1956, December 6–13: (Magloire’s Last Seven Days: The Provisional Presidency, the Submachine Gun That Was a Sham, Prosper Disguised as a Market Woman, and th…

1956, December 6–13: (Magloire’s Last Seven Days: The Provisional Presidency, the Submachine Gun That Was a Sham, Prosper Disguised as a Market Woman, and the Flight to Kingston at Sunset): Since the Cour de Cassation under Chief Justice Nemours Pierre-Louis had again declined the honor of executive power — nimble-footed as in 1950 — the army accepted its responsibilities, and Levelt’s familiar voice called on Major General Paul E. Magloire to accept the heavy burden of provisional president. Magloire proclaimed a state of siege and dissolved the legislature, but the kanson fè had worn thin — they were in fact only khaki drill, and he had but seven days left. On Monday morning another kouri erupted, then — seemingly as planned and led by Alain Laraque, a businessman linked to the army plot — the business houses failed to reopen. Banque employees stayed home; schoolteachers stayed home; filling stations dispensed no gas, though that hardly mattered because the Duvalierist Chauffeurs-Guides had every cab and camionnette off the streets and immobilized. Peasants, alerted by teledjòl that lougawou were abroad in Port-au-Prince, brought no food to market. Accompanied by his staff, submachine gun cradled in his arms, Magloire walked the waterfront — shops opened as he approached, then closed as he passed. The submachine gun was a sham: Paul Magloire was no man to shoot down fellow Haitians in cold blood. For two more days, with support from all candidates, the strike continued. On Wednesday, Magloire turned again to the chief justice — this time Pierre-Louis accepted executive power and Magloire ceased to be président provisoire, but there was a catch: Citizen Paul Magloire also held a commission as général de division, and General Magloire simply walked out the palace back gate, across the parade ground, and opened headquarters in the casernes. Crying Li pa bon, the mob demanded Magloire go — a delegation of pistol-toting young officers, Captains Pasquet and Dominique, told him the time had come. Next day General Levelt submitted his retirement; Colonel Prosper, disguised as a pipe-smoking market woman, sought the French embassy; Colonel Cantave, taking no chances, also sought asylum. Then Lieutenant Auguste told the Magloires that a DC-3 would be waiting at Bowen Field. Imperturbable and self-possessed to the end, Haiti’s ablest president since Salomon climbed aboard with his wife and a few associates, greeted the pilot Major Roy as if embarking for an inspection, and watched sunset gild the mountains and green slopes and sleepy Jacmel as he flew south over the darkening sea to Kingston and to exile.