The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-19
RELIGIOUS War at Acapulco.

| From the W aSnlNStou
The Navy Department has received
communication from Captain Queen, COM
handing the United States steamer Saranac,
dated Acapulco, March ~, he having been
ordered thither to inquire into the clrcum-
stances attending the
DEATH BY VIOLENCE OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN
Captain Queen reports that during last
fall Procop,o &. Diaz and other residents OF
Acapulco, all native citizens OF Mexico, or
ganiZed congregation for religious worship
according 10 the Protestant creed. The
meetings were held on Sundays and other
DAYS in the house of DiaZ, and were strictly
of private character. Diaz and some mem
bers of his flock were occasionally stoned
by the population. and otherwise annoyed,
but sustained no serious damage to their
persons. In December last Rev. Ii. Ii.
Hutchinson, head of the Presbyterian mission
in Mexico, was solicited by the congregation
to become their pastor and to organize the
congregation in q more formal manner. Con-
verts were added to the church, and in all
the society numbered siXty-cight persons,
mostly natives Of the country. Preaching
took place and prayer MEETINGS were held at
Diazs residence. They looked for suitable
residence for church purposes, and soon
rented one which had served as a Roman
Catholic caurcb, subsequently, used by the
French invaders and afterward had been oc.
cupied a. q mercantile warehouse.
THE CHAPEL WAS FORMALLY OPENED
in January lust, Mr.. Hutchinson otficiting as
pastor. After the services the congregation
retired without any fears OF injury from their
enemies. On the 25th of that month Mr.
Hutchinson did not attend the chapel, the
services being conducted by Mr.. Disc. There
were present thirty or forty members. A
few minutes after So'clock in the evening. as
the congregation were singing the last hymn,
disturbance was occasoned by forty Next
| cans. armed with matchetes and musketS.
From the testimony adduced on the eXamina-
ton into the disturbances only six or eight of
| these armed men entered the building, the
| others remaining outside for the purpose, it
! is said, Of finishing the Protcsants who
should attempt TO escape. The struggle in
| the chapel did not continue more than eight
minutes. Shots were fred, but the principal
damage was done by the matchetes. The
Protestants barricaded their chapel to pro-
tect themselves from the force outside. The
military commander and his aids soon reach
ed the spot, and were directly followed by
forty soldiers from the garrison. The dis
trct iud,e and bis secretary also appeared
upon the scene. and ordered those inside to
omen the doors Of the chapel. This the Pro-
testants refused to do until they were assured
the party SO ordering were their friends. IL
was then ascertained, according to oihclal
inquiry, that ....1 -.-
THREE MEN AND ONE WOMAN HAD BEEN KILLED
and eleven men wounded. Among the
number killed was a colored man named
IIn,r, Morris q barber and native of BOS-
ton. His body was fearfutfy mangled, his
head being almost severed from the body.
He had frequently been warned by bis friends
not to 90 to the meetings, as there were rea-
sons for believing that by doing so he would
place his life in danger. A woman was Killed
by bullet passing through her head, ana u
man was found in dying condition.. Ihis
nan was Of the attaching party, and was
shot by DiaZ. who was badly wounded, nav
ing received eight wounds.
CAPTAIN O ,een says the msJority OF the
people of Acapulco Influenced and approved
THE EXPERIMENTATION OF THE PRoTEsTANTs.
Ue has reason to believe that the teaching
and influence of the Roman Catholic curate
instipated the assault. In his sermons he
never condemned the outrage. petition
has been presented to General Alverez, the
Governor OF the State, asking for the expul-
sion Of the Protestau,s. Nothing has been
done to bring the offenders to punishment.
ANY energetic steps to this end would have
the effect of increasing the excitement and
occasiouing fresh outbreaks.
A formal accusation against the curate was
pending. but there seemed no prospect OIL
bringing him TO account, owing TO the pre-.
sent unfavorable condition OF affairs.