Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay.
Port au Prince, August 15, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department regarding the present political situation and of the events that have occurred since my last dispatch was written, the principal of which were:
- First. The attempt to declare the port of Haiti in a state of blockade by the Firmin government.
- Second. The total destruction of Petit Goave.
- Third. The refusal by the Firmin government to permit foreigners to land at Gonaives.
- Fourth. The control at the Cape between the two armed forces under Gen. Nord Alexis on the one side and Gen. Jean Jumeau on the other.
In order to acquaint the Department fully in regard to these, I shall treat each event separately as it occurred.
After the events at the Cape, referred to in a previous dispatch, when Mr. Firmin was compelled to leave for Gonaives, his partizans found that he was not as strong throughout the country as they had supposed, which was shown by the result of the recent elections. The element of strength that he possessed in the country among all classes to a great extent he has lost, except among the peasant class or country people, who still look upon him as the future President of Haiti. This sentiment is mainly on account of his color more than anything else, though one of the other candidates, Mr. Pierre, is of the same hue. Many persons who were his adherents in the other sections of the Republic have refused to follow him in the course that he has lately pursued. Those who are still his adherents have gone to him at Gonaives; it is through the advice of this class that he is pursuing his present course; the others, whom he has alienated from his cause, have refused to indorse his action in making the forced loan at the Cape and in the marching of troops toward this city for the purpose of subjugating it.
Seeing that it was impossible for him to be elected by the Chambers, his advisers have induced him to ignore the present Provisional Government and to constitute another at Gonaives, under the title of the “Provisional government of the Artibonite” etc. This action on his part has brought about the present condition of affairs and the declaration of civil war, which will only be terminated by the complete subjugation of one or the other of the combatants. After this new government was established a cabinet was named. Killick, the former vice-admiral of the Haitian navy, and who has been denounced by this Government as a “pirate”, was named as the secretary of war and marine. Soon after this government was formed a decree was sent to each member of the diplomatic corps informing him that Cape Haiti was in a state of blockade, and forbidding all vessels to enter within its waters under certain penalties. Killick was sent there to guard the harbor and prevent entrance to all vessels. It was known to the Firmin government that this Government had sent by the Paloma (carrying Cuban flag, Munson Line) arms, cannon, and ammunition to the Cape for General Nord. It was to prevent the latter from receiving the same that Killick prevented this vessel from entering the Cape. He met the vessel at Point Picotet, which is about 5 miles from the Cape, and which conceals its harbor so that vessels therein can not know what may occur around this point of land. Killick waited off this Cape for the Paloma, and when she appeared informed the captain that he could not enter the Cape, and compelled him to change his course. The captain, I am informed, did not attempt to proceed farther toward the Cape. This occurred at 8 a.m. on the morning of August 8.
The commander of the Machias, who was in the harbor of the Cape at the time, knew nothing of it until some time that afternoon, As soon as informed of this action of Killick’s, Consul Livingston cabled to me, to which I replied. The next morning President Canal, of the Provisional Government, sent to me a copy of a cablegram he had received and gave to me the information which I have stated above. I afterwards received a protest from the agent of this company here. Killick had no intention, in my opinion, to harm or to capture the [Page 629] vessel, knowingthe close proximity of the Machias. He simply played upon the fears of the captain, succeeded in turning him from his course, and thus prevented General Nord getting the supplies that this Government had sent to him. If the captain had ignored Killick’s orders and had continued on his course, Killick would have done nothing further. This vessel returns here to-morrow. I have advised the agent to send her to the Cape, and shall cable to Commander McCrea about the time she should arrive there. The D’Assas left last night for Gonaives with the French minister and to carry dispatches from the diplomatic corps to the foreign consuls there. I could not avail myself of the courtesy extended me by my colleague to send a dispatch to our consul. From there the D’Assas will proceed to the Cape to convoy the French mail steamer, the Lesseps, which is to stop at that port, as it was rumored that Killick would prevent her from entering. I am also informed that Killick sailed for some unknown destination on the night of the 10th, so that the blockade is abandoned for the present.
After receiving the Department’s instructions I addressed a note to the gentlemen at Gonaives, informing them that my Government would ignore the decree issued by them. It is also stated, though the statement is not confirmed, that Killick has cut the marine cable to Santiago, Cuba, in mistake for the one that connects the Cape with this place. This is the only line we have in working order, as all the land lines are cut, leaving us without any means to communicate with other sections of the Republic.
