The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-11-28
SHOT WHILE DOWN.
How Seaman Riggin Met
Death i'm Valparaiso.
A Comrades Heroic At
tempt to Rescue Him.
The Dead Mans Body
hHauled About i'm a Cart.

NEW YORK, November 27.-The first
succinct description of the fight between
the Chilians and the crew Of the Baltimore
has come from one of the crew of that YES
sci to friend in Brooklyn. The letter is
dated Valparaiso, October 20, and says;
"After the fall Of Valparaiso, on account
of the bitter feeling existing against the
United States by the Chilians. 1t was
thought advisable not to give liberty on
shore to our crew, but from representa-
tions made by the citizens and others that
ill-feeling had passed away. liberty party
was sent on shore at 1.30 p. M. October 16.
"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 6 p. nj. one of the men,
Jerry Anderson, was brought off In a shore
boat with two stab wounds In the back,
one of which punetured the lung. He was
in a critical condition, but is now recover
ing Being powerful man, he fought for
an hour, keeping off crowd of his assail-
ants, but was finally hit in the mouth with
brick, which Knocked him down, and he
was stabbed while on the ground.
1T 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 land
ed they were told by several parties that
they had better keep together, as an attack
upon them had been arranged. Although
our men hoped and y ished the liberty to
pass off quietly, some of them thought 1t
prudent under the circumstances to buy
knives and other weapons, so that If they
were attacked they would not be wholly
unprepared TO defend themselves. Our
men kept we'll together until between and
8 O'Clock, when, everything appearing
pleasant, they broke up into small squads,
going in different directions.
sit was now that the Chilians opened
out in true Spanish American style, a mob
would attack oui small parties OF one or
two men. The result was, Boats wain's
Mate Charles Riggin killed, six in hospital
and 81 in jail. The police. who are uni
formed as soldiers and carry rifles, acted
as auxiliaries to the mob. Riggin received
his death shot from the police. 1t occurred
as follows: Riggin was attacked by
mob and attempted to get away. He ran
for horse car and succeeded in getting on
the platform, but before he could get in
side he was drag ged off and severely cut in
three places. He fell in the street and was
unable to move They left him where he
fell. SO great was the terror of the people,
caused by the mob, that no one would as
sist him.
"One of the men, Jerry johnson, armor-
street, badly wounded, and at once went to
his assistance. He found Rlggin still
breathing. He got glass Of brandy and
poured some down his throat, which re-
vived him little. johnson asked IL he
knew him.. Riggin answered:
eyes, Johnson. For Gods sake get
me out OF this before they murder me-
HIOhnoop F1iakpd him nd
ing him away, when crowd, half soldier
police and half mob, rushed on him. A
dozen or more shots were fired, one OF
which passed through the knot Of john
sons neckerchief and struck kiggin in the
throat. In the excitement johnson lost
the mob himself he cannot explain. but he
did get clear. After this the mob threw
Rlggln into push cart and dragged him to
"When Capt. Potter OF the American
barkenttne William Phillips saw a man
mounted on the cart astride of RiggiD,
haranguing the crowd, berating the "Yan-
KEGS" and gl0ating over the poor fellow
who lay under him with his life's blood
ebbtng away, he demonstrated. Finally
squad of mounted police came, and Riggin
was taken to the hospital, where he died
that night.
Another Of our men, John Hamilton,
was surrounded by the mob and stoned un-
til he dropped insensible and was then
stabbed while down. He now lies at the
hospital with little hope of recovery. Be-
sides the six In the hospital, who are seri-
ously hurt, there are twenty-nine others
now on board who have cuts and bruises.
"Our men had no show; they were at
tackled with stones and bricks wherever
seen. Ii they sought refuge in house OF
saloon they were pushed out and the doors
closed against them, the people were so
afraid of the mob. Our men fought while
they were on their feet, and did the best
they coulc. as three Chilians in the hospi-
tai and number of the mob who were
carried to their homes, can attest; but our
men were too scattered, and so outnum-
bered that the odds were too much for
them.
THE authorities on shore are holding all
our men on whom weapons were found. 1t
is evidently their intention to bring a
charge against them in order to Justify the
action of the people on shore. Inc univ
sal testimony of disinterested people is
that our men were sober and peaceable,
aud only retaliated when attacked. Mon
day, 10Th, at $50 a. m, we sent funeral
party Of 30 men on shore to bury poor Rig
QiD.O