New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-06
A MEXICAN RIOT.
HOW NEW NICKEL COINS WERE RECEIVED

DOWN on either the Icugous or CIVIC calendars.
The present disturbance cannot be termed reyolu.
ton, but rather riot like the conrt riots of Eng
land brought about by the suferings Of the poorer
| classes. The new nickel coins of one, two and five
cents, issued to the amount Of some 100000,
have been in forced circulation for several months
and from the first have been diskcd by the public
and especially by the Indian population. The mer-
chants have from time TO time refused TO accept
them at par and they have suffered discount vary
ing from ten to twenty-five per cent. The news
papers and Congress have given the nickel question
much attention and discussion, and the Chambers
some two weeks ago, Just before their adjournment
passed a law regulating the quantity percentage
to be received in nickel in payment of Federal Gus
toms, limiting its value as legal tender in business
transactions at twenty centayos. The law, how
ever, does not to be satisfactory TO the public
and for day or two past there have been runors
Of discomfort in some Of the interior cities. Iere
in the capital the pulque shops have been refusing
to receive nickel, the baceadad0s or farmers cu-
vators of the puque plant which produces the great
national drink. insisted in being paid in sill
YER The particular event which brought on
the riot was the payment last evening
to the employees of one Of the largest cigarette fac
tories in the city of their wages in nickel The dis
content of these employees was transferred this
morning to the market-place About 10 O'clock
mOney-changers were to be seen with great guam
titles of the coins spread ont before them little
mats, and on every side were to be heard remarks
about nickel! nickel" and the question:: "IIow
much in silver and how much in nIckcl!" Later
on a difficulty arose with a mOney-changer III
the market who was purchasing the nickel Of the
poor people at thirty per cent discount, and a shot
or two were fired, which was enough TO send the
poor people to the Plazain great excitement crying,
- n Al
keepers began to put up their shutters and
bar their doors, and in a short time all
business suspended President Gonzalez
drove rapidly by in the direction Of the Alameda
and shortly after General PorfriO Diaz passed. The
Plaza in front of the Palace filled with a dense
crowd of people. mostly Indians, all throwing up
their hats and shouting death to the nickel" TO
the gentlemen standing on the balconies of the
Treasury Department. Throughout the crowd were
intersperSed many policemen, a few mounted. while
about the Palace doors were squads of cavalry and
infantry.
When the Presidents closed carriage whirled
past the Cathedral there a genera! rush for 1t,
many of the Indians throwing nickel coins Into the
windows of the carriage. The crowd pressed 30
closely around the horses that the carriage was
brought to a stand-stil. when the President hur-
richly got ont, and, with his usual coolnesS flc'l
his assaants. Immediately squad of cavalry
dashed forward from the mid lie palace-ioor TO the
support Of the President, and at the same moment
there sailed forth from the north door some Of tho
cadets of the military College Of ChoPulJe-
pee and a number of citizens. Just at
this moment there was an attempt to dlsnouIt
a cavalryman aud three shots were fri
The crowd pressed the President and his supporters
back to the ston, cross at the corner of th:
Cathedral garden. Ole could not but admire tbs
brave fashion in which, with but arm, but with
firm soldicrly bearing, Gonzalez faced the mob
and addressed it, though at the very moment sOus
cowarlly fellows Il few rods behind, were throwing
great stones, as mig as ones two fists, among tho
group. If the President and his followers escaped
without broken heads bruised bodies IT Is a
marvel Waiting but an instant, they forced their
way across the pavement to the north door of the
Palace and while a few persons in the crow I wcro
throwing stones even at that critical moment, a
portion of the Indians with their innate reverence
for their superi3rs took Of the hats and re tu,l
uncovered. Just before reaching the Palace door
cry went 10. Viva 81 Presilentt,' but
at the same moment a number Of stones
flew through the air AID one man was Mt
Happy the man who Wore - tie at such a mo-
ment Scarcely had the President taken refuge IN
the Palace at the urgent request OF M Trends
when there sailed trOu the north door al oA'tr
and squad with rifles AZ shoulder arms, h'y
back before them, when suddenly they halted iho
officer gave the command, and every rifle Was point
ed directly on the crowd men louoNeu ne PIP
pOp-pOp of the mus,etrN tie soldiers hrng INTO lie
AR. The smoke of the yOLey hardly ah>hcd be-
fore the wind 80 rapidly a. the Indians from that
square, many taking refuge IN the aileltrd.. Ia,
soldiers iInmed ately deplOyed IN sklrnlSl line and
after that kept the people away from the Palace
Then began general breaking OF the lamps before
the Ca hctral, while on the opposite side OF the
square the crowd made demonstrations against The
city government. Here the gendaunes arrested
man whom the people tired u rescue aug tir gyn-
darmes resisting two were shot ana another Heu 4of
II may truly be said that such disturbances in
Mexico are unusual IN these later days, tOr snr mas
had until to-day eight years of undlSturhcd 20
iral peace. Many OF the gas lamps III the Uealli-
full avenue of the mcO d hdyo were broken, VINO
i'm many of the lanterns OF thOse IN Itatefo' ana
San Francisco SITS. one sees stones that tell tho
tale The cafe Sturbride preserves aS remembrance
OF the day several paying stones WhlSh came ni'S-
ing through the unprotected windows. All inc
afternoon and evening the streets have bteh
patrolied bN sOdIcTy, While occasionally numbers OF
men arrested n the suburbs nave passed, htaNuy
guarded, on their way 10 the prison; Inc street
cars have continued running all the DAY WIN 3p-
parent indifference 10 the excitement III inc 'ty'
while the bill poster has made his rounds AIMING 20
he walls his giarlng red sheets WIN tAe eul % ~
cnraged bull and valiant bahdrtHT2 announcing
the usual sunday bnll fight at Huislchdl-Iol ~ 10
not. d.. T..
The President brayey took his afternoon drive -
the PaseO thugE this afternoon IN an opel carriage
without escort, and was respectfully saiuied Dl 'ho
people The City Council at dusk issued PI! ,I'-
nation that il would purchase III large quantities
meats bread, vegetables and other nctc>NiI.rN' SCH
inc them to the poorer classes AZ just prices ana l0r
nickel coins Much complaint has been made 10.
time of the greatly reduced size OF the OaN'r'
lOayes, -.r.,i,
The secretary of the Treasury. Minister oiIubRc
Works and other prominent GoY'Inm.ht
officials VINO have been absent "a few days IN NtIS
CruZ attending the celebrations of the " laLta-
hpaS" the first Mexican Transatlantic steamer ~
turn tonight, and SOnIe fears are entertained lor
the safety 81 the tram or OF disturbances At INV
Vera cruz railroad station on its arrival.
The riot has NO political significance, was VIVID
out leaders, and u conflict Of parties. He oi'i
turbauces IN the Plaza the acts of men carried
away by the excitement of the moment, and pro-
yokcd 6y the attacks Of the police rather IMAM
pYcmeditatcd assault upon the President.
The CIV seems Quiet Tonight, and II is TO DO
hoped that the matter of the nickel VIII DE- 'a','
fl.l,I IILnII