Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-17
ATTACK UPON DIAZ.
A MUSCULAR MAN STRIKES THE
MEXICAN PRESIDENT.
BLOW ON The BACK OF The NECK.
Was There n Weapon in the Hand
of the Assailant.-NOne Found
when He is searched-Iiis Capture
Immediate.

CITY OF MEAlCO. september To-
Ignacio Anulfo a violent character, as
saulted President Diaz to-day during a
military procession. The man was felled
by companion Of the Presidents and
Immediately taken into custody by the
authorities.
The central thoroughfares of this city
extending from the great plaza to the
Alameda or the public park. and known
by various names was thronged with
people this morning, assembled to see
the military procession usual on Inde-
pendence-Day. The scene was immense
ly picturesque, the historic avenue,
called by George Augustus Sala one of
the famous streets OF the world, being
all aglow with color. and the Spanish
fashioned balconies illed with ladies in
brilliant toilets.
After a short wait a murmur rang
through the crowd that the President
was coming and on foot, dressed in the
uniform of a general of division. The
President, bowling right and left to the
applauding crowds, came, Immediately
behind him being General Pradillo, the
Governor Of the National Palace, who
served i'm the same capacity under En-
peror Macmillan. 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 flowing black hair and NOUS
tache. forced his way past the gem
darmes and soldiers and jumped be-
4 raI
dillo and the chief of staff, Monasterio.
and dealt a blow at the back Of the
Presidents neck. The violence Of the
blow was diminished by the fact that
ne was crowded between the President
and the officers Immediately following
him. The President turned around and
caught sight of his assailant. and re-
sumed his march with admirable cool
ness.
THE ASSAILANT FELLED.
Meantime, Chlef-of-Staff Monasterio
hit the man with a cane, and the latter
turning. seized it and broke it. Gene
raj Pradillo then hit him a powerful
blow on the neck, telling him. The
gendarmes rushed forward, and some
mounted officers and police seized and
pinioned him He was taken through a
side-street and led away, the people
shouting: GIVE him to us; We viii
hang him" But the gendarmes sue
ceeded 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 10 the
City Hall, securely bound and placed
in solitary confinement. after being ques-
~
been employed in a notary's Office as
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 be-
ing that he was armed with a dagger
as many of the police believe. But. if 50.
he must have thrown ii away. as no wea-
pom was found on him. IL seems almost
certain that he intended harm, for at
the moment Of dealing the blow he used
opprobrious terms, and was almost mani
acal
The President on returning TO the
Palace, was chcered. and an immense
crowd assembled i'm front Of the Palace,
cheering and shouting and calling for
President DiaZ.
DIAZ VERY CALM.
President Diaz took the matter very
calmly, and advised that the man be kept
i'm custody until tomorrow, and that he
be brought before him 10 explain his
apparently believing that he
had no murderous intent But the police
feel that the case is one that demands
the deepest investigation, and they coun-
selled his being turned over to the mill
tary tribunal, as he had assaulted their
Ommander-in-chief while i'm uniform.
General Powell Clayton, the United
States Minister. Immediately called upon
President Diaz. and offered his congratu
ations as did other diplomats and many
)ther prominent people.
There is no doubt that If Anulfo had
fallen into the hands OF the people he
would have been torn to pieces, so in
tense was the rage. Some think the as
saiant merely made the assault for the
sake of gaining notoriety, having read
the accounts of the assassination Of
Tanovas.