Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-09
A SCHOOL GIRLS LYING
STARTED san juan RIOT.
BEATEN, KICKED AND GENER-
ALLY ABUSED.
AND FOR HOURS, AMERICANS WE'RE
UNSAFE AND THE POLICE
POWERLESS.

SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, March
ga serious riot occurred here yester-
day. At six o'clock in the evening
five artillery men and a corporal OF
artillery, named Hiscock, left their
guard post without orders and charg-
ed across the plaza into a street in
which a mob Of people had assem-
bled. The soldiers fired a volley into
the air, dispersed the moi and rescued
Superintendent Armstrong, who was
ibeseiged by the mob in a house sit
uated about a block from the city GEN.
ter.
For hours previous to the rescue of
Supt. Armstrong the city had been
Overrun with a riotous crowd of prob
ably fifteen hundred persons, who
shouted Down with the Americans"
and other similar cries.
The excitement originated in a triv-
ial school incident involving Superin-
tendent Armstrong and illustrating the
excitable nature Of the Porto Ricans.
The superintendent reprimanded a
oii, tOh yOdio VI RSSJ LII oAoObSdAOhSO
and forcibly but harmlessly marched
her to the front from the rea of the
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 sensational
stories were circulated with the result
thai when the school children were
dismissed a number of boys gathered
together and paraded the streets.
They were Joined by many loafers
and full grown men and it became nee
essary for the police to escort Supt
Armstrong from the school house to
his home. The superintendent and
the policemen were stoned as they
passed through 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 succeeded in
entering the building, but were elected
by employees and others.
By S o'clock affairs had assumed
such a threatening aspect that Gov.
Allen ordered the mayor to dispense
the mob, notifying him that he should
ask for government assistance If he
was in need of it. The mayor, how
ever, paid no attention to the Cover
nor's notification. although the city
police were powerless. not being in any
way respected by the rioters, whom
they did not attempt to disperse.
At $50 p. m. the offices were closed
and Martin c. Brumbaugh. the COM
missioner 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
Intendencia building, was attacked.
stoned and disarmed by a mobSS+x
The insular police, VINO have nossJur-
isdiction in the city except in cases OF
emergency, and at the call of the
mayor and governor, were not called
upon until 6 p. m, at that time, the
artillerymen previously referred to took
the initiative without orders and dis
persed 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 eight o'clock last night this city
presented its usual tranquil appear
ance.
Up to the hour of filing this despatch
to-day there has been no further dem
onstration.
Gov. Allen deplores the unfortunate
occurrences, especially the action Of
the artilierymen. Corporal Hiscock
has been placed under arrest and is
now in the guard house. 1t is probable
that he will be tried by courtmartial.
The teachers who have been ques-
toned on the subject have made state
ments agreeing with those Of Supt.
Armstrong, to the effect that the girl
was not harmed.
1t is probable that four-fifths of those
who took part in the rioting did not
know why they were mobbing the
Americans. The rioters mostly be-
longed to the unemployed workmen of
the population.