The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-24
EXCITING TINES IN HAYTI.
HlPPoLYTe NEAR PoRT-AU-PRINcE
Terrible Condition of Things In the Black
Republie-Legitime Pressing Every
Available Person Into Service
American War ships There.

NEW YORK, July ia Times correspon.
dent writes from Port-su-Prince, July Z: Port
su-Prnce within the last few DAYS has been
IN a state bordering on frenzy. Hippolyte has
assaulted the extreme out-works, but he is be-
ing held in check at the present writing. Legi-
time is impressing into the ranks every man
capable of carrying a rifle. The people have
been delirious with excitement. The minister
o. war had executed some of the prisoners
with his own hands Hippolyte is destroying
farm houses in the very sight Of the city. All
foreigners have been threatened with e1ter-
rnination, but the L. S. naval force on hand is
prepared to shell the city il necessary. The
Kearsarge and Ossipee are in good Smelling
positions. All the guns are ready for firing.
system of signals has been established with the
American consulate, and the moment the
danger flag is exhibited, picked infantry COM
psnies from the Kearsarge and Ossipee will
jump for the boats. The captain of the British
cruiser declares that if one EnglIshman is
touched he will open every gun in his bat
teries. The American ships will not be second
in this.
Hippolyte's nearest position is within almost
a mile of the city Ii Is rumored that his force
numbers 10000 men. II is now a question OF
but a few days before the end is at hand.
Port au-P Prince knows it, and men, women and
children are prepared TO die with Legitime.
The feeling against the foreigners is one of Bit
ter hatred and it needs but spark to turn the
whole native population into frenzied mob.
Commanders Sheppard and kellogg on
the watch at every point. Admiral Gherardi
considers himself able to protect every Amerl'
can citizen. Legitime is working like beaver.
He has every man at the outworks- Many
women are there too. All the able bodies of
Port-au-Prince are doing service. No one dares
10 finch for fear of summary death. Provisions
are becoming very scarce; can OF condensed
milk. OF inferior quality, costs 81. Many are
suffering from hunger. The American minister
does not fear Iegitime's forces much as he
does those of Hippolyte. Should the latter carry
Portau-Prince, it is believed that he will sack
and gut the place. No one Will then be safe,
and especially the foreigners.
Every one is talking of the ''hre-eater' (Leg-
times war minister) having executed some
prisoners with his own hands. 10 show the SOL
diers that II Is not necessary 70 burn powder 10
kill. This brings the execution to the very
doors of the government. It is only increas-
ing the hatred of HippOlyte's men for Legitime,
and the former swear they will wreak venge-
snce when the time comes.
The present state of affairs is the outcome of
an aggressive movement made by Hlppolyte
on June so. The pressure In the north became
too strong to permit of further inactivity. The
leader of one faction threatened TO bolt from
HippOlyte's support unless he moved at once
or offered proposals of peace. Hlppolyte
accordingly determined TO advance, and
on the 3Oth ult threw a body of men
into a position distant five miles from
Iegitime's works. At once great excitement
prevailed in Port-au-PTince, and the cOnsterna-
ZION became so general that had Hlppolyte
then pushed ahead he would have met with
comparatively little resistance. His advance.
which was made in the early morning, was
heralded to the city by beacon fires burning
from hilltop to hilltop, together with gem
eral firing of signals. and everybody was called
10 arms by the beating of drums and sounding
of bugles Squads OF soldiers rushed from
place 70 place, forcing every man into the forti-
hcations Men, women and children rushed
out into the night air, screaming with fright,
while horses and wagon-trains dashed headlong
through the crowds and out to the front Day
light finally broke and revealed the city in con-
ditson bordering on panic.
Svarms of armed, haif-uniformed soldiers
fo8med through the streets, shouting and yell
ing, while crowds OF women and children hud-
died together. Others possessing more pres
ence of mind. spurred on by fright, rushed to
the water with all the effects they could carry.
All day long the uproar continued, HippOlyte
stiIl RETAINING. AS night gradually came on
confidence was IN part restored, and fewer
troops were 20 be found back In the city.
Toward evening the greater part of the trans
portable property had been gotten out of the
city, and as night advanced a strange and pitt
full spectacle was presented OF great crowd Of
women and children huddled together in a
small plain situated 10 the northwest of the
city. Here they remained the entire night the
children clinging to their mothers, and all send
ing up a cry which sounded on the night air
like great wall.
During the early part of the second night,
and again toward the approach of the follow
ing me. ming, volleys of musketry could be
heard in the direction of the front, at times
coming in quick succession and again spread
ing out in a slow, steady fire. Morning re-
realed HippOlyte's position within a mile OF
the outer posts, and, by the aid of a good glass
his men could be seen struggling along in de-
tachments up TO the advance. Hippolyte is
now camped within one mile of the city. The
people of Port-au-Prince appear to have but
little confidence in Legitime, but they stick to
him, believing their only show is success for
Legitime or death.