The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-08
INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.
How Commander McCrea Put an End
to the Cape Haitien Blockade.

The present revolution in Haiti started
in the month of April. this year. and Cen
eral Tiresias Simon Sam. President of the
Haitian Republic. resigned his office and
left the island in May For the last two
months American interests in Haiti have
been looked after by the United States
gunboat Machias, Commander McCrea. 1t
recently developed that at least six Euro
pean nations had confided the protection
of their interests in Haiti wholly to the
United States naval force in Haitian
waters. Admiral Killick recently declared
Cape Haitian to be blockaded, but this
blockade was admitted to be inefficient
and was abandoned by the admiral after
Commander McCrea had made certain rep
reservations concerning it. In a letter TO
the F'irmist admiral, Admiral McCrea in
formed him that he was charged with the
protection of British. French. German,
Italian, Spanish, Russian and Cuban in
terests, as we'll as those of the United
States, and that he would prevent a second
bombardment of Cape Haitien without due
notice. In reply to this letter Admiral Kill
lick wrote Commander McCrea, promising
TO observe the usages of civilized warfare
In case II became necessary to back with
his guns the military forces operating near
decree ordering the port OF Cape Haitien
in state of blockade.
Commander McCrea communicated the
TACT OF the blockade of Cape Haitien to
the foreign consuls there and advised them
10 make formal protest, which they did.
III tnen became apparent that the blockade
was Intellectual, as an American schooner
had come in reporting no blockade. When
this fact had been established, Commander
McCrea proceeded TO Cagnette, found the
Crete-a-Pierrot in that port and sent Ad-
mir 1f0lr rntf4 TT
the government of the United States con-
sidered the blockade of Cape Haiten not
effective even as de facto' blockade, and
| that the United States denied him, Admiral
kllilck, the right to search or visit any
American or foreign vessel attempting en-
| trance to the harbor of Cape Haitien. To
| this communication Admiral Killick replied
that he appreciated the conditions and adj
mitted the inef1ciency of the blockade
which he abandoned. The blockade Incl
dent was thus closed and the Machas sailed
Aug. 30 from Gonaives for Boston.
The Crete-a-Pierrot soon after stopped
| the German steamer Markomannia, sent
an armed force on board and took posses
| sion of the war munitions she carried. after
| Commander McCrea had told Admiral Xii.
| lick that he had no right to visit or search
| any foreign vessel attempting to enter Cape
| Haitien and after the admiral had admit.
ted the blockade to be Intellectual.
| There are three candidates for the presi-
| dency of Haiti, Calithenes Fouchard
| Seneque Monplasir Pierre and M. Firmin
Inc f1rmlniStS nave been active and In
| some cases successful in their engage
ments with the forces of the provisional
! government M. Firmin is considered by
many people to have the best chance OF
| gaining the presidency. In 1889 he was
/ minister of finance and foreign affairs In
| the Cabinet of President Hyppolite Hs
directed the negotiations with Admira
| Gherardi, who had been sent by the Wash.
| ington government to try to obtain lease
| OF the Mole st. Nicholas, and he succeed.
| ed In showing that the Constitution OF
Haiti forbade the alienation of any portion
| of the territory of the republic. Under
President Sam in 1897 NJ. Firmin was also
minister of finance and foreign affairs, and
In 1900 minister of Haiti to France, where
| he was decorated with the ribbon Of the
| Legion of Honor.