, 1891-10-24
REVOLT IN
RUETER's AGENCY.
ST. LOUIS, SEPT. 20.

The Globe Democrat publishes the following
intelligence from it's Mexico correspondent
A gentleman who left the city of Guatemala
on the 18th inst, has reached Mexico, having
ridden on horseback from Acapulco. He reports
that an outbreak occurred in Guatemala city on
the 10th, and was progressing when be LETT.
According to him the people were celebrating
a national holiday, and General B~arillas, the
President, had personally appointed b eorators.
The masses, however, objected to these speak
ers taking the rostrum, and this was a signal
for a shower Of stones, which put the orators
to flight. The latter were then chased across
the large plaza by a crowd of persons, shout
ing Down with the Government" "Down
with despetism and tyranny" " Death to
Barillas."
An exciting scene followed. Every known
Liberal or partisan of the President was dri-
ven from the plaza and'stoned. The masses then
elected orators, who delivered most violent
incendiary speeches.
The news Of the riot spread rapidly, and
General Barillas soon ordered a battalion of
infantry to the square for the purpose Of dis.
persing the mob with fixed b~ayonets. The
soldiers attempted to carry the plaza by as
saults, but were met with showers of stones
and revolver bullets. This unexpected action
on the part Of the mob put the troops to flight,
many of their number, either dead or wound
ed, being, however, left on the ground.
A tremendous uproar then ensued. The
mob shouted, " Let us storm the National Pa
lace, kill Barillas, and restore Republican
Government. Guatemala ought not to be ruled
by a dictator. The plundering of the Nation
al Treasury must ~ceasel" President Bari1las
{ immediately ordered the artillery to the plaza,
and when the guns were turned upon the mob
a general dispersal took place, although those
who were armed with revolvers fred them at
the soldiers as they fed.
The people on leaving the plaza collected in
the side streets, and there continued to hold
out. In fact, practically during the whole
night the people had full control of the city,
although they were attacked at intervals by
infantry, who shot many of them. Reports
Of r~evolvers and rifles were heard all night.
At Eve O'Clock on Monday afternoon the
Anglo-American received a special telegram
from Newton, on the line between Guatemala
and Mexico, which was delivered at the New
ton telegraph Office by a special courier. This
despatch says:
President BarillaS is master of the situation,
having suppressed the revolt after three days
hard fighting. The revolt was precipitated
by Senior Montufar, the son of a candidate for
the Presidency, who is a strong partisan of
General Barillas, attempting to mako a poll
teal speech on Independence Day. The mob
threw him and his friends off the platform
and pelted them with stones until they took
shelter in q house in the vicinity. From that
time until the night of the 18th inst, street
fighting continued. Sometimes the mob and
at others the army held control of the city.
The arrival of troops from the adjoining dis
tricts eventually restored the power Of General
Barillas. The city is now swarming with
soldiers, and martial law has been declared.
It was expected when the courier left that
General Barillas would declare himself Dicta.
toFJsao as to prolong his term of Office.
The Government of Salvador is moving
troops to the districts bordering upon Gnate-