Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-11-28
MURDER OF RIGGIN
An Eyewitness Tells the Story
of the Sailors Death.
HOT DOWN BY THE POLICE.
Thrown Into Cart by tbs Mob and
Dragged to the Pier.

Another of the Baltimore's Sailors
Stoned by the Infuriated ChiIians and
Then stabbed-The Americans in No
Way to Blame-The 'Yankees" BE-
rated-Letter from One of the Crew.
BROOKLYN, N. Y, Nov. 2S.-The first
succinct description of the fight between
the Chilians and the crew of the Balti-
more has come from one of the crsw IF
that vessel to friend in Brooklyn. Tha
letter is dated Valparaiso, Oct. 30, and
says:
CATER the fall of Valparaiso, on &C
count of the bitter feeling existing
against the United States by the Chilli
ans, it was thought advisable not to
give liberty on shore to our crew, but
fr ON represen tations made by citizens
and OF hers that all ill feeling had passed
away a liberty party was sent on shore
at 1:3O p. m. on Oct. 49, At p. m.
our whaleboat brought the news that
our men had been attacked and that
one man had been killed and several
badly cut up. At p. III. one of our
men, Jerry Anderson, was brought off
in a shore boat with two stab wounds in
the back, one of which puucturei the
lung.
't15 appears it was an understood
thing among the Chilians many of
whom had just been discharged from the
| army and navy, to attack our men the
first time they came on shore. AS soon
as our men landed they were told by
several parties that they hal better
| keep together, as an attack upon the IN
| had been arranged. Our men kept we'll
together until between 4 and 5 o'clock,
when, everything appearing pleasa ant,
they broke up into sm Ill squads, going
in different directions. 1t was now that
the Chilians opened out, and, in trus
Spanish American style, a m ID would
attack our small parties of one or two
men. The result was: Boats vain 8
Mate Charles Riggin killed, six in hos
pital and 81 in Jail.
The police, who are uniformed as SOL
diers and carry rifles, acted as auxiliar-
les to the mob. Riggin received his
death shot from the police. 1t occurred
as follows: Riggin was attacked by a
mob and attempted to get away. He
ran for horse car and succe eded in get
| ing on the platform, but before he GOULD
get inside he was dragged off and severe
ly cut in sthree places. He fell in the
street and was unable to movs. They
left him where he fell. So great was
the terror of the people, caused by the
mob that no one would assist him. One
of our men, Jerry johnson, arn1orer
heard that Riggin was lying in the street
and badly wounded, and at once went
to his assistance. He found Riggin still
breathing. He got a glass of brandy
and poured some down his throat, which
revived him a little. johnson asked il
he knew him. Riggin answered.:
"'Yes Johnson. For Gods sake get
me out of this before they murder me.
johnson picked him up and was
carrying him away, when a crowd, hal
soldier-police and half mob, rushed OF
him. A dozen or more shots were fired
one of which passed through the knot O
Johnson's neck.rchief and struck Rig
gin in the throat In the excitemen
johnson lost his hold of Riggin. How
he got clear of the mob himself he can
not explain, but he did get clear Afte
this the mob threw Riggin into a push