The age-herald., 1901-03-09
SERIOUS RIOT WITH THE PORTO RICANS Mob of l5OO Shout Down
 With the Americans" ABOUT A TRIVIAL INCIDENT A School Superintendent Is 5esIesed In Ills House and Rescued By
 Some soIdiers-Had Repri-
 manded a Girl.
ABOUT A TRIVIAL INCIDENT

San Juan, March s.-A serious riot oc- cured here yesterday At o'clock in the morning five artillerymen and corporal of artillery named Hiscock. left their guard post without orders and charged across the plaza into street in which a mob of people had assembled. The sol diers fired a volley Into the air, dispersing the mob, and rescued School Superinten- dent Armstrong, who was besieged by the mob in a house situated about block from the city's center.
 For hours previous to the rescue of Superintendent Armstrong the city had been overrun by riotous crowd of prob ably 1600 persons, who shouted Down the Americans" and other similar cries.
 The excitement originated In trivial school incident involving Superintendent Armstrong and Illustrating the excitable nature of the Porto Ricans The super intendent reprimanded girl, 10 years of age, for disobedience and forcibly but harmlessly marched her to the front of the rear school room. Her dress caught in a desk and was torn and the girl re- ported to her mother that she had been kicked and abused.
 This excited the girls mother and sen- sational stories were circulated. with the result that when the school children were dismissed a number of boys gathered to- gether and paraded the streets. They were joined by many loafers and full grown men, and 1t became necessary for the police to escort Superintendent Arm t1i
 The superintendent and policemen were stoned as they passed through the street, and as the crowd constantly increased in size the Americans sought refuge in the Intendencia building.
 A number of persons in the crowd suc- ceeded in entering the building but were elected by employees and others
 At clock affairs had assumed such a threatening attitude that Governor AL len ordered the Mayor to disperse the mob, notifying him that he should ask for government assistance if he was in need of it. The Mayor, however, paid no attention to the Governors notification, although the city police were powerless, not being in any way respected by the rioters, whom they did not attempt to disperse.
 At 5:30 D. m. the offices were closed and Martin c. Brumbaugh. the commissioner of education of Porto Rico, asked for ro- lice protection for his office and hotel.
 A treasury clerk, who was one of thu men who elected the rioters in the Inten dencia, was attacked, stoned and disarm ed by a mob.
 The insular police, who have no juris diction In the city except in cases O emergencies and at the call of the Mayo and Governor, were not called upon til o'clock At that time the artillerymel previously referred to took the initativ without orders and dispersed the gather ing.
 In the meantime the city police ha. fired about 100 shots, mostly in the air for there were no casualties.
 Several other Americans besides th' treasury clerk were stoned from roofs ant balconies
 At O clock last night this city present ed its usual tranquil appearance.
 Up to the hour of filing this dispatch to day there has been no further demonstra ton.
 Governor Allen deplores the unfortu nate occurrences, especially the action o1 the artillerymen. Corporal Hiscock hat been placed under arrest and is now 1T the guardhouse. It Is probable he will be tried by court-martial.
 The teachers who have been questioned on the subject have made statements agreeing with those. of Superintendent Armstrong to the effect that the girl was not harmed.
 It is probable that four-fifths of thoss who took part in the rioting did not know why they were mobbing the Americans The rioters mostly belonged to the unem ployed workmen of the population.