No. 667.
Mr. Thompson to Mr. Bayard.
Port au Prince Hayti, October 29, 1888. (Received November 7.)
Sir: Late Sunday afternoon, the 21st instant, I received a note from Mr. J. D. Metzger, agent of the Diamond Mail Line of steamers, informing me that the steamer Haytian Republic had been seized by the Haytian war vessel Dessalines, and brought into this harbor, and that my presence at the port office was absolutely necessary. I immediately went down to the city and observed at the port office a great quantity of men and considerable confusion. In the office I found Mr. Smith, first officer of the Haytian Republic, whom they seemed to regard as a prisoner. After questioning him I thought it advisable to go on board, but was informed by the captain of the port that no one could visit the ship without a permit from the acting minister of foreign affairs. [Page 933] It was then growing dark; and noticing the excitement of the common people around there, I determined to call upon General Légitime and request him to allow the first officer to return on board as a measure for his personal safety. I found General Légitime with his counselors, made my request, which was granted, and then I refused to have any thing whatever to say about the affair that evening. The next morning, Monday, I received a dispatch from Mr. Piquant, acting minster of foreign affairs, copy inclosed herein. In reply to such I sent the inclosed reply.
General Anselme Prophète, in charge of the portfolio of war and navy, called upon me the same morning and appeared to be anxious to arrange the matter; “any friendly arrangement,” said he. I could give him no satisfaction, not yet having visited the ship. About noon went on board, examined the ship’s papers, and the following is Captain Compton’s narrative of the affair, as taken directly from his statement:
Left Jacmel October 19 and arrived at St. Marc on the 20th at 5.30 p.m.; when entering the harbor we sighted a steamer to the northwest, 7 miles distance, but were unable to make her out; took pilot on board and came to anchor; pilot informed us that the steamer outside was a Haytian gun-boat trying to blockade the harbor.
Saw the American consul, and he informed me that he had received letters from the American minister at Port au Prince in which there was no mention of any blockade at St. Marc.
Left St. Marc at daylight, October 21, with the American flag flying, and when out clear of the buoy we were stopped by the gun-boat, and the commander ordered me onboard. I refused to leave my ship, and sent my first officer on board with my passenger-list and declaration of the steamer’s destination.
The commander kept my first officer a prisoner on board and sent a boat-load of armed men to take charge. I let two men on board, but refused to allow the others to board. The commander ordered me to proceed to Port au Prince, which we did under protest.
We arrived at Port au Prince at 2.30 p.m., and came to anchor in the outer harbor; at 6.30 the commander of the port sent a verbal message to us to take my ship to the inside harbor, which I refused to do, not having seen the American minister.
The commander of the gun-boat came on board and wished me to go on shore, but I refused to go, unless by force, until I had seen the American minister; he then took my first officer on shore, and returned at 9 p.m. with my first officer and a detachment of soldiers, who have taken charge of my ship.
I now protest and deny the right of the Haytian gun boat to detain my ship from proceeding on her voyage, as I knew nothing of any blockade at Haytian ports, and I consider it an insult to the American flag, and will so represent it to the United States through the American minister.
The notification of the blockade was made the 16th instant, and from that time I had no means of communication with our agent in the north.
There being ten passengers on board and four of them constituents going to join the others in the north, the authorities here wished to have them brought to the shore, but I protested against such action, declaring that their persons were guarantied by the flag covering the vessel, even more so, as passengers, than the crew of such vessel. Had they been brought to shore at that time, undoubtedly their lives would have been forfeited.
General Prophètè, returning in the afternoon, had an entirely different attitude than in the morning, and nothing could be done. The following day the three counselors present at the capitol called upon me with an idea of arranging the matter. I was conciliant and asked but three things:
- (1)
- That the passengers be permitted to continue their voyage to a port not under blockade.
- (2)
- That the United States flag receive a salute of twenty-one guns for the insults received.
- (3)
- That an indemnity, the amount to be settled between the authorities and myself, be granted the ship at a certain rate each day of detenton.
The gentlemen appeared to have a certain belief in their culpability, and anxiety to avert any trouble between the United States and Hayti; but later they sent to me the charge of finance and commerce, who wished to argue about the first and second stipulations made by me; wished the four constituents landed to remain under my protection, etc.; could not comprehend the insult to our flag; feared it would look like humiliating themselves to salute.
