The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-06
FARMERS FOUGHT FOR GOLD.
WHY IGLEsIAs OF COSTA RIGA DE.
CLARED a DICTATORSHIP.

The cities Were Opposed to the
Gold standard, which. the Country
People Wanted and the President
Gave Them-Partisnns For and
Against IgIeslas Met and Fought,
and He Declared Himself Dictator
TO Save Further BIOOdshed.
New York Oct 5.-The first details Of
the internal disorders which have result
ed in President Iglesias Of Costa Rica de-
claring himself dictator were received to-
day from Harrison r. Williams, until re-
Gently United States consul at San Jose,
Costa Rica and who arrived here to-day
on the steamer Alene from Port Limon.
The agitation against President Iglesas
eliminated at San Domingo on sunday,
Sept 12. in a bloody riot, in which five
men, three of them rich, and the others
more or less well known, were killed, and
more than thirty others wounded. The
riot was between influential partisans OF
President Tglesias and his opponents.
President Iglesias, some time ago, was
announced as a candidate to succeed him.
self. The election is to be held next
month, and he is at the head of what Is
known as the civlist party.
There arose very bitter opposition to him.
Its strength has been chiefly in the cities
where the men are deeply opposed to him
and denounce him because he changed
Costa Rica's standard to gold exclusive.
~. The change Is said to be foolish and
impracticable, and many believe it will
work great harm to the country.
They also speak bitterly of his Pacific
railroad scheme, which win cost 1878 900.
President Iglesias is building a railroad
across Costa Rica, from shore to shore.
The men of the cities say that the cost
Of this road is excessive
on the other hand, MIR. Williams says,
President 1glesias is popular with the
country element. He has built bridges
and railroads, and has projected other in
ternal improvements that have eudeared
him to the agricultural population. He
believes in spending more money In school
houses than on soldiers, and has not only
carried out that policy, but has given
Costa Rica a just and able administra-
tion. His opponents call themselves the
liberals.
tlon in their club rooms in santo Do
mngo on Sept p. On the afternoon of
that date they paraded through the
streets. About 100 men were in both march,
ing parties. In order to reach their club
rooms they had to pass one another They
met in the main street, opposite the ca
thedral Both sides had words, when some
one fired pistol. In twinkling bullets
were WhizZng plentifully.
Knives were used and rocks hurled.
Every man was bent on bloodshed The
priests came running out of the cathedral
and called on the rioters to desist. The
riot ragged for some little time longer, but
finally the efforts Of the priests were Sue
cessful. The ground was then found to be
strewn with bleeding men. Three were
already dead and thirty or more wounded.
This is conservative estimate.
Many OF the wounded and perhaps killed
were carried away by their friends. Cur
rent report had IL that over sixty had
been wounded.
The latter were taken into the cathe-
dral and cared for. Two of them died the
next day. Whether any of them have
died since Is conjectural
Among the killed was Senor Zamora,
one Of Costa Rioa's richest men. He was
with neither side. but seeing his son In
the opposition ranks and in danger he ran
10 assist him. He was struck by bull
let
When President Iglesias heard of the
affray he Immediately availed himself Of
the opportunity TO declare himself dieta-
tor. Mr.. Williams said he did this so as
to make absolute assurance Of preserving
the peace and having no repetition of the
deadly riot.
Mr. Williams says that Iglesias will be
reelected president, not because he has
announced himself dictator. but because
the majority of the voters support him
and will vote for him. The Pacific rail-
road, against which there Is so much OPP
position, is being built by John Carement
of GAINESVILLE, o., and w. Fl. Logan OF
Minneapolis.