The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-14
Chicago Inter Ocean.

naval officer to little group at his CLUB,
that they are having another revoiutlon
down in Haiti. 1t was my privilege to
have assisted in the suppression of one OF
these revolutions once. But then Haiti
had president who knew just how 20
grapple with such situations. He didn't
wait for the revolutionists to come gun
ming after him. He went after the rebels
hot foot, and when he had dispersed them
and captured their leaders he took the
latter out on the plaza in front OF the
palace at Port au Prince and shot them.
He used to have them tried after they
were dead, and, singular to relate, the
jury or ourt-martial always found that
they should be shot, which cleared Presl-
dent Salnave's skirts.
''This man Simon Sam who has fled from
Haiti never did amount to anything. He is
sort of an upstart who managed to over
throw things for while, but the natives
never had any use for him. He is now,
you know on his way to Paris, When ne
arrives there he will spend the rest OF
his life in France, for he will never dare
to return to his native country. II he
does they will kill him.
"How did come to go down to Haiti?
Well, you see, after the war was over l
was assigned to duty in the ordnance bu-
reau in the Brooklyn navy yard. Most
men would have thought that pretty fine
berth, but for young fellow who had been
for the past four years chasing blockade
runners on the Atlantic coast, who had
taken part in the fight in Mobile bay, and
who had been on the Hartford with Far
ragut/at the passing Of the forts at New
Orleans, the berth was an exceedingly
monotonous one. ..--. .. :E- .. &"
Haiti's First War Vessel.
lone day an official of the navy depart
ment at Washington blew into the bu-
reau at the Brooklyn navy yard with three
of the most gorgeous birds OF plumage IN
his wake that I ever laid my eyes upon.
The fact that they were black men only
served to enhance their brilliancy. They
proved to be the members Of the Haitian
commission that had been sent to the
United States to buy vessel OF war. we
were getting rid of our navy at that time
as rapidly as we could find purchasers, SO
it was an easy matter to sell the commits
sion steam craft that had done good duty
on the blockading station.
"Rif1ed cannon were not SO common then
as they have become since. That was the
reason OF the commissions visit to my de-
partment explained to the members the
advantages of the rihed shot and the
breach loader, and showed them several
samples of this weapon. They were very
much impressed with the gun, and decided
to add one to the equipment OF the vessel
they had bought. All the rest OF her bat
terry were smooth bores. III
IA month or so afterward the Haitian
minister at Washington ran over to the
yard and made a proposition to me to
enter the Haitian service on vessel ne
had bought with the title of Chef d'Artil-
lery. The pay was away up, long con-
tract was offered, and he showed letters
from the president Of Haiti authorizing
him to act. I liked the proposition. and
the prospect of adventure it held forth,
so resigned my position and entered the
Haitian service. An entire corps OF white
officers, all naval men, was hired, and a
few gunners and petty officers to show the
Haitians how to manage man-of-war.
I'VE were ordered to report for duty on
the vessel that had been bought, which
had been christened the Terror, and was
the first vessel of the Haitian navy-and
to take her to Port au Prince.
An Enthusiastic Reception.
! When we arrived at Port au Prince the
occasion was made a gala one. President
! Salnave came OFF to the vessel, and we re-
had been taught to observe in the United
States navy 1t tickied him to death, and
his. suite ALSO. You meyer saw anything
like the latter in your, life, There were
| few among them that, could muster q
complete uniform, but all had portions ol
one. Some only had lehapeaus glistenine
with gold braid and feathers, pair o.
Others would have gorgeous uniform
coats on, and old straw hats on theiI
heads. It was as much as we white men
could do to keep our, faces straight at the
ludicrous' display, but they were perfectly
serious. - .s.
"of course they were, all black, and
the African type of: feature was the con
spicuous one. In none however, more
| than in President SalnaYe. He was black
as the ace Of spades and six feet three
inches in height. He spoke English per-
fectly, and French, Spanish and Italian
equally as we'll. In fact, the Haitians are
born linguists, and the educated class
who generally go. to France to receive
their education, are a most polished ano
agreeable set of men. when they desire
to be so. The. trouble with them how
ever, Is that as general thing wher
they return from France to Haiti they re.
vert back to their original type, the same
as many Of our educated Indians do wher
they go back to their people.
Ruled by "voodooism.''
"Salnave was, without exception, thu
most accomplished Haitian and the mos
patriotic as far as his lights let him be
that ever met in my three years stay IL
| ne WIS d piU6iceptSS- I1C Uo
lieved in education, but did not dare t.
put his ideas in practice because of thu
I prejudice to education engendered by th'
'Voodoo' men. That was the only powe
on earth that Salnave feared. It is thu
power also that holds Haiti in the mos
CALLING bonds.
Every class Of society is permeatet
with the belief in 'Voodooisn.' It has it,
secret courts and does not hesitate tt
summon the highest in the land befor'
them for judgment And they go, too.
If a man or woman should defy I
summons of one of these courts it woult
not be many days before death woult
l occur. No one ever knows who compcsei
the courts or who serves the summons
Ia mans father may be 'Voodoo' maj
and the son never, know it.
DAY after day In Port Au Prince when
have been out very early In the morning
have seen the ominous red chalk cross OF
the doors of houses. 1t was the summon!
of 'voodooism,' and the man OF the houst
had to report to the 'voodoo' court tha
same night. Such thing as defiance was
never thought Of He would bid his family
farewell and go off to the secret meeting
place Of the 'voodoos back in the country
He might come back. In many cases ht
never did But no inquiry was ever made