New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-05
TO BE PRINCE OF TRINIDAD.
HE rs BARON HARDEN-HICKEY.
HIS AMBITION is TO FOUND A NATION ON
A LITTLE ISLAND IN THE SEA.
IT is SITUATED SEVEN HUNDRED MILES OFF TIE
COAST OF BRAZIL AND HAS NOT BEEN IN
HABITEp FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY
THE BARON HOPES TO HAVE HIS
NEW COUNTRY RECOGNIZED
BY THE GREAT POWERS
OF THE WORLD.

BY THE GREAT POWERS
OF THE WORLD.
II the plans OF Baron James A. Harden
Hickey are carried out there will be brand new
nation brought into existence on the face of the
earth next spring. That sounds like remark
able undertaking. but Baron Harden Hickey Is
confident that 1t can be carried through sue
cessfuy and easily as many other remark
able and apparently impossible achievements.
He does not propose to overthrow any estab-
lished government or split any in twain. He Is
not going to encroach upon anybody's terri
tory or interfere with anybodys rights. He has
found a place where nobody lives, which, he
says nobody owns, and which is not claimed
among the possessions Of any existing nation.
The place is the Island Of Trinidad. situated In
the South Atlantic Ocean. in latitude 20 degrees
30 minutes south and longitude 20 degrees p
minutes west. 1t is 700 miles from the coast OF
Brazil. which is the point of land nearest to 1t.
1t contains about sixty square miles Of terri
tory. There Baron Harden-Hckey proposes to
found an independent State. the head Of which
shall be sovereign and treat on equal terms
with the mighty rulers Of the earth.
Baron Harden-Hickey is not unknown to peo-
pie of this city He married Anna II. Flagler,
daughter Of John H. Flagler, three years ago,
and Is at present living at No IS West FIFTY
second-st which he describes as the "Chancel-
lerie de Trinidad" His history is an interest
ing one. His family is French-Irish. His an
cestors. the Hickeys. originally came from Ire
land. They followed the fortunes of the
Jameses of England, and afterward settled In
France.
A JOURNALIST IN PARIS.
The active life of Baron Hickey began In
1873 when he founded and began to edit the
"Tribouet" Partisan newspaper. which
warmly, and even violently, advocated the cause
of the Royalists. The paper was the organ
and champion Of the Count de Chambord, who
claimed the throne Of France as the repre-
sentative of the elder Bourbon line Count de
Chambord died In 1884. Baron Harden Hickey
continued to edit the fiery "Triboulet" for three
years more, but he finally grew weary OF the
long fight against heavy odds and the mac
ton Of the Royaists, and he withdrew from
his connection with the paper IN 1887. some
idea Of the excitement incident to editing
Paris newspaper Of the style Of the "Tribouet
may be gained from the fact that during the
nine years Of Baron Harden-Hickeys editorship
he was involved In forty-two lawsuits. sub
jected to fines aggregating 3OO'ooo francs ana
had to tight a number OF duels Among n'S
antagonists on the duelling field were Aurean
SchoI who is said by some to be the wittlest
man in France and who is now great friend
of Baron Harden-H Hickey; III. Lavertujon,
member of the Chamber of Deputies; NJ. Taine
and NJ. De Cyon. All were journalists.
HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE ISLAND.
After duellng and paying fines In the In
forests of a lukewarm faction got to be a
bore Baron Harden-Hickey decided to take a
trim around the world in a sailing vessel for
q novelty. So he took passage on the mer-
chant ship Astoria, Captain Jackson which
sailed from England bound westward around
Cane Horn. The Astoria driven by stress
of weather to the Island Of Trinidad. where 1t
remained for several days. Baron Harden
Hickey went ashore and explored the island.
II was then that he conceived the idea OF
planting a colony upon it. That was in 1888.
He did not proceed rashly, however. He al
lowed the idea to grow and mellow in his
mind. He kept on his journey around the
world. visited China. India and other Aslatic
countries, and finally came back to the United
States and married Miss Flagler. But he never
lost sight of his purpose to found a new nation,
and for some time now he has been quietly
putting the machinery In motion which he
hopes will accomplish his object
A Tribune reporter found Baron Harden
Hickey at his home last evening. and asked
him about his extraordinary undertaking. Baron
Harden Hickey expressed surprise that The
Tribune should have learned Of his scheme. but
added good -naturedly, Il know that great news
papers have wonderful means of getting in
formation used to be newspaper man my
self. AZ for my plans, they are not yet
mature. but I will tell you as much about them
as 1 can"
THE BARON TALKS ABOUT HIS SCHEME.
Raron Harden-Hckey is a tall man. with
a decided French manner. He wears mus
tache and imperial. and has light brown hair.
He speaks excellent English, emphasizing MS
remarks frequently with French gestures. lie
verified the facts before mentioned, and said:
.I propose to take possession of the Island OF
Trinidad under maxim of international law
which declares that anybody may seize ana
hold waste land that is not claimed by any
body el.e. The island is uninhabited. and has
been so for more than hundred years. Two
or three centuries ago the Portuguese attempted
to colonize It, probably by penal colony. Ihey
soon gave up the attempt. however. Ihe Eng
,isb also once made feeble effort to plant a
colony upon 1t, but the project was abandoned
q fter a short settlement. The remains OF THESE
early settlements may still be seen upon the
island. No one however. has lived on IL lor
more than a century. | cXplored the island thor-
oughly 1t Is about twenty-three miles long
and two or three miles wide. 1t Is on rock
foundation. but has a plateau on when there Is
abundant vegetation. river OF pure, fresn
water runs through 1t. 1t has all the esseh.ia,
qualifications for supporting several hundred
people Great quantities. OF wild fowl make IL
their breeding place. and it is visited period
icaIly by thousands Of turtles. when deposit
their eggs there There is no reason why a
people should not live there, and be happy ana
contented.
HAS the island harbor? was asked .
NO Not good harbor. The approach 10 IL
from the sea Is more in the nature OF road
stead That is something to be regretted put IL
good harbor Is not necessary.
How soon do you intend to take possession
Of the island?"
Next spring. | should have taken possession
this fall had II not been for the revolution IN
Brazil where / expect to get some OF my Colo
nists That has delayed me-.
'Is your colony to be In any way connected
with BRAZIL"
mo, 1t is to be entirely independent
How will other nations regard the iact OF