The saddest event of which I have to write is the total destruction of Petit Goave, a coast city on the Bay of Gonaive, about 50 miles from here, with a population of about 12,000; it was beautifully situated, and represented a thriving community. It was one of the chief ports in the Republic for the exportation of coffee. Many of the foreign houses here had branches there. One of the largest and most complete coffee usines in the Republic is located there. To-day there are but two houses standing, and over 10,000 people are practically homeless. This place was held by the adherents of Mr. Firmin, the commandant in charge, Chicoyé, minister of interior and police, being a member of his cabinet. The Provisional Government sent from here 900 men under General Carrié to dislodge him and to restore it to the control of this Government. On the morning of the 9th General Carrié sent word to General Chicoyé to surrender, and informed him if he did not he would take coffee in that city that morning. General Chicoyé with a small force made a sally from the city on the force under command of General Carrié and was repulsed. While this attack was being made in the front, a strong detachment was sent to enter the city from the other side by General Carrié, so that General Chicoyé was between two fires. Seeing this, he retreated toward the city. On entering it, it is said, he repaired to his house, put it to the torch, and was consumed with his wife and children. Others did likewise and the place was soon destroyed. Another report is that a number of young men who had been driven from the city by the Firminists returned with General Carrié’s army. When this army entered the city they set fire to the houses of the most prominent partisans of Mr. Firmin. Owing to the high wind prevailing at the time, the flames from these houses communicated with others, and in a little while the whole city was in flames. It seems that no effort was made to stop it, or to cease fighting, which at the time was going on in the streets. [Page 630] The women and children fled to the coffee usine, which is a short distance from the city, and which escaped the flames. To this place also what was left of General Chicoyé’s force retreated. Many of the wounded were consumed in the flames. It is stated that 450 were killed. There were but few wounded, as they were burned with the houses.
After the French consulate was destroyed the consul raised his flag at the usine, which is French property, and gave asylum to all who came there. General Carrié, the commander of the Provisional troops, demanded that the people there be surrendered to him (about 400 in number). He claims that these people were combatants and had fled to this place before the arrival of the consul and before he had raised his flag, and that they can not properly be under his protection. The consul refused to surrender them. The matter has been compromised by the Provisional Government ordering their embarkation to foreign territory. I do not know how they can leave, as they have no money to pay their passage or to sustain them after they may reach a foreign shore. All they have left is what they have on their bodies. No community will be willing to accept a class of persons virtually paupers. Little sympathy is expressed toward the tragic death of General Chicoyé, as he was the one who, several years ago, ordered the burning of the town of Jacmel, which was nearly destroyed at that time.
As soon as the news of the destruction of Petit Goave reached the city the French minister dispatched the D’Assas with provisions and clothing to succor the unfortunate inhabitants. He contributed very largely toward this relief from his private purse. The D’Assas returned the next day, bringing from there 219 women and children and a number of the wounded. On the 10th another vessel was sent with supplies to the same place. The Holland steamship left last night (14th) with additional supplies, all of which have been a voluntary contribution on the part of the merchants and others here. The German minister left by the same vessel. I have been unable to go, on account of the business of the legation requiring my presence here. We have no American interests there, except it may be a few naturalized Syrians. Thus far, I am informed, the Government has not contributed anything toward their relief. This affair, though sad, is not without some benefit to the country, and may be the means to bring about a termination of the present political difficulties, as the fate of this place will be repeated in other cities of the Republic. If the present state of affairs is not soon terminated, such will be the fate of Gonaives, the Cape, and this city, as the appetites and passions of a certain class are now aroused for such deeds. If this conflict is much longer prolonged even the present Government will be unable to prevent it, as we have a large element of this class here. The destruction of this city would add $800,000 to the debt of the country. Of this sum the Haitian unfortunates would get nothing. All would go to foreign interests.
Notwithstanding the critical situation, the Chamber of Deputies moves slowly on with its work of settling the eight contested election cases. The last one was settled on the 12th. Since that time they have been endeavoring to secure a quorum to pass upon their action as a whole. They have been three weeks in securing this result, and when it has been accomplished they will proceed to a permanent organization, at which time the strength of each of the Presidential candidates will be [Page 631] fully shown; but this will not predict who will be President. After the permanent organization has been effected will be the election of the members to the Senate, after which a joint session of both for the election of the President; but no one can predict when this last event will take place, owing to the want of energy of the Chambers. I think it may be safely stated that a President will not be elected before the middle of September, if then.
The Provisional Government has established a censorship over the press, so that but little news can be gleaned from it. Nothing adverse to the Government can be stated in the columns of the papers. Any departure from this rule consigns the editors and those connected with them to prison.
The information from the north is conflicting, as the wires are all down, and any number of reports are in circulation. One is that General Jumeau is near the Cape, and that place is besieged. Another, the reverse—that General Jumeau’s troops are defeated and in flight. Another, that the army of General Nord is moving in two columns to attack Gonaives at two opposite points. Killick, with the Crête, has left for some place, but no one knows where. Here all is quiet and will remain so until about the time for the election of the President, when we may possibly have a repetition of the events of May 12.
I have, etc.,