Evening star., 1898-04-30
ASSAILED BY M0BS|
Consul Bowen Tells Of His Experiences
at Barcelona.
POLICE SAVED HIM FROM HARM
He Pays High Compliment to
the Chiefs Efficiency.
CHICAGO MANS BRAVE ACT

LIVERPOOL. April 3O.-Mr. Herbert w
Bowen, the United States consul general at
Barcelona, is a passenger on board the Gu
| nard Line steamer Etruria, sailing from
this port for New York today. In converse
tion with representa- tive of the Associated
Press Mr.. Bowen said:
Il received a telegraphic message notify
ing me to leave Barcelona from Gen. Stew
art L. Woodford, our minister at Madrid,
at 4:3O pm. on April q. though the teie-
gram vas sent from Madrid at $50 am.
Immediately notified the British consul, who
came to the consulat, at 6 o'clock, took the
keys and assumed charge Of our interests.
When it was dark we took down the
shield"
Continuing, Mr.. Bowen said:
THE shield was slowed in a safe place,
and 1 notified the authorities of what had
been done. I also informed them that 1 was
going to leave Barcelona at $50 o'clock on
April -, for Paris.
Threatened by MObs.
Between April 13 and the night Of April
81 eight mobs of over 1000 persons each
made demonstrations before our consulate.
OF course, there were threatening groups
all the time: In fact, hourly. But the po-
lice, who were most active, together with
the civil guard, usually managed to disperse
them Other and larger mobs were dis
persed in other parts Of the town. But
eight Of them managed to reach the con-
sulate. They gathered with surprising
rapidity, at any hour.
During the morning of April 20 a MOB
OF 5000 or 1000 people suddenly filed the
square in front of the consulate, cheering
for Spain and uttering other cries. 1 was
breakfasting at the hotel on the opposite
side of tine square. This mob, having
heard of the attack at Malaga, had come
determined to get the consulate eagle and
shield. 1 managed to push my way through
the people until 1 got my back to the door
and faced the mob. There I awaited the
result.
Il had hardly taken up my position,
when 1 noticed a nan as big as myself
(Mr. Bowen is about six feet high) push
ing through the crowd. He came and
stood beside me, did not speak, but faced
the crowd, which continued to threaten US
Fortunately the mob had no leader; so for
a quarter of an hour we two and the mob
faced each other. Then the police and SOL
diers arrived, and the mob melted away. l
asked the stranger who he was, and ne re-
piled:
He Was Chicago Man.
L am Norman Harrington of Chicago.
This is my first day in Barcelona. 1t SEEM
ed to me if there would be some trouble
for the eagle up there, and 1 thought I'd
take Il bit of It,
THE biggest and angriest mob gathered
during the night of April 81 There were
fully 6,0O0 or 1900 people about the con-
sulate, including every class, among them
being Barcelona society men. Hundreds of
them had just come from the theaters. in
evening dress, and the best-dressed men
We're the most active demonstrators They
came for the shield, and when they found
it gone they broke out in the most angry
cries. Eventually the police attacked the
mob and many people were Injured. This
was the most threatening moment, as 1
had been warned that the police could not
be trusted. But they did not fail to do
their duty.
THE chief of police was always very
kind, frequently sending warnings to me
not to go out for an hour or So He came
every hour during the last two nights and
escorted me to the railroad station with a
large body of officers and detectives. The
crowd there was oyerawed so there was no
demonstration other than cheering for
Spain.
Il am ordered to report to the autnori-
ties at Washington"