The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-17
THE HORRORS OF ACAPULCO.

REPORT OF CAPTAIN QUEEN, OF THE NAVAL
STEAMER sARANAc-THE ATTACK ON THE
PROTESTANT CHAPEL NsTIaATED By cATHo-
Lie CURATE-DEATH OF HENRY MORRIS, A
coLoRED AMERICAN CITIZEN.
WASHINGTON, April 16, 1875.
The Navy Department has received a communt
cation from Captain Queen, commanding the
United States steamer Saranac, dated Acapulco,
March 81, he having been ordered tnither to IN
qulre into the circumstances attending the death
by violence OF an American citizen. Captain
Queen reports tnat about the 18TH OF Marcn
Procoplo y. Dlaz and other residents OF Acapulco,
all natlves ana citizens OF Mexico organized
congregation for religious worship according
to the Protestant creed. The meetings
were held on Sundays and other days IN the house
OF Dlaz, and were strictly OF private character.
Diaz and some members OF his mock were occa-
sionally stoned by the popuiace and Otherwise
annoyed, but sustained no serious damage to
their persons On December last the Rev. II. H.
Hutchinson, head OF the Presoy teran Mission In
Mexico, was sollcited by the congregation 10 oe-
come their past or and TO organize the congre-
gregatlon la more formal manner. Converts
were added TO the church, and III al the society
numbered slxtyelQnt persons, mostly natives of
the country. PREACHING took pace, and prayer
meetings we're held at Dlaz's resldence. lney
looked Tor suitable building Tor church purposes.
ana soon rented one wDIcn nad served rs Roman
cuQrcn, was subsequently, useu Dy french
invaders and was then occupied as o mercantlie
ATTACK OF THE AssAssNs.
The chapel Was formally opened III January last,
Mr. Hutchinson ofnclatng as astor. On The 10Th
OF that month, aIter rne services the congrega-
too retired without any Tears oil injury from their
enemies. Mr.. Hutchinson nd not AZ that time
attend the chapel, the services being conducted
by Mr.. Dlaz. There we're present thirty or forty
members. A few minutes after eight O'CLOCK Ia
tne evening, as the congregation were singing
the last by mn, disturbance was occasioned By
musketa From the testimony adduved on tue
examination into the disturbances, only SIX or
eight OF these armed men entered tue building,
the others remaining outside Tor the purpose, II is
satd oil nnsnlug the Proiestants VINO should at
tempt to escape. THe struggle In tne cnupel did
not continue more tnan eight minutes. shots
were nred, pat Tue principal damage was zone by
the mdchetes. Inc Protestants, alter tne assas-
SINS retIred, DarrIcaded tnelr APPEL as a means
OF protection from the force outslue. Tue military
commander ana ns aIus soon reached the spot
were directly followed by iorty soldiers from
the garrison. The District Judge anu nls secre-
those INSIDE To open zoe doors OF tae chapel. his
tue PTOtestanis refused 10 do until they were as
sured the party 80 oraerlng were tneir friends.
THE SCENE WITHIN THE CHURCH.
IL was then ascertained, according " oficial IN
curry, that three men aud one woman nad oren
Killed anu eIeven men wounded. Among the num-
Der killed was a coloreu man named Henry MOTIFS,
q 0arocr aud Eauye OF Boston. ms BODY was
IearIully man ged, the mead beIug aim ST severed
from tue Dody lie mad frequently been warned
by his irenOs not 10 go 10 the meetings., a. there
were reasons for believing that by SO doIng ne
would place MS lie In danger. A woman was
kIed by bullet passing through ner nead, and a
man was IouLd IN diving CONDITION. rus man
was One oil lie attacking party ana was shot ny
DIaz, who was badly nounueu, having received
eight wounus.
AIR. Hutchinson, on the evening OF the attack,
on being ADVISED to remove TO other quarters,
went to the California Hotel. Mexican guard
Was sent there To protect nlm should an attempt
be maze on ms life. by acvtce OF tue United States
Consul ne went on board OF vessel and saued Tor
san FrancisCo.
CATHOLIC PRIEST ACCUSED OF INsrTGATToS
Captain queen says tue majority II the people
OF Acapulco Influenced and approved tue cXter-
mInattUn VI the PrUtestants. lie mas reason 60
believe mat the Teaching anu influence OF the Ro-
man Catholic curste Instlgtted the assault. In his
sermons ne never condemned tue outrage.
petition mas been presented TO General AL
vareZ, the vernon Of tue State, asking ior the
expulsion OF the Protes;ants. Even Il IL should
appear That the cura,e was Implicated the Cover
would not nave the necessary force TO sust am
Nun IN the inquiry. Nothing nad ueen done 10
bring the oneuders 10 punishment. Any ener-
getIc steps TO tnis end would nave tue effect OF ln-
CreaSlng tue excitement aud occdsloning Iresn
outDi eaks I0rmai accusation was PENDING
against the curate but there seemed no prospect
OF LrlDgtug him To account, owing to the present
unfaY0rable condition Of Affairs