Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1889 — CRUELTY TO CAPTIVES. [ARTICLE]

CRUELTY TO CAPTIVES.

THROATS OF PRISONERS CUT FOR AMUSEMENT. Legitime and Hyppoiite Murder Each Other’s Captured Soldier* for the Delectation of Their Respective Armies—The Horrible Sights Witnessed by Great Crowds—Barbarity Unpara 1 leled. The following special has been received from Port-au-Prince: Legitime has been cutting the throats of prisoners in the market place. Hippolyte is advancing nearer and nearer eae i day. Time aud again the southern leader has prepared for fight, but on each occasion the appeals of the people and the representations of his Generals have induced him to hold on a little longer. The idea of offering quarters to prisoners has long since died out, and capture now means something worse than death. Hippolyte slaughtered eighteen men who fell into his hands the other day, and in retaliation the terrible scenes in the market place were enacted. The inhabitants of Port-au-Prince expect no mercy should Hippolyte’s men ever force an entrance into the city. This thought has served to bring on a condition of mind little short of distraction, and it now needs but the sounding of an alarm to throw the whole population into feverish excitement. Despair has seized many, while others await the end with indifference. On July 26 Hippolyte made an attack on one of Legitime’s strongholds. All the available men in the city were pushed forward, and, with considerable impetuosity, attacked Hippolyte. The latter beat a hasty retreat, carrying away with him eighteen of the garrison. Of these unfortunate men, some were shot on reaching Hippolyte’s camp, while others had their throats cut in sight of the army. All were executed for the amusement of the troops. Spies reported this Act to Legitime, and the latter immediately ordered all the prisoners on hand taken to the market place. There were eight of them in all, and, tied arm to arm, they were led, strongly guarded, to the open square. Here an immense crowd had collectedOne by one the men were gagged, and then their throats were cut with the utmost deliberation, the crowd yelling vociferously as each man fell quivering to the ground. One man managed to tear off his gag, and filled the air with the most piercing cries of fright. This pleased the crowd so much that the gags of all the remaining prisoners were taken off, and the cries of agony of the wretched men fairlyrent the air. When the butchery was completed a great cheer for Legitime went up from the crowd, and it was evident that the southern leader had gained a point in the confidence of his followers. The American consul and the captain of an Atlas line steamer witnessed the above scene, and can verify the same.