1914, May–June 25: (The Northern Inferno: Théodore’s Dominican Lifeline, Vilbrun Guillaume’s Conspiracy, and the Executions at La Fossette): In the North, th…

1914, May–June 25: (The Northern Inferno: Théodore’s Dominican Lifeline, Vilbrun Guillaume’s Conspiracy, and the Executions at La Fossette): In the North, the fighting dragged on — money continued to come in to Théodore from Antoine Simon’s prosperous Kingston dairy farm, weapons and recruits arrived from Desiderio Arias, the turbulent cigar-maker of Montecristi, while the Nord Alexis shuttled shiploads of Zamor’s wounded back from the Cap and press gangs scoured the streets of the capital. Besides Antoine Simon and the Dominicans, Théodore had won another ally: from the French legation, that arch-Consolidard Vilbrun Guillaume — in asylum for his health — had begun orchestrating support for Théodore against the German-Lecontist-oriented Zamors. By the end of May 1914, the plain in the North between the Cap and Ouanaminthe was infested with Cacos. On May 21, on instructions, Consul Livingston made a roundabout pilgrimage to Théodore via Montecristi to Ouanaminthe in a hired automobile to see if some arrangement could be reached — despite a warm reception, he was told that they would rather see the country perish ten times and perish with it than see the Zamors remain. That Livingston had not overstated conditions was confirmed on June 19 when Farnham telegraphed Secretary Bryan that revolutionists were at Bahon, Grande Rivière, and Lacombe, that the railroad station had been entered and their agent forced to leave, telephone and train service interrupted, handcars held up, two men shot, and today’s trains not in, probably captured. Farnham was accurate: Trou had fallen the day before, leaving Charles Zamor all but hemmed in at the Cap — from the town, as in 1791, could be seen pillars of fire and smoke as Cacos surged over the plain, burning houses of Zamorist officials and sympathizers as they advanced. Against this apocalyptic backdrop, Charles Zamor retaliated by shooting townsmen whose allegiance he doubted, and amid cries of “Vive Zamor!” prisoners were dragged up to La Fossette, where on June 25 alone fourteen hostages were shot, followed by uncounted others in days to come.