The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-10-09
RIOT IN COSTA RIGA
Results in President Iglesias De-
claring Himself Dictator.
Trouble Over the Gold standard-Th'
President Opposed by Business Men
of Cities but In Great Favor
with the Country Element.

New YORK, Oct. 6.-The first details
of the internal disorders which have
resulted in President Iglesias of
Costa Rica declaring himself dictator,
were received yesterday from Harrison
r. Williams, who, until recently, was
United States consul at San Jose, Costa
Rica, and who arrived here on the
steamer Alene from Port Limon. The
agitation against President Iglesias
eliminated at Santo Domingo Cd Sun
day, September 12, in a bloody riot, in
which five men, n of them rich, and
the others more or less well known,
were killed, and more than 80 others
wounded.
The riot was between influential par
tisans of President Iglesias and his OPP
ponents.
President Iglesias, some time ago,
was announced as a candidate to sue
coed himself. The election is to be
held next month, and he is at the head
of what is known as the civilist party.
There was very bitter opposition to
him. Its strength has been chiefly in
the cities, where the business men are
deeply opposed to him, and denounce
him because he changed Costa Rica's
standard to that of gold exclusively.
President Iglesias is building a rail-
road across Costa Rica from shore to
shore. The men of the cities say that
the cost of the road is excessive.
''0n the other hand" Mr.. Williams
says, president Iglesias is popular
with the country element. He has
built bridges and railroads and has
projected other internal improvements
hat nave endeared him to the agricul-
tural population. He believes in spend
ing 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 administration.
Both parties had planned a demon
stration in their club rooms in Santo
Domingo on September II. On the
afternoon OF that day they paraded
through the streets About 100 men
were in both marching parties. In or
der to reach their club rooms they had
to pass one another. They met in the
main street, opposite the cathedral.
Both sides had inflamed tempers.
DOIu SlutS ndu WOTuS "ueu SOuu6
one fred a pistol. In a ~twinkling
bullets were whizzing plenty. Knives
were used and rocks hurled. Every
man was bent on bloodshed. The
priests came out of the cathedral and
called on the rioters to desist. The
riot continued for some little time, but
finally the efforts of the priests were
successful. The ground was then
found to be strewn with bleeding men.
Three were dead and 80 or more
wounded. This is a conservative
estimate. Many of the wounded and,
perhaps, killed were carried away by
their friends. Current report had il
that over go had been wounded. The
latter were taken into the cathedral
and cared for. Two of them died the
next day.
Among the killed was Senior Zamora,
one of Costa Rica's richest men. He
was with neither side, but seeing his
son in the opposition ranks, and in
danger, he ran to assist him. He was
struck by a bullet.
when President Iglesias heard of the
affray he Immediately availed himself
of the opportunity to declare himself
dictator. Mr.. Williams says he did
this to make absolute assurance of
preserving the peace and having nc
repetition of the deadly riot.