Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1901-03-13
A RIOT At SAN JUAN
Porto Rcans Mob an American
School Superintendent.
TRIVIAL INCIDENT THE CAUSE


without Orders. After the Police Had
Failed to Act-Objectiou to the Sup.r.
intend.ut's Alleged Rough Treatment
OF II Schoolgirl.
San Juan. Porto l;ico.-A serious riot
occurred here Il few days ago. At Il
o'clock in the cvenin. five artillcrymcn
ana Il corporal of artillery named His
cock left their guard post without or
derS. and charged across The plaza into
Il street in which Il mob of people had
assembled. The soldiers fired a vollev
into the air. dispersed the mob and
reScu"i School superintendent Arm
strong, who waS bcsieged by rioters i'm
house situated about a block from
the city centre.
For hours previous to the rescue OF
Surerlntendcnt Armstrong the CITY had
bceh orcrrun by Il riotouS crowd of
probably loo persons. who shouted
down with the Amcricans." and other
similar cries
me excitement originated in triv-
lal school incident. involving Supcr;n-
i"ndcnt Armstrong. and illustrating
inc cNcitablc nature OF the Porto Ri
cans. The Superintendent rrprlmand-
cu girl. ten years of age. for disobe-
dl"ncc, and fOrcihly. but harmlesslv.
marched her To tho front from the rear
ot TN" SchoolrOonl. Her dress caught
III desk and WAS torn. and the girl
reported 10 her mother that sh, had
been Kicked and abused
This excited the mother and sensa-
tional stories We're circulated. with the
result That when the school children
were dismissed 4 number of boys gath.
cred together AMI paraded the streets.
lhey were Joined by many loafers and
iull-Srown men. and IL became neceS-
snry for the police la escort Superin-
iendcnt Armstrong from the school
house 10 his home
The Superintendent and the police
men We're stoned rs they PASSED
through the streets. and as the crowd
constantly increased in size they
sought refuge in the lntcndencia build
ing. number of persons from the
crowd outside succeeded in entering
the building. hui were elected by em-
pioN"S and others. treasury clerk
was attacked. stoned aud disarmcd
By - o'clock affairs had assumed
! such thcatening aspect that Govern
or Allcn ordered the Mayor To dispcrsc
The mob. notifying him that he could
ASK Tor Government assistance If he
was in need OF it. The Mayor. how
ever. paid no attention To the Govern
or : notification. although the city 20
lir" were powcrlcSS. They were ncith-
or respected 10y the rioters. nor did
thcy attempt To liSpCrSp them.
The inSular police. who have no in
risdiction IN the city cNccnt in eases
OF emergency, and Ut the call Of thr
Mayor and Governor. were not called
upon until q n III. Ruj M that time
the artillery men previously referred
{" took the Initiative without orders
and dispersed the gathering. In the
meantime. The city police had fired
ahout 100 shots. mostly in The air. for
! there wcr" no casualties Several other
! Americans beside The treasury clerk
were stoned from roofs and balconies
Governor Allen dCplorcS the unfOrtll.
nate occurrences especially The action
| of the artillorYmen. Corporal UIScock
now in the guard house 1t Is probable
that hc Will be tried hy court martial.
| The teachers who have been qucS-
! toned on the subject have made state
ments agreeing with those of Super
| lntend"nt Armstrong. To the effect that
| the girl was not harmed.
| 1t is proDable that four ffthS of
those who took part i'll the rioting did
not know why they were mobbng The
! Americans. The rioters mostly he
longcd To the unemployed lacn OF the
population.