New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-20

A SPANISH SOLDIER AT ST. JOHN SENDS
BALL. wHIzZING BY HIS HEAD


sRIA TELLS THE STORY OF THE ATTEMPTED
AssAssINArioN-THE GovERNoR-GEN-
ERALS ExpLANATIoN-A REPORT
SENT TO WASHINGTON.
United States Consul J. D. Hall was attacked
nv a Spanish soldier and narrowly escaped be-
ing killed at st. John Porto Rico on March T. dc
the result OF the intense feeling aroused by the
attitude Of the American Congress TOWARD 'ne
Cuban insurgents The news was brought 10
this city by the officers and passengers Oh 'ne
steamship South Cambria. of the Ne"-forN
and Porto Rico Line which arrived mere !~s'er-
1av from St Jonn Porto Rico The island Is
Spanish possession and the feeling agaihs'
Americans is extremely strong and vindictVe'
Felix Taussig a member Of the Importing
house Of ~ w. Taussig Co. OF NO III '" All
St. was a passenger on the South Cambria anu
told the following story of sthe outrage VINE"
the news reached Porto Rico said ne. tndt Tue
United States Senate had passed resolutions
favorable to the Cubans. there was great e*ci'c-
ment among the people all over the island anu
especially in St John. The town or 81 JON" Is
situated on hill. and most OF the houses arc
buiI, on terraces Mr. Halls house is IN ter
race which overooks a lower terrace on WIZ"
is the Spanish prison. A low wall surrounds the
around the wall On the afternoon of March
tho United States Consul was seated on rs
veranda when he suddenly heard the report OF
a gun and an instant later. the whiZZing vi
bullet. which struck the wall Of his house Only
q foot or so out of the line Of his head. He saw
at once that the bullet had been nred by
Spanish soldier from the prison. He had never
heard OF a shot being fired from the prison IN
this manner before. o,.u,,
..Nr Hall went at once to Governor-Generdi
Naran to demand an explanation. Inc GOV
ernor-Genera said that 1t was an actlo",' '.u
mon occurrence He said that the shot had been
fired to brighten woman who was Iol'ecl ~
near the prison. No further attempt was h.'ue
to arrest the supposed female loterer. D'i're
the shooting took place demonstration, vi
mass-meetng, to denounce Americans nau oev
called Mr.. Hall had called upon the Governor.
General to stop the hostile demonstration ana
in consequence Of his protest 1t was not held
Mr. Hall sent full report OF the attempt upon
his life to the State Department at washington
by the South Cambria. =.
According to Mr. Taussig, there seems TO be
no doubt but that the shot was intentional as
the feeling against Americans is strong In ~.
John The woman alleged to have been shot al
and the United States Consul were nOt III
line with each other; yet the GOVERNOR f ~,
most suavely, but unsatisfactory. assurso ut
Hall that the shooting was all an accident Mt;
Hall saw Mr. Taussig off on the steamship ana
requested that he give plain statement OF lne
Facts when he arrived home. In Mr.. Tausslg
opinion. a deliberate attempt had Deen maue
upon the life Of the American Consul. and only
the poor Workmanship OF the spanish s0'''e'
had prevented assassination.
When Mr. Halls indignant report reaches
Washington II is probable that an inVestlsa-
ton will be demanded from Spain