The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-12-04

OF nOs encouraging the president tC
resist and he issued the following
proclamation: f.
Alexis Resisted.
"Cllizens:-The danger is supreme;
we risk our independence II we dc
not take good care. The old man
would have given up already were ii
not for the advice Of a diplomat, who
is preparing for our annexation. A
/ clash is expected and this diplomat
wishes to precipitate n in order to
have a pretext for colonizing us. Let
us, therefore, be careful, yet not su.
pine"
Every effort, whether by the com.
mittee from the diplomatic corps or
by members Of his family who begged
the president to abdicate, proved OF
no avail during the early hours OF
the day.
Refused to Leave.
Nord Alexis was obdurate and re
fused to leave the palace, although
threatened by the mob outside. He
expressed his determination to en-
bark with troops on the gunboat Nord
Alexis and proceed to Cape Haytien,
where he would organize a civil war
of the north against the south.
This utterly mad resistance was
dangerous. 1t was believed that the
populace, armed and exasperated by
the stubbornness of the president,
might make an attack upon the pal
ace at any moment and that certainly
the night could not pass without an
armed assault, which doubtless would
mean the death Of Nord Alexis and
the destruction Of the building.
Deserted by Friends.
Deserted by his ministers, abandon
ed by those he had put into high Of
flee, and reviled by the whole popu-
lation, Alexis had little chance Of es-
Gaping, except through the represent
atives of the French government.
His guard had been reduced to a min
imum tArough assertions and the
remnant of three divisions which had
been posted at the cross roads to OPP
pose the march of Gen. Simon's
forces, came back into this city this
morning in disorder. The force was
made up of soldiers from the northern
part of the republic and those now
have fed, after having suffered civil
ians to disarm them without resist
ance.
Ready to Land Marines.
A catastrophe was feared should
the palace be invaded by the popu-
lace In such an event the foreign
consuls were ready to land detach-
ments of sailors or marines from the
warships in the port, in order to pro-
tect the interests of their respective
nations. A series of signs had been
arranged from the consulates to the
warships with this in view, but as
those who had taken charge of the
government had also taken precau-
tionary measures, warships forces
we're not considered ashore.
The New President.
All the parties, those of Fouchard,
Simon, Firmin and lMenos, were rep
resented on the committee which
urged the presidency on General Le+
gitime. While accepting the office at
the first call General Legitime showed
some hesitancy in undertaking the
presidency at such a crisis. He ex.
pressed his wish to obtain General
Simon's adhesion before finally &C
cepting the offise.
fractional War Possible.
It is OF the utmost Importance that
General Simon hasten his march on
Port Au Prince with his troops, as
otherwise there is great likelihood
that the many parties now organized
will become engaged In an armed
struggle among themselves for SUI
premacy.
Yesterday the vanguard OF the v
olution was 20 miles away and Cen
era Silmon himself had decided to
march against Jacmet 80 miles to the
southwest Of Port Au Prince, to put
under subsection the only town in
the south that had remained loyal to
the government. Couriers have been
sent out, but the leaders Of the move
ment in this city informed the insurg-
ent commander in chief Of the occur-
FENCES of the past "a hours, and it is
likely that he will hurry his forces to
Port Au Prince.
The flags of the nations are flying
over the doors and from the windows
of the homes Of the foreign residents,
for Notwithstanding their exhibitions
Of, hostility against their fallen presi-
dent, the daytiens are in dread Of the
landing of forces from the warships.
Fear American Marines.
They especially fear the men of the