Evening star., 1934-05-06
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

JhNAES VhLDo r n WE
When Samuel insult, erstwhile pub
lie utilities czar of Chicago, lands at
New York tomorrow he will have COM
pleted a voyage which. curiously
enough, has many interesting histori-
cal parallels. His journey back from
Istanbul has been not greatly different
from those of other men who once
exercised prodigious power in the
world and lived to encounter misfor-
tune and disgrace.
There was, for example, Christie
pher Columbus, "discoverer" of Amer
lea. His third expedition to the West
ended in trouble. Justin Windsor, in
his "Parrative and Critical History"
tells the tale. The admiral, he says,
touched the southern coast of Hayti
August 80, 1893. Here already his
colonists had established a fortified
post and founded the town Of Santo
Domingo. His brother Bartholomew
had ruled energetically during his abb
sence. but he had not prevented a
revolt, which was headed by Roldan.
Insurgents Won Over.
columbus, on his arrival, found the
insurgents still defiant. but he was
able after a while to reconcile them,
and he even succeeded in attaching
Roldan warmly to his interests.
Columbus absence from Spain.
however, left his good name without
sponsors; and to satisfy detractors
a new commissioner was sent over
with enlarged powers, even with au-
thority to supersede Columbus in gen.
eral command If necessary. This
emissary was Francisco de Bobadilla,
who arrived at Santo Domingo with
two caravels on August %. 1900, find
ing Diego in command, his brother.
the admiral, being absent. An issue
was at once made. Diego refused to
accede to the commissioner orders
till Columbus returned to judge the
case himself So Bobadilla assumed
charge of the crown property vio-
lently, took possession of the admirals
house, and when Columbus returned
he with his brother was arrested and
put in irons. In this condition the
prisoners were placed on shipboard
and sailed for Spain. The captain OF
the ship offered to remove the man
acles, but Columbus would not permit
it, being determined to land in Spain
bound as he was; and so he did"
Capt. Kidd's Crossing.
The famous pirate. Capt William
Kidd, was another man of power, who,
falling afoul of the law made just
such an unwilling transatlantic cross
ing as insult is completing. A sea-
going racketeer and bandit in the last
decade of the seventeenth century, he
was caught at Boston in 1899 and
finan- ordered removed to London for
trial. With his men he made the
trip aboard the frigate Advice in the
Spring of 100. He was hanged May
II. 1903
Another prisoner transported by sea
was Toussaint L'Ouverture, L celebrated
colored general and liberator of Haiti.
After fighting against the Spaniards
and English, he was appointed COM
mander in chief of the island by the
French commissioner in 1896 and con-
firmed as such by Bonaparte about
December, 1899. He was regarded"
says his biographer, "as a general
benefactor by all classes and colors.
He restored order and prosperity, and
governed with moderation and hu-
manity. Under his auspices. liberal
constitution was formed. and he was
elected President for life.
"Toussaint sent this constitution to
Bonaparte for his appreciation in July,
1900. but the French Consul exclaim-
ed. He is a revolted slave. whom We
must punish; the honor of France is
outraged"
An army of IS 900 was sent to crush
Haitian freedom. Toussaint was be-
trayed in June. 1902, and was carried
to France in shackles. He starved to
death in the dungeon of the castle of
Joux, near Besancon. April, 1903.
The Fate of His Foe.
But destiny had in store a similar
punishment, though not SO severe, for
Toussaints cruel foe-Napoleon l,
Emperor of the French.
The imperial eagles had been
drowned in the blood of Waterloo. j.
R. Seeley, in his Short History says:
What should Napoleon do? He had
been formerly the enemy of every
other nation and now he was the
worst enemy, if not of France, yet of
the triumphant faction in France. He
fingered some days at Rochefort,
where he had arrived July 3, 1915,
and then, finding it impossible to es-
cape the vigilance Of the English
cruisers, went on the 18th on board
the Bellerophon and surrendered him.
self to Capt. Maitland. 1t was ex-
planned to him that no conditions