Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-02-06
MASSACRE IN HAITI.
Three Hundred of Legitime's Soldier
Caught In Trap and Inhumanl,
Butchered Like Rats.

81. Mate. IlaNlt, QdltA january 20. says
The army Of the North, as the forces
of General Hippolyte are known, has just
gained a great victory. II is the most
Important battle which has been fought
| In the civil war in Hayti
Battle, by the way, is rather mis-
leading word at the present instance, for
when three hundred men are caught like
rats in a trap with their retreat inter
cepted and they are then surrounded
and shot down at leisure, with barbarous
cruelty. no quarter being shown, no pris
oners taken and every living soul put to
death, "butchery" seems to be the proper
Characterization Of the horror.
That was the scene witnessed yester-
day at the little seaport town of Grand
seine, about twenty five miles from here,
when detachment of Legitime, S army
was completely annihiated by the forces
of General Hippolyte under the command
of General Borno MontPoint, Hippolyte's
chief leader 1t was a great triumph for
the Southern insurgents AMI has done
much to strengthen Hippolyte's position
and increase his chances for ultimate sue
cess. But it was sanguinary and terri
BILE war scare, and one which would not
have been possible In modern times in
any civilized country except perhaps
upon the dark and bloody ground Of this
terrible island.
1t was about go in the morning Of the
24th-four days ago-when the distant
booming of heavy guns was heard to the
northward We In st. Marc at once sur.
missed what had happened and, amid the
greatest excitement and alarm, the news
spread that at least one OF Legitime's
gunboats had attacked Grandseleine. a
town twenty five miles further up the
coast and position Of strategic import
ance because Of the ease with which an
enemy could land there and penetrate
the interior Of the island We all knew
that the ominous reports could be only
those Of the big steel guns on the steel
clad rams Of the Army of the South,
General Montp0int, General Hippolyte's
Secretary OF War and of the Navy, was
in command at st. Marc, which is one Of
the strongest centres Of the Northern
4 Army He had only 800 troops at hand
but there was a general call to arms, and
every man in the town capable Of bear
ing arms was required TO respond at
once. All work was suspended The
stores were all closed except those where
food Is sold and they were left 60 the
care of women and old men. for all
Il their clerks, porters and statesmen were
+ drafted as soldiers.
II In scarcely more than an hour the army
q was in motion, under command of Gen.
o eral Montpoint. With the civilian vol
T. unteers it numbered about 500 The
o troops set out at once for Grandseleine
L expecting TO join forces with about 20(
n troops which were known 10 be at Con
|, aives, and some 200 more scattered at in
h terror points, the commanders of whom
Il IL was believed, would upon hearing tn,
t bombardment, proceed TO the point at
e. tackled.
lie The troops of the north arrived on the
outskirts of Grandseleine on tie follow
" ing morning, the 25th. They advances
II cautiously and camped under the shelte
n of a tropical forest. The soldiers fror
D. ST. Marc had met those from Gonaive
g. and the interior. Meantime the bon
bardment had continued from the CUR
V. boats in the harbor and the whole tow
ad had been completely destroyed and lai
ar In ruins.
as It was found that almost the entil
les naval force Of the Legitime governmel
on had concentrated there, consisting Of q
ms ironclad Toussaint fOuverture. the ste
&C. ram Dessalines, the splendldly arm
Ter ram; the gunboat Belize and two smi
H. merchant steamers belonging TO a RE
uN IUll du lAnNt AANAAhNAN nomtA AANANNA
fas These two steamers had been used
,ay transports for troops, and had broug
Rd- about three hundred soldiers, all of who
had been sent ashore to hold possessi
Of the town after the shells of the gu
boats had reduced it TO ruins. Many
the inhabitants of the town had be
ore killed and wounded in the attack,
most of the people had fed to the woo
NJ when the bombardment began.
the After having put the troops ashore t
Of naval vessels steamed away from Gran
md seleines on the 25th, thus leaving t
iv. landing party without means Of retire,
i'm and entirely dependent upon their oN
AZ. resources to hold the town.
he This bad generalship gave the a
pushed army of the North just the 9
In. portunity they wanted. With force OF
IRE numbering the Legitimist troops two
hi. one they quietly surrounded the tow
as still remaining concealed until the inva
leh ers should feel comparatively secure
ied the apparent absence Of any foe
md When General Monpoint had leisur,
lec. made all his arrangements the alta
cry upon the Invaders was begun. The S
~ diers Of the North poured into the Graz
and seleines from all sides The little Leg
ed imist army was taken completely by 81
,ate prise The contest was brief but err
the and bloody. No quarter was shown,
ni6. prisoners were taken, and the forces
its Hippolyte had the enemy absolutely
oric their mercy.
in After very brief but brave stand q
after many of them had been killed q
p in wounded, the survivors of the Leg
he mists scattered and fled for the sea,
AZ the wild and despairing hope that Il
anse might somehow escape in small boa
II But they were pursued and shot do
like rats in the most inhuman and bio
thirsty manner. No one was spared.
Then the victorious army Of the No
started TO return TO St. Marc, leav
'est. nothing to mark the site Of the Ii
eyes town but smouldering ruins and heap
M dead and dying.
Vui Meantime the men-of- war after sail
q or away from Grandseleines and leaving
~ soldiers to be butchered, had procee
ar along the coast to GOnaives. 7
legs shelled the town, but did not do '
a a much damage, as they did not rem
AMI ' long, their intention being to attack
i"n Marc.
There was An engagement on the
at town in the interior called His
About 800 men were engaged on
the sides After a severe battle, las
IN TO all day, the Northern army c
long OF victorious, driving the en-
glass from the field, capturing a large q
oper tity Of arms and ammunition
* 70 eighteen prisoners. After the barba
the manner Of this country fifteen Of t
fulSt prigonars xyera shot Immediately and