The Washington times., 1906-04-26
AMERICANS CAUSED
MORALES FLIGHT
FROM DOMINGO
Attempted Landing of
Sailors Almost Cost
His Life.
BRADFORD AS POLITICIAN
Story of How He and DaW-
son Arranged a
Coup.
BRADFORD AS POLITICIAN

The inside history Of the flight Of the
Former President of Santo Domingo
Carlos f. Morales. and his minister Of
foreign affairs. Sanchez, has leaked out
in Washington
Connected with the downfall Of Mo-
faies, is story of an attempted coup
detat. which all but resulted in 1.SOO
American bluejackets being cut TO
pieces by the cannon OF the Moro and
other fortifications of Santo Domingo
city. which the Jiminista army in de-
hance OF President Morales. had man
ned, loaded with sIugs and grape shot
20 prevent the landing of the sailors.
This was the sO-called Scorpion affair.
Al the time OF the Incident, official re
ports mentioned only a landing party
from the little gunboat Scorpion ordered
for the purpose Of exercising the men.
As matter of fact. all the available
men from Rear Admiral Bradford s
ships. then off the city. were sent into
the harbOr in small boats, carrying small
arms and guns. Because the bigger
vessels could not go close in, the party
used the little Scorpion as a base.
A Perilous Job.
Rear Admiral Bradford undertook this
periious job after a conference with
United States Minister Dawson. = con-
NeTsdtion between Mr. Dawson and the
then Foreign Minister Sanchez is a part
OF the story. This conversation, a day
or two before the attempted landing
convinced Mr. Dawson that President
Morales and Sanchez. both being Hora-
cistas' and the only members of that
party even figuratively in the govern
ment Of Santo Domingo. could maintain
their prestige no longer, unless the
s. N of 1a Tr,sr
by armed domination Of the city.
Mr.. Sanchez is reported to have cabled
Mr.. Dawson that only by bolstering up
Morales. routing the Jiministas and
making the government of the country
Horacista. in fact as well as in name
could the pending Dominican treaty be
Mr.. Dawson in turn convinced Raar
ADMIRAL Bradford that the landing OF
a great force of bluejackets was essen
Hurriedly Arranged.
The landing was hurriedIy arranged.
On the day selected for the coup. every
man that could be spared from the
ships was started ashore. a swarm Of
small boats carrying the party.
tremendous excitement immediately
broke loose in Santo Domingo city,
president Morales and Foreign Minister
sanchez we're in imminent danger of
their lives. the report spreading like
"ild-fire that they had betrayed the
country to the Americans
The Jimlnista minister Of war o,,ic,-1,.
manned the old Moro, built in Chrisfo
pher Columbus time. and the other bar-
Dor works. loaded the guns. and ran
them through the embrasures
when the American small boat fotiIIa
passed inside it faced an array of can
non that truly frowned. The Jiminisra
party IN the meantime had gotten word
70, 20 rear e, admiral Bradford that if a land
ana cut the landing party to pieces.
Bradford'S Defiance.
Rear Admiral Bradford forthwith flew
the following signal TO his fleet:
IF the forts fire. engage and silence
them"
The American ships were cleared for
action. and men who saw the affair say
that American ships were nearer real
fighting at that moment than al ar1,
time since 1S9S-
Rear Admiral Bradford. however. soon
PercelvlnS that the attempt could be sue
cessful only with great loss of life. ow-
Ing to the unexpected preparedness Of
the Jiministas, slgnaled the LANDING
party 70 lay to Negotiations were OPEN
ed with the forts, and it was agreed that
the sailors would be recalled II the DO
minicans would leave the forts and cease
10 menace the small boats. This ae-rea-
ment, after considerable dickering. was
carried out. and the landing party re
turned 10 the ships.
Morales Downfall.
The incident proved Morales downfall
4 dozen would-be assassins were search
Ing the city for the supposedly traitor
o1s President. while a rabble threatened
the palace.
Morales was found later in the interior
with a broken leg. and under immunity
obtained for him by the American naval
officers was. permitted TO leave the conn
try. He and Sanchez, who also escapen
on condition of exile, are now in Porto
Rico.
The Jiministas were all but estranged
by the landing incident. Particularly
were they angry q. Rear Admiral Brad
FORD, whom they considered a potential
invader Of their country. This. ii is said.
led 10 the Department of State request
ing the Navy Department to turn the
Domlngan naval command over to some
other officer.
Bradford soon received orders to sail
win ms flagship. the Olympia, and Com
mander sutherland is now in charge of
the american ships in DOMINICAN waters