Mr. Powell to Mr. Hay.
Port au Prince, August 20, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that there has been no change in the political situation since my dispatch No. 1137 of August 15, 1902. The only incidents worthy of note were the destruction of St. Michel, the needs of the homeless at Petit Goave, and the Chambers of Deputies perfecting a permanent organization.
Word reached here on the 18th that General Jumeau, finding he could not hold St. Michel, a small town in the interior, reduced it to ashes to prevent it from being taken by the Government troops. No further details have come to hand. It is stated that a small battle was fought in which General Jumeau was defeated; as he retreated he destroyed the city. In the north, toward the Cape, affairs are still in a desperate state. The armies of the two sections confront each other; a battle is momentarily expected. It is stated that each numbers [Page 637] about 3,000 men. This battle, when it takes place, will not clear the situation. If General Nord defeats General Jumeau, it makes him more prominent as a candidate for the Presidency. He will then march his army here and demand that this office be conferred upon him. If, on the other hand, General Jumeau succeeds we shall have the Firmin army within a few days at the gates of the city; so, as I have stated, the victory of either is a menance to this city. At this writing Gonaives and St. Marc are threatened on three sides. A force of 1,000 men was sent from here yesterday to make an attack on the south, while another column equally as strong is marching upon it from the east, and, if General Jumeau is defeated, that army will attack it from the north. In case General Jumeau is defeated both St. Marc and Gonaives will suffer or be given to the flames, as were Petit Goave and St. Michel.
As further information reaches us from Petit Goave, the condition of the people that remain there seems most distressing. The women and children who are at the usine are without food or raiment, except such as has been sent them from here; those who have escaped are in hiding in the mountains. The women and children who have fled from the city are subsisting on what they can find near them. The wife of General Chicoyé, who set his house on fire, who was thought to have been consumed with her husband, escaped with her children and is in hiding; two of her children have died from exposure. She was compelled to dig their graves and bury them, with no helping hand to assist. Fifty of the men who have taken refuge were exiled and sailed on August 16 by the last Dutch steamer to Curacao.
The D’Assas has returned from the Cape. Mr. Desprez, the French minister, has informed me that as they were at the Cape, Killick, with the Crête, appeared off the harbor. The commandant of the D’Assas endeavored to communicate with him in regard to the cutting of the French cable by way of Santiago, Cuba. As soon as Killick found the D’Assas was steaming toward him, he crowded on all steam and endeavored to escape. The D’Assas followed him, but before she could come within speaking distance Killick found shelter in a small cove, in which the water was so shallow the D’Assas could not follow. A small launch was therefore sent to him to inquire in regard to the cable. Killick denied all knowledge of it.
He was off the Cape to intercept the Paloma, but on the date of her sailing from here I wired Commandant McCrea about the time she would reach the Cape, and to protect her from any attempt that Killick might make. I have been informed since of her safe arrival and departure. I have been informed to-day that Killick has had more coal sent to him by the Laurenburg. An effort will be made by the Government to prevent Killick from obtaining it, by having it landed here and buying it. If the Government succeeds in doing this, it will prevent Killick doing more mischief until he can secure another supply of coal. Congress or the Chambers of Deputies have at last passed upon all the election cases, and have perfected a permanent organization in electing the Hon. R. Deetzens as president of that body. The vote stood 38 for and 28 against, 8 not voting. This vote demonstrates that Mr. Pierre has a majority of the members of the Chambers. Their success in effecting this organization so speedily was a surprise to all, as trouble was expected before an election could be held. The next move is to elect the members of the Senate. An effort is being made [Page 638] to prevent this by the partisans of Mr. Fouchard, who refuse to attend, thus preventing a meeting for the want of a quorum; from the strength shown by the Pierre party, they know that the greater part of the members who favor Mr. Pierre will be elected, thus increasing his majority in the joint session that is to elect the President. For this reason no one can predict when an election for President will take place. It is still thought when this joint meeting takes place, at the moment when the result of the election is to be made known, grave trouble will arise, unless all parties will agree to abide by the result. If this can be done, order will soon be established.
An attempt is being made by the partisans of Mr. Fouchard to postpone the election until the present conflict with Mr. Firmin is ended and the country becomes tranquil. By this means they hope to secure the twenty Firminist members who are now with Mr. Firmin for Mr. Fouchard. If this move be successful Mr. Fouchard may win. As it now stands everything is in a hopeless tangle. If a President is to be elected some conciliatory policy must be adopted or an agreement made by both candidates. Unless this takes place no election will be held for some time. In the meantime all mercantile business is suffering. I find since the destruction of Petit Goave the feeling of annexation to the States is rapidly spreading; some of the papers are advocating it, I am informed.
I have the honor to inclose a copy of a letter from the United States consular agent, Mr. Kampmeyer, at Petit Goave.
I remain, etc.,