Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-03-05
Spaniards Attack A Consulate.

Dispatches from Barcelona state that
an attack has been made upon the Unit
ed States consulate in that city, on Sat
urday, notwithstanding the fact that the
building was guarded. During the day
a procession comprising 10000 persons,
headed by four Republican members Of
the Chamber of Deputies, paraded through
the principal streets of the city as dem
onstration against the action of the
American Senate. A strong guard had
been placed about the American consul
late in anticipation Of trouble, As the
procession passed it there was some de-
risive whistling, interspersed with cat
calls. The crowd tried to force their
way into the building, but the police and
gendarmes succeeded in driving them
away, but not until s8ey had been forced
to charge the mob with drawn sabers.
While this trouble was going on, the
main body of the procession continued
its march to the town hall, where the
leaders of the demonstration handed to
the mayor a strongly worded protest
against the action of the American Sen
ate, and also against the speeches that
had been delivered therein on the Cuban
question, it being declared that some of
the speakers had grossly insulted Spain
and the Spanish government in defend
ing Cuban bandits and outlaws.
Subsequently great crowd assembled
in the Plaza Catalina, and a number OF
patriotic speeches were delivered. The
crowd became greatly excited by the
| burning oratory of the speakers, and af-
| ter the meeting had broken up, a large
| number of those who had listened TO the
| words glorifying Spain and denouncing
the United States, proceeded to the
American consulate, where they gave
vent to their patriotism by stoning the
| building, much 10 the damage Of the
windows.
In the evening there was another out.
| burst of disapproval of the United States
and all things American. This time il
took the form of publicly dishonorinp
the American flag. The rioters had pur
chased somewhere a large American flag
which, after it had been dragged through
the streets, was pulled to pieces amid
cries of ''long live Spain" and "dowr
| with the Americans" =" There is still
much excitement in the city.
| After this outrage on the American
| flag, the mob became more violent, anC
a proposition to make a further demon
| stration against the American consulate
was speedily acted upon. The mob pro
ceeded to the consulate, in the meantim,
| arming themselves with stones. Arriv
ing at the consulate, a perfect volley o
missiles was directed against the shield
over the doorway bearing the American
| coat of arms. which was battered almos
to pieces. The mob in some way became
possessed of several American flags
which were destroyed amid ribald Jest
and expressions of contempt for the ma
ton they represented.
The situation was becoming more anC
more threatening, when reinforcement
for the guards al the consulate arrived II
.he shape of a detachment Of mounted
gcndarmcs. The crowd was ordered tC
dispersc, which they sullenly refused tC
do, whereupon the gcndarmcs charged
them with drawn swords and put then
to flight Several of the rioters were in
jured by being trampled upon. Until Z
late hour the boulevards were throngct
by an excited crowd singing "Marseil
laise" and patriotic Spanish songs.
Popular feeling is bitter against Tho
United States because Of the action OF tht
Senate in adopting rest luton favoring
the granting Of belligercnt rights TO the
Cuban rebels The sto * market yester
day responded to the excitement anC
there was material decline in purely
| Spanish and Cuban securities. In view
OF the financial difficulties under which
the government is laboring this is mos
unfortunate time for Spanish securities tC
decline in value.