Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-05
Admiral Killick's Reply.

commander: L received your note of to-
day and hasten to assure You that If it
become necessary to back with my guns the
military forces now operating near Cape
Haytien / would only do after giving due
notice to the consular corps, as remanded
by usages of civilized warfare, and even
then the firing would be on the fOrtifica tiOns
and not on the city. Concerning the stop
page of vessels entering the harbor | hasten
to hand you the inclosed two documents one
bearing upon the formation of the conseil
cXecutf at GOnaives. the other decreeing
the port of Cape Haytien in state of
blockade. l beg you to communicate them
to the members of the consul corps residing
in the city. ] also hope for peaceful So
luton of the difficulty In case it should
become necessary for foreigners to evacuate
the city / shall not fail to visit you and de-
eide upon the matter. / have the honor to
He further told the boat officer that he
had that morning tried to "heave to- 4
steamer not showing any colors by firing
blank cartridge, but she turned and ran
away. He said he wished then to send a
communication to the American consul, but
afterward by messenger he learned that
the ship was the Paloma carrying arms
and ammunition to Cape Haytien, the deliv-
cry of which he claims the right to prevent
He further than to blockade de facto. dis
claimed any right or desire to interfere
with foreign interests.
Upon receiving his note was boarded by
tiit CollilueHtidl interpreter ana clerk OF
Gen. Nord Alexis. who In the latters name
asked me II l was going to capture the
Crete Pierrot, as she had stopped
steamer carrying munitions of war for the
provisional government. I declined to tell
him what 1 would do, but said: Shall now
await instructions from Washington
Minister PowelPs Instructions.
Minister Powell cabled me: "Gonaives gov
ernment not recognized; Killick cannot de-
clare blockade of inf
your protection to any American, Cuban or
foreign vessel that desires to enter cape"
My reply to which was: Conditions threat
ening ashore; consuls urge my Immediate
presence; blockade reported department;
precedent exists"
The consuls came on board and I deliv-
cred to them the notice of blockade advis-
ing formal protest, which was duly made
The consuls reported warnings and placards
showing existing hatred, and earnestly de-
sired me to keep my anchorage.
Told to Ignore Blockade
The following dispatch from Mr. Powell
was received at 1:3O p.m 11th instant:
ignore Killick's blockade; see that for
eign vessels have free entrance to cane:
act in accordance with these instructions
unless instructed otherwise by the DEPART
ment' Replied: Negotiations forbid trans
ferring responsibility. Await departments
oecislcH, DlOchdQe apparently abandoned"
Later on August II 1 received depart
ment's cable regarding the effectiveness of
blockade, and since an American schooner
had come In reporting no blockade, 1 con-
sidered blockade abandoned, cabling de-
partment and Minister Powell, also in
formed consular corps officially that block
ade was Intellectual and could not be re-
established without another notice.
Late August II l received an official noti-
fcation from General Nord Alexis that
the Crete Pierrot was at Cagnette about
nine miles distant I ordered steam early
next morning and secured the best pilot
the consul could procure, as our charts are
old, scant and unreliable.
Notification to Killick.
August 13 we arrived at Cagnette found
the Crete a Pierrot In port, but the pilot
was unwilling to carry us in. evincing much
uncertainty and nervousness. There being
a fishing boat near with an employe of the
Belgian consul In her. sent Admiral Kill
lick the following letter, at the same time
inclosing to him the protest signed by the
consuls:
Admiral H. Killick, Haitien Navy.
Dear Sir: / came to ascertain your
whel eabouts and to, II possible, deliver to
you the decision of my government regard
ing your proposal to blockade Cape Hay
tien.
TT Is considered not effective even as a
de facto' blockade, and I am here to t.lI
you that the United States denies you the
right to visit or search any American or