The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-12-04
REv0LUII0NBTS SEIZE PORT AL PRINCE; and DRIVE
ALEXIS FROM The COUNTRY, AMID SCENES OF RIOT

United States cruisers Tacoma and
Des Moines, whose reputation for put
ting down riot and disorder has gone
before them.
General Canal is doing everything
to maintain order. Infantry and cav
airy patrol the streets and although
a panicky feeling remains there IL lit
tie danger to the foreigners.
Marcelin Had to Flee.
M. Carteron, the French minister
is criticized by some Of the other lega
lions for having permitted General
Marcelin, minister Of finance and com.
merce to take refuge on board the
Trouin.
M. Carteron explained that Marco
lin went on board to arrange for the
reception Of Alexis and his family. He
was returned with a favorable an.
swer. Canal and Cameau, who were
at the wharf, advised him to go back
to the warship in view of the hostile
attitude of the populace. Marcelin be
lieving,his life in danger, returned to
the Trouin to remain indefinitely.
Simon Is Popular.
Numerous cries are heard of "Long
live Simon" Simon for president
and there are other signs OF the grow.
ing popularity of the revolutionary
commander. General Antenor Firmin
seems to have lost ground in his am
.bition to gain the Office on account
OF inactivity. His numerous following
have looked forward to his debarking
with a number of exiles from Genaives
since Simon, from the first favorable
news Of the revolution had given them
assurances to arm and equip them,
but he had not. The conduct OF Gen
eral Fourchard Is being subjected to
much criticism. He made no attempt
to disembark, but the citizens of Jere-
ME, all partisans of Fourchard, took
up arms against the government and
greatly contributed to the triumphs
of the revolution.
THREE dsciaU:lx Hills -. THREE
Gen. Canal is doing everything possi-
bile to maintain order. The guards on
the streets have been increased, but it is
with great difficulty that the populace
is being restrained. Already the PEG.
pie are beginning to pillage the Cen
trail market and rifle firing is heard
frequently in the section as this dis
patch is filed. A butcher in the market
who tried to protect his stall from the
looters was killed.
General Canal is urging the people
to remain calm, explaining that If
there is any serious disorder on shore,
the cruisers in the harbor will dis
embark armed forces to protect the
property Of foreigners.
Only One Loyal to Alexis.
The only man to remain loyal to
Nord Alexis is General Camille Cab
riel his nephew, who for the last six
months has dictated the policy of the
Altxis administration. Gabriel is at the
Palace with Alexis.
The movement had been we'll organ
zed. The final preparations were COM
pleted last evening, and in the early
hours of the morning Beldas citizens,
organized and armed, moved quietly
about the town and took possession of
various points of vantage.
At s o'clock last night there was an
outbreak of rifle firing in the suburbs
and it was thought that the conspiracy
had been discovered and that the fight
ing had begun. This was, however, a
false alarm and excitement reigned for
a while, but it was soon learned that it
anne from an over jalous patriot.
Citizens in Control.
The citizens are in possession of the
central police station and all the other
police outposts, the arsenal and the
port These bodies Of men are we'll
armed and supplied with ammunition.
The fact that they were thus prepared
shows the thoroughness with which the
movement was organized.
AS soon as the success of the move
ment was established a number of pro-
minent citizens held a meeting and
formed a committee of public safety
and the maintenance of order in Port
Au Prince is now in the hands of this
body.
The New President.
General Legitime, president of the
government was at one
time president of the Republic. The
fact that Nord Alexis ministers desert
d him at the last moment did not come
as a complete surprise. Their loyalty
was suspected and the defections of the
last two or three days showed clearly
what might be expected.
coicou Is a Refugee.
General Jules Coicou, the military
commander of Port Au Prince is among
the refugees, as Is also General Hya-
Coicou is the man who order
ed the assassination Of his own brother