Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-08
.RIOTINC SOLDIERS
Left Port and Fired Into Crowd
 Without Orders.
DOWN WITH THE AMERICANS.
Shouted the --Crowd-School Superin- tendent Armstrong Was Rescued Governor Ordered Mayor to Dis perse Mob-Treasury Clerk Attacked and Stoned.

anu stoned.
 San Juan de Porto Rico, March B. X serious riot occurred here yester- day. At 6 o'clock in the evening five artillery men and a corporal of arHl- lery, named HiScock, left their guard post, without orders, and charged across the plaza into a street in which a mob of people had assembled. The soldiers fired volley into the air, dis persed the mob and rescued School Superintendent Armstrong, who was besieged by the mob in q house sit uated about block from the city center.
 For hours previous to the rescue of Superintendent Armstrong, the city had been overrun by 8 riotous crowd of probably 1,50O persons who shouted Down with the Americans,'' and other similar cries. The excitement originated in a trivial school Incident involving Superintendent Armstrong and Illustrating the eXcitable nature of the Porto Ricans. The superintend- ent reprimanded a girl. 10 years of age. for disobedience, and forcibly but harmless1y marched her to the front | Of the room from the rear Of the school room. Her dress caught in desk and was thereby torn and the girls report ed to her mother that she had been kicked and abused. This excited the 1 girls mother and sensational stories were circulated with the result that when the 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 necessary for the police to escort Superintendent 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. l they sought refuge in the Intendencia building.
 A number of persons from the crowd outside succeeded in entering the building, but were subsequently, eject ed by employees and others.
 By , o'clock affairs had assumed such a threatening aspect that Gov ernor Allen ordered the mayor to dis perse the mob, notifying him that he could ask for government assistance 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 respected by the rioters whom they did not attempt to disperse.
 At o:3O D. m. the offices were closed and Martin G. Brumbaugh, the con- missioner of education of Porto Rico. asked for police protection of his of- flee and hotel.
 A treasury clerk. who was one of the men who elected the rioters from the lntendencia. was attacked, stoned and disarmed by the mob
 The insu1ar police, who have no iur- lsdiction in the city in case of emer- gency. and at the call of the mayor and governor. were not called. upon till D. m.. but at that time. the artil- le1y men previously referred to in this dispatch. took the initiative without or ders and dispersed the gathering.
 In the meantime the city police had fired about one hundred shots. most ly in the air, for there were no casual. ties.
 Several other Americans besides the treasury clerk, were stoned from roofs and balconies.
 l At o'clock last night this city pre- sented it's usual tranquil appearance.
 Up to the hour of filing this dispatch to-day there has been no further dem- onstration.
 Governor Allen deplores the unfortu- nate occurrences, especially the action of the artillery men. Corporal His cock has been placed under arrest and is now in the guard house. It fs probable that he will be tried by court martial.
 The teachers who have been ques- toned on the subject have made state. ments agreeing with those of Super1n- tendent Armstrong, to the effect that; the girl was not harmed 5
 It is probable that four-fifth 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 element of the population.