Gibb:

The U.S. Navy on The Cacos Wars :

"Transfer of power in Haiti traditionally occurred when a political contender raised a Caco army and marched on the capital. Transfer of power was completed when the incumbent fled the country with part of the treasury. "

The events of January 27, 1914 had nothing to do with Vilbrun Guillaume Sam. That was Michel Oreste Lafontant (1859 – 1918.) He went into exile aboard one of the French gunboats. This election/invasion/occupation cycle lasted less than two weeks, not eighteen months.

His title was claimed by Emmanuel Oreste Zamor (1861–1915.) It was Zamor who was murdered by the Sam administration in July 1915. Sam's assassination by Zamor's followers in reprisal brought on the semi-permanent U.S. occupation.

The 1914 Lafontant riots were suppressed in a bloodless show of force by the Royal Navy. It seems the HMS Lancaster's captain used PT as a pretense to send "...every available man" (several hundred) ashore for a few hours.

There was singing involved. The Harlech Haka maybe?