Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-03-24
RELIGIOUS MASSACRE.
The Presbyterians OF Acapulco At.
tackled By an Organized Bsdy
Of Assassins while
at Prayer.
Three or Four Killed and Eleven
Wounded Only One OF the
Ruffians Captured A
Terrible Affair.

NEW YORK, March Il The Herald
Acapulco correspondent gives the de
tails of a terrible religious massacre il
that town on the night Of January 26th
Rev. Mr.. Hutchinson, pastor OF thr
Presbyterian congregation of the City O
Mexico, was invited to Acapulco las
year by a lawyer named Proeopio Dia;
and others TO organize a new congrega
ton, the nucleus of which had already
existed nearly year. Finding no suit.
able substitute, Mr.. Hutchinson came
down in December and took temporary
charge OF the new church. About nine
ty persons were found desirOus Of en-
bracing the new doctrine, and an old
vacant Catholic church was rented, and
on the twenty fourth of January was
opened in due form, Mr.. Hutchinson
| preaching twice on that day. During
| the previous month threats had been
| thrown out by the adherents of Cath
olicity against their religious opponents.
The former claim to have been system
stically insulted by the Protestants,
who had small newspaper organ. The
latter energetically deny that they had
done anything more than fairly discuss
sectarian dogmas. A prsyer-meeting
was held by Mr.. Hutchinson on the
evening Of the twenty.fifth, and simi-
lar gathering was agreed on for the fol-
lowing evening. This meeting was
held, but Mr.. Hutchinson was i'll and
unable to be present. The Protestant
church has only two doors, both open
ing on the street. One was closed and
the other, that nearer to town, open.
In front of the door, and be-
tween it and the street, a tree
grows. Under the shade of this tree,
and at either side of the door,
watching the proceedings within the
church, the assassins, numbering some
thirty-five or forty, took their stand.
Procopio Diaz had addressed the con-
gregation in place Of the absent minis
ter, and they were singing hymn,
when six or eight OF the cut-throats en-
tered, and, dividing among themselves,
occupied stands near either side Of the
pulpit. Without any sign OF warning
whatever, these incarnate devils barred
their machets and commenced an in
discriminate slaughter Of the peaceful
inmates of the church. Not entirely
indiscriminate, for the leader of the
murderers and one of his men marked
out Diaz as their special victim. A
couple of machet blows were aimed at
his head, which, if received in full
force, must have terminated his exist
ence. AS it happened, he had sufficient
presence of mind to dodge his head be-
hind the pulpit, and q portion Of the
board was cut through before the
weapon reached its mark. He drew q
pistol and attempted to fire, but his as
sailants were too quick for him, and the
leader inflicted CHASTITY cash on his
pistol hand. While this was
passing, the heroic wife of Diaz
picked up chair and rushed
upon one of her husbands would-be
murderers, penned him to the wall, and
by main force wrenehed the machet |
from his bloody hands. With this she |
still defended herself, and hastened to-
the aid of Diaz. Perceiving favorable |
she said to her husband:
"NoW fire.n He did so, and fatally shot |
the leader. Within the church a bloody |
and murderous hand-to-hand fight was |
waged for six or eight minutes. The |
machet was welded with fearful effect. |
Human flesh was cut and gashed like |
bullock's meat, while blood streamed in |
torrents over the floor, now encumbered |
by dying and wounded men and women.
Ten or dozen shots were fired, and
few from the assailed, some of whom
had revolvers. At the commencement
Of the onslaught those who were near
the door attempted to escape. This was
a fatal mistake, for as the afrighted wOr-
shippers gained the street they were de-
cut down by ambushed ruf.
fans stationed on both sides of the door
outside. In this way the American cit
izen Henry Morris met his death. His
head was nearly cut from his body by
machet blow and his chest cut open at
single stroke. He and two other men
and q woman were killed outright and
eleven wounded more or less severely,
Of whom several have since died. Nor
ris was a colored man, from Boston.
He leaves a wife and several childrens
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 a wounded man, called Juan
Elnegro, who made his way to the plaza
and drug store; there he was met by
Major Francisco Mejia, commander of
/ few Federal troops stationed about
Acapulco. Mejia at once started on
-un to the scene of action, some four
hundred yards off, and and few min
ties later the town police, followed soon
after by the Federal troops from the
,astle, we're on the ground. More than
i've minutes could not have elapsed
rom the closing of the battle to the time
when the authorities reached their posts.
As usual the police and their allies came
90 late. They got to the battle
ield only in time to pick up the
lead and wounded, but not early enough
o arrest on the spot or follow up any
,ne who could be Immediately recog-
lized as participants in the dreadful
ragedy. One of the assassins, who was
wounded and could not get
,ut of the way, was taken into custody
md placed in close confinement. His
deposition has been taken, in which,
# course, 1t appeared he figured as a
pectator. Only a couple Of other
wounded men were apprehended, out as
10 body has appeared to implicate
hem, the prosecution may be looked
lpon as abandoned.