Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-03
SAyACERY IN HAITI
yIyIDLY PORTRAYED BY
AMERICAN ENGINEER
Osborne S. Blake, Of Harris
burg, Pa, Tells of Atrocities
Perpetrated by Both Fac
fions in Internecine Strife
TORTURE OF CAPT1vEs
Darbarity Employed by Black Com
batants to Extort Military Secrets
and Obtain Rum

The revolution In Haiti surpassed In
barbarity the European war so far as the
d,sposai OF military prisoners was con-
corncd ana the fendish methods used TO
gain knowledge OF hidden loot, according
TO osborne 8 Blake. an American engi'
ncor, who was In the interior OF the Island
when the trouble broke out. Both rebel
and Federal troops, according to Mr.
Blake. resorted to the most barbarous
neans Of torture imaginable in order to
obtain rum and extort military secrets.
Afr Blake, who is a native OF Harris
burg. returned from Haiti last week. He
has been In this city several days on
business trip. and left for New York yes
terday afternoon preparatory to return
ING to the turbulent island. Although
only young man, his profession has
nefted him considerable experience In
The ever-~arring republics OF Central
America as well as In Haiti.
When interviewed at the Bellevue STRAIT
ford Mr. Blake modestly related his part
IN the miniature war. He declared that
despite his thrilling adventures he does
not wish 10 be regarded as hre-eater
escaped with his life.
eat the outbreak OF the trouble" said
he, II was In the interior of the Island
with a gang OF native workmen survey
ing for road and telegraph line. The
only white man I'm the party besides my
self was my French assistant. who was
later killed by the rebel troops.
FIRED ON FROM AMBUSH.
srrouble, like rain in Haiti. comes sud
he aruf int Nup
hostilities came in the form Of an am
buscade. While returning to camp one
evening we were fired upon from the
brush, and the next thing we knew we
were surrounded by a mob Of blood
thirsty blacks. / thought II was all over
with me. my assistant having received
a bullet in the head as a result of the
first volley.
"Wishing to exact as much toll as pos
sible for the poor fellows life, / drew
my revolver and discharged It at an off-
Ger or what l thought to be an officer
from his uniform. 1 then emptied the rest
OF the chambers into the mob. After that
prayers seemed to me to be appropriate
Tor the occasion.
ITO my surprise. however, instead of
hring upon me, an order was given by
q large black who appeared to be the
leader whcreupon several of the troops
seized me and gave me the beating of
my life. l was then bound hand and
foot. but given to understand that my
life would be spared and that l would
be escorted safely to Port au Prince
Strange as II may seem, they made good
their promise, despite the fact that sew
eral OF the officers were in favor of
hanging the American after they had be-
come drunk.
TORTURE PRECEDEs DEATH.
THE fate OF my blacks WAS sealed from
!. thf $50 eThose who had not been shot
IRE reserved for torture, as the leader
\ or the rebels suspected that we had
money in camp. Six of the poor wretches
were made TO suffer unspeakable agony
before being finally put TO death. The
first victim. after having the soles OF
his feet charred, was tossed upon bayo-
nets. Another. because he could not tell
the whereabouts Of loot that did notfex-
ist. had his mouth pried open, his tongue
pulled out by pair of pliers and then
amputated. He was left TO bleed to
death.
THE other four men were even more
hrutally tortured One of them was
bound and thrown across a slow fire.
Al daybreak we started on our two
days hike TO Port-au-Prince. My hands
and feet were united and / was per-
mitted to march under guard at the rear
of the column. Toward evening OF the
FIRST day we arrived at small settle
ment. and after looting the natives of
all their rum-an article valued more
than lives yr dollars in Haiti-the shacks
were nred and the natives driven into
the jungle.
Just before our arrival in Port-au-
Prince we we're met by a large force OF
Federals. My self-appointed protectors
Immediately dispersed and left me to the
mercy OF the vtctors. After considerable
auestloning by all the officers OF the
star was escorted into the town and
given my liberty"
According to Mr.. Blake. Haiti will only
be developed as an American protec-
forate The island" said ne, has un-
limited resources and all that Is neces-
kary Is the presence of the white man
20 develop them" Mr Blake also paid
= high tribute to the American marines
and the part they have taken as both
soldiers and police In the troubled dis
tficts.