The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-04-22
The Acapulco Massacre.
Tile Washington correspondent of tie Balti-

more american, OF The ~ Lf}s says:
The Navy Department has received a COM
mtinication from Captain Queen, commanding
the United States steamer Sal;tnac, dated AGA
pulco, March 81, he having been ordered thtEl-
er to inquire into the circumstances attending
the death by violence of an American citizen.
Captain Queen reports that about the 10Th
Of March Plocopio G. Diaz and other citizens
of Acapulco all natives and citizens of Mexico.
organized congregation for religious worship
according to the Protestant creed. The meet
ings were held OIL Sundays and other days in
the house OF Diaz, and were strictly Of IL pri-
vate character. Diaz and some members Of
his flock were occasionally stoned by tile popll-
lace.and otherwise annoyed bit sustained no
serious damage to their persons. In Deem
Der last, Rev. II. Fl. Hutchinson, head of the
Presbyterian Mission i'll Mexico, was solicited
by the congregation to become their pastor,
and to organize the congregation in a more
formal manner. Converts were added to the
church, and in all the society numbered sixty
eight persons, mostly natives OF the country.
Preaching took place and prayer meetings
were held at Diaz's residence. They looked
for suitable building for church purposes, and
SOON rented one which had served as a Roman
Catholic church, subsequently used By the
French invaders, and afterwards had been oc-
cupied as a mercantile warehouse. The chap
ell was formally opened i'll JANUARY last, Mr..
Hutchinson officiating as pastor On the 25th
of that lnGntii, after the services, the coBgre-
cation retFs d without any fears Of injury from
their enemies. Mr.. Hutchinson did not at
that time attend the chapel, the services being
conducted by Mr.. Diaz. Those We're present
thirty or forty members. A few minutes az
ter s O'Clock in the evening. as the congrega-
ton were singing the lastl.ymn, disturbance
was occasioneA by forty Mexicans, armed with
machetcs and lnuskets. From the testimony
adduced on the examination into the distni-
Dances, only six OF eight of these armed men
entered the building. the others remaining
outside, for the purpose, il is said, Of finishing
the Protestants who should attempt to es-
cape.
The struggle in the chapel did not last more
than eight minutes. Shots were fired, but the
principal damage was done by the machetes.-
THE Pfotcstants, after the asSassIls retired,
harricaded their chapel as a means Of protec-
ton from the force outside. The military com
inanders and his aids soon reached the spot,
and ware directly followed by forty soldiers
from tie garrison. The District Judge and
his secretiil'y also appeared upon the scene, and
ordered those inside to open the doors of the
chapel. This the Professionals refused to do
until they We're assured the party so ordering
were their friends. 1t was then ascertained,
according to official inquiry, that three men
and one woman had been killed and eleven
men wounded. Among the number killed
WAS u colOfeu HAL -taulcu Henry MOTIFS, IL
barber, and q native OF Boston. His body was
fearfully nangled, his head was almost sever
ed from his body. He had frequently been
warned by his friends not to so to the meet
ings, as there were reasons for believing that
by so dong he would place his life IN danger.
A woman was killed by Il ballet passing
through her her head, aud a man was found il
q dying condition. This man was Of the at
tacking party and WAS shot by Daz. who was
badly wounded, having received eight wounds.
Mr.. Hutchinson, OH the evening OF the attack,
on being advised to remove to other quarters,
went to the California. Hotel. A Mexican
guard was sent til re to protect him, should
an attempt be made Oh his life. BY advice OF
the United States Consul he went on board of
a vesseland sailed for San Francisco.
Captain Queen says: The majority Of tlse
people of Acapulco. influenced and .annroNed