A LITTLE-KNOWN MARVEL OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE 



471 



THE MAIN BATTERY IN THE EASTERN GALLERY OF CHRISTOPHE S CITADEL 



Each gun compartment has wonderful vaulted ceilings 20 feet in height, and each com- 

 partment is separated from those adjoining by thick walls of masonry, to minimize the effect 

 of local explosions. 



cess fully led the slaves in their revolt 

 against the French, prior to the inde- 

 pendence of the island republic. 



Through treachery L'Ouverture was 

 captured and carried away to Fort de 

 Joux, in France, where he died in prison 

 in 1803. His immediate successor was 

 the both famous and notorious Dessa- 

 lines, who became the successful leader 

 of the Haitians against what was left of 

 the army of 30,000 men Napoleon had 

 sent to Haiti in 1801, under his brother- 

 in-law, General Leclerc. 



The struggle lasted two years, during 

 which time Leclerc died of yellow fever. 

 Finally the revolutionists were com- 

 pletely successful, establishing the inde- 

 pendence of Haiti January 1, 1804. 



Throughout all the strife Christophe 

 was especially prominent, so that when 

 Dessalines (who, not to be outdone by 

 Napoleon, had created himself Emperor) 

 was assassinated, in 1805, the former was 

 elected President, but under a constitu- 



tion drafted by one Petion and contain- 

 ing restrictions distasteful to the new 

 leader. So, in place of accepting the 

 honor conferred on him, Christophe 

 marched on Port au Prince and attacked 

 Petion's troops without success. 



Returning to Cap Francaise, Chris- 

 tophe framed a constitution to meet his 

 own ideas as to the instrument under 

 which he should rule the state. From 

 this time his operations were confined to 

 the north, while Petion held sway in the 

 south. 



CHRISTOPHE PROCLAIMS HIMSELF KING 



Christophe's iron rule soon bore re- 

 sults. His portion of the country began 

 to produce enormous crops of coffee. 

 cocoa, sugar, indigo, and cotton. A large 

 part of the resulting wealth was spent in 

 building up the country ; so that Haiti 

 and her black master soon became the 

 talk of Europe as well as of the AYesteni 

 Hemisphere. 



