The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-30
ADM'L GHERIRDI'S LOST CHANCE.
He Failed to Seize Mole 81. Nichoins When
HIppoIyte Broke His Promise.

Hippolyte. the late President of Hayti, really
owed the office he held to the Government of
the United States. When an attempt was
made upon his life some years ago a naval
officer conversant with Haytian affairs said:
I'VE put him in and they'll never get him
out by any other means than that they have
just tried"
When the last revolution In IIayti began
Admiral Gherardi was down at Port -nu- Prince
with the old Galena rs his flagship. LGgi-
time was still President, and he had pro-
claimed IA blockade against Cape Haytian and
other ports In the north held By Hippolyte and
his revolutionary folio wers. Admiral Che
rardi was ordered to go around to the north
in the Galena and learn whether the blockade
was effective or only an affair Of paper. He
found it the latter, and so reported TO the
Now. a paper blockade unenforced by the
presence of war ships no neutral nation is
report the United States Government notified
American shipmasters that they were free to
trade with the northern ports of HRyti. The
Clyde line OF steamships. which had been in
terested In tho decision. thereupon continued
i9I Te mada o brihs that iS r they d maTtaan NOTHING HIM. s cSb.
traband OF war, but AS. soon as the blockade
was declared no blockade Hippolyte began TO
have arms for his revolutionary troops.
Meanwhile Hippolyte and the United states
naval commander were III communication.
tain the cession OF Mole st. Nicholas. an al,
most lAndlocked harbor on the northern coast
of Haytl. Hippolyte was ready to promise
the blockade was no blockade. Other ships were
ordered to Ghcrardfs aid Land 1t was pretty well
understood that the Admiral was to seize Mole
ST. Nicholas should HippOlyte, upon obtaining
the Presidency, fail TO carry, out Ills agreement;
not Keep his promise touching the ccssion OF
Mole st. Nicholas, but the Admiral did not
seize the harb0r, lie half believed that the Gov
feared to go too far and risk bringing on n
court martial. Everybody in the navy nc
quainted with the affair believes now that
whatever the Government might have found
ishment for seizing Mole st. Nicholas without
explicit orders. his disgrace following upon
the seizure would have been shurt-lived, and
the Admiral would have been speedily in high
favor.
After Hlppolyte was well established rs
President the Galena went round to POrt-au-
Prince. Hippolyte, with his very black daugh-
ter. was entertained ON board the ship, and 50
were iis Immediate advisers, also black. There
was plenty Of diplomacy over Mole st. NlchO,
as, but llippolyte declared that as President
of HRyti he dared not violate the Constitution
OF his country by alternating 10 a foreign
n result OF this attitude this Government is
still without a good hRrhor In the West Indies
10 help command whatever canal may ho
made across Central America or the lsthmus,
In contact with. him during these %nCGotia-
tions as q man OF force and Intelligence. Ills
face, though somewhat brutal, was keenly In.
tellcctual. His m tnners were those OF an &C.
an educated F~renchman. As 10 his daughter,
she received her education in Paris, and is a
woman OF many accomplishments, Legitime,
VIII" may return 20 the Presidency. is even
more distinguished In appearance than the
late President, being OF strikingly handsome
ace aud figure.