The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
GEN. HEUREAUX'S CAREER.
SANTO DoMIHGO'S DEAD TYRANT
REMARKABLE FIGURE.


nbled Him TO Maintain Dsspotism-His
Spy system-Many Enemies Done to
Death-Ruin Of tho COuntry's Finances.
PUERTO PLATA, SANro DOMINGO. Sept p. --
"El que hero matn, a hero muere.' He who
lives by the sword shall die by the sword" On
July 20, 1899, in the town Of Moca, Santo Domin.
go, Ramon Caccres sho, President uliscs licu-
reaux through the heart, hyenging thus the death
OF his father, whom ieureaux had caused TO be
assassinated There are great many people
who add that by this deed also he liberated the
Dominican people from the bonds of tyranny in
which for the last twenty years they had been
held
llscs Hcureaux. or Ills. us he was Familiarity
! called, was born in Puerto Plata about forty-sx
years ago. and was the illeg innate son Of ID Assas
flcureauN a liaytian mula,to, and Josefa lcbert,
a negrcsS of St Thomas In his carly youth he
served Dominican soldier. and as time went
on rose step by step until he attained the rank Of
General Of Division. lie was first heard Of under
General Luperun. and distinguished himself in the
wars OF the restoration against the Spaniards
In 1878 and 1879 he the delegate Of the ESccu
tive power in the Provinces Of the Cibao and in
1880 he served us delegate Of the provisional Gov
eminent in the southern provinces, Afterward,
during the administration Of Mcrino, he was named
Minister Of the Interior and President Of the Coun
Gil OF Ministers From this point in his career
unul the day Of Ills death he assumed alone the
responsibility Of the government ut the Republic
aud with singular ability dedicated all his cncr
EeS To the complete service OF series Of political
combinations brought about by elements created
entirely by himself lie was elected President Of
the country in 1882. and remained in Office until
1884. He was again elected in 1887 when unr
| small town Of 900 inhabitants produced 10000
votes in his favor and having been re elected
four pnt helI he NJ trny
| eminent until the day Of his death
The personal appearance of Lilis was rather
| striking. He was a tall mulatto. with toleraby
| regular features, in which were blended the Afr-
| can and The Caucasian types lie had strong
| rcsolutr lips brown and piercing eyes, slightly
reccdnr chin a broad ilcshy nose shett curly
| negro hNr hinged with gray, and short-croppCd
! mustachc one hung useless and limp at
his side, the result Z" bullet wound received in his
| early days His bearing was erect aud soldier.
| like but what most struck one being remarkable
| was the comprehensive and penetrating glance
with which those intelligent wstchful eyes Of his
| would seem To take i'll the instant every thing
| that was going on around him.
| Ills Il man Of indumitable will and coed
| Judge OF character his personal bravery and cool
| ness in moments Of danger were beyond question,
and these qualities, added to his skill a soldier
and his knowledge Of the country and OF the people
| with whom he had to deal enabled him TO over
| come with ease the conspiraces which were con-
| stantly brewing against him. He inherited the
| instructive cunning Of the African negro, and &c
| CURED through constant intercourse with foreign
ers a suayity and benevolence Of demcanor which
| would throw a stranger of his guard. lie was
always watchful, although fcignng cArelessncss
| Of department, never became excited or lost con
| troll Of his temper. and in his most dangerous
| moments was attentive and courteous. lie was
| a good friend TO his friends, and allowed them to
enrich themselves at the country's expense, To
| his enemies, who were greatly in the majority, he
was unscrupulous, despo,c and cruel in his treat
| mcnt and he regarded them with most nplac-
| able hatred
He was liccntious in the extreme and was
lavshly generous TO his mis'rcsses Although
| he maintained costly establishments, lie was SIM
pie in the extreme in his personal appearance and
habits. and could accommodate himself To the
| toughest circumstances and the coarsest fare.
| He never touched intoxicants, and used only
| water as a beverage. At public functions and on
| gala occasions he wore the uniform of his office
and his bearing. though dignihed. WAS always
modest and unassuming. He cared nothing for
display and preferred a cool, blue drill suit 10
blue cloth. gold lace and epaulets but was al.
| ways scrupulously clean and neat
In his intercourse with the country people he
, dUtCtN n NIh"Hup, sing SONG pa Nis Dul 10 llt
more intelligent classes he spoke good Spanish,
with much HucnCy Of expression, He spoke ErG,
fish and French we'll, and it is stated that he un
dcrstood little German. lie is credited with be,
ing supersttious and believer in signs and Omcns
lie was generally accompanied by a personal
body guard, composed Of some SIX eight reso
Lutte cut throats each Of whom had killed his mar
and some OF whom had committed murder severa
times These men were we'll paid, were faithful
to him, were always armed to the teeth, and were
ready to defend him al mom' 4 notice or &c
carry out to the letter whatever 'rs he migh
give them. without asking any. a. i"rS.
| Ills must have maintained a whole army o
spies lie had spies everywhere, among then
many women, principally, although not always
over which he ryercised his system of espionage
was not confined TO the Dominican Republic alone,
lie he'd his agents in syH Cub" Pert? rh re?
Stand, and at every point where he imagined
that an enemy would be likely to set foot Some
represented tie interests OF the republic at difercn
points abroad, receiving pay in PROPORTION to The
vn'u, Of the information they could furnish re
gardng the movements OF the enemies OF Hen
rsanx in the I %ratss in whSh they were place
The msin,enonce Of this Institution i II can b
go called must have been heavy burden or
stantly in touch with W hat was going on aro'inC
him and he generally knew in time Of any con
spiracy against him hat may have been brewinl
shy against another. and would check of his in
formation from two distinct reports
II has been said that no one could ever fathou
Heureaux's politics. THIS Was probably because
he never had any, but would let things go along
and trus, bindly 10 luck and his ability TO auen,
10 circumstances and overcome difficulties as they
presented themselves lie relied more upon h.:
soldiers with whom he was popular, whom III
t treated we'll and who sUperstinously believed HIN
To he invulncrabe, than upon his political adviser
and supporters
His methods Of dispOsing of political prisoner
who fell into his hands were sharp and husn
, like and many stories are told Of prisoners heint
shot by the guard while trying tUriIeCt an escape,
of prisoners being poisoned in their cells OF other
being shackled hand and foot and ~ night tim
thrown overheard from the decks OF his mcn-oi
war. and again of others who have died foaminG Il
r the mouth from the effects of medlc!nes admin
a | istcrcd by the doctor deputcd TO look after thci
| health in the dungeons Of Santo Domingo City
Some Of his cnem es have been known TO TAX
r wine at the invitation OF a member of ieureauNI
| body guard and TO die almost Instantly; other
, have been murdered in the streets at night, am
| one during carnival time was stabbed 10 the hcar
with q daEEr' the mask OF his assalant allow
3 | ing him to get away unnuuCcd and undcCcied
. in Purt-Ru-Prucc political exile was shot thrnuE
. the heart by an unknown aSsa.lant, and in Port