New-York tribune., 1901-03-09
RIOT IN SAN JUAN.
A TRIVIAL INCIDENT LEADS TO AN AT
TACK ON AMERICANS BY A MOB.

San Juan. Porto Rico March S.-A serious riot
occurred here yesterday. At O'Clock In the even
ing five artillerymen and corporal Of artillery.
named Hiscock. left their guard post without or
ders and charged across the plaza into a street in
which a mob OF people had assembled The sol
diers fired voIley into the afr, dispersed the mob
and rescued School Superintendent Armstrong.
who was besieged by the mob in house situated
about block from the city centre
For hours previous TO the rescue OF Superin-
tendent Armstrong the city had been overrun by
rfotous crowd Of probably fifteen hundred persons.
who shouted Down with the Americans ana
other similar cries. The excitement originated in
trivial school incident involving superintendent
Armstrong, and illustrating the excitable nature OF
the Porto Ricans. The superintendent reprimanded
girl. years old. for disobedience and forcibly
hut harmlessly marched her TO the front from the
rear OF the schoolroom. Her dress caught in a
desk and thereby torn and the girl reported 10
her mother that she had been kicked and abused.
This excited the girls mother. and sensational
stories circula ted. with the result that when
the school children dismissed a numbef Of
boys gathered together and paraded the streets.
They Joined by many loafers and fulgrown
men. and II became necessary for the police 10
escort Superintendent Armstrong from the school
house his home. The superintendent and the
policemen stoned they passed through the
streets. and the crowd constantly increased in
size. they sought refuge in the Intendenca Build
succeeded in entering the building hut were sub
seauently elected by employees and Others.
BY O'Clock affairs had assumed such a threat
ening aspect that Governor Allen ordered the
Mayor to disperse the mob notifying 10 him that he
could ask for Government assistance IL he was IN
need Of it, The Mayor. however paid no attention
10 the Governors notification, although the city
police We're powerless. not being in any way
spected by the rioters whom they did not attempt
10 disperse.
At $50 p m the offices were closed. and Martin
q. 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
Inteuaeucia. a
tackled, stoned and disarmed by a mob
The lnsular Police, who have jurisdiction in
the city except In cases Of emergency and at the
call or the Maytr and Governor, not called
upon until p m But at that time the artillery
men, previously referred TO this dispatch. took
the initiative without orders. and dispersed the
gathering. In the mean time the city police had
nred about one hundred shots mostly in the air.
for there were casualties.
Several other Americans besides the Treasury
clerk We're stoned from roofs and balconies.
At O'Clock last night this city presented its
| usual tranquil appearance.
Governor Allen deplores the unfortunate occur
rences especially the action of the artilerymen.
Corporal Hiscoci has been placed under arrest
and is now In the guardhouse 1t is probable that
he Will be tried by court martial.