The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-03

hOObD HAF T. lAhEN 1OUKS.
the English Several towns succumbed to
him, and he laid seige to ST. Marc, the Eng
lish stronghold.
During the siege he was disabled, and
treachery in his own camp compelled him
to retire In the mountain businesses of
the center of the island he gathered his
forces and waited for his wound to heal.
Then Mt the head of 5000 men he carried
the English port of San Miguel by storm.
Those victories set free the French army
under LavcanX, and the mulattoes, blacks
and Europeans joined hands In the sue
cesses that followed Toussaint l. Overture
was the inspiring head.
He left his stronghold Dec. 81 and in
four days captured % English positions.
One precipitous height defended with
small arms and three cannon was carried
by sheer force of physical daring. Unfor-
tunatcly his enemies outnumbered him.
and venturinG too far he was surrounded
by the mulatto adherents of Spain He
cut his way out and once more returned TO
his mountains Under his training the
slaves had now become soldiers They be-
lieved III Toussaint as n general and Il
leader. His appearance and his energy
made him Il demigod. In one expedition
he Travelled with relays of horses $50 miles
without stopping, and after two hours
sleep was in saddle for battle.
In 1105 the Spanish coded their claims to
France aud abandoned the island. Their
mulatto adherents. joined with other NAL
contents, revolted against I4aveaux and
put him in prison. With 10000 blacks
Toussaint rushed down the mountains, sup
pressed the revolt and liberated the French
commander. IavcauX called his deliverer
1.-THE Black Spartacus' and said that the
French colors were kept flying in Santo
| M nv nm 111 -1,.N
bear II commission from heaven" He an
pointed Toussaint his lieutenant and sec
ond in command and soon afterward the
directory created him deputy governor gen
eral and commander in chief. He raised
new armies, drove the English from the
island rebuilt towns, fostered agriculture
and manufactures and when Napoleon re-
turned from his eastern campaigns to be-
come first consul TouSsainJ STYLED himself
the Napoleon of Santo Domingo"
Napoleon sent him new commission of
commander in chief and for four years en-
couraged his absolute reign. But in 1903,
in order to rid his armies of troops devoted
to his rival Moreau, Napoleon sent General
lie Clerc with a force to subdue Snnto
Domingo. Toussaint looked upon the step
as g blow to re-enslave the negroes, and for
long time refused to submit. Meantime
blacks and mulattoes arose and slaughtered
the white colonists and the French. Tous-
saint refused to treat with LIE Clerc until
the French re-embarked, but his colleagues
were less heroic, and at last his two chief
commanders laid down their arms Even
then lie Clerc feared the old negro
Toussaint agreed to an interview and they
met on neutral ground. lie Clerc was sur
rounded by bodyguard of 400 horsemen
with drawn s0bers. Toussaint entered the
square alone. During n peace talk, in
which Toussaint declared that he was
powerful enough TO burn and ravage and
could sell his life dearly, lie Clerc looked
upon the strange character before him in
amazement. Where would you have got
arms to carry on the war;" he inquired
after an understanding was reached II
would have taken yours" was the reply.
lie Clerc afterwerd abducted TOuss;iint,
who had reached the age of CO. and sent
him to France in irons. He was impris-
oned in a castle in the Jura mountains hy
Napoleon's orders. where he died mysteri-
ously in April 1903. The negroes in revenge
drove the French from the island. never to
return as masters. GEORGE J.. KJLMEE.