The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-09
REIGN OF ANARCHYIN HAYTI
Legitime's Men Lose Three Battles and
the Triumph of HippOlyte Is at Hand.
of all Kinds Are the General Rule-Re-
vival of Cannibalism and Voudoo Rites.


Legitime by the dissatisfied citizens of the
capital, or by the advancing victorious
troops of the North, under Hippolyte, APP
pears to be shortly expected by all but the
immediate supporters of Legitime. He
has thrown into prison all prominent citi-
zens and residents of the North in Port-au-
Prince suspected of opposing him. Three
battles have been fought and lost by the
Legitimists in the past ten days. The first,
near Hinche, was most disastrous, followed
by an engagement, ON Dec. %. few miles
northeast from here. During the rapid
retreat ON the capital two divisions
of the Southern army deserted to the
pursuing Northerners. A stand was made
the next day. at a rising knoll of ground, by
the dispirited army of the South, but they
were able to stand but short time against
HippOlyte's assault. The army of the
North are intrenching some twenty miles
from POrt-au-Prince, completing their lines
of communication, reOrganizing their aug
mented army, and awaiting the arrival of
recently purchased arms and munitions of
war. They are also devastating the great
agricultural section where they are now
encamped, and from which Legitime re-
ceived the greater portion of his supplies
General Hippolyte, having arrived and
been declared Provisional President by the
central and northern departments, ON his
capture of the capital, will demand Con-
gress of Deputies from all the departments
and the election of a permanent President,
declaring Legitime's election unconstitl-
tiOnal and void. He will probably then be
the only candidate in the field. Reports of
defeats and assertions have raised to ahigh
pitch of excitement the inhabitants of this
section, and hence Legitime is imprisoning
all the possible ring LEADERS in revolt
against him. He is showing great activity
i'll securing volunteers" through press
and bring them to the barracks, frequently
in chains, to prevent their escaping.
without law life or property is unsafe in
this section. Excuses of every kind are
the rule. The horrible cannibalistic rites
OF VondoOism are revived. and reports
reach this city of ameeting of several thou
sand, Christmas night, near Jacmel, and
the sacrifice OF young girl and the greedy
scramble for some portion. of the half
tral part of the island has been the cause of
the robbery of recently buried bodies and
the devOuring of the same. These are we'll
authenticated facts. The inhabitants of
the interior are even more degraded than
brought in contact with any evidences of
civilization, and can be easily led by any
Schemlng adventurer.
General Auguste, a resident of the North,
has been thrown into the military prison
here, and his assassination is feared. The
capital is denuded of troops, and mob rule
is feared. A United States war vessel will
remain In this harbOr to protect the lives
and property of American citizens. The
French minister, through his open backing
OF Legitime, is most unpopular. The French
war ships cabled for have not arrived.
The schooner Aurora was captured in San
Domingo waters; her mail bag, weighted
with lead, seized before it could be thrown
contain statements duplicating some
thirty prominent persons at present in
Port-au-P Prince, most of whom were
a asey nnsuiS spec ,.on All have
hostages in attempts to parley with the
northern forces, and, on their near apprOl oh
to this city, summarily shot. Many O.
these persons held high positions i'm Legi
times government. The seizure Of the YES
such action, was another high-handed out
rage. The cargo of provisions was instantly
appropriated, as being much needed.
The whole Haytian navy, consisting OF
Dor Dec. "a and %, thus rendering null and
void any previous blockade. The Haytians
claim they were ordered in to prevent the
seizure of the steamship Haytian Republic,
but the real mission was to defend Portoau-
Prince against the Hippolyte forces. The
French minister, LIE Compile De Leo Mai
sons, will be recalled as soon as HippOlyte,
who has already cabled a protest to Paris,
reaches POrt-au-Prince.
The steamship Haytian Republic is still
i'm the hands of Admiral Tuca the AGENT
of the owner, Mr.. b. G. Morse, cannot re-
ceiye her until she is in more piesentable
state. While she has been thoroughly dis
infected by the surgeon of the United
States steamer Galena and her captain, Mr..
Compton, her condition, by reason of her
occupancy by the Haytian guards, is filthy
in the extreme. She is now anchored under
the guns of the Galena. The Yantic arrived
90, with dispatches from the State and
Navy Departments received via cable at
Santiago de Cuba. The Hay tian Republic,
under Lieutenant Spiers, with a prize crew
of eighteen men from the Galena, will
steam on Jan. to Santiago de Cuba, where
she will be recOated and turned over Off
cially to her owner, who will then collect a
crew. The Galena will keep her in sight
during the trip. While it is impossible to
secure the $3.50 600 indemnity demanded for
her detention and damage of property to
her owners, passengers and crew, it is
thought it will be possible to secure some
cash dOwn. The government pleads poverty,
but have recently paid 100000 for
former English mail steamer which they
have fitted out as a gunbOat, and on
Dec. 20, paid to the steamer Andes $27, 500
for 5000 Winchester rifles and 1OOO 600 rounds
ammunitiOn-al in gold. 1t is also claimed
that Legitime has appropriated to his own
private purse all the remainder of the cash
in the treasury and will flee by his fastest
gunbOat as soon as his fall is an assured
fact. Unless the indemnity is paid by the
Legitime government it is hardly probable
that it will be paid at all, as HippOlyte is
not likely to assume liability for the eX-
cesses and Outrages of the present govern
ment. The released steamer remains in
possession of the United States government
represented by Admiral Luce, and is a
present expense, and the question is, will q
eminent for the time she is held inactive
by Admir.1 Lucef This is matter dis
cussed by Americans here, officials and
civilians
Legitime's official organ issues the follow
ing to the American and European press,
under the title of ''Une Infamie" ian out
rage):
1t is Geplorable for great and historical ma
by depressing the feeble in illegally opposing the
power of reason with its guns. But, after all,
is it the great and historical nation which must
be accused, is it her accredited representatives
who abuse their great power by leading their
government into wrong actiOnl This iswhat has
geographical position, should appeal to its pro-
lection, or certainly TO its Partially. The United
States is our senior. A civil war prevails; mer-
chant ship-the Haytian Republic sides with the