The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20
WEST INDIES TIN WARRIORS.
Anecdotes of Some Queer DOings in
SantO Domingo and Haiti.

Anecdotes of Some Queer DOings in
Santo Domingo and Haiti.
From the New York Mail and Express.
The new revolution in Santo Domin-
go against the government of Presi-
dent TVos Gil is only one of many
which have taken place in that un-
happy country since the assassination
of President HeureauX in 1899. Heu-
reaux was an iron-hearted, heavy
handed tyrant who kept the public
peace by the simple expedient of hang
ing and shooting all the turbulent
characters he could lay his hands up
on. Since his death nobody has arisen
strong enough to preserve order among
the unruly Dominicans.
Ex-President Jimenez, in whose be-
half this latest revolution is said to
have been started, has a big reputa-
ton in the West Indies as the man
who euchred Uncle Sam" He Is cred
tied with an amusing little coup of his
own at the expense of the United
| States government just after the decla-
ration of war with Spain. Gen. Gomez,
the famous Cuban leader, was Do
minican by birth and friend of Jim
enez. He gave Jimenez a letter Of
recommendation to the War Depart
ment, and that plausible person, so the
story goes, persuaded the officials to
equip the steamship Fanita with 1900
rifles and 100000 cartridges, and to
| intrust it to him to land an expedi-
| ton to assist Gomez. But instead of
going to Cuba, Jimenez landed in San
| to Domingo and made little hell of
| his own"
He started a revolution, but his
flibusters were beaten by the troops
| of Heureaux and he had to fly Heu-
reaux threatened awful things against
the United States for aiding an armed
| invasion of a friendly power" War
| like proclamations were published in
Santo Domingo, but the facts did not
| come out here. The authorities at
washington, unwilling to admit pub
licly that they had been "buncoed"
bv Jimenez, put some New York bond
| holders on Heureaux's track. They
sent an emissary to Santo Domingo,
who persuaded Heureaux that he had
better be quiet unless he wanted to
be pressed for the money he owed.
Jiemnez Not n Fighter.
Jimenez became President after the
death of Heureaux. He was deposed
! nv his own Vice President, Vaquez,
who. in turn, was kicked out by Wos y
| Gil. against whom the present revolu-
ton is directed. Jimenez is wealthy
man. having made several millions OF
mingo. When in power he encouraged
the development of his country by
| American capital, and that was the
main cause of his downfall. Natural
w he is we'll liked by the Americans
who live in Santo Domingo or have pc
cuniarv interests there. AS Domini-
can politicians go, he is able and en-
| lightened, but he is not a good fight
era fatal drawback for a man OF his
aspirations. He generally stays in New
York when out of power, puts up the
money and let's other people do the
fighting. -.
| armies of Haiti and Santo Domingo
are mostly true. An Englishman had
n contract to supply coal to the steam
ers which called at the port of Santo
Donineo City. Three or four hundred
Dominicans worked for him, carrying
the coal on their heads In baskets from
tho wharf to the steamers For this
work they were paid 25 cents day.
one day one of them asked for hol-
iday. saying he had to attend re-
view of the troops.
"You are one OF the soldiers. theng'
asked the Englishman.
"No. senor." the half-naked mulatto
replied. Il am a general, and have
TO lead my brigade at the review"
Comic Opera Armies.
The Engllshman made inquiries and
foIlnd that several OF his labOrers were
generals or colonies in the regular
army or the reserves. As their pay
only amounted 10 a few dollars year
even when they got II, they were glad
to take any work they could obtain