Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-09-13
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A BLACK TYRANT's TREASURE.
Hope of Finding 1t Springs Eternal
In Hayti.

A BLACK TYRANT's TREASURE.
Hope of Finding 1t Springs Eternal
In Hnyti.
According to tradition in the West In
dies, the buried treasure of Captain
Kidd is small in value compared with
that which was hidden by the Black
Napoleon of Hayti. AS there are men
who hope to find Kidd's ill-gotten gains
there are others who dig on the chance
of discovering Christophe's millions
Popular report numbers these at fifteen
and makes them, In great part, Of Span
ish coins Of gold and silver. Kidd, both
as a collector Of wealth and destroyer
of life, was a tyro in comparison with
Christophe. Kidd, at times, had bowels
of compassion, though they were
shrunken. King Henri I Of Hayti knew
not such a word as pity.
Christophe was born a slave on one
of the English islands Of the West In
dies. Though not of large frame, he
had great physical strength. He also
had a furious temper, but this he was
taught with whips and irons to govern
The monotony of existence under the
Union Jack palled upon him to such an
extent before he was full grown that he
ran away. His mecca was Hayti. Slav-
cry had been abolished there and the
fame of Toussaint L'Ouverture had
spread widely among blacks as we'll as
whites. After the capture through
treachery of L'Ouverture by Gen. Le-
clerc, Of the French army Of occupa-
ton, Christophe attached himself to
the fortunes of Dessalories. His brav-
cry and cunning as guerrilla attract
ed attention while his monstrous cruel
ty was overlooked by those Of his own
side, though it filled the enemy with
terror. Dessalories, also a black and
ex-slave, gave Christophe high COM
mands and trusted him as close as one
Haytien ever trusts another.
Unlike many of his countrymen,
Christophe was highly charged with
energy. AS a slave he envied those
who indulged in q daily siesta; as
freeman he slept little and never when
others were awake.
When Dessalories had himself crown
ed as emperor in 1904, the thought oc-
Cured to Christophe that he could rule
a people as easily as command a regi-
ment. It required all his tact to escape
the suspicious attention Of Dessalories'
AS an emperor the latter played the
part of jury, Judge and executioner, and
from his decision there was no appeal,
except a successful cry to arms. This
cry was heard in Hayti in 1906. and
while it's echoes were still young the
first black emperor of Hayti was ready
for burial.
There was nestfme to he lost In secur-
ing a grip upon the direction Of affairs
and none was lost by Christophe. His
was we'll drilled for Haytien
troops and had boundless confidence In
it's chief. BY threatening and cajoling
he increased his little army until he
was strong enough to proclaim himself
ruler of the northern part Of Hayti. In
the southern part the Spanish residents
made brave fight. The war was pro-
longed for four years, but among the
Spaniards there was no leader Of the
calibre of Christophe and they capitu-
lated finally.
Upon those who remained on the Is
land Christophe practiced the most saw
age cruelties. He had an insatiate lust
for gold, as we'll as power, and it was
from the Spaniards that he wrenched
the foundation and even the bulk OF
an enormous fortune. Full Of suspicion
and trusting none except, perhaps, his
wife, be decided to build fortress In
which he could intrench himself In time
of danger; also a palace which would
rival the royal palaces Of Europe. un-
der his direction Sans Souci was built,
and, though in ruinous condition today,
is beautiful still. But the great monu-
ment of his power, energy and savage
ry is La Ferriere, huge fortress perch
ed on a mountain top and accessible
only by a steep and difficult trail.
Before the first stone of La Ferriere
was laid Christophe had himself pro-
claimed King Of Hayti, under the title
of Henri I. AS ruler he was ruthless.
Some of his projects were magnificent
but wholly out Of proportion to the size
of his kingdom or the wealth of his
people.
This wealth, however, it was his de-
sign to possess himself. He levied and
collected taxes and these were so graded
that no man was asked to pay more
than he possessed, or the king thought
he possessed. No man might labor for
himself while works for the king re-
NAMED undone. Thousands of tons OF
stone in huge blocks were needed for
La Ferriere They were provided
though each block cost life. Hills were
levelled and ravines were filled to the
tops. Steadily and not slowly grew the
walls Of La Ferriere. There
was no water on the mountain top from
which La Ferriere frowned. A we'll was
dug deep into it's heart and from an
ice-cold source water gushed. The gar
rison was safe from thirst.
Dungeons many, deep, dark were
OF these the bottle-necKed
dungeons were built upon specifications
provided by Christophe. There are four
of these bottle-necked dungeons III q
row. The fall to the bottom OF the
first is fifteen feet, the second twenty
feet, the third thirty feet, while the
bottom Of the fourth is in the heart OF
the mountain. The latter Is sepulcnre
filled with the bones of those who per-
ished under the rule of Christophe, oth-