The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-09
PRESIDENT OF HAYT|
PER|SHES IN FIRE
Believed 400 Persons Were
Killed in Explosion
MAGAZINE BLOWS UP
Members of Presidents Family Are
Saved-General Auguste Elected
New President of Hayti-The
Palace Is Destroyed

Port Au Prince, Hayu. August S.-rhe
national palace was blown up by a pow
der explosion and burned to the ground
today and the president of he republic
General Ciucinnatus Leconte perished.
Members of his family who We're awak-
ened by the terrific shock found them
selves almost surrounded by flames. but
escaped.
The first explosion was followed by
others when the fire reached the cellars
CT the palace where a great quantity OF
ammunition was stored. So great was
the force OF the explosions that NUM-
Der of small cannon, fragments Of iron
and shells were thrown in all directions
Many palace attendants We're killed and
it is estimated the casualty list will
reach 100 persons killed or injured
For time panic prevailed and the mill
tary authorities Immediately TOOK
charge. The explosion occurred shortly
after 3 o'clock in the morning and within
an hour when the fire which was con
fined to the palace was extingusned. the
structure was a mass of ruins from which
Ii will be impossible to recover the body
of the president.
At a joint meeting of the chamber and
Senate this afternoon General fanorede
Auguste. senator and ex-minister of pub
lie works, was named president
Cincinnatus Leconte was elected unani-
mously by Congress President of Hayti
august II. 1911. lie first gained proml-
nenee In Hayti in 1908 when as minister OF
the interior in the cabinet of President
Nord Alexis he was credited with order
ing the summary shooting of 10 promi-
nent revolutionaries at the capital.
Shortly after the regime of Nord Alexis
was brought to an end Leconte went
into exile In Jamaica.
While in Jamaica Leeonte intrigued
against the new president Simon, and in
January, 1911, started revolution
against him which was short lived The
insurgents were defeated and Leconte
took refuge in the German consulate al
Cape Haytien, later being sent from the
island under German protection. Leconte
returned to Hayti in May, 1911, and sue
eeeded In overthrowlng President Simon
He was mulatto. somewhat over mid
die age. and belonged to the legal pro
fession of the country.
Washington, August S-The death OF
President Leconte came just as the reall
zatlon of the revolution in Hayti.
| The Dominicans regarded him as tn,
moving spirit in the revolutionary move
ment now in progress, and the prospec
tive leader of an invading Haytien arw'
now assembling ON the border Nhethc
there was q plot against Leconte's If
or whether he was a victim to the extra
ordinary precaution he had adopted fo
his own protection has not been learned
lie kept the large store of arms and am
| munltion near his palace, where they
could be Immediately available for his
own use in case of revolt. a cablegram
to the state department from American
Minister Firniss stated simply that the
president was Killed this morning at Z
O'Clock by an explosion OF magazines.
which destroyed the palace Haytien
Minister Menos had longer dispatch,
conveying the same information.
Owing to the flame no attempt was
made to enter the palace to search for
the presidents body. Minister Menos
scouts the idea that the explosion was
malieiously done,
At the instance of the state department
the gunboat Nashville has been ordered
from Guantanamo to Port All Prince, n
days run, to look after foreign interests
| in case of disturbance.