The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-26

"TWouLD HAVE TAKEN YOURS.
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 at the head of 5000 men he carried
the English port of San Miguel by storm.
Those victories set free the French army
under Laveaux, and the mulattoes, blacks
and Europeans Joined hands. In the sue
cesses that followed Toussaint l. 'Ouverture
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-
tRnately 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
bis mountains. Under his training the
slaves had now become soldiers. They be-
lieved In Toussaint as general and
leader. His appearance and his energy
made him denigod. In one expedition
be travelled with relays Of horses $50 miles
without stopping, and after two hours
sleep was in saddle for battle.
In 1795 the Spanish ceded their claims to
France and abandoned the island. Their
mulatto adherents, Joined with other NAL
contents, revolted against Laveaux and
put him in prison. With 10000 blacks
Toussaint rushed down the mountains, sup
pressed the revolt and liberated the French
commander Laveaux called his deliverer
"The Black Spartaeus" and said that the
French colors were kept flying In Santo
Domingo by ''an old negro who seemed to
bear q commission from heaven" He ap-
pointed Toussaint his lieutenant and sec
ond In command, and SOON afterward the
directory created him deputy governor gen
D-al 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 Toussaint 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 Santo
Domingo. Toussaint looked upon the step
as blow to reenslave 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 a bodyguard Of 400 horsemen
with drawn sabers Toussaint entered the
square alone. During n pence 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
afnazement Where would you have got
arms TO carry on the wari" he inquired
after an understanding was reached II
would have taken yours" was the reply.
lie Clerc afterward abducted Toussaint,
who had reached the age Of CO. and sent
him 70 France in irons He was impris-
oned In castle In the Jura mountains by
Napoleon's orders, where he died mysteri-
ously I'm April. 1903. The negroes In revenge
drove the French from the island, never TO
return as masters. GEORGE l.. kILMER.