The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-30
Relisious Bigotry Run Mad,

Religious Bigotry Run Mad.
The New York Herdld's Acapulco cor
respondent gives the details of the
terrible rel. gious massacre in that town
on the night of Jan. 9th. The Rev. Mr..
Hutchinson, pastor of the Presbyterian
congregation of the City Of Mexico, was
invited to Acapulco last wear by lawyer
named Procapio Diaz and others to organ
ize new congregation, the nucleus Of
which had already existed nearly year.
Finding no suitable substitute, Hutchin-
son came down in December and took
temporary charge of the new church.
About ninety persons were found DESTROYS
of embracing the new doctrine, and an old
vacant Catholic Church was rented. On
the Oath Of December the church was
opened in due form, Hutchinson preach.
ing twice that day. During the previous
month
THREATS HAD BEEN THROWN OUT
by adherents OF Catholicity against it's re-
ligious opponents. The former claim to
have been Systematically insulted by the
Protestants, who had small newspaper
organ. The latter energctically deny
having done anything more than fairly
discuss sectarian dogmas. A PRAYER
meeting was held by Hutchinson on the
evening of the 25th, and similar gather
ing 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 other--that nearer IT, the
town-open. In front Of the door, be-
tween it and the street. an outrageous
tree grows. Under the shade of this
tree, and at either side Of the door,
watching the proceedings within the
church,
THE AssAss1Ns,
number Ing some thirty five or forty men,
took t.ler stand. Procopio Diaz had ad-
the absent minister. and they were sing
ing 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 warning whatever, these incarnate
devils barred their murderous machetes
matchatas, broadswords] land commenced
an indiscriminate slaughter of the peace.
full inmates Of the church,-not entirely
indiscriminate, for tho leader Of the MUIR
derers and one Of his men marked out
Dlaz as their special victim. A couple of
machete blows were aimed at his head,
which, if received in full force, must have
terminated his existence. As it happened,
he had sufficient presence of mind to
dodge his head behind the pulpit, and
portion Of the board was cut through be.
fore the weapon reached it's mark. He
drew his pistol and tried to fire, but the
assailants were too quick for him, and
the leader inflicted chastity cash on his
pistol hand. While this was passing,
THE HEROIC WIFE OF D1Az
picked up chair, rushed upon one of her
huaband's would-be-murderers, pinned
HIM to the wall, and by main force
wrenched the machete from his bloody
hands. With this she defended herself
and fastened to the aid Of Diaz. Per-
ceiving favorable opportu ity, she said
to her husband, 'sNow fire. ne did so,
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 WAS CUT AND GAsHED
like bullock. meat, while blood streamed
in torrents over the floor, now incumbcr-
cd by dying Or wounded men and women.
Ten or dozen shots were fired, few
from the assailed, some Of whom had re-
volvers. At the commencement of the
onslaught those who were near the door
okA >4,1 IL Tlok
mistake, for, as the afrighted worshipcrs
gained the street, they were deliberately
cut down by the ambushed ruffians sta
toned on both sides of the door outside.
In this way the American citizen, Henry
Morris, met his death. His head was
nearly severed from the body by
machete-blow, and his chest cut open at
single stroke. He and two other men and
a woman were killed outright, and
eleven wounded more or less severely, of
| whom several have since died. Morris
was colored man from Boston. He
leaves wife and several children. The
| massacre commenced about ten minutes
after eight o'clock and lasted only six or
eight minutes. The first news which the
| authorities had Of it was from wounded
man called Juan Ell Negro, who made his
way to the plaza and drug store, where
he was met by Major Francisco Meiia,
Commander of the few Federal troops
stationed about Acapulco. Mejia at once
| started on ran to the scene of action,
! some 400 yards off, and, few minutes
later, the town police, followed soon after
by Federal troops from the castle,
! were on the ground. More than
five minutes could not have elapscI
from the closing of the battle to the time
when the authorities reached their posts.
As usual, in such cases, the police and