The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-04-01
The Acapulco (Mexico) Massacre.

NEh 1okh, Marcn 10.
The HeralGs Acapulco correspond
ent gives details of the terrible
massacre in that town on the night
of Jan. 6. Rev. Mr. Hutchinson,
pastor of the Presbyterian congregation
of the City of Mexico, was invited to
Acapulco last year by lawyer named
Procapio Diaz and others, to organize a
new congregation, the nucleus of which
already existed nearly n year. Finding
no suitable substitute, Hutchinson came
down in December, and took temporary
charge of tie new church. About ninety
persons were found desirous of embrac-
ing the new doctrine, and an old vacant
Catholic church was rented, and ON the
gath of January was opened in due form,
Hutchinson preaching twice that day.
During the previous month threats had
been thrown out Oy the adherents of
Catholicity against their religious op-
ponents. The former claim to have been
Systematically insulted by the Protest
ants, who had small newspaper organ.
The latter energetically deny having
done anything more than fairly discuss
sectarian dogmas.
A prayer-meeting was held by Hutch
inson on the evening of the 25th, and
similar gathering agreed on for the fol-
lowing 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 Open In front
of the latter, and between it and the
street, an outrageous tree grows. I'm
der the shade of this tree and at either
side of the door, watching the pro.
ceedings within the church, the as
sassins, numbering some thirty-five or
forty men, took their stand. Procapio
Diaz had addressed the congregation in
place of the absent minister, and they
were singing a 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 muir
derous matchetes and commenced an in
discriminate slaughter of the peaceful
inmates of the church-not entirely in
discriminate, for the leader of the muir
derers and one of his men marked out
Diaz 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
pulpit, and portion of the board was
cut through before the weapon reached
its mark. He drew pistol and tried to
fire, but his assailants were too quick
for him, and the leader inflicted a ghast
ly cash in his pistol hand. While this was
passing, the heroic wife of Daz picked
up chair, rushed upon one of her hus-
bands would-be murderers, pinned
him to the wall and by main force
wrenched his machete from his bloody
ah ana hastehniesd thisd ifit 70 THE aid fdff Of DIaz PEI
ceiving favorable opportunity she said
to her husband: "Now fire" He 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 WELD
ed with fearful effect, human flesh cut
and gashed like bullock meat, while
blood streamed in torrents over the floor,
now eucumbered by dying or wounded
men and women. Ten or dozen shots
were fired, few from the assailed, some
of whom had revolvers. Atthe commence
ment of the onslaught those VINO were
near the door attempted to escape. That
was a fatal mistake, for, as the attrighted
worshipeTs gained the street, they were
deliberately cut down by ambushed ruff
fans stationed on both sides of the door
outside. In this way the American citi-
zen, Henry Morris, met his death. His
! head was nearly severed from his 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 mere or less severe
| ly, of whom several have since died.
Morris was a colored man, from Boston.
He leaves a wife and several children.
The N assacre 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 Ell Negro, who made his way
to the plaza and drug store, where he
was met by Mai. Francisco Mejia, COM
mander of a few Federal troops stationed
about Acapulco. Mejia at once started
on a run to the scene of action, some 400
yards off, and a few minutes later the
town police, followed 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 author
tiles 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 the spot or
follow up anyone who could be imme
diately recognized as participator in
, the dreadful tragedy. One of the assas-
sins, who was desperately wounded and
could not get out of the way, was taker
into custody and placed in close confine
ment His deposition was taken, il
which, OF course, it appeared he figured
, as a spectator only. A couple of other
wounded men were apprehended, but a
nobody appeared to implicate them thu
: prosecution may be looked upon as aban
e donod.