalines, who returned the
fire, sometimes aiming at the forts and some.
times at the town. No damage was done to
the former, and but one shot landed in the
latter, and that tore the roof off dwelling
house near the German Consulate.
The firing of the forts was rapid and we'll
aimed, owing to the efforts of q Spanish
gunner who had recently entered Hippolyte's
service and another new recruit, General
O,Hara. q soldier of fortune who made his
way from Turks Island to serve under Hip
polyte.
After the exchange of some thirty or forty
shots the Dessalines pulled out of range, but
not before gaping hole was seen in her side
only a foot above the water line. 1t was
also noticed that she listed heavily and
seemed to labor in the light sea that was
running as though seriously disabled: J.,
Her departure was followed by chorus OF
demoniac yells from the Northern artillery
men, who deserted their guns and ran out on
the beach and ramparts to express in de-
risive gestures their contempt for so cow
ardly an enemy.
That night was great one in GonaiVes.
Ali the town turned out to feast and toast the
soldiers, and two or three Of them were made
Generals on the spot
Before the festivities were completed q
runner arrived from the lower coast an, n,
nouncing that the Dessalines had sunk off
st, Mares with all on board. This added to
the enthusiasm and the "tafla" flowed like
water.
Acting under instructions from the Secre-
tary of War; 200 men left Gonaives to march
against Grand Saline, which was then gar
risoned by Legitime's forces. About FIVE hum
dred men left st. Mares at the same time for
the same purpose, but for some reason failed
to connect. The Gonaives forces, how
ever, made O spirited attack on Grand Sa-
line, but were repulsed. The next day fight
ing was resumed and during the night Le-
gitime's troops evacuated the town. having
previously set it on fire. The place was en-
tirely consumed and Grand Saline Is blotted
of the face Of the earth.
The Southern troops fled across the sandy
plain to the mountains that form the
boundary line between Hayti and San Do
mingo, and unless the inhabitants Of the
latter have murdered tho refugees they are
still in hiding.
General Jean Jumeaux. late OF Legitime's
army, came to Gonaives from Cape Haytian
to assume command of the troops. JumeauX
was formerly trusted lieutenant OF Legl-
times. who gave him charge of 1000 men and
$4,000 to 20 and subdue Gonaives.
It was some weeks ago that he arrived
within five miles of the town and felt kind
Of sneaking sympathy for Hippolyte, coming
over him so strongly, in fact, that he dis
banded his army and struck out for the hills
with the $4,000.