Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-18

The Real Story of the Acapulco Out
rage Now Told.
San Francisco Chronicle.

The officers of the United States
steamer Pensacola, arrived from AGA
pulco, bring reliable information con-
corning the origin of the Acapulco con-
sular difficulty, which has not yet been
published in this country. 1t appears
that Mr.. Suffer, United States Consul at
Acapulco, was standing in the street be-
fore his office one day, when he was IN
solently accosted by a notorious rutfian,
who had been driven from Mazatlan tor
being too ferocious and lawless for even
the rough population of that port to en-
drre. The fellow was insolent beyond
measure, and Suffer, who is an old man,
quietly requested him to move on.
The desperate replied with blasphe-
NOUS oaths, and significantly exposed
the hilt of a long and keen knife. Up
on this menace the Consul withdrew in
to his office, and took revolver from
his desk. The bully outside, seeing the
preparations for defense, hurled brick
at Suffer, who, perceiving that hostlll-
ties had really commenced, fired. He
had intended merely to fire over the
desperado's head, but he aimed low,
and the ball flrrowed his scalp. The
Mexican fell, not dead but stunned, and
Suffer was Immediately arrested. lie
was tried before a Judge who was hostile
to him, but who with commendable
Justice acquitted him. On the day fol
flowing, the lower class in Acapulco,
probably instigated by the Mexican or
his associates, made raid upon the eX-
tensive plantation of German-Amerl-
can citizen named Kastan, one OF the
richest rancheros in the region. The
mob sacked Kastan's dwelling, defolla
ted his orchards, ravaged his fields, and
dispersed his hocks The Indignant
American reported the outrage and de
manded Consular interference. Sutte1
2 Immediately laid the matter before
t President Diaz, claiming damages o
, from 100000 to $150,OOO. Diaz forth
Z with wrote an official account of thu
3 outrage to General Jiminez, his com
t mandant at Acapulco, desiring HIM t.
! make as speedy restitution as possible
Jiminez was at that time military GOV
a ernor of Acapulco. He received Dlaz'
instructions with jeers, and retuse'
a point blank to move IN the matter
I Suffer, perceiving the state of affairs
wrote a formal protest to Diaz and on
e to Foster, the American Minister at tn
e City of Mexico. He had hardly pc
J. formed this necessary act when he wa
v again arrested at whose instigatlon h
was unable to discover. an
t. thrown into the town jail. Ih
e was in fact noisome dungeon
+, and after the lapse Of eight or ten day
l. the unfortunate Consul was seized wit
or a malarial attack, and his situation b.
came so dangerous that the millta1
IN surgeon recommended his release frOl
prison. Accordingly he was hberate
O. on kind of parole, in which he slgne
t. an instrument which bound him to a
in pear for trial upon notification. FOste
re hearing of this additional outrage, Sc
S. to Diaz mandatory request for sat
faction. Diaz forthwith apprised jim
n, nez that the seizure was illegal, and tn
ne Suffers procedure was JUSTIFIED. II
President also dispatched Senator
sc a commissioner to adjudicate the III
tan claim in conjunction with anoth
commissioner to be appointed by SUIT
I'D or Kastan. Jiminez positively retus
f to recognize the order. Affairs were
-er this critical condition when the Pens
fe, cola, which had been ordered to the 81
ms from Panama by the Navy Departme1
~, arrived and dropped anchor in the n
in Dor. Suffer reported the outrage to 4
ed miral Murray Of the flagship. L
Admiral Immediately trained his J
ne guns on the town, ordered marines
ale der arms, and landing had an audier
with Jiminez. He stated in few te
ose sentences what he desired, and vast
er no time in unnecessary ceremoni
nd Suffer should receive instant uncon
out tional liberation; Kastan's claims sho1
to be speedily adjucated and.reimbul
tile ment made; the American flag was
ing be raised and, with the Consul, was
be saluted by the Mexican guns; 9th
yer wise-and Jiminez needed no extrac
mary acuteness to perceive that E