The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-03-12
NEWS OF THE NATALIE
President Hyppolite of Hayti
Had offered to Purchase 1t
for 100000 in Gold.

NEW YoRR, March IL, 1894. steam
ship Oranje Nassau, arrived here today
from Port-au-Prince. Hayti, and other West
Indian ports, and brings further news about
the American, steam yacht Natalie, which
set out from Savannah with a supply of
cannon, arms and ammunition for the revo-
lutionists Of Hayti. and which was reported
by cable on Saturday as having been cap
tured by Haytian warship.
Among the passengers on the Nassau was
Isaac Cross, Of No. II High street, Brook
lyn, who had been in Port-au-Prince for two
weeks. Mr. Cross said that the Oranje
Nassau left Port-au-Prince on March 3. On
the previous day the second officer of the
Haytian gunboat Dessalines came to the
hotel where he was stopping and had a
conversation with him about the yacht
Natalie! The Natalie had been lying near
Fortune Island, watched by the Haytian
gunboats Dessalines and Capoix The officer
Of the Dessalines said the Natalie put into
Fortune Island for stores. and was at that
time flying the American flag.
Later she hoisted the Haytian
some time for the Natalie to make an at
tempt to put out and land at Hayti, intend
ing to seize her, confiscate the vessel and all
her ammunition and punish the men, but for
some time the Natalie made no made to es-
cape the gunboats.
DESERTED BY HER CAPTAIN.
On March 2 the captain of the Dessalines
determined to hasten matters, and getting
into small boat, he was rowed over to the
Natalie. He went on board and said he
wanted to see the captain, as the vessel had
been flying the Haytian flag. The first
officer of the Natalie came forward
and said that Captain Salinas had
left the yacht. It then came out that
Salinas had abandoned the vessel and made
his escape to Kingston. Ja, evidently hope
less of getting down to Haiti, 400
miles away. The captain of the Dessalines
then demanded to see the ships
papers. There were no papers, not even a
Custom House clearance Technically the
vessel might be considered a pirate with
out any papers. but the commander of the
Dessalines did not wish to stir up any
trouble for his government and did not
seize the yacht.
Mr. Cross said that the Dessalines came
over to Port au Prince to report the facts to
his Government and get instructions, while
the Capoix was left to guard the yacht.
PRESIDENT HYPPoLITE'S OFFER
An officer of the Dessalines told him that
the Haytian Government did not propose to
seize the Natalie as that proceeding might
create international trouble. Presi
dent Hyppolite wanted the vessel
and munitions, however, and he was
gong 10 iuhko q Wlbu Uuo OllCOl III
charge For that object President Hyppo-
lite was to send 500, 900 in gold and buy the
Natalie and its contents. As she was a
pirate the officer in charge would have the
right to dispose Of her. President Hippo
lite would use her as pleasure boat and
would employ her munitions to strengthen
his fertifcations.
CAPTAIN Niemann of the Orange-Nassau
said he had not heard anything of the
Natalie. He saw the Dessalines in the
harbor of Port au Prince, but knew moth
ing of her movements. Two days after
leaving Port au Prince he passed For
tune Island, where the Natalie had been re
ported Nothing was seen of her, and il
was supposed that she had gone away or had
been taken away.
Mr.. Cross said that things political were
quiet, on the surface at Port au Prince
The Haytians are cautious, however. Theil
cause of complaint against President
Hyppelite is that he is too partial to for
eigners and does not properly care for thu
interests of the natives.