The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-23
ATTACKED BY SPANISH MOB.
Ex-Minister Woodford gHad Hard Time
Leaving Spain.

E4-Mlntster WoOdfOrd NHad Hard Tim'
Leaving Spain.
| Hendaye, Spanish Frontier, April 22.-
| General Stewart L. Woodford, the United
States minister to Spain, accompanied by
his staff and others, reached the frontier
at eight O'Clock this morning in safety,
after some exciting experiences.
The Spanish police attempted to capture
member of the legation and at Vallado-
| lid the train was attacked.
Mr.. Moreno was the member of the
| United States legation singled out by th e
| Spanish police for capture on the ground
| that he is subject of Spain, but the at
tempt was frustrated owing to the
| presence of the minister.
At Valladolid the United States minis
ter's train was attacked and stoned.
Windows were broken and the civil
guards were compelled to protect his car
rage with drawn swords.
General Woodford. however, slept
through the disturbance.
The Moreno incident threatened to be
serious
The Spanish police made determined
effort to capture MIR. Moreno, but General
Woodford stood in the doorway of the
carriage, declaring he should only be re-
| moved by force.
A detachment of Spanish police accom-
panied the train from Toloso to San Sc
bastian where the police officials left on
seeing that the general was determined to
maintain his rights
| At Segovia the students of the military
college gathered on the platform cheering
Tor Spain, and there were several similar
| incidents at other stopping places
liz great raIipf tn the minister 8
party when the general finally reached
French soil, but General Woodford, per-
sonally seemed unconscious of any
danger.
The general, in bidding farewell to the
correspondent of the A Associated Press who
accompanied him to the frontier, re-
quested the Associated Press to express
his sincere thanks to all the representa-
I'll yes of the press, European and Ameri-
can for their uniform kindness and good
faith during his stay in Spain.
The farewell of United States Minister
Woodford to Spain was in keeping with
tho dignity he displayed throughout the
say, he simply raised his hat and said:
Good bye.'
The Segovia incident was comparative
ly unimportant, The students of the
military school in full uniform, packed
the depot. They were silent until the
| train started, when there was an enthu-
siastic outburts of cheering for Spain and
Cuba.
The Vallodolid affair. however, threat
ened to be quite serious. Thousands of
excited people attempted to invade the
railroad station, and the twenty civil
guards, who accompanied the train were
compelled to draw up in front of General
Woodford's carriage with drawn swords,
while others of the local force issued from
ttla HanOt IN, t(, "a in +
The guards did everything possible to
keep back the mob whose yells and
shrieks resounded on all side. Stones
were thrown at the train and windows
were broken. A newspaper man was
wounded in the face by broken glass.
Sir Charles Hall, the recorder of the
city of London, had a narrow escape from
being hit by stones, and Mr.. Montague
Crakenthorpe, the we'll known Queen S
| counsel, had a similar experience.
Gen. Woodford knew nothing of the dis
| turbances until he reached Tolos.
There sergeant of the civil guard, ac-
companied by the private detective,
boarded the train and demanded that Mr..
Joaquin Moreno disemb bark from the cars
James, the generals coIored valet, there
upon awakened General Woodford, who
hurriedly dressed while matters were be-
ing explained to him.
The general then formally protested
against the interference With his suite,
declaring that Mr.. Moreno was his private
secretary and British subject.
ThesSpaniards, however, claimed that
he was Spanish subject.
But the general rnfuesed to give him up
to the police and placed himself lin the
doorway of the compartment in which
Mr.. Moreno was travelling, declaring he
would only surrender the latter If forced
to do so.
The minister then asked the correspond
emit of the Associated Press to explain to
the Spaniards that he had placed Mr.
Moreno under the protection of the
British flag, and that If they took him,
it would only be by using personal
violence to the United States minister,
who proposed to protect Mr.. Moreno until
the frontier was crossed.
General Woodford whispered to the
correspondent, who afterwards drew the
Spaniards into corner and explained to
t hem the serious nature of their action,
pointing out that it might lead to coTu-
plications with Great Britain. The argu-
ment prevailed and the troublesome visi-
tors Withdrew.
When the train reached San Sebastian,
Mr.. Moreno and General Woodford felt
considerably relieved.
Paris, April 22-General Woodford and
party arrived here at 7.45 p. M.