Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-03-24

emUll newspaper organ. Inc l0ttcr
energetically deny having done any
more than fairly discuss sectarian dog
mas.
A prayer meeting was held by Mr..
Hutchinson on the evening of the 18th,
and . similar meeting agreed on for
the following evening. This meeting
was held, but Hutchinson was i'll and
unable to be present.
THE PROTESTANT CHURCH
has only two doors, both opening on
the street, one was closed, and the
othcr-thc one nearest the lower
open. In front of the door, between
1t and the street, an outrageous tree
grows. Under tho shade Of this tree
and at either side of the door, watch.
ing the proceedings within the church,
the assassins, numbering IS or 40 men,
took their stand. Procopio Diaz had
addressed the congregation in place of
the absent minister, and they were
singing hymn when eight or ten Of
the cut.throats outside, entered, and
dividing among themselves, occupied
stands near either side Of the pulpit.
WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF WARMING
whstever, these incarnate devils barred
their murderous mschets and com.
menced an indiscriminate slaughter Of
the peaceful inm6tes Of the church
not entirely indiscriminate, for tho
leader Of the murderers and one Of his
men marked out Diaz % their special
victim. A couple of machite blows
were aimed at his head, which, II re.
ceived In full force, must have termi.
mated his existance. Az IL happened
he had sufficient presence Of mind TO
dodge his head behind tho pulpit, and
. portion Of the board WAS cut through
before the weapon reached its mark.
He drow pistol and tried to fire, but
his sssailants were too quick for him,
and the leader inflicted = easily cash
in his pistol hand. While this was
passing,
THE HEROIC WIFE OF D1Az.
picked up q chair, rushed upon ono Of
her husbands would-be murderers,
pinned him to the wall, and by main
force wrenched his macheto from his
bloody hands. With this she defend.
ed herself, and fastened to the aid OF
Diaz. Perceiving . favorable oppor.
tunity she said to her husband "Now
flre!" He did 80, and fatally shot the
leader. Within the church . bloody
and
MURDERous HAND.To HAND FIGHT.
was waged for six or eight minutes.
The machete was WELDED with fearful
effect, human flesh cut and gAshed like
bullock meat, while blood streAmed In
torrents over the floor, now encum
bered by dying or wounded men and
wonon. Ten OF q dozen ahota were
fired, . few from the assaulted, some Of
whom had rovolyers. At the com.
mencement of the onslaught those who
we're near the door attempted to es-
cape That was a fatal mistake, for, 40
the frightened worshipers gained the
street they were
DELIBERATELY CUT DOWN
by ambushed rufiians stationed on
both sides of the door outside. In this
way the American citizen, Henry Nor.
ris, met his death. His head was near
~ severed from his body by mschete
blow, and his chest cut open at single
stroke. He and two other men and .
woman were killed outright, and IL
wounded more or less severely, of
whom several have since died. Nor
ris was colored man, from Boston,
He leaves wife and several children
The massacre commenced about 10
minutes after 8 O'Clock, and lasted only
six or eight minutes.
THE ACTION OF THE AUTHORITIES.
The first news which the authorities
had of it was from q wounded man,
called Juan El Negro, who made his
way to the plaza and drug store, where
he was met by Maj. Francisco Mejia,
commander of few Federal troops
stationed about Acapulco. Malta ct
once started on run to the scene Of
action, some 400 yards of, and q few
minutes later the town police, follow
cd soon after by the federal troops
from the castle, were on the ground.
More than five minutes could not have
elapsed from the closing Of the battle
to the time when the authorities
reached their posts. As usual In such
cases the police and their allies
CAME TOO LATE.
They got to the fatal field only in
time TO pick up the dead and wounded,
but not early enough to arrest on tho
spot or follow up any one who could
be Immediately recognized - Q par
ticipant In the dreadful tragedy. One
of the asssssins, who was desperately
wounded and could not get out of the
way, was taken into custody and
NJ na6 In nlnan nOuf3 ma~out Ilta d.
position was taken, in which, ofcoursc,
It appeared he figured a. a spectator
only. A couple of other wounded
men were apprehended, but ~ nobody
appeared to implicate them, the prose.
cution may be looked upon a. aband.
oned.