I made no argument with him, but remained firm in my convictions.
To show exactly the situation of to-day it must be explained that Hayti is divided into five departments, the North, the Northwest, the Artibonite, the West, and the South. Now, the three first-named departments are entirely against Légitime, and demand that he retire as candidate and protest against his election as “Chef du Pouvoir Executif” by the minority of the constituents of the country. Of the West, Port au Prince appears to be Légitime’s stronghold, yet they are at this moment conspiring against him, which is taking rapid progress; at Jacmel, also in the West, they have declared against him and have taken up arms to that effect, the two constituents of Jacmel, the one of Bainet being on board of the Haytien Republic. In the South the principal city, Aux Caves, is said to be simply waiting for the word. Hence it can be easily seen that almost the entire country is against Légitime, and even had he the departments of the West and South solid in his favor the majority of the departments would be against him.
This country is now in a state of anarchy. They had lately a defective provisional government, which was in charge of affairs when the few constituents elected General Légitime as “Chef du Pouvoir Exécute.” There were of the eighty-four constituents eighty-four elected to represent to all parts of Hayti, to form a new constitution, and elect a President. Now, the North, Northwest, and Artibonite alone have forty-three constituents, and by the blank votes cast it appears now that there were but twenty-seven of the thirty-three present that voted for Légitime. Hence a small minority is attempting to represent the whole people.
Since the seizure of the steamer Haytien Republic, in a printed sheet published by an unknown committee, it has greatly commented upon us Americans and tried to show us up in a very bad light. Hence our citizens have become alarmed, and, owing to the condition of affairs, are anxious to see at least one of our war vessels. I am afraid for the lives of those Haytians under our protection in the steamer, to say nothing of our own lives; and, as above remarked, the desperate position in which those in this city are placed is such that any extravagance, if they find themselves cornered, may be feared.
I send to-day, by way of Kingston, Jamaica, the following cablegram in care of the United States consul, advising him to send such dispatch in cipher, if possible:
State Department,
Washington, D. C.:
American steamer and schooner seized by Haytian war vessels; flag insulted; life and property in danger. War vessel necessary immediately.
Thompson.
I received word from Captain Compton on the 25th instant that he was ordered to bring his ship, which was in the outer harbor, into the inner harbor within an hour, or the authorities themselves would bring [Page 935] her in. On account of the outer harbor being the more healthy place, I addressed a note to the charge of foreign affairs (inclosure 3), but not even has its reception been acknowledged, and the same evening they sent aboard and took out certain portions of the ship’s machinery, which is deposited at the post-office. Saturday the ship was hauled into the inner harbor.
The blockade established is not effective. Consequently in law it is null, because there were three cities blockaded—Cape Haytien, Gonaïves, and St. Marc—and but two vessels to make such blockade, and I take into consideration that on the 19th instant I received a dispatch from the chargé of foreign affairs stating that, notwithstanding the notification of the blockade given the foreign representatives at this city on the 16th instant, on the 17th instant the steamer Haytian Republic made a voyage from Gonaïves to St. Marc. In my reply I said succinctly that certainly I could not enter into the question of the blockade being efficient, since he said in his dispatch that the steamer Haytian Republic continued her regular trips from Gonaïves to St. Marc.
On Monday, the 22d instant, both of the Haytian war vessels were in this harbor. What vessels, then, were making the blockade? Saturday, the 27th instant, the German steamer, direct from Cape Haytien, arrived at Port au Prince. No vessel stopped her on her way. Hence there is no serious blockade.
Sunday, the 28th instant, the Mole St. Nicholas, Port de Paix, and Jacmel, by a decree, were put under blockade.
We have in the harbor the French war vessel Bisson.
The Haytian war vessel Toussaint L’Ouverture brought in here Sunday evening, the 21st instant, the American schooner William Jones The William Jones was bound for Gonaïves, having left Boston October 3. When off Gonaïves she was spoken by the Haytian war vessel Toussaint L’Ouverture and told to proceed to Port au Prince, as Gonaïves was under blockade. The captain immediately shaped his course for this port, but later the vessel was taken in tow, soldiers put on board while at sea, and at this writing are in charge of the vessel, which has a perishable cargo.
In the name of all our citizens I pray you to insist upon the Secretary of the Navy sending us a vessel of war.
I have, etc.,