Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-08
German Vessel Destroys Fir
~ miniSt Man-Of-War.
Latter Had Held Up German Steamer
and Captured Arms.
Affair May Lead to Complications of a
Serious Nature.

~ Nv SUI VIZ VI Niit Il u patty ato
sunk at the entrance of the harbor of
Gonaives by the German gunboat Pan
ther. Details of the occasion are lack
ing. The crew of the Crete-a-Perrot
left her before she went down.
The German gunboat Panther ar
rived at Port ~ Prince. Sept. 5. 1t
was announced from cape Haytien,
Sept. 3. that the German steamer Mar
komannia. belonging to the Hamburg
American Packet Co. having on board
arms and ammunition sent by the pro
yincial government to Cape Haytien
had been stopped, Sept. 2, by the Fir
minist gunboat Cretea- Pierrot at the
=. entrance to the harbor of Cape Haytcn
'-94nd that7an armed force sent on board
the steamer from the gunboat took
possession of the war munitions in
spite Of the protestations of Capt Nan
sen and the German consul. The SELF
ure of the Markomannia has been
characterized as an act of piracy. But
dispatch from Berlin to The Associ-
ated Press dated Sept. said German
government circles did not take
tragic view of the seizure of the Ger
man vessel but that satisfaction would
be demanded. The foreign office
agreed with the view held by the for
eign representatives at Port au Prince
said the dispatch, that the action of
the Crete-a- Pierrot was piracy, but it
was not then known whether satiSfac-
ton would be demanded from Gen. Fir
min or whether the result of the revo-
luton in Hayti would be awaited.
The Creta-a Pierrot was a steel screw
vessel of $50 tons displacement. She
was armed with one 81 inch gun; one
AZ inch, four 80 inch. two Maxim ma
chine guns and four Nordenfeldt ma
chine guns.
The Crete-a-pierrot was formerly in
the service Of the Haytien government
and Admiral hilIick was commander
OF the Haytien fleet. June u of this
year Admiral Killick disembarked
troops from the Crete-a-Pirrot to sup
port Gen. Firmin, ex-Ha ytian minister
at Paris. ana one of the candidates for
the presidency of the republic. and af-
ter refusing to recognize the const!tnt-
ed authorities, he threatened to bonn
bard Cape Haytien. The consular CORPS
protested against such action being
taken. but their efforts failed of sue
cess. for a few days later the admiral
did lombard cape Haytien, although
little damage was done by the fire.
Since June q the Creta-a-Pierrot has
been operating in the interests Of Gen.
Firmiu.
The Havtian government disavowed
the action of Admiral kilIick in bonn
- harding Cape Haytien and ordered his
arrest.
..n, The Panther is a steel cruising vessel
of e77 tons displacement. She was
built at Danzipil in 1901. and is 266 feet
long. She is armed with eight "a inch
quick firing guns, six Ia inch and two
machine guns. The Panther left Ger
many July 90 for the Caribbean sea.
Capt Schneider. the newly appointed
German commander on the American
station, had an audience with Emperor
William to receive special instructions
before starting for his post on the
, Panther.
The revolution in Hayti started in the
month of April OF this year and Gen.
Tircsias Simon Sam. President of the
Haytien republic. resigned his office and
left the island in May. For the last
two months American interests in
Hayti have been looked after by the
United states gunboat Machias, COM
mander McCrea. II recently developed
s that at least six European nations had
contided the protection Of their inter
csts in Hayti wholly to the United
States naval force in Haytain waters.
Haytlen to be blockaled but this
blockade admitted % be inefficient
ana was .1.- frl.I MIST the admiral af-
ter CommarAnt N.trea Informed him
that he was charged with the protec-
ton Of British, French, German.
Italian, Spanish. Russian and Cuban
interests. as well as those Of the United
States and that he would prevent
second bombardment OF Cape Haytien
without due notice.
In reply to this letter Admiral Killick
wrote Commander McCrea promising TO
observe the usaSes of civilized warfare
in case IL became necessary TO back with
his guns the military forces operating
near Cape Haytion and called his atten-
ton TO a decree ordering the port of Cape
Haytien in a state OF blockade. Com
mander McCrea communicated the fact of
the blockade of Cape Haytien to the for
eign consuls there and advised them to
make a formal protest which they did.
1t then became apparent that the block
AIDE was Intellectual, as an American
schooner had come in reporting block
AIDE When this tact had been established
.s. Commander MoCrea proceeded to Gag
nette found the Crete-a-Pierrot in that
port and sent Admiral Killick a letter in
United States considered the blockade of
Cane Haytien not effective even as p
''de facto'' blockade and that the United
States denied him, Admiral Killick, the
right TO search or visit any American or
foreign vessel attempting entrance to the
harhor of Cape Haytien.
To this communication Admiral Killick
"a replied that he appreciated the conditions
and admitted the ineflieieney of the block
AIDE. which he abandoned.
80 The blockade incident was thus closed
and the Machias sailed. Aug. so, from
Gonaives for Boston.
The Crete-a-Pielrot stopped the German
steamer Markomm Innia, sent an armed
force on board and took possession of the
war munitions she carried. after Com
I'll niander McCrea tad told Admiral KiIlick
that he had no right to visit or search
any foreign vessel attempting to enter
Cape Haytien, and after the admiral had