The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-03
LUCE'S LUCID LETTERS.
THE REPORT ON THE HAYTI TRIP
MADE TO SEC. WHITNEY.


Squadron - Minister Preston's Dis
patches Also Sent Ashore-LUce's
Letter to Thompson.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The following are
extracts from the correspondence in rela-
ton to affairs in Hayti, made public by the
Secretary of State to-day Admiral Luce,
under date of Port au Prince, Dec. 81, re
ported to the Secretary of the Navy as fol
lows:
SIR: I have the honor to inform the depart
meut that the Galena and Yantic arrived at this
port at 9;45 clock yesterday morning. Imme-
diately on anchoring an officer was sent on
shore to deliver the dispatches sent by the de-
partment of state to our min ster, J. f. w.
Thompson and to offer him passage off to the
ship. At the same time the dispatches entrusted
by the Haytian minister, Stephen Preston, at
New York, to Capt. Sumner, were sent to Gen.
On the arrival of Mr. Thompson,
presented him with a letter stating the
object of my visit. 1t was 10:30 a. m, and the
time set for the d livery of the Haytien Re
public was 3p. m. The Yantic lay clos, along
the Haytien Republic ready to tow her out at
the time specified, but at about $3.50 p M the
Baytian gunboat Grand REVERE appeared and
gave the steamer lie for the purpose OF tow
ing her to the outer haroor where she was to
be formally delivered up. Owing to the I'M
loOked-for difficulty of getting the steamers
ancnOf, ana D6lnR ODIEeQ TO cut Ner Cnell, she
could net be towed to the outer harbor till
some time after sunset, but from the prompt aD-
pearance of the Grand Revere and the evident
disposition evinced by the Haytiau officials to
get the ship out, considered that the terms con
tanned in my letter had been piled with
far as practicable. The action taken by the
Haytian government in the premises is set fort9
in a letter addressed to our minister, Mr.
Thompson, q copy of which is inclosed. After
the mooriug of the Haytien Republic TO q BUOY
in the outer harbor, Vice Admiral GsiIlard,
senior officer OF the Haytian navy, his flag fly
ing from the Dessalines, addressed me a note
formally delivering up the Haytien Republic. A
copy of this letter is incloscd. have not, up to
the present writing, formally accepted the
vessel, and will not, until certain
of her belongings, taken ON shore b.
the Hayhans, have been restored. /
have assurance that tus will be done soon
NJ anwhile we have an officer and party Of
seamen on board to take care of her till the
arrival of her crew, expected by the Atlas line
to-day. A slight misunderstanding in regard 10
the interchange of courtesieS common 20 all
navies Will be adjusted to-day without doubt,
when | shall call upon Gen Legitime, who was
in6ugurated as Preside of the Republic Of
Hayti on Sunday last, 18th l trust the entente
co didie may be happily restored. somewhat
singular chapter has just been added to the his
tory of the Haytien Republic 7se. It seems, from
what cannot but consider good authority
t1at only the day before our arrival the
Haytien government was about to
deliver her up to an English crew and send her
to New York The letter herewith enclosed
from the agent of the Atlas Line of steamers
tSOme Office iD Liverpool explains itself. The
object Of sending the Haytien Republic to New
York to be delivered up to our govern
menG has not yet been made quite
clear The ships will coal at Santiago
de Cuba. one at time, keeping one ship
here for the present as q matter of precau-
ton. AS soon as possible one ship will DO dis
patched to the northern coast to visit Cape
HaytIan and other ports in the hands Of the op-
position. / write this somewhat hurriedly in
order TO take advantage of a mail about to
leave for New York by u Dutch steamer. With
great respect, etc. S. B. LUCE.
Rear Admiral U. s. N,
Commanding North Atlantic Squadron.
LUCE's LETTER TO THOMPSON.
Following is Admiral Luces letter to
Minister THOMPSON, datet d C. 20:
SIR-The President of the United States baving
decided that seizure and detention of the Amerl-
can steamer Haytien Republic, by the Haytian
authorities, have from the beginning been
irregular and wrongful, am here to cooperate
with you in obtaining her prompt restoration
AS my stay at Port au Prince is very limited l
must ask that you will, at the earliest practica-
bic moment represent to the Haytian author-
ties the necessity of the immediate withdrawal
OF their guard from the steamer Haytien Re-
public in order to avoid the possibility OF COLI
sion between it and the officer / shall shortly
send TO her. The guard having been withdrawn
the formalities attending the transfer OF the
vessel to her owners. or their agents, can
readily be arranged. To prevent a misunder
standing aud untOward results that might fol
low, beg you will inform the authorities that
an officer of this command will be ready to
receive the Haytien Republic at
o'clock this afternoon, by which time it is
hoped the guard will have been withdrawn. AS
it is my intention to take the steamer to anchor
age in the outer harbor this afternoon before
sunset, doubt not that the feeling OF friend
ship, which has always so happily existed be-
tween the two countries, VIII prompt the
authorities to render every facility for carrying
that intention into execution. Very respect
fully, your obedlent servant,
S. B. LUCE, Rear Admiral, etc
FROM HAYTI's MINISTER OF FOREIGN AT
FAIRS.
Following is the letter of the Haytian
minister of foreign affairs to Minister
Thompson, relinquishing the vessel, dated
Dec. 20:
By reason of the friendship existing between
the republics of the United States and of Ha IT,
the government has decided to give up to the
admiral, the merchant steamer Hayten Re
public, captured in the waters of st. Marc. At
the same time the government makes some
reservations in what concerns the judiciary ac-
ton to which it may have recourse before the
American courts
ADMIRAL GAILLARDs NOTE.
Admiral Gaillard in his note to Admiral
Luce, turning over the vessel. writes:
1t peases me to hope that this 81 ght differ
ence will make no alteration in the good feeling
which has always existed between the two re
publics.
LETTER FROM THE COMPANY.
Embraced in the correspondence is copy
of letter from PIN Forwood & Co., to
Henry Williams on board the steamer
Alene, dated Dec. s, which explains itself as
follows;
In asking you and the rest Of the men ship
ping with you to go down in the Aene TO Kings.
ton, we have TO keep your venture, also your
destination secret on account OF the press. We
can now tell you that IL is for the purpose Of
bringing up 70 New York the steamer Haytien
Republic on behalf of the government.
With the orders we have given you we
hand you delivery order for the steamer,
and letter from the Haytian minister. From
Kingston you will 90 with your crew on the
Arrow, which boat will stay at Port eu Prince
rs long as necessary. We have promised four
days, so that you will always have a British
ship by your side ready for sea. and in
case Of hitch order our agent, John
Tietez, who will advise you Of means
OF returning TO Jamaica. We further send you
down provisions in case there is a scarcity. Any
further purchases you will make must be paid
for by the government. This would include
coal, machinery, repairs, etc. This work you
are going on is on our behalf. as agents OF the
minister, and we ask you TO look upon IL as any
other Atlas Company work.
nyur11 mrym