The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-20
An AMERICAN CONSUL SHOT AT
SPANISH SOLDIER IN PORTO RICO
THE OFFENDER.

rrh. Governor General Answers n De-
,.nd for an Explanation by Say
ing That the Soldier Fired at n
woman Who Was Looking Over
tbe wall Into the PrisOn-NO State
mont OF the Affair Received at the
DeDartment of state.
Quarantine, S. l.. March 19.-The steam
A. south Cambria Of the New York and
porto Rico Steamship Company, which
.rrfved this morning, brought news of
~ ATTEMPT made on the life Of United
C,ates Consul John d. Hall by Span
,sb soldier at San Juan, Puerto Rico, on
,rsrch a. From what could be learned
,rom Felix Taussig, one of the South
,,s-nbria's passengers, it seems that Con-
srI HaIps residence adjoins the Spanish
nrison in that city. On March the
consul was fired on by a Spanish sol
sfer from the prison wall. but fortunate
10 he was not struck by the bullet, which
vhistled by close to the consuPs head.
The shooting created much excitement.
Consul Hall has written home by the
south Cambria to the state department
e. Washington, giving tult report OF the
ot+eront on his life. 1t was reported Ihat
tbe shooting was accidental ana that the
~rieoner Passenger TausSig says II was
deliberate attempt on the lie OF consul
Han The news that congress was ABOUT
n recognize the Cubans had just reached
San imam on March 3, and caused con-
siderable comment.
@VTben Consul Hall asked Gov. Gen.
Marin for an explanation OF the occur
rsnce" said Mr. Taussig, "the governor
fold him with a smile upon his race that
the shot was fred at woman VINO was
looking over the wall at the side OF the
n1blic highway, into the prison. GOV.
San Marin asserted that it was the rule
of the prison for the guards to hre upon
anv person looking over the wall. Inc
wall is but four feet high ana person
nassing along the street could not well
helm seeing the prison yard, so that the
exclamation vouchsafed by GOV. Gen. Ma
rim did not satisfy Consul Hail. VINO
thinks the shot was fired at him lntentloh'
Mr. Hall says that only few moments
before the shot was fired he saw an OF
icer of the prison walk out TO the guaro
and apparently give him some lnstruc'
tions He SAYS that since he has beer
at San Juan there has been no shot flreo
from the prison, although numerous per
sons have stood in the street and look
ed over the wall into the prison yard.
Mr.. Taussig said that the feeling against
Americans was very strong in san Juan
because there are many Spaniards at the
capital city. The feeling in other portions
Of the island is in sympathy with the
Americans and against the rule or the
Spanish. On the morning after the news
reached Porto Rico that congress was
about to recognize the Cubans, handbills
in Spanish were distributed broadcast il
MayagueZ, Ponce and st. John, calling
upon the peope to hold demonstrations
against the American consuls in those
cities. Consul Hall protested to Gov. Gen
Marin and this prevented the demonstra'
tions.
Washington, March 19-At the state de.
partment, a Southern Associated Press re.
porter was told that no news had beer
Il received there of the reported attempt or
the life of Consul Hail. The statement
was made, however, that information has
been received from San Juan since the
feeling against the United States had been
aroused in Spain and her possessions to
the effect that there was no trouble al
that place.
If Consul Hall reports to the department
that he was fired on by Spanish soldier,
prompt disavowal will be requested of
the Spanish government, which will be
also asked to punish the offender.