Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-29
RIPE FOR A REVOLT.
General Discomfort Prevails in the
Black Republic.
FEARS OF REBELLION In HAYTL
Only HyppoIite's Sternness Pre-
vents an Outbreak.
CASES OF INCENDIARISM.

CASES OF INCENDIARISM.
PORT AU PRINCE. Hayti. JAM 29.-Con-
siderable excitement was caused In Port
au Prince on Tuesday last by the news that
big fire was raging at the town Of Jer-
emie. 1t was thought, at first, that the
conflagration was started by enemies Of
the government and that 1t was the in
auguration Of a revolutionary movement.
President Hyppolite therefore, with his
accustomed promptitude, took immediate
steps to meet and suppress a revolution.
But before action could be taken. a second
report came to hand stating that the fire
was the result Of an accident and that the
disturbance caused by it was over.
The fire was a very extensive one, over
loo houses. including many large business
houses. being burned to the ground 1t
commenced at night and was caused by
the overturning of lamp in a private
dwelling house. The water supply at Jer-
eme is very limited, and once the fire was
fairly started all the Inhabitants could at
tempt to save was their household effects
TO add to the excitement the people living
up In the hills along the coast thereabout
ana who look upon fire or shipwreck
as an especial blessing from the Almighty,
came down in numbers. armed and pre-
pared for looting.
All efforts by the police to prevent looting
We're unavailing. Those who were on the
spot describe the scene toward midnight as
OF the widest character. Hordes of country
people, half crazed with excitement and
ilquor, ran up and down the streets, assault
ing whom they met and stealing what they
found. Some who were under the impress
sion that a revolution had broken out COM
menced firing upon the police. BY daylight
quiet was restored, but such excitement con-
tlnued for quite two days afrerward that
steamers calling at the port were unable to
secure sufficient labor to land cargo.
Disturbances Elsewhere.
Though 1t Is now known that the fire was
the result of accident, and not design. it was
at first. as before intimated thought to have
been the signal for a revolution and had 1t
not been for the promptness of President
Hyppolite in doubling his guards and ar
resting offenders. an uprising might have
occurred throughout the south. AS it was,
on the night following the confiagration at
Jeremie similar disturbances took place at
Leograne and Petit Goave.
The spirit of incendiarism also manifested
itself at Port au Prince. Night before last
a house was set on fire in the lower portion
VI tHe Sity,put any OanaSe was done
the hames were put out. The president
next morning sent out squads of soldiers to
capture the incendiary, but he had fed to
the hills.
That the country is ripe for another revo-
luton is a fact of which President Hyppo-
lite himself, judging from the strict regu-
lations which he Is enforcing, seems fully
aware. The people are discontented and
good one. trade is dull. times are hard ana
want and misery, particularly in the towns
prevail in an unusual degree. Still Hyppo-
lite Is so watchful and is so stern with Of
tenders when they were caught plotting
that no one appears to have the courage to
make an open move.
Searching All Arrivals.
One precautionary measure that the pres
ident is now having enforced is the search
ing of all parties landing in Hayti
There may be some necessity for making
this search with respect to Haytiens COM
ing here from Kingston, Jamaica, but in
the case of foreigners it ~nly results in
annoyance and inconvenience When
steamer arrives at Pcrt-au-Prince say at
o'clock in the evening. no one is allowed
to go ashore until o'clock the next morn
Ing, and even then you are never certain
whether you will be allowed to land at all.
A full list of passengers by any steamer
Is always sent up to the president who ex-
amines the list and sends a permit to land.
Port-au-Prince has no wharf for landing
and passengers go ashore in boats When
you land you show your passports to the
general Of the port. That officer hands YOU
over to another, who goes through all your
pockets. After being searched at the port
you go to the customs and see your bag
gage searched.
1t Is the rule to open all trunks in the
streets instead of inside the custom house
and crowd always gathers around to in
spect whatever the trunks may contain
The customs officer makes a most thor
ough search. Every article in the trunk is
taken out, shaken out and then thrown
down in heap on the pavement, in the
dustiest possible spot. Linen, silk ties and
handkerchiefs go down i'm the dirt together,
to the evident amusement of the crowd.
When the examination Is finished you are
left to fold and repack your clothes while
the customs officers stand and scowl at
you because they failed to find anything
of suspicious nature.
About four months ago according to
information received) MIR. Durham, the late
minister general for the United States,
represented this matter of searching Ameri-
can citizens strongly to President Hyppo-
lite with the result that the obnoxious Gus
tom was discontinued until Mr. Durham
was relieved from office.