Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-08
A RIOT N PORTO RICO
Trivial School Incident Starts .
Tremendous Disturbance at
San Juan.
Mercurial Natives lnilamed Be-
cause Of Punishment Of
School Girl.
Spooner Amendment Not to Lik.
ing Of Business Men in
Manila.

San Juan, Porto Rico, March S.-A
Serious riot occurred here yesterday.
AT 6So'clock in the evening five arr
stillerymen and a corporal of artillery
named Hiscock left their guard post
without orders ant; charged across the
plaza into street where mob of peo-
pie had assembled. The soldiers fired
a volley into the air. dispersed the mob
and rescued School Superintendent
Armstrong, who was besieged by the
mob in house situated about block
from the center of the city, For hours
previous to the rescue Superintendent
Armstrong, of this city, had been over
run by riotous mob of 1,5O0 persons,
who shouted Down with the Ameri-
cans and other similar cries.
The excitement originated in a trivial
school incident involving Superintend-
ent Armstrong and illustrating the ex-
cltable nature of the Porto Ricans. The
superintendent reprimanded a ;,irl 10
years of age for disobedlence and forci-
Diy but harmlessly marched her To the
front from the rear of a school room
Her dress caught in the desk and was
torn. The girl reported to her mother
that she had been kicked and abused
This excited the girls mother and sem
sational stories We're circulated. with
the result that when the school children
We're dismissed number of bows gath
cred ard paraded the streets. They
We're joined by many loafers and fun
grown men and it became necessary for
the police to escort Superintendent
Armstrong from the school mouse 20 his
home. The superintendent and rolice-
men were stoned as they passed thru
the streets and as the crowd constantly
increased in size the Americans sought
refuge In the Intendencia building. A
number of persons from the crowd sue
ceeded in entering the building, but
We're elected by employees and others.
BY o'clock affairs had assumed such
threatening aspect that Governor Az
len ordered the mayor to disperse the
MOD notifying him he should ask for
government assistance If he was in need
OF IT. The mayor. however, paid no at
tention to the governors notification.
altho the city police were powerless. not
pelng IN any wise respected by the riot
ers, whom they did not attempt TO dis
perse.
AT $50 the offices were closed and
lartln e. Brumbaugh. commissioner of
education for Porto Rico. asked for po-
lice protection for his office and the no.
tel A treasury clerk. who was one of
the men who elected the rioters from
! ne lntendencia, was attacked. stoned
and disarmed by the mob The insular
police, who have no jurisdiction in the
city except in cases of emergency, were.
not called upon until 6 O'Clock. At that
time the artillerymen previously re-
ferred to took the initiative without or
ders and dispersed the gathering. In
the meantime the city police had fired
about 100 shots. mostly in the air for
there We're no casualties. Several other
Americans. besides the treasury clerk.
We're stoned from roofs and balconies.
AT o'clock the city presented its
usual tranquil appearance and there
has been no further demonstration.
Governor Allen deplores the unfor-
tunate occurrences especially the ac-
ton of the artillerymen. Corporal His
cock has been placed under arrest and
1t is probable he will be tried by court
martial. Teachers who have been oues-
toned on the subject have made state
ments agreeing with those of Superin-
tendent Armstrong to the effect that the
girl was not harmed. 1t is probable
four-fifths of those who took part in the
rioting did not know why they We're
the Americans The rioters
mostly belonged to the unemployed
population.