The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-21
PRESIDENT DIAZ ATTACKED
DURING A MILITARY PROCESS
SION IN STREETS OF MEXICO
The Man Springs From the Sidewalk and
Strikes at the President from Behind.
Knocked Down by . Stan Oficer and
Taken to Prison-No Weapon Found ON
. Him But Believed to Have Had q Dagger.
The Populace Anxious to Lynch Him

City of Mexico, September ~16.-Ignacio
Auulfo, q violent character, assaulted
President Diaz today during the military
procession. The man was felled by a
companion of the president and imme-
diately taken into custody by the au-
thorities.
The central thoroughfares of this city,
extending from the great plaza to Ala
media or the public park, and known by
various names. was thronged by thou
sands Of people this morning, assembled
to see the military procession usual on
independence day pass by. The scene was
Immensely picturesque, the historic ave-
nue., called by George Augustus Sala one
of the famous streets of the world, being
all aglow with color and the Spanish
fashioned balconies filled with ladies in
brilliant toilets. After a short wait a
nurmur ran through the crowd that the
president was coming and on foot, dress
ed i'm the uniform of a general of division.
The president. bowling right and left to
the applauding crowds. came, Immediate
Iy behind him being General Pradillo, the
governor of the national palace, who
served in the same capacity under En-
peror MAMMALIAN. Following them were
other officers, cabinet ministers, etc.
Suddenly near the Alameda there was a
disturbance in the crowd ON the sidewalk,
and a well built muscular man with flow
ing black hair and mustache, forced his
way past the gendarmes and jumped be-
tween the president and General Pradi
and the chief of staff, Monasterio and
dealt a blow at the back of the presi-
dents neck. The violence of the blow was
diminished by the fact that he was
crowded between the president and Off
GERS Immediately following him..
The president turned around and caught
sight of his assailant and resumed his
march with admirable GOODNESS.
Meantime Chief of Staff Monastero hit
1t. and broke it. General Pradillo then
hit him a blow on the neck, Telling him.
The gendarmes rushed up and some
mounted officers and police seized and
pinioned him. He was taken through a
side stand and led away, the people
shouting: Give him to us, we will hang
him." But the gendarmes succeeded in
keeping their prisoner, being reinforced
by cavalrymen, the great crowd shouting
and running behind. The man was taken
TO the palace and stripped, but no weapon
was found. on his person. He was taken
away to the city hall, securely bound and
placed in solitary confinement, after
being questioned by the officers. He has
often been employed in a notary's office as
"A clerk, and is said by the chief Of police
to have a record as a man of violent
habits, given to drink and quarrelsome.
Various stories are told regarding his
design on the president, one theory being
that he was armed with a dagger, as
many of the police believe.
TIL president on returning to the pal
ace, was cheered and an immense crowd
assembled in front of the palace. cheer
ing and shouting and calling for President
Diaz.
President Diaz took the matter very
calmly and advised that Anulfo be kept
in custody till tomorrow and be brought
before him to explain his motives, ap-
parently believing that he had no murder
Gus intent; but the police feel that the
case is one more dangerous, and they
Gounseled his being turned over to the
military tribunal, as he had assaulted
their commander-in-chief while in uni
form.
General Powell Clayton, the United
States minister, Immediately called upon
President Diaz and offered his congratu-
iations, as did other diplomats and many
other prominent people.
There is no doubt that if Anulfo had
f1lten into the hands of the people he
would have been torn to pieces, so intense
was the. rage. Some think the assailant
merely made the assault for the sake of
gaining notoriety, having read the ac-
counts of the assassination of Canovas.