The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-03-09
Riot in ssh Juan

San Juan de Porto Rico March s.
a serious riot has occurred here. Five
artilIerymen and Il corporaltof artil-
lery, named Hiscock, left thcih> guard
post without orders and charged ACROSS
the plaza into street in which n mob
IF people had assembled
The soldiers fired yolcy into the
Dir, dispersed the mob and rescued
School Superintendent Armstrong. who
was besiegcd by the mob in house
situated about Il block from the city
center
For hours previous TO the rescue OF
Superintendent Armstrong the city had
been overrun by Il riotous crowd Of
probably 1900 PERSONS who shouted
"Down with the Americans" and other
similar cries.
The excitement originated in trivial
school incident involving Superintend-
cnt Armstrong and illustrating the ex-
citable nature Of the Porto Ricans.
The superintendent reprlmanded girl,
10 years of age for dlsobedience and
forcibly but harmlessly marched her to
the front from the rear Of the school.
room.
Her dress caught in a desk and was
thereby torn and the girl reported to
her mother that she had been kicked
and abused, This excited the girls
mother, and sensational stories were
circulated, with the result that when
the school children were dismissed
number Of boys gathered together and
paraded the streets. They were Joined
by many loafers and full grown men,
and 1t became necessary for the police
to escort Superintendent Armstrong
from the schooIllouse to his home.
superintendent Stoned.
The superintendent and the police.
men were stoned as they passed.
through the streets. and as the crowd
constantly increased in size they
sought refuge in the Intendencia build.
Ing. A number Of persons from the
crowd outside succeeded In entering
the building, but were subsequently
elected by employees and others.
Affairs had assumed such a threaten.
ing aspect that Governor Allen ordered
the mayor to dispense the mob notify
ing him that he could ask for govern.
ment assistance II he was in need Of it.
The mayor. however, paid no attention
to the governors notification, although
the city police were powerless. not be.
ing In any way respected by the riot
ers, whom they did not attempt to dis.
perse.
The offices were closed, and Mr.. Mar.
tin G. Brumbaugh, the commissioner
Of education Of Porto Rico, asked for
police protection Of his office and hotel.
a treasury clerk. who was one Of the
men who elected the rioters from the
lntendencia, was attacked, stoned and
disarmed by mob.
The insular police, who have no jurfsN
diction in the city except in cases Of
emergency aud at the call Of the mayor
and governor, were not called upon I'M
til then. But the artillerymen previ
ously referred to In this dispatch took
the initiative without orders and dis
persed the gathering.
Shooting by City Police.
In the meantime the city police had
fired about 100 shots. mostly in the
air, for there were no casualties.
Several other Americans besides the
treasury clerk were stoned from roofs
and balconies.
Up to the hour of filing this dispatch
there has been no further demonstra.
ton.
Governor Allen deplores the unfortu.
nate occurrences, especially the action
Of the artillerymcn. Corporal Hlscock
has been placed under arrest and Is
now in the guardhousc. 1t is probable
that he will be tried by court martial.
The teachers who have been ques.
toned on the subject have made state.
!nents agreeing with those Of Supern.
tcndent Armstrong to the effect that
!.c girl So