The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-11-30
A Herald Correspondent in
the Mexican Riots.
CONGRESS AwED BY THE MOB.
TunuItuOus Excitement in the COun-
try of Revolutions Last Week
Interesting Items.
correspondence of THE HERALD


Believing that few lines giving the
existing state of affairs i'll and around
this city, viii be of interest to your
readers, 1 will endeavor to give short
description of what has taken place the
last few days.
The city has been in State Of con-
siderable excitement the past week. and
instead of abating, it seems to be on
the increase until it has become the
cause of some alarm. 1t appears that
years ago there were several English
merchants doing business in this coun-
try, and on account of the devastating
effects of the many revolutions the
country underwent, they in common
with many Others were financially
ruined. subsequently the English gov
eminent took the matter in hand, and
estimated their loss at something like
$4,000, 900, and demanded that the Mex
lean government indemnify the loss.
The Mexicans claim this estimate to be
double the amount the English subjects
actually sustain. However, the subject
has been up in Congress, and the pro-
priety of acknowledged has been free
ly discussed.
1t seems that the government author
tiles generally, and the majority of the
members of Congress deem it wisdom
to acknowledge the debt, while part'of
Congress with the entire populace at
their backs are decidedly opposed to it.
This is one of the causes of the present
disturbance. Another is, the Inaugural
ton of PreSident-elect POrfirio Diaz
takes place December LIST, and many are
bitterly opposed to his administration
and doing all they can to prevent him
from taking his seat. The result IS riot
ers have been at work the last four or
i've DAYS destroying property to
shameful extent. Street lamps and
electric lights have been demolished in
the principal streets, and the city is
comparatively left in darkness.
Saturday night popular demonstra-
tion was made by the students of one
of the National schools, against the
congressman who voted in favor of
acknowledging the debt; they assembled
IN front of Congress Hall, two blocks
west of our place of residence, where
they made night hideous with their.
shouts Of death to the fOmentOrS of
the bill' and "death TO President Con
zales" and other kindred threats. The
rural guards and police combined.
charged the mob, killing five or six of
them and wounding several others, and
also made about fifty arrests. Consid-
cradle excitement prevailed on Sunday,
but no outward demonstration of note.
Monday evening the matter took more
serious aspect. The mob assembled
and marched to the residence of Gen
eral Diaz, and demanded that he come
out and state his position in the matter,
but General DiaZ, for reasons best known
70 himself, did not appear, SO the crowd
lett, going up the principal streets de-
mOlishing windows, lamps, and every
thing that was capable of being destroy
ed. A company of cavalry in connec-
ton with an organized force of police
met the mob and opened fire upon them,
killing fourteen ard wounding many
others. This dispersed the crowd for the
present. Tuesday evening a dramatic
scene occurred in Congress. During the
session the house was strongly guarded
by a battalion of infantry, at the same
time there were many spectators in the
house, and while debating firing
began outside, and in a second
into wild confusion. The people
supposing those outside were try
ing to enter the building, began
crOwding over on the Congress floor
with cries of, They are fighting in the
street." and death to the treacherous
deputies" 1t was pandemonium for
short time, until the president of the
house succeeded in quieting the panic,
and explained the cause of the shooting
that the populace had thrown them
selves on the guard, but were repulsed
by the latter opening fire upon them.
Amid confusion, Congress adjourned |
till next day.
Yesterday all the pulque shops in the
centre of the city we're ordered closed, |
thus shutting off all spiritual inspira- |
ton from the lower class. Congress was
strongly guarded by both infantry and |
cavalry, and held secret session, which |
added fuel to the fire. Last evening it |
seemed as though Satan with all his hosts |
had been let loose, bands Of rioters were |
IN different parts of the city carrying on
their destructive work, while troops /
we're constantly patrOling the streets |
trying tc Guell them. The street here /
IN front OF our house suffered with the
balance i from the balcony we watched
the crowd as they passed by on their
destructive march, and Immediately /
after came a company of cavalry who /
overlook them and engaged in some.
shooting, but what the result was is
difficult to say, as it was unsafe to be in +
the streets, and We preferred being un-
der shelter during the storm. This |
morning things are more quiet. but diff /
fcuity is feared this evening, as many |
people are comingin from the surround |
ing country, and therevolutionary spirit |
is rampant. Troops are also centering
here from the surrounding neighbor- !
hood, and trouble is anticipated at the |
Inauguration Of General Diaz.
Friday, 2lst. Congress met at pm.
yesterday, and by reclamation the bill
was deferred till after the Inauguration
of the new administration, thus the mob
or people are so far victorious. The
widest excitiment prevailed around
Congress Hall until the result of the
session was made known. The streets
were blockaded in all directions by the
surging masses Troops lined the streets
around Congress TO prevent people from
approaching the building, while 300
police were stationed inside. No shoot
ing was INDUCED in, but several we're
made to feel the sharp edge Of the
sword.
One cause for tabling the bill is its
- hat do