The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-06
SWORD and Gun FIREMEN
~ TCH GREW nm ALL THE FIRE
FIGHTING AZ AK CAVES.
II Was a nay Of GLORY for the Black Army
and the Generals on Horseback No
Pumps or Buckets. 50 sailors Pulled
Down Houses with B,ork ami Tackle.

and the Generals on Horseback No
Pumps or buckets. 50 sailors Pulled
Down Houses with Block ami Tackle.
Capt A r. Nyboer. skipper Of the
Royal Dutch West India liner Prins
Willem /, in yesterday from Hayti.
fingered a fine gold chain and miniature
compass charm attached to watch
that he received at Port AL Prince from
President Simon OF the Black Republic.
His officers and members Of his crew
saw he deserved the testimonial. which
was presented to him for saving from
destruction by fire some OF the best bust
ness places and residences in the city of
Aux Caves. which on February ~ and,
the day after was practically wiped out.
The skipper and his men have not high
opinion Uf the fire department of Aux
Cages. In fact there are no boys that
run wild de machine in Aux Cayes. not
even fire extinguishing brigade But
there was a multitude of Generals on
horseback and afoot who made a fine
effort to put out the blaze by waving their
swords and shooting on revolvers
The Prins Willem was the only ship
In port when the fire showed itself at
1870 o'clock in the morning Most OF
the 10000 residents Of Aux Cages are
blacks and large number are Generals
President Simon owned thirty five houses
In the city. where he was born. and the
rumor that reached the Dutch liner was
that some Of the political enemies Of the
President had decided to burn him out
in a general connagration.
Capt. Nyboer noted that the fire was
doing pretty much a. it pleased with
the city and offered the services Of him
self and his crew in checking the flames.
The authorities. mostly on horseback,
decided that 1t would be a reflection
on the ability OF the fire department
to let white people come in and do any
thing for black people.
Finally. when it looked as IL the whole
city would 60 up in smoke and after the
white merchants had become aroused
to the danger. the authorities got down
on their horses. figuratively. and per-
mitted the skipper and his men to do
something. BY this time most OF the
wooden one storied buildings had been
licked up. The better strlictures made
up in part Of two and three storied places
with brick and stone bases running up
six feet or more from the sidewalks.
were slowly vanishing. The population
seemed to be chiefly connected with the
army. one Of the semi monthly revolu-
tions being under way. and the duty Of
the army apparently was not putting out
fires. but filing it's interior with fire
water. Everybody with a uniform. not
necessarily like anybody else's uniform.
was outdoors shrieking or drinking or
machete or sabre or shooting
revolver or gun. All the Generals on
horseback rode down all the Colonels.
Captains and Lieutenants who could not
AFFORD the luxury Of a mount. Mean
while the fire was getting in its work
Capt. Nyboer brought ashore forty
men and a lot Of tackle and axes. AL
though the city is almost surrounded by
water. there we're no Buckets and no
There were some buckets in some of the
stores but all the stores had been closed
by their owners for fear that the mob
would loot them. II really did not matter
in the end as most OF the stores were
destroyed later by fire.
Capt. Nyboer and his men rigged tackle
to the pillars and other supports of a
house across the way from row in line
of the fire and looping a heavy hawser
around window frames. that is in one