The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-03-25
MISSIONARY TALKS
ON HAYTI AND CUSTOMS
OF ITS PEOPLE


and Porto Rico. related some OF their
experiences 1. s..e local Seventh Day
Adventist church to an interested
gathering.
Pastor Prieger is the superin.snd-
ent OF the Haitian Mission, whose
headquarters are at Cape Haitian.
During the discourse he brought
out some very interesting facts con-
cerning the islands Of which so lit
tie is known in the United States.
Hayti is one OF the first known is
lands. being discovered by Christopher
Columbus. Dec. 9th. 1892. on his sec
end voyage In his search for India.
After this the Spsniards settled
en- the island and before 200
years had passed by the ori-
ginal native Indians were extermi-
mated. and later on the Portu-
guese sent over the black man from
Africa. and when rs more years had
passed by and the French had conquer
ed the western part of the island.
the African had increased to about
100000 souls. They were owned by
about $4,000 French people and when
France had the revelation In the home
land and later the war with England,
the negro took the opportune moment
to free themselves and in ~ years
some $4,000 French we're put to death
end In 1904 Hayti was proclaimed al
republic. Fearful revolutions and q
terrible naisruie has been there ever
since. The Bible could not get free
access into the land and superstition
and bioodshed also fiIth and dirt reign
ed supreme.
The soil IS very productive and the
climate grand Tropical fruits grow
with little attention. There are now
some 2.5eo.ooo Negroes and about
ITO white people. There are now some
800 wssieyans (EnEiish) about so
Baptists aud $50 Seventh Day Adyen-
lists there
He also gave n vivid account OF
voodooism and Fetishlsm. OF devil
worship.
lie further stated some Of the hard
ships OF the Island. Sickness abounds
everywhere. II il nothing unusual To-
see people suffering with ieproSy,
rslagra. cancers. elephantitus. where
the limb sweIls to and times its
natural size. These people 30 every
where. There are no asylums for these
sufferers. and there is great danger
Of contracting these terrible diseases
On January !. 1soi. In the city Of
Gounavies. Gen. Dessoiines proclaim
ed the independence Of the Hsytian
PEOPLE. His reign was short, being
shot down by a rebel on his way v
Port au Prince.
Gen. Christophe was selected 10 sue
ceed Dessolines. He surrounded him
self by privileged nobility Of princes.
dukes. etc. and built the wondrous
ralace Sans SoucL" II lies At the
foot Of some mountains that stretch
out to the sea. and the views in every
direction Is magnificent.
For period covering about 100
years. there was about one preaident
for every year In August. 1912.
Gen. Leconte. the most progressive
president Hayti has ever had. was
blown up in his palace with 400 other
men. Gen. Auguste was selected to
tnke his place. but he was poisoned
and died last May. The present pres
ident has been notified that he will
be given three months more to live.
II light colored man Is elected. the
dark skinned negros are dissatisfied.
and vice versa. Several presidents
have escaped to Jamaica, leaving the
u easury empty.
Every Hnytian mother instiIis the
story into her boy that he viii some
Cay be president. No Haytian gen
tleman will do amy work aside from
government position.
Since the French evacuated. the
country has retro&raded and nothing
has been kept In order since that
time.
i The present magistrate Of Cape Hay
{ tian ordered The streets cleaned one
year ago. and the remains Of hun.
dFeds of dead bodies Of men killed
in revolutions were found in rubbish
heaps. and bad scourge Of fever
nsed while the streets were bcina