Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-03
HAYTI OPPOSES
ALEXIS; LATTER
SAFE ON BOAT
PORT AU PRINCE TAKEN BY
REV0LUTl0NlSTS
NEW PRESIDENT PROCLAIMED BY
5ESlEGlNG MOB
Palace Is stormed by Threatening
Crowds-Former Ruler FIees
to French Ship for
Protection
IRy Associated Press l

II ORT AU PRINCE, Dec. 2.-Presi-
dent Nord Alexis has been de-
a posed and is now safe on board
the French training ship Duguay Trou-
in, and Port au Prince is in the hands
OF the revolutionists. General Antoine
Simon, the leader of the insurrection, is
marching up the peninsula with an
army of 5000 and new president, Gen
eral Legitime, has been proclaimed.
At the last moment President Alexis
yielded to the urgings of those about.
him and decided to take refuge aboard
the French warship.
At exactly 5 o'clock a salute of TWEEN
ty-one guns announced his departure
from the palace.
Thousands had gathered there early
in the day and surged about the en-
trance, threatening to tear down the
walls to seize the president and his
loyal followers. AS the hours passed
the mob became infuriated, shouting
for him to leave the palace.
The mob was armed, and men and
women, beside themselves with rage,
heaped curses on the head of the aged
man who had expressed his determine
tion to fight TO the last.
Finally Reinquishes
So serious was the situation that
the French minister NJ Carteron, and
other foreign representatives together
with members of a special committee
forced themselves upon the president,
who finally consented to withdraw
Shouts greeted him as he stepped
from the precincts of the palace and
into carriage. M. Carteron, holding
the French tri-colored banner, sat be-
side him and the minister threw the
pa1l - a. 1, .I,,o Ia rNf
the deposed president to protect him.
An immense crowd of men and wo-
men had assembled at the wharf, and
the arrival of the presidential carriage,
escorted by a battalion of infantry and
a squadron of cavalry, under COM
mand of General Hippolyte, was the
signal for tqmult and riot.
All along the ro-..e the PEOPLE who
lined the streets shouted, jeered and
cursed the president, but when the
landing stage was reached the mob
lost all restraint.
Scene Was Shameful
The scene was tragic and shameful.
Infuriated women broke through the
Gordon of tro ops and shreked the
coarsest of insults in the very face of
the president, who strove bravely to
appear undismayed.
They tried to hurl themselves upon
Alexis and fought with hands and feet
against the soldiers who found diff
Guilty in forcing them back. In order
to disengage him the troops discharged
their guns. 2
During this time a space was cleared
and Nord Alexis, with the French col
ors still draped about him, was hurried
aboard a skiff in tow of a steam
launch, his suite tumbling into the
skiff after him.
AS the launch drew away, three
Haytien gunboats and the French and
American warships in the harbor fired
a salute to the fallen president.
Just as Nord Alexis was embarking
a woman succeeded in reaching his
side, and drawing a murderous knife,
made a sweep at his body.
The blow fell short, however, and be-
fore the woman could follow it up with
another she was seized by the soldiers.
Strikes Him with Fist
A man succeeded in striking the pres
ident with his fist, but the blow was a
glancing one on the neck. Nord Alexis
turned to M. Carteron and, shaking his
head. said;
Il told you so, your eXcellency."
The unrest which ended in the open
revolt of the residents of Port au Prince
had been noticeable for some days and
IedcHeu llS Illuminating PO'lI carly inns
morning when regularly organized
bands of citizens moved quietly about
the town and took possession of va
rious points of vantage.
No shots were fired and the only
resistance found was that of the presi-
dent, who barred himself within the
palace.
One of the leaders in this movement
charged that the American minister,
II. w. Furniss. was the chief of those
encouraging the president to resist. All
of the political parties were repre-
sented.