Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-08
Mob Attacks School Teacher for Cor
recting Girl.
DISPERSED BY ARTILLERY GUARD
Latter, However, Acted Without
Orders in the Matter.
MAY BE COURT-MARTIALED

SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, March s.
A serious riot occurred here yesterday. At
g o'clock in the evening five artillerymen
and corporal Of artillery named Hiscoke
left their guard post without orders and
charged across the plaza into street in
which mob Of people had assembled. The
soldiers fired a volley into the air, dis
persed the mob and rescued School Super
intendent Armstrong, who was besieged by
the mob in house situated about block
from the city center. For hours previous to
the rescue of Superintendent Armstrong the
city had been overrun by a riotous crowd OF
probably 1 1,5OO persons. who shouted Down
with the Americans and other similar
cries.
The excitement originated in trivial
school incident involving Superintendent
Armstrong, and illustrating the excitabie
nature of the Porto Ricans. The superin-
tendent reprimanded a girl ten years OF
age for dsobedience, and forcibly but harm
lessly marched her to the front from the
rear of the school room. Her dress caught
in desk and was torn, and the girl re-
ported to her mother that she had been
kicked and abused. This excited the glrfs
mother, and sensational stories were :lrcu-
lated, with the result that when the >hool
children were dismissed number or boys
gathered together and paraded the Streets
Joined by Street LOafers.
They were joined by many loafers and
full-grown men, and it became necessary for
the police to escort Superintendent Arm
strong from the school house to his home.
The Superintendent and policemen were
stoned after they passed through the
streets and as the crowd constantly in
creased in size, the Americans sought ref
uge In the Intendencia building. A number
of persons from the crowd succeeded IN en-
tering the building, but were eJected by en-
ployes and others.
By 3 o'clock affairs had assumed such
threatening aspect that Gov Allen ordered
the mayor to disperse the mob, notifying
him that he should ask for government as
sistance if he was in need of it. The mayor,
however, paid no attention to the gov
ernor's notification, although the city police
were powerless, not being in any way re-
spected by the rioters, whom they did not
attempt to disperse.
At $50 pm. the offices were closed, and
Martin c. 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 Inten-
dencia was attacked, stoned and disarmed
by a mob.
The insular police, who have no jurisdic-
ton in the city, except in cases of emer-
gency. and at the call Of the mayor and
governor, were not called upon until pm.
AT tndC time the dTlllefyUeU previously
referred to took the initiative without or
ders and dispersed the gathering.
Police Fire Many Shots.
In the meantime the city police had fired
about 1GO shots, mostly in the air, for there
were no casualties.
Several other Americans, besides the
treasury clerk, were stoned from roofs and
balconies
At s o'clock last night this city presented
it's usual tranquil appearance.
Up to the hour of filing this dispatch there
has been no further demonstration.
Governor Allen deplores the unfortunate
occurrences, especially the action Of the ar
tillerymen. Corporal Hiscoke has been
placed under arrest and is now in the guard
house. 1t is probable that he will be tried
by court-martial.
The teachers who have been questioned
on the subject have made statements agree
ing with those Of Superintendent Arm
strong, 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 belonged to the unem-
ployed workmen Of the population.