The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-02-09

plaIn Entrance TO
prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety Washington, d. g
Twenty miles To the southwest of
the town of Cape Haitien, in the north
of the island of Haiti. there stands, on
the top of a precipitous mountain
Bonnet lEvegue-one of the won
ders of the western hemisphere, yet
one whose existence is as present
scarcely known and one whose full
history will never be written. A per-
sona visit to ChristOphe'S citadel is
necessary i'm order fully to appreciate
its massiveness. its intricate and elab-
crate construction, and its remote sit
uation. Few are so fortunate as 10
be able to visit this spot, or, even
when given the opportunity, possess
the physique necessary to make the
arduouS trip.
Prior to the first general uprising of
the slaves against their French mas
tiers. Christophe worked as waiter
in Cap Franchise (n0w Cape Haitien),
and it was in this humble capacity
that he is supposed to have picked up
his smattering of English. and formed
the acquaintance of English naval Of
ficers.
Tall and of a splendid physique,
with exceptionally bright and pierre
ing eyes, and with reckless bravery
and terrible ferocity, combined with
no little duplicity and cunning, he
speedily achieved a conspicuous place
as one Of the trusted lieutenants of
TOussaint LOuverture, that remark
able negro strategist who rose from
slavery to a position of commanding
importance in Haiti and who success
fully led the slaves in their revolt
against the French prior to the in
dependence of the island republic.
Through treachery LOuverture was
captured and carried away to Fort de
Joux, in France, where he died In
prison in 1903. His immediate sue
cessor was the both famous and no
torious Dessalines who created him
self emperor When Dessalines was
assassnated in 1905, Christophe was
elected president and soon proclaimed
himself king.
When he was only a general under
Dessalines, Christophe had begun work
on his marvellous mountain-top citadel.
II is not known just what length of
time was required to build the citadel,
but it is evident it was finished some
little time prior to Christophe's death,
I'm 1920. It's construction is variOusy
estimated 10 have taken toll rang
ing from ten TO twenty thousand hui
man lives.
Murdered Its French Designers.
1t is believed that the plan for the
structure were drawn and the work
of construction supervised by two cap
tive French officers, who possessed
the highest order Of technical train
ing. When their work was completed,
Christophe, in company with these Of
fcers is said TO have made a thor
ough inspection of all parts Of the
structure, and then, upon arriving at
one of the highest points Of the edifice,
ordered both men seized and hurled to
their death on the rocks below, tEIs
forever safeguarding the secrets of
the place. There Is legend that the
tyrant once had an entire company Of
mutinous soldiers driven off this same
spot: 1t was his favorite method Of
dispatchng those who incurred the
royal Ill will
The mere location OF this citadel is
such that one wonders how nature
provided such site, and a thorough
inspection causes unbounded admlra-
ton for the master mind that recOg-
nized the possibilities. aside from con-
ceivng and constructing the edifice
now standing there; for Bonnet a
L'Eveque could not have been more
ideally located for its purpose II 1t
had been made to order. Occupying
the entire top OF the mountain, the
citadel commands every neighborlng
peak and approach, while a spring be-
meath and inside Of the building fur
nishes an abundant supply of water,
that prime necessity in withstandlng
a long siege.
The building has the prov forma-
tion pointing toward the magnetic
north, the entire eastern face being
in this line. On the eastward side,
which is the longest, is located the
main battery Of heavy guns; and
strategically this should be so, for this
gives absolute command OF the most
dangerous approach, that from the d.