Elections throughout history, have been periods defined by hotly contested debates, where emotions are high and, in some cases, threaten to boil over.  We have seen instances where candidates allow their feelings to get the best of them and they “blow their top.”  It’s like this now and it seems as though it’s always been like this, since the dawn of representative government.  No election, however, compares to the 1902 gubernatorial race on the small Caribbean island of Martinique.  The election was heating up in the city of Saint-Pierre and for incumbent governor Louis Mouttet, reelection was no guarantee.  Voter turnout, it appeared, might play a pivotal role if he were to retain his office.  He leaned on officials to make sure all the information being relayed to voters was positive and portrayed him in a positive light.  His opponent, meanwhile, stressed the fact that his rival was full of hot air.

Election day came to the island of Martinique.  Regardless of who won and who lost, this election certainly wasn’t a matter of life or death… was it? Find out on this episode of the Missing Chapter.