Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-08
SERIOUS RIOT
IN PORTO RICO.
ArtlIleymen Rescue School Supt,
Armstrong from a Mob,
DOWN WITH AMERICANS"
Such the shout Henrd--TroubIe Arose
Over the Heprimanding of a
Little school Girl.

San Juan de Porto Rico, March ST..
A serious riot occurred here yesterday.
At o'clock In the evening five artil-
lerymen and corporal Of artillery
named Hiscock left their guard post
without orders and charged across the
plaza into street In which a mob Of
people had assembled The soldiers
fred a volley into the air, dispersed
the mob and rescued School Supern-
tendent Armstrong, who was besieged
by the mob in house situated about a
block from tlo city center.
For hours previous to the rescue Of
Superintendent Armstrong the city had
been cvcrrun by a rlotous crowd Of
probably l,5O0 persons, who shouted
Down with the Americans and other
similar cries.
The excitement originated In a trivial
school incident involving Superinten-
dent Armstrong and illustrating the ex-
citeable nature Of the Porto Rcans.
The superintendent reprimanded girl,
ten years OF age, for disobedence and
forcibly but harmlessly marched her TO
the front from the rear Of the school
room. Her drcse caught In desk and
was torn and the girl reported to her
mother that sne had been kicked and
abused This excited the girls mother
and sensational stories were circulated
with the result that when the school
phillpan q
boys gathered together and paraded the
streets. They were Joined by many
loafers and full grown men, and IL be.
came necessary for the police to escort
superintendent Armstrong from the
school house to his home. The superin-
terdent and policemen were stoned as
they passed through the streets, and,
as the crowd constantly increased In
size the Americans sought refuge in
the Independence building. A number
of persons from the c.owd succeeded
IN entering the hui ding, but were
ojected by employees and others,
BY O'Clock affairs had assumed such
a threatening aspect that Gov Allen
ordered the mayor to dispense the mob
notifying him that ne should ask for
government assiHdnce IA he was in
nced OF IT. The mayor. however, paid
no attcntioq TO the governors notltica-
ton. although the city police We're pow
erless, lot being In any way respected
by the rioters, whom they did not at
tempt to dlsperse.
Al $3.50 p. IN. the offices We're closed
and Martin G. Brumbaugh. the commits.
sloner Of education Of Porto Rico.
asked for police protection for his Office
and hotel.
A treasury clerk, who was one Of the
men who elected the rioters from the
Independence, was attacked, stoned
and disarmed by a mob.
The insular police, who have no jur-
lsdiction in the city except In cases OF
and at the call OF the mayor
and governor, were not called upon until
6 o'clock At that time the artillery
men previously referred to. took the
Initiative without orders and dispersed
the gathering.
In the meantime the city police had
fire. about 100 shots, mostly in the air,
for tleIe were no casualties.
Several ether Americans, besides the
treasury clerk, We're stoned from roofs
and balconies.
At clock last night the city pre-
scented its usual tranquil appearance,
Up TO the hour OF fling this dispatch
today there has been no further demon
stration.
Gov. Allen dsplores the unfortunate
Occurrences, especially the action Of the
artillerymen Corporal Hlscock has
been placed under arrest. and Is now
In the guard house. 1t is probable that
he will be tried by court marital.
The teachers who have been aues-
toned on the subject have made state
ments agreeing with those OF Superin-
tendent armstrong to the effect that
the girl was not harmed.
II is probable that four-hfths OF those
who took part in the riotlng did not
know why they were mobbtng the
Americans. The rioters mostly belonged
10 the unemployed workmen Of the pop
ulation.