Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-12-09
HAITI IAN PRESIDENT YIELDS TO
URGING OF PEOPLE AND
QUITS THE ISLAND.
JERRED AND CURSED, THE OLD
MAN GOES ABOARD FRENCH
WARSHIP.
seen. WAS TRAGIC AND SHAME
FUL-WoMAN SEEKS
HIS LIFE.

Por- Au Prince, Dec. 3.-President
Alexis has been depOsed and is now
sale on board the French training
ship Duguay rroun. and Port Al
Prince is III the hands OF the reyolu
tionists. General Simon, leader OF
the insurgents, IS marching up the
peninsula with an army of 5000 men
and a new president, General Legl
time, has been proclaimed.
At the last moment President Alex
is yielded to the urging to those
about him. and decided to take ref
uge aboard the French warship. Al
) o'clock a salute of q guns an
nounced his departure from the pal
ace Thousands had gathered there
early in the day, and they had surged
around the entrances, threatening to
tear down the walls to drive out the
president and his loyal followers. AS
the hours passed the mob became in
furiated, shouting for him to leave the
country. The mob was armed, and
men and women beside themselves
with rage heaped curses on the head
of the aged man who had been de-
posed from the presidency, but who
had fiercely expressed his determine
ton to fight to, the last.
So serious rs the situation that
French Minist> 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
into the carriage. Carteron, carrying
the French tri-color, sat beside him,
and the minister threw the folds OF
the flag over the shoulders of the de
posed president to protect him,
An immense crowd of men and
women had assembled at the wharf
and the arrival of the presidential
carriage, escorted by troops, was a
signal for wild tumult and riot.
All along the route the people
shouted, jeered and cursed at the fall
en- president, but when the landing
stage was reached. the mob lost all
restraint. The scene was tragic and
shameful. Infatuated women broke
through the Gordon of troops and
shrieked the coarsest insults into the
very face OF the president, who
strove bravely to appear und 'smayed
They tried to hurl themselves up
on Alexis, and fought with hands and
feet against the soldiers. who found
difficulty in forcing them back. la
order to disengage him the troops
fired several shots During this time
a space was cleared and Alexis, with
the French colors draped about him
was hurried aboard a skiff in tow OF
a steam launch, his suite tumblng in
to the skiff after him. AS the launch
drew away three Haitian gunboats and
French and American warships In the
harbor fired salute to the fallen
president,
Just as Alexis was embarking a
woman succeeded in reaching his side
and, drawing a knife, made sweep
at his body The blow fell short.
however. and before the woman could
follow it up with another she was
seized by a soldier A man succeed
ed in striking the president with his
fist, but the blow was a glancing one
on the neck.
A trunk. which was left behind in
the precipitate departure of the pres
ident and party from the wharf, was
seized upon by the rioters and broken
open. 1t was found to contain SO
600 in gold and 10000 Haitien
gourdes The specie was scattered
about and promptly appropriated.
The unrest which ended in the
open revolt of residents OF Port Au
Prince had been noticeable for some
DAYS, and it reached its eliminating
point early YESTERDAY when regularly
organized bands of citizens moved
quietly about the town and took pos.
session of various points of vantage.
No shots were fired and the only re-
sistance 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. H. W Furniss. was Chief OF
those encouraging the president to
resist. and he issued a proclamation
10 that effect intimating that the OBJ
iect was annexation.
Deserted by his Ministers. aban
doned by those that he had put into
high Office and reviled by the whole
population Alexis had little chance OF
escaping. except through the interven-
tion To the representatives Of the
French government, His guard had
been reduced to a minimum through
assertions. and only a few Of the
troops remained loyal Three divis
ions which had been posted al the
crossroads 10 oppose the march Of
General sImon's forces-what was
1ef, cl .hem-came back into the city
this morning in disorder The force
was r-a-5e up Of soldiers from the
ro-thhrn part Of the republic, and
these now have fed after having sui
.a~e5 Tho civilians 10 disaru them