Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-28
YED HIS TkUST.
Lrgitime Discovers n Traitor in the
Nick OF Time.

New YoRK, July 21-[Special Telegram to
The BEE, "A correspondent of the Times at
Port-au- Prince, nnder date of July Is writes
as follows: The tide of affairs during the
past few days has been in favor of Legitime.
Port-au-Prince Is beginning to feel her
strength. Hippolyte fails to make an iin
preston anywhere along the line, and tho
success Of Arcahial appears to have availed
him little. Legtine, for the first time in
many months, has scored a point. II was
momentary, but it served to strengthen the
feeling of confidence he Is endeavoring to
imparS to his followers AS result OF the
Lacoupe affair Hppolyte lost in killed over
thirty men, The number of wounded is not
known, though it is calculated as exceeding
the number killed. The affair was u mere
sklrmish growing out Of an attempt on
Hippolytes part to take the works of La.
coupe. Hippolyte had good reasons to
believe that the southern general
IN charge Of the place could be
bought. He accordingly made overtures
to him. which proved satisfactory to both
sides 1t was arranged that the northern
forces should make at least the feint of an
attack on Lacoupe, that they should retreat
and Oe followed by the garrison, which in
turn should allow itself to be overcome in the
open. In the nick of time, however, tn e
whole plot was divulged to Legitime who
quietly ordered the force earliest available
to take position beyond Lacoupe. Legi-
time arrived on the scene almost soon as
his men ana Immediately arranged an am
buscade on both sides of the road leading to
Lacoupe In accordance with the previous
arrangements Hippolyte's advance appeared
AT the appointed hour, marched close to the
position where Legitme was ambuscaded and
then slowly Withdrew. The moment the re-
treat commenced, out rushed the whole garri-
son of Lacoupe. firing their pieces in the air.
but doing no damage whatever to
their opponents. The retreat had ex-
tended no further than $40 yards
when Hppolyte wheeled about and
advanced with a rush. On he came pell
nell, intending to fairly run over all in his
way and then dash into the work. The ad-
vance of Hppolyte was the signal for a gon-
eral stampede on the part of the wou!d-bc
pursuers, and, with his path clear, the north
ern general continued to push ahead un-
checked until suddenly from all sides men
appeared to spring out of the very ground,
and the next instant were pouring in deadly
fire. Taken completely by surprise, Hippo.
lyte retreated faster than he advanced. He
carried off as many of his wounded and dying
as he could under the circumstances, but
over thirty dead bodies were found by Lege-
times men. The surprise given Hippolyte
was no more patent than the one given the
commanding general Of Lacoupe. In an in
stant the traitor saw through it all. but to es-
cape was out Of the question The whole
garrison was surrounded and it's general
seized. Under strong guard he was con-
yeyed to Port-au-Prince to await the SEN
tencc OF a general court-martial. AS he en-
tered the city the plaudits of the people re-
sounded in his ears in their ap-
by his own perhdy. The traitor was
incarcerated in a dungeon, and
since that time nothing has been heard of
him. The people shrug their shoulders when
his name is mentioned aud meaningly say:
"Oh, she is cared for" There is very little
doubt that the watch was summarily put to
death, and if IN keeping with the usual man.
his death was most surely accompanied py
torture.
The whole war seems to be a money max
ing affair. Legetime is reputed TO be pocket
ing III, 500 a day Of money that is paid TO
soldiers not existing His generals are pro-
portionately receiving money IN fraudulent
ways and all are getting immensely rich,
and, strange 70 say too, the lower classes are
not losing as much as one would imagine.
There are few dupes to be found among
these latter people, and as to striking bar
gains, they would do credit to- the business
shrewdness Of Maiden Lane.
AS to negotiations, they are out Of the
question. Any settlement of the difficulties
couldnot otherwise but favor Hippoytc, who
at this moment is not only strong In position,
but before the very best of Legctime's
strongholds.