The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-21
MADE QUICK WORK Of ri
Troops Dispense the Rioters at
Laredo.
SEVERAL WERE KILLED
All Resistance to tho Removal Of SMALL
pox Patients Has Ceased-C Captain
Rogers Received q Bullet
in the Shoulder.

LdIeuo, lex, Harch 2U.-Ihe cf1SlS n
the disturbance over the carrying out
of the state health officers regulations
in suppressing the smallpox epidemic
scenes to be passed When the work
of removing the patients was resumed
this morning the scenes of yesterday
were repeated and Captain Rogers Of
the state rangers and four assistants
attempted to dispense the crowd, but
were fired upon and Captain Rogers
received bullet in the left shoulder
The rangers returned the fire. killing
Agapito Herrera, an ex-policeman, who
was leading the rioters. and another
Mexican, and wounding a woman, sis
ter of Herrera, who had fired at the
officers from the window of house
near by. Several other Mexicans were
wounded, but the number cannot yet
be ascertained. as they escaped in the
crowd. Dozens of people report seeing
wounded men. but how many saw the
same ones is not known. The shoot
ing was followed by a number of scat
tered shots in different parts of that
quarter of the city, populated largely
by Mexicans, and they were construed
as prearranged signals by the rioters
for reinforcements.
DR.. Blunt, according to arrangements
made, had notified Captain Ayers, in
command ait Fort Mcintosh, that the
United States troops were needed, and
at 11:45 a. m. a detachment of the 10th
cavalry. mounted and fully armed with
ammunition, arrived at the market
place. City Marshal Bartholomew was
sworn in as an officer. and under his
direction the crowds were quickly dis
persed. The leader of the first crowd
encountered by the military undertook
to talk instead of obeying orders to
clear out and was promptly knocked
down with the butt of a carbine and so
badly hurt that he died within a short
time after being carried away. His fol-
lowers took the hint and rapidly fled
Calling gun and an ambulance corps
accompanied the cavalryInen and af-
fairs took on decidedly martial ap-
pearance. All the places of business
were closed, and the placing Of the Cat
ling gun IN . position to rake a street
would quickly clear that thoroughfare
from end to end. Platoons of troopers
circulated through the disturbed dis
trict and scattered or drove out the
crowds gathered on the cross streets,
most of them taking refuge under the
river bank. but offering no resistance
Mayor Christen had requested Col
onel O'Horan, the commandment of the
Mexican forces in Nueva Laredo, to CO.
operate with the Laredo authorities in
preventing the crossing and recrossing
of the river by crowds in case of trou-
ble Those on this side of the river
concluded the Mexican soldiers were
coming across to assist them against
the colored United States troops. They
discovered their mistake before doing
anything rash.
The city being quieted, the work of
the health officers was again taken up
with guard of cavalry with each
wagon, under orders from Captain
Ayers that if anybody attacked in any
way the Mexican officers or themselves,
to shoot and shoot to kill" The work
progressed during the rest of the af-
ternoon without further interruption
and will continue under the cavalry
guard until completed.
The chances of serious trouble seem
about over, though there may be iso-
lated cases of resistance to the health
officers. Captain Rogers was shot from
behind. the ball lodging in or near the
shoulder joint. The bullet has not yet
been located, and DR.. Blunt says the
wound may be a. serious one. A force
of some 25 rangers has been sworn in
and is doing guard duty at the pest
and detention houses. There Is sense
of relief over the situation tonight
after the intense excitement of the
morning, when citizens Of all condi-
lions rushed to arms to be prepared for
what might come. On the appearance
of the military they were heartily
cheered and greeted with cries of Thur
rah for San Juan Hill," and the citi-
zens carrying shotguns and Winches-
ters returned to their homes or places
of business.