Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-07-19
THE OUTRAGE AT ACAPULCO.
How the Man. War Pensacola did Good
Service by Making the Greasers Apologize
for An Insult 20 Our Consul.
From the San Francisco Chronicle, Julya.


From the San Francisco Chronicle, July3.
The officers of the United States
steamer Pensacola, arrived from
Acapulco, bringing reliable informa-
ton concerning the origin of the Ac-
apulco consular difficulty, which has
not yet been published in this coun-
try. 1t seems that Mr.Sutter, United
States consul at Acapulco, standing
ing in the street before his office one
day, when he was insolently accost-
ed bv o notorious ruffian, who had
been driven from Mazatlan for being
too ferocious and lawless for even
that rough population to endure.
The fellow was insolent beyond
measure and Suffer, who is an old
man, quietly requested him to move
on. The desperate replied with
blasphemous oaths, and Significantly
exposed the hilt of long knife. Up
on this MANAGE, the consul withdrew
into his office and took revolver
from his desk. The bully outside,
seeing the preparations for defense,
hurled brick at Suffer, who, per.
ceiving that hostiIities had really
commenced, fired. He had intended
merely to fire over tho desperadoe's
head, but he aimed low and the ball.
furrowed his scalp. The Mexican
fell, not dead but stunned, and Suffer
W as Immediately arrested. lie was
tried before Judge who was hostile
to him, but who, with commendable
Justice, acquitted him. On the day
following, the lower class in Acapul-
co, probably instigated by the Mexi-
can or his associates, made a raid up
on the plantation of a German-Amer-
lean citizen named Kaston, one of
the richest rancheres in the region.
The mob sacked Kaston's dwelling.
desolated his orchards, ravaged his
fields, and dispersed his focks. The
indignant American reported the
outrage, and demanded consular in.
reference. Suffer Immediately laid
the matter before President Diaz,
claiming damages of from 100000
to $4,000. Diaz forthwith wrote
an official account of the outrage to
Gen. Jiminez, his commandment at
Acapulco, desiring him to make as
speedy restitution as possible. jim.
lnez was at that time military gov
ernor of Acapulco. He received Dlaz'
instructions with jeers, and refused
point plank to move in the matter.
Suffer, perceiving the state of affairs
wrote formal protest to Diaz, and
ono to Foster, the American minis
ter at the City OF Mexico He had
hardly performed this necessary act
when he was again arrested, at whose
instigation he was unable TO discover
and thrown into the town jail.
This was, in fact, noisome dungeon
and after the lapse OF eight or ten
days the unfortunate consul was
seized with a malarial attack, and
the situation became so dangerous
that the military surgeon recon-
mended bis release from prison. Ac.
cordingly he was liberated on kind
of parole, in which he signed an in
strument which bound him to appear
for trial upon notification. Foster,
hearing of this additional outrage,
sent to Diaz q mandatory request
for satisfaction. Diaz forth with APP
praised Jiminez that the seizure was
illegal and that Suttcr's procedure
was justified. The president also
dispatched senator as a commits
sioner to adjudicate the Kaston claim
in conjunction with another commits
sioner to be appointed by Suffer or
Kaston. Jiminez positively refused
to recognize tho order. Affairs were
in this condition when the Pensacola
which had been ordered to the spot
from Panama by the navy depart
ment, arrived and dropped anchor
in the haroor. Suffer reported the
outrage to Admiral Murray of the
flagship. The admiral Immediately
trained his big guns on the town,
ordered his marines under arms, and
landing had an audience with Jimin-
ez. He stated in few terse senten-
ces what he desired, and wasted no
time in unnecessary ceremonies. SUIT
ter should receive instant unco ndi-
tional liberation Kaston's claims
should be speedily adjudicated and
reimbursement made I; the American
flag was to be raised, and, with the
consul, was to be saluted by the
Mexican guns otherwise-and jim
ineZ neadad No extraordinary acute
ness to perceive that the stern old
admiral meant what he said, the
Pensacola would Immediately batter
the town down about Jiminez's ears.
Cannon Instantly effected what pro-
tests hao .ailed to achieve. Jiminez
became very affable and tractable.
He guaranteed the consul's uncon-
ditional release and the settlement oil
Kaston's claims. The stars and