The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-31
HAITI RENT WITH WAR
MINISTER POWELL's REPORT OF
CONDITIONS ON THE ISLAND.
Severe Fighting Last Week-Fate OF
General C~hicoye-His Wife's
Narrowing Experience.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.-Under date of
last evening from Port-au-Prince, United
States Minister Powell cabled the State
Department that severe fighting had taken
place the day before near Cape Haitien,
and that it was still in progress at the time
his cablegram was sent Great loss has oc-
Cured on both sides. The provisional army
was under Of General Nord.
while Juneau was in command of the revo-
lutionists. The towns of Marmalade and
Limbo had been totally destroyed in the
course OF the fighting. The Cincinnati, in
command of Captain Mclean, is now at
Cape Haitien, so that American interests
in that vicinity are well protected.
Under date of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Aug.
20, Minister Powell has made an extended
report to the State Department on the
events connected with the revolutionary
movement in that island. He describes the
destruction of st. Michael by General Ju-
meau, who burned the place to prevent 1t
from falling into the hands of government
troops. Juneau was defeated in a small
battle.
t the date Of the report, the situation In
the north was very critical, with about
OINNN A4A0 OA CaIA Sl4C 49,
other. and. in the minister's opinion, the
impending battle would not be decisive.
If General Alexis Nord prevailed over Gen
eral Juneau then the former undoubtedly
would march his army to the capital and
demand the presidency, while IL Juneau
succeeded then General Firminss reyolu-
ttonary army would soon appear before
the capital city, which would thus be men
aced from both sides. On the 18th inst.
the government forces had almost sur
rounded Gonaives and st. Marc, and 1t
was feared that In case General Juneau
was defeated both towns would be given
TO the flames, as were Petit GaoVe and st.
Michael.
The condition of the people remaining in
Petit GoaVe was most distressing, the WON
en- and children being almost without food
or raiment, and many We're hiding In the
mountains without shelter. The wife OF
General ChicOye, who set his house on IRE
In the retreat and was consumed in it, cs-
capped with her children, but two OF them
died from exposure, and she was compelled
to dig their graves and bury them with nc
one to help her. Fifty men were exiled
from this place on a Dutch steamer for
Curacao on Aug. 16.
Admiral Killick, with the rebel gunboat
Crete, was pursued a few days before BY
the D'Assas, but made his escape into shoal
water, where he could not be followed. He
was lying in wait to entrap the Paloma,
but Minister Powell prevented this by wiz
ing Commander McCrea TO protect the boat,
which consequently arrived and departed
safely. The government was orine
to prevent Killick from obtaining coal.
Congress has at last passed on all of the
election cases, and effected a permanent or
ganiZation, Mr.. Pierre having a majority OF
the chambers, without trouble occurring, as
was expected. The next step is the election
of members of the Senate and IN effort is
being made TO stop this by breaking a
quorum. and thus preventing the success OF
the Pierre party, which would result in his
election to the presidency. There were fears
of grave trouble when the two houses were
10 meet in joint session TO choose a Presi-
dent, and an attempt was or foot to reach
an agreement between the various parti-
sans to secure "A postponement until the
conflict with F1rmin was ended. Meanwhile
things were in a hopeless tangle and there
was no prospect of an immediate election
and mercantile business was suffering.
Attached to the minister's report is a
communication from United States Consul
ar Agent kampmeyer at Petit Goave, who
describes the destruction of that place and
said that misery reigned everywhere. Re
lief was brought by the French cruiser
D'Assas, whose commander distributed
1900 rations among the suffering people,
and transported a number of them to Port
au-Prince. All of the political refugees
were in the French consular agency. Mr..
Kampmeyer's house was burned down and
he was Obliged to transfer his agency &c
his country place.