Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-31
President Much Affected by
Report of Killing of Two
Ship Troopers.
SHIPPED FROM BRUSH
Further Outbreaks by Ma
tives Feared, Although
City Reported Quiet.

Cornish N H., July 3t.-The killing
Of two American bluejackets by ma
uves Of Port Au Prince. Haiti, was re-
ported oficially to President Wilson
today. He expressed concern and d.
rected that all information obtainabls
be forwarded 10 him from Washington.
In answer to questions concerning ths
Haitien situation the president said he
knew no more than the public gem
orally
The killing of the American sailors
had a depressing effect on the presi-
dent He received only a brief outline
Of the messages received from Rear
Admiral Caperton, commanding the
American landing party at Port Au
Prince.
The president remained indoors at
the summer White house" this morn
ing working on correspondence and Of
fetal business received from Washing
ton.
tleship Connecticut, with nearly 500
marines on board. sailed from the
Philadelphia navy yard today for Port
Au Prince Haiti, where the sea SOL
diers will reinforce those already on
duty there. As the Connecticut drew
away from her dock sailors and ma
rines on board the battleship Mime
sofa and the cruisers Brooklyn and
Columbia lined the rails and the bands
played the Star Spangled Banner"
The marines. many of whom saw
service at Vera Cruz during the Amer
ican occupation Of the Mexican city
last year, are commanded by Colonel
e. K. Cole Of the United States marine
corps. Captain p. Fl. Durrell is in
command of the battleship, which is
expected 10 reach Port Au Prince in
four or five days Equipment placed
aboard the vessel last night included
everything a landing force would re-
quire. One Of the new features is q
sectional kitchen. particularly adapt
ed for use in tropical lands Each
section is eight feet high and five feet
wide and it can be erected in a few
minutes, Twenty-four automatic ma
chine guns and the usual complement
Of three-inch field pieces were taken
along.
Disnrming Natives.
Washington, - c., July 31-Reports
today from the American legation in
Port Au Prince. Haiti say the city is
quiet and that the disarming OF the
natives is going on They recommend
a larger naval force be sent to the
island for the moral effect and to as
sist in patrol duty.
While officials here today awaited
further details Of the fighting between
Haitiens and the forces under Rear
Admiral Caperton at Port Au Prince
In which two American blueiackets
were killed, additional marines were
being gotten in readiness to be rushed
TO Haiti The battleship Connecticut,
with five hundred marines aboard. was
due to sail today from Philadelphia.
In addition. the naval transport Han
cock at Philadelphia also will go 10
Haiti carrying other forces, II was said.
The Americans who lost their lives
in the clash which occurred Thursday
night were William Gcmpers, seaman.
OF Brooklyn. and Cason 8. Whitehurst.
ordinary seaman, Of Norfolk. Va.
Warned Of Attack.
In reporting the incident Rear Ad-
miral Caperton said that he had been
warned that an attack would be made
on Port All Prince where the marines
had been landed TO restore order after
reyolutionists had taken the city. He
sent his men out 20 the edge OF the
city TO meet the attacking party, leav-
ing a strong guard 10 maintain order
in town,
The attack began at O'Clock and
bluejackets bore the brunt Of the fight
ing Snipers from the brush opened
fire which was promptly returned by
the blueiackets. The attacking party
was beaten of No Eailors were
wounded and the loss Of the attacking
The navy department issued a state
ment saying that Rear Admiral Ca
perton has reported from Port Au
Prince that during. the entry Of the
United States force into the town OF
Port Au Prince and the fighting dur
in gthe previous night, SIX Haitiens
we're killed and two wounded The
disarming Of soldiers and civilians is
reported as still going on and a guam
tity of arms and ammunition already
has been collected and placed under
guard in the palace.
For~p fs r4at