The true Democrat., 1901-03-16
"Down With Americans"
Was the Mob's Cry
OFFICIALS WERE STONED.
Five United States Soldiers Disguised
With the lncsmpeteucy Of the Local
Police, Took Charge Of Affairs.

GUS riot occurred here ffloay. AG .
O'Clock in the evening artillerymen
and a corporal Of artillery named
Hiscock, left their guard post without
orders and charged across the plaza
into a street in which mob Of peo-
pie had assembled. The soldiers fired
q volley into the air dispensing the
mob and rescued School Superintend-
ent Armstrong, who was beseiged by
the mob in q house situated about
block from the city center.
For hours previous to the rescue OF
Superintendent Armstrong the city
had been overrun by riotous crowd
of probably one hundred and fifty
persons who shouted "Down with
the Americans" and other similar
cries. The excitement originated in
trivial school dispute involving Su-
perintendent Armstrong and illustrat-
ing the excitable nature Of the stu
dents. The superintendent repri-
manded girl ten years of age for
disobedienoe and forcibly marched
her to the front from the rear of the
school room. Her dress caught in q
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
sensational stories were carried with
the result that a number of boys got
together and attacked the superin-
tendent. They we're Joined by many
loafers and full grown men and it be-
came necessary for the police to take
Armstrong from the school house to
his home. The superintendent and
policemen were stoned as they passed
through the streets and as the crowd
constantly increased in size the
Americans sought refuge in the in
tendecia building. A number of per-
sons in the crowd succeeded in enter
ing the building but were elected by
employees and others.
By o'clock the affair had assumed
such an aspect that Governor Allen
ordered the mayor to disperse the
mob, notifying him that he should
ask for government assistance if he
needed it. The mayor, however, paid
10 attention to the governors Motif
cation, although the city police were
powerless not being in any way re-
spected by the rioters, whom they did
not attempt to disperse.
At $50 p. m. the officers were
called and marching from the Brom-
baugh the commissioner asked for po-
lice protection of his Office and hotel.
A treasury clerk, who was one Of the
men who elected the rioters from the
intendencia, was attacked, stoned and
disarmed by mob.
The insular police, who have no
Jurisdiction in the city, except in
cases of emergency, and at the call Of
the mayor and governor, were not
called upon until O'Clock. At that
time the artillerymen previously re-
ferred to took a hand without orders
and dispersed the gathering.
In the meantime, the city police
had fired about one hundred shots,
mostly in the air, for there were no
casualties.
Several other Americans besides the
treasury clerk, were stoned from roofs
and balconies.
| At O'Clock the city presented its
usual quiet aspect. Up to the hour
Of filing this dispatch there has been
no further demonstrations.
| Governor Allen Ceplores the unfor-
tunate occurrence, especially the
action of the artillerymen.
| Corporal Hiscock has been placed
under arrest and is now in the guard
house. It is probable that he will be
tried by court martial.
The teachers who have been ques-
toned on the subject have made
statements agreeing with those of Su-
perintendent Arms trong, to the effect
that the girl was not harmed.