The Haitian Government was informed that unless Germany's demands were
submitted to within eight hours, the town would be bombarded.

Germany had said that two of her schoolships would visit the West Indies
during the winter, and the two vessels which arrived at Port-au-Prince
are believed to have been the two in question. They were, however, so
fully equipped, and presented such a formidable appearance, that they
were quite sufficient to seriously alarm the Haitians.

Word had been sent a few days previously that two German vessels were
making all haste to Port-au-Prince, but thinking them the coming
schoolships, the Haitians felt no fear. They determined to resist these
German schoolboys to the last, and armed themselves to fight their foe.

When the German vessels finally made their appearance, and the Haitians
saw for themselves that these so-called schoolships seemed to have just
as many seamen and murderous-looking guns as the ordinary man-of-war,
their courage oozed out at their finger-tips.

Before the ships came in sight, they had paraded the city, crying "Down
with the Government!" in their fear that President Simon Sam might
submit.

Now, in face of the two cruisers, affairs took on a new complexion, and
when they heard that the town would be bombarded if Germany's demands
were not acceeded to within eight hours, the natives' only fear was that
the President would _not_ submit.

The foreign residents did not feel any more cheerful than the Haitians.