The Portland daily press., 1891-06-20
Isl HAYIrS PRESIDENT A MANIAc'p
He Commits Murders and Like Nero
Then Turns to Music.
a New Chapter In the Mist Dry OF
This Reign Of Terrer.
TWO Americans Perhaps Amsng the
Killed at BssIe.

NEW YORK, June ia letter from the
agent In Port-au-Prinee Of one Of the prlncI-
pal merchants In this city, who Is largely in
terested In the Haytlen trade, was received
here yesterday. 1t bears date Of June 8.
There was at that time, 1t says, a reign of
terror In Port-au-Prinee, which had then
lasted for nearly fortnight. Men were be-
ing executed every day by the score in the
squares and streets Of the city. and nobody
knew when or how the massacre would end
On May 30 Hippolyte's soldiers entered by
force the Mexican consulate, and dragged
out Of the house General SOUL, Mr.. Rossier.
Leger Cauvin, recently minister OF justice
under HippOlyte. and Cauvin's brother.
These men were shot under the cathedral
walls.
The diplomatic corps. on hearing Of the
| outrage, at once went In a body to the palace
| and demanded an audience Of the president
Mr.. Tweedy. acting consul for the British
| government, was the spokesman, and he did
| not mlnce his words. He demanded by
what right the president had broken one OF
the most solemn obligations OF one govern
ment to another. and wanted TO know what
security the other consular houses had
speaking In unmeasured terms Of the insult
offered to the whole consular body by the
outrage committed on the Mexican CON
sulate.
This plain language was not agreeable to
the sable president, who lost his temper and
SAID rs this the way to talk TO me-ths
president OF this country,"
Saying this Hippolyte turned his back on
the several representatives, and without a
word bounded out Of the room, slamming the
door behind him. The c0nsuls looked at one
another In astonishhent, which was further
heightened few moments later when they
heard the president playing on a aute in ths
next Oua n tho
that they had better go. They were on the
point Of dUing this, when Tsaeheud. Hippo-
lyte's minister Of foreign affairs, begged the
consnls to remain. He pointed out that the
PRESIDENT had had great deal OF trouble.
and asked them to make allowance for him
under the circumstances, promising, at the
back.
The consuls waited and soor the president
returned In company with his minister, and
said: Gentlemen. you are not going. was
compelled to go out 10 give an order to the
commandant" Then he apoloalzsd 10 the
consuls for his rude behavior.
Inc French Consul accepted the apology
Dotn personally and as representing .hIs
country. The German Consul, however, said
tnat though personally he would accept the
apology, he, as representing the German
emperor and empire, must resent the lnsc-
lent behavior OF the president. and that he
would report the affair to his government.
The English Consul supported his German
associate.
Hippolyte was much frightened over the
turn OF affairs, patted the German Consul on
the back, ana promised that nothing OF the
sort should occur again. With regard 70
what those present thought was an insult 10
the Mexican consulate, he begged TO state
that he had received telegram from Presi-
dent Diaz OF Mexico, authorizing him TO en-
ter the Mexican consulate and take the reb-
els who were seeking shelter there. 1t was
on that ground alone that he had apparently
violated the sacred rights Of refuge accorded
by a consulate.
The consuls then retired. but the affair Is
not expected to end there. The letter also
says that the real leaders Of the insurrection
have not been captured. Only the rank and
hle have been made prisoners, and ruthlessly
shot. Generals Sully-Grellier and Bedere
have escaped TO the woods, and are expected
soon tn be heard from In some northern city,
as these former partisaus Of Hippolyte are
tired OF his cruelty and government, and his
downfall Is only question OF weeks With
regard to Hippolyte's madness, there Is moth
Ing strange In the story, Some years ago
when ina refuge in Jamaica he went favIBg
mad, and was for some time confined in tDS
Kingston asylum, and was even placed In a
Strait Jacket.