National Gazette

Further particulars relative to the destruction of Port-au-Prince, and the contest between the whites and mulattoes.

On the 11th November a treaty was concluded between the white people and mulattoes;—and all things remained in perfect quietness till the 21st. on the morning of which the peace was solemnly ratified.—At 12 o'clock, however, the whites very imprudently undertook to execute a mulatto criminal, who was before confined under sentence of death. There were at this time about 1250 mulattoes in town; all of whom were provided with arms, for the defence of themselves and the white people, against the negroes. They were highly offended, however, with the execution of one of their colour; and the majority of them not thoroughly understanding the propriety of the measure, seized on the first white man, who came within their reach, and "hung him by the neck till he was dead." In the afternoon of the same day, at half past 4 o'clock, the whites sent a flag to the mulattoes—stating the impropriety of their conduct, and commanding them either to lay down their arms or leave the town. To this the mulattoes spiritedly replied, that they would not do either of them;—and immediately took up their arms, and paraded in a large street near the governor's house. The whites, amounting to 2000, lost no time, on their part, in making preparations to attack the mulattoes. And at five o'clock an attempt was made to surround them; which, however, proved ineffectual. A severe conflict ensued, in which from 50 to 100 whites were killed, and among them a colonel. The mulattoes fought bravely; and with the loss of a number killed, and 150 who were taken prisoners, they beat their way through the whites—took two field pieces and marched out of town. At half past five the town was secretly set on fire in two places—a timely discovery was however made, and the fire extinguished.—About two the next morning it was again set on fire in six different places, and the inhabitants were now no longer able to subdue the flames. A general conflagration took place; and almost every valuable building, excepting the king's store houses, were burnt down. Property to the amount of millions was destroyed, and those who on the 21st of November were worth two or three hundred thousand dollars, on the 22d, were not in the possession of a single shilling. They were even fed as were all the inhabitants, with provisions drawn from the king's stores.

Immediately after the town was destroyed, the whites (on the idea that the blacks were accessory to its destruction) formed the horrid design of putting to death all the negro and mulatto women and children who remained in the town. And this design, to the eternal infamy of the perpetrators, was put immediately into execution. An indiscriminate slaughter took place; and not one who could be found during that day—whether innocent or guilty, but was instantaneously butchered, either by a bullet through the head, or a bayonet into their bowels.