Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-13
HAYTIEN= DOMINICAN BOUNDARY.
History of the DeImtatOn TrOube-How River Was Made
to Change Its Course-A Trick OF Nght-Awat'
ing Conflict OF Arms.

posts established in that district to
put down smuggling and brgandage
from over the border have had TO de-
fend themselves against repeated at
tacks. BY mutual consent the river
Massacre. which divides the DOmini-
can province OF Dajabon from Haytien
territory, has for a long time been pro-
ylsionally accepted by both govern
ments as the natural boundary of the
two states.
All the country on the right bank Of
the river was acknowledged u belong
to Santo Domingo. whilst the Country
on the left bank was regarded by both
governments as Haytien territory. And
hereby hangs a funny and interesting
tale The Dominicans, year or two
ago, conceived brilliant idea. Know
ing that nature sometimes makes rivers
IN the tropics change their course, II
occurred TO some people residing on
the right bank Of the stream that they
might add considerably to Dominican
territory II they could manage to ef-
feet deviation in the bed OF the
Massacre. And no sooner thought than
attempted. Huge bouders end trunks
Of trees were repeatedly rolled into the
river. This. the Haytens say. was with
the knowledge and conniyance OF the
Dominican government. But up to the
date OF the commencement Of the pres
ent troubles, all such attempts TO Inn
prove upon nature proved unavailing
For the Haytiens on the left bank dis
covered the little scheme and time af-
ter time removed the obstacles In the
river before damage was done.
However. within a couple OF weeks
ago q remarkable thing happened. The
Haytlen soldiers az Philobert. situated
on Haytlen territory on the left bank
OF the Massacre river retired 20 rest
one night. When they awoke next
morning they looked In vain for thc
river. the bed over which the water
had previously flowed was dry. In
yestirations followed. and IL was found
that the river was flowing over a new
channel some miles 20 the west or
course the Dominlcans discovered. not
that the river had changed It's bed IN
the course Of night but that the
Uavtien soldiers had transferred some
substantial buildings some miles into
the interior Of Santo Domingo In the
space Of a single setting and rising OF
the sun. The Dominican representa-
tives appeared Immediately upon what
was Haytien territory the day before
and called upon the Havtien officer TO
remove his position 10 the other side
of the river. The Dominican officer
who made the demand expressed the
indignation OF his government at the
contemtible action ~ the Haytiens The
Haytiens however. refused TO with
draw their post. calling instead upon
the Dominicans 70 restore the river 70
its original bed. Then the trouble com
menced. There was clash OF arms
The Haytiens had the upper hand. and
so the Dominicans agreed TO have the
whole matter decided by arbitration
Meantime the Dominicans are quiet
" preparing for war; and there Is a
strong feeling In Hayti that there will
be clash OF arms before the question
OF arbitration is settled. The Hay
tlen troops along the frontier have been
reinforced and are now quietly awaiting