Middletown transcript., 1898-08-20

hlstS were absolutely unPrepareQ Wne
the appalling news spread through th
island that "the blacks had ri;-en."
The outbreak had been fixed for th
25th OF August. but the blacks, im
patient as the tic 9 drew near, ha
commenced the insurrection on th
night of the 221.
The slaves of the plantation Turpi
headed by an English negro, set out a
10 o'clock at night; they were sool
joined by the slaves of the adjacen
plantations. They burned every hous
which they approached and murdered
every white person, irrespective of age
or sex, Who fell into their hands. Ever
atrocity attended the massacre. By
morning they had devastated the en-
tire plain of Cape Francois. The ranks
of the rebels were increased at every
step.
Gen. Tousard was sent against the
rebels with detachment of troops of
the line, and the national guard, but
he was soon reca lied for the defense OF
Cape Francois. Fearful cruelties
wern practised upon both sides. Pris-
oners taken in battle were torn to
pieces with red hot pincers and tor
lures too terrible to contemplate were
practised daily by the negro insur-
gents.
Their principal leader was man
named Jean Francois. Jeannot was
another chief who arose at this time.
He was an atrocious monster, and his
barbarties revolted even bis followers.
He Was put to death by them.
The mulattoes also rose against the
whites, and for time general chaos
reigned. Port au Prince was burned.
The whites we're collected in the forts
and cities, where they bade defiance to
the insurgents.
The difficulties of the situation in
Hayti were much increased by the un-
stable government ut home DEGREES
were constantly being made and re-
pealed in Paris. Every ship that ar
rived from France might bring new
commissioners or new Governor. The
year 1871 closed amid scenes of war
and devastation. The mulattoes and
blacks sometimes fought together,
sometimes under separate banners.
Many of the colonists left tine island,
war was declared between France and
England, and in 1898 a British force
landed on San Domingo. Later this
force was increased and the English
captured Port au Prince.
Alarmed, the French government
abolished slavery and at the same time
invited the bls cks to join them against
the English invaders. Several thou
sand did SO, but The great majority
joined Francois and Bia0son, the negro
chieftain, in the hills.
At this desperate recoup when
blacks, mulattoes, French and English
were all struggling for the possession
of the island there arose master spirit
from the ranks of the slaves. This
man was Toussiant L'Ouverture.
He was born in l743, his father and
mother having been slaves before him.
He was 48 when the first insurrection
of the blacks took place in 1871. He
did not join this insurrection. He pro-
tected his master and his masters in
ttrests faithfully, sending him money
after he had fed to the United States.
Once, however, these ties were broken
Toussaint Joined the blacks, and soon
became the leader of the revolution.
For awhile he served under the gov
ernor Of the Spanish colony at the end
Of the island. Later he took the oath
of fidelity to the French Republic and
was made brigadier-general. 1t was
mainly through his genius that the
English were finally driven from the
island. In reward he was appointed
lieutenant-governor of the island.
Shortly after the French general, La
veaux, being recalled to France, Touis- |
slant was created his successor as COM
mander-in-chief of the French forces
in st. Domingo. At the age of So |
after fifty years spent as a slave,
Touissiant L'Ouverture was the vir-
tual master of the island.
The condition of the colony improv-
ed greatly. the blacks obeyed leader |
Of their own race, and submitted to
discipline. Under Toussaint the |
colony knew a brief season of pros
perity. By one pretext or another
Toussaint sent the French commits
sioners back to Paris and virtually
ruled the isl and himself. He promul-
gated constitution, and was leading
the island rapidly toward peace and
prosperity when Napoleon decided upon
his ruin.
To this end Napoleon sent an army
of 25, 900 men to the Hayti under the
of Gen. Leclerc, the husband
of Pauline Bonaparte, who accom-
panied him. At the approach of the
French feet Toussaint summoned his
old generals, Christophe and Deg
galines, Laplume and Maurepas, and
retired to the mountaias with his
army. Toussaint and Christophe
were declared outlaws. A number of
fierce battles were fought. The French
then offered great inducements to
followers; many deserted,
and thus abandoned, Toussain was
forced to make terms. By the terms
Of the treaty he was to govern Hayti
as hitherto, Leclerc acting only in the
of French deputy.
Toussaint retired to one of his es.