Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-03
YIELDED TO UNCLE SAM
American ,Men-0f- Badly Scared
President Legitime,
And the Captured Bay tien Republic
was Quickly Surrendered.
BAD a French Man-Of-War Been Their,
it Might have Been Different.
Minute Details of How the Whole
Thing was Accomplished.
HOW 1T WAS DONE

HOW 1T WAS DONE
The Surrender of the IIaytien Republic Ac-
eomplished Without BlOodshed.
On BOARD THE UNITED STATES STEAMER
GALENA; OFF PoRT-AU PRINCE, Dec. 21.-
The UnIted States steamers Galena and
Yantic which left New York Dec. II,
steamed into the harbor of Port-au-
Prince, Dec. 20 at O'Clock a. M, with
shotted guns, torpedo booms, the ships
cleared for action and the crews standing
at quarters 10 demand of the alleged
Haytian government the release of the
steamer Haytien Republic. On the ar
rival in the outer harbOr, Rear Admiral
Luce transferred his flag to the
Yantic, which has q draught of
but fourteen feet. The Yantio was then
run slowly into the inner harbor to with
in 100 feet of the docks where the Hay
ten Republic vas at anchor. Anchor
was dropped and a stern line was at
once attached to the Haytien Republic,
the guns of the Yantic being trained
upon the city. The Galena remained in
the outer harbor, with guns trained on
the Haytian man-o of war Dessaiines, and
prepared to fire at the first hostile dem
onstration. The Dessalines cr5w also
stood at their guns IN il the result of
the interview of Lieutenant Griffin with
Legitime was made known. Lieutenant
Griffin won't ashore shortly after 8
o'clock, with communications from the
state department and Admiral Luce's
demand for the release within fouTs hours
of the detained steamer Haytien Rspuo-
lie. Legitime finding that no delay
would be tolerated, under formal pro
test and al appeal for future arbitration,
commanded one Of his gunboats to tow
the Hay ten Republic to the position in
the outer harbor occupied by her when
captured and TO have such slight damage
as had been done to her repaired by his
mechanics. Night fell before her cable
could be served, as her anchor chains
had been badly fouled. The formal re-
turn was not made until the neY6 day.
The moral effect of this prompt action
OF Admiral Luce has been most saiuta-
ry on the Haytian people. The Influence
Of the French government, through her
minister at Port au- Prince, is very strong
with the Legitime government, and it Is
thought thai the Haytien Republic would
not have been released had French
man-of war been in the harbor. It is
also claimed that the French govern
ment's influence has been backing Legi-
time since his return from exile. The
German government is generally under
stood to be back of the Hyppolite fac
ton in the north. The release was most
opportune, from the acknowledged fact
that Legitime had contracted to sell the
Haytien Republic to the Atlas line; in
fact, was about to turn her over to
IL %AeA
from Jamaica.
December IS, the Haytian national
constitutional" assembly, which had
been in session for the previous four
days, after much dispute, endorsed the
existing constitution and then imEedi-
ateIy proceeded TO vote q confirmation
of the action of the central revolutionary
committee in electjng Legitime presi-
dent. The vote was a unanimous one,
at forty of the forty four deputies pres
ent were from the southern departments
supporting Legitime and the remaining
four were passengers on the Haytien
Republic when captured, and were de-
tanned at the presidential palace, dined
and wined and convinced of the avail
ability OF Legitime to govern for the
northern departments they represented.
All foreign powers were immediately
informed of his election, and p ction of
the navy was ordered to this post TO
participate in the demonstration in hon
or of that event and IT, take part In this
inaugural fetes. The United States flag,
after an absence of eleven days, was then
returned to she masth cad Of the Haytian
Republic to enliven the harbor and was
flying on the arrival of the American
vessel
After having bombarded Cape Hay
tien, Port de Saix, San Marc and other
smaller ports on the north and west
coasts, and com pletely demoralizad ell
foreigR and coastiDg trade, 1T has been
decided to advance the vRarshi % in con
nection with the army now marching TO
meet the forces of Gen. Hyppolite.
Skirmishes have occurred on the frontier
between small detachments of the
armies, and the news of general en-
gagement near San Marc is momentarily
looked for. While the navy and the
seat of government are in the hands OF
the Legitime faction, troops under Hyp-
polite are superior in moral and in gen
eral efficiency ard consider their com
mander second Napoleon"
bombarded, are in most destitute con-
dition, such being the situation to some
extent of all the bombarded ports.
Friday afternoon an official visit was
made by the admiral and thirteen officers
of the Yantic and Galena to President
Legltime and his cabinet. President
Lagisime expressed in his speech of wei
come the friendliest of feeling for Amer
leans and entertained the officers at his
palace in the best of style. Admiral
Luce replied to his speech as follows:
THAT it has always been the policy of
this country to encourage republics, es-
pecially those of the West Indies, and
more especially those of the eufranchis-
ed Africans, for America has but recent
ly passed through conflict. the ultimate
object of which was the freedom of that
race ia the great republic"
At conference to morrow of b. G.
Morse, the oEner of the Haytien repub
lie, win Legitime, the former will sub
NIT claim for 100000 damages caused
by the detention of his ship and $50 600
coba pensation for the crew aud two pas
ssDgers.
INS0LENT SPANISH OFFICIALS.