Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-05-08
/ WAS A HEAVY F|GHT.
Heavy Engagement for Two Days
Preceded the Fall of the City
of Santo Domingo.
United States Representatives a:
Dean Of Diplomatic Corps worked
for Safety Of People.
President Jiminez and the Government
Officers are Under Protection
of Foreigners.

San Domingo, Santo Domingo, May
2.-The Dominican capital capitulated
today to the revolutionary forces com
manded by General Horatio Vasquez.
the vice president of the republic.
President Jiminez sought refuge in the
French consulate and many govern
ment officers obtained shelter in the
French and United States legations.
The revolutionary troops entered the
capital quietly. There was no enthu
siasm shown by the population here at
the entry Of the victorious army.
The approach Of the revolutionists
to the capital was announced after two
days heavy fighting between the gov.
ernment troops and the forces of Gen.
eral Vasquez, during which many were
killed or wounded on both sides.
When it became known here that
General Vasquez threatened to attack
San Domingo the United States min.
lister, William F. Powell, as dean of the
diplomatic corps, requested the Do
garding the arrangements made to
protect the lives and property of for
eigners here, adding that in case no
precautions were taken he would con-
slider it his duty to take such meas
ures to provide for their safety as the
situation demanded. The nature of
the reply of the government was not
made public. ~
Intense excitement prevailed here
among the population and in govern.
ment circles when the news Of the ap-
proach of the revolutionary army be,
came generally known. r. : ,ss@ E'se .".. !. .
When the revolutionists were sight
ed Minister Powell called a meeting of
the diplomatic and consular bodies, at
the United States legation, for the pur-
pose of deciding upon the best means
of protecting life and property and to
prevent injury to non-combatants in
case of an assault being made on San
Domingo, with the result that a delega
tion composed of the United States
minister, the French minister, the
Spanish consul, the German consul, the
italian consul and the British consul
was appointed to wait upon General
Vasquez and inform him that no attack
could be made on the capital under the
rules of war until due notice had been
given to the diplomatic and consular
corps here. A messenger was then
dispatched to General Vasquez, ask
ing him to select the time and place,
for an interview with the delegations.
The messenger returned with the reply
that the revolutionary general had ap-
pointed the following morning for the
Interview, adding that, in the mean
while, he would suspend all hostilities
if the government would agree to
adopt the same course. siH ta s{5
Does Not Keep His Promise.
During the evening, however, Gen
eral VaBquezi informed the government
that he was shipping munitions of war
on q gunboat to San Domingo and that
he had sent troops to the river Ozama
to take possession Of the port and pre-
vent steamers from leaving San Do
mingo. Mr.. Powell was advised of
these movements and he dispatched
another messenger to General Vasquez
demanding that his troops, retire &C.
cording to the agreement that he
would suspend all hostilities. The rev:
OlutiOnists, however, already practi-
cally had possession of the city and
the diplomatic and consular delega-
tion, when 1t met General Vasquez the
next day (May ~, could only offer it's
good Offices with the view Of inducing
General Vasquez to send committee
to San Domingo to arrange with the
government the terms for the formal
surrender of the capital. The general
agreed to this. Later the same day,
however, the Haytian minister and
the Spanish minister communicated to
the revolutionary commander a mes
sage from President Jiminez consent
ing to the drawing up Of a treaty of
'capitulation which was to provide a
full guarantee for. the safety of the Of
ficials, employees and defenders Of the
government, as well as for the secur-
.ity of personal property. The presi-
dent and the ministers, it was further
agreed, were not to leave the country
before the submission Of all the au-
,thorities Of the different districts of
3Santo Domingo had been received and
all political prisoners were to be 1iber-i
ated. Il. 5 d
The revolutionary army entered San
Domingo at il a. m. the same day,
Friday, and took possession of the
government buildings. The form Of
the new government of San Domingo
has not vet been decided upon.
Peace is completely re-establis
in the southern part Of Santo Domingo
Advices from Puerto Plata, on the
north coast, announce that the crew Of
the Dominican war vessel at that port
has sided with the insurgents and have
conveyed to the governor, General
/ SDeschamps, an order to surrender. An
agreement providing for suspension
{ Of hostilities at Puerto Plata was
signed later in the day, so as to per-
nit the drawing UP OF the conditions
on which the port will capitulate to the
eyolutionists.
Faith In your own ability is two
4 thirds aig of the battle. Chicago News.