1910–1911: (The German Asylum Machine and the Voodoo-Baptized Yacht): Germany pursued a liberal policy of asylum in her legation and consulates as another me…
1910–1911: (The German Asylum Machine and the Voodoo-Baptized Yacht): Germany pursued a liberal policy of asylum in her legation and consulates as another means of extending influence in Haitian political circles, giving special hospitality to political aspirants she considered destined for future success — in 1910 the American legation reported that it was now easy to cause trouble as there was always a safe place to run to, that the German consulates had always taken refugees because they were always mixed up in the revolutionary movement. Meanwhile the navy had sunk to lowest ebb: the Liberté, bought in New York for $15,000 and budgeted in Port-au-Prince at $126,000, had blown up on October 24, 1910; the costly Antoine Simon, whose aromatic Italian powder was quietly deteriorating in the palace basement, remained unable to move; and Nord Alexis was no better. In this dark hour, McDonald produced a secondhand American yacht — apparently turning some $75,000 on the deal — which was duly consecrated on commissioning when a Voodoo baptism was held and a sheep thrown overboard for Agwé.