Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-05
SIMON SAILS FOR KINGSTON
Deposed President of Haiti Follows
Predecessor Into Exile.
GRAVE FEARS on A CONFIICT
Followers of FIrmin and Beconte Arc
In the Capital and BlOOdshed In
strife over the Presidency
Is Probable.

| PORT AU PRINCE Aug. A-General
Simon sailed last night for kmgstoh'
jamaica, the refugees of Haitis ialeh
heroes as the warship II Decembre whch
took its name from the day that ne was
unanimously elected president of the BLACK
republic. doomed a doleful farewell lie
followed in the wake OF Nord Alexis Whoil
he overthrow In the last month Of 1905 ano
he leaves the capital in the possession OF
General Cincmnatus Leconte, whom ne had
driven to exile with his deposed chiet anu
General Antenor Firmin. a rival for the
presidency who he placated by sending MIN
as minister to Cuba.
So the wheel has gone round. Nord Alexis
ruled for six years. On December s. bus
Simon then in the height Of his popularity
led an overwhelming revolutionary army
into Port Au Prince and was everywhere
proclaimed as a SAVIOUR of the country from
tyranny.
He appeared to have the country united
behind him. Nord Alexis who had touhu
safety on the French cruiser Deugay
Trouin, later boarded the German steamer
Carnia and proceeded to Kingston, where
embittered against his countrymen, he died
in the spring of 1910 To the last he re-
fused to admit that he could understand
the hostility Of the people.
''They always cheered me when ap-
peared In the Streets" he was wont to
say mournfully, "and 1 have always
labored for their good"
Great Fear of Conflict.
with Simon disposed of, attention has
been turned to his successor and there Is
much uneasiness regarding the future
General Leconte and General Firmin, both
are avowed candidates for the presidency
They head rival revolutionary armies.
Neither leader has arrived at the capital
but the followers are in possession OF the
city and the feeling between the two par
ties is far from friendly
The danger now is that neither general
will be disposed 20 retire in favor of the
other, or that the battle must be literally
fought out.
The diplomatic corps is doing everything
to avoid conflict Today they held
conference to decide on committee OF
public safety satisfactory to all. to whom
the security of the capital may be en-
trusted The first committee chosen was
made up equally of Lecontists. Ffrminists
and neutrals, twenty-one in all. This was
not satisfactory to the Firminists, and
new committee, in which they had the
of the members refused to serve, and
third attempt to conciIate all parties was
necessary. Just now the followers of
Firmin are in the majority. but General
Leconte with large army Is approaching.
Simon Given Parting salute.
Early last evening Simon, accompanied
by his daughter Clementine, who has re-
manned at his side since he left the palace,
and handful Of followers, with their bag
gage, were transferred from the American
schooner Bradford c. French to the Dutch
steamer Prinz Nederlanden, and an hour
later the vessel sailed for Kingston. AS
the vessel passed out of the harbor and
Simon had what may prove his last view
Of the capital, the three ships gave him a
parting salute
The night passed with comparative calm.
Occasionally the report of a rifle was
heard, but the lawless ones were held
pretty we'll in check
The German marines who were landed
from the cruiser Bremen remain on shore
and the German minister has made It
known that he will hold as 10any armed
men In the city as the situation requires.
1t is unlikely that an attempt to consti-
tute a provisional government will be made
until Leconte and Firmin arrive.