The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-06-13
HABEs IN RATTI.

fr0Al the land which LOG years since
was noted as the most prosperous,
flourishing >and orderly province in
America
For the last tWoNor three weeks
there haye been rumOrs>lhat revolu-
tion against HippOlite was Imminent
in the capital, and these having reached
the ears of the chief executive be
caused the arrest of about S0suspectedN
persons, dragged them from their
homes and put them in irons in prison.
The outbreak of rebels occurred on
Thursday, May %. While President
HippOlyte was attending church,
former cabinet minister, at the head
of 80 followers, all well armed, stormed
the prison and released 200 political
and other prisoners. The released
prisoners were provided with arms.
and when Hippolyte's troops arrived
on the scene there was bloody battle.
Hippolyte, fearing that he would be
shot, if he appeared on the street, re-
manned in the church all day, guarded
by soldiers.
lie called out the reserve militia and
the rebels were soon routed. The
leader of the rebels, the former cabinet
minister, whose name the officers did
not learn, was captured aud shot at
once.
AT noon of Thursday 40 of the rebels
had been captured and put to death.
Others were captured aud shot on
Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Every
man suspected OF being in sympathy
with the insurgents was put to death
without delay as soon as captured.
Most of the prisoners released from
Jail by the insurgents were recaptured
and shot.
The outbreak seemed to have been
precipitated by the killing of Ernest
Rigaud, the rich merchant at Port-au-
Prince, by order of President Hippo
lyte.
Rigaud, who alleged that he was a
French subject, had been in Paris some
time and had only recently returned
to Hayti. Ex-President Legitime is in
Paris aud is supposed to be in secret
communication with his sympathizers
in Hayti. Rigaud was suspected of
being in sympathy with the Legitime
party and of aiding them, and it is be-
lieved that he brought from Paris u
cargo of arms for the rebels. On
Thursday morning, May 2S, President
Hippolyte went to the house Of Rigaud,
followed by detachment of soldiers
The soldiers remained outside, while.
the President entered alone. He asked
the merchant if he did not have guns
concealed in the house. Rigaud an.
swered that he had no guns in the
house.
"Then YOU have them at the store"
said the President. The merchant re-
piled that he had no guns concealed
anywhere, but It is said he insulted
Hippolyte and ordered him out of the
house.
Putting his hand on Rigaud's shoul-
der the President said, "Come with me-"
They left together and stepped out
In the street in front of the waiting
soldiers. Without another word to
Rigaud, Hippolyte stepped aside and
gave the order TO fire.
The soldiers raised their guns and
fired volley into the body Of the rich
merchant. lie fell dead in front Of his
house.
On Saturday morning, May 80, a
nephew of Ernest Rigaud, who was
associated with him ih business, called
at President Hippolyte's house to ask
about the killing of his uncle. The
young man did not know that bis
uncle was shot by order of the presi-
dent. He believed 1t was done by the
soldiers without orders, and he intend
ed 10 demand an investigation.
AS soon as he addressed the Presi.
dent aud stated the object of his visit
IIippolyte ordered him shot, lie was
at once dragged into the street by the
soldiers and shot dead.
The outbreak caused great excite.
ment in Port-au-Prince, and thorough.
ly alarmed Ilippolyte aud his govern
mont.
About the same time Mr.. Alexis
Rossignol, an inoilensive and much.
esteemed man, was executed i'll the
streets; another man was put up
against the cathedral wall and shot
Seventeen were executed IN batch
and even at this date an occasional
volley tells that another poor wretch
has been sent to bis doom.
There is no fighting in the streets tc
excuse this massacre. Every execution
is carried out in the most cold-blooded
way, the executioners being soldier:
belonging to the most degraded ol
men. Day and night the soldiers oi
IIippolyte patrol the streets. Business
is practically suspended. The bodies
of rebels shot are left lying in the
streets for several hours as warning
to their friends. The officers of some
of the German vessels in port went Oh
shore to look at the dead bodies.
To-day grand festival of police, SC
called, has been ordered by Hippolyte
The festival is to celebrate the fact
that the rebels have been defeated and
peace established. 1t Is impossible tc
enumerate in detail all the murder;
that have been perpetrated under the
color of law. 1t is estimated that
from May 20 to June l, 800 persons
have been put to death. No one can
say how long this state of affairs will
last, or what the result will be. MOI
can anyone who has not been all eye
witness of the scenes of horror enacted
have an idea Of the terriged condi
tion of the people of Port-au-Prince.
The author of the following gro
tesque extravaganza has probably
never further informed himself of th,
Bartholomew slaughter-to which b,
likens this only a little more than
customary black "Renubljcr incident