The sun., 1901-03-09
RI0TING in
SAN JUHN
Anti-American Movement Quelled
by Body Of Artillerymen.
TROUBLE CAUSED BY A GIRL
She Got in Trouble With School
Superintendent Armstrong and
Declared to Her Mother That
She Had Been Abused.
TROUBLE CAUSED BY A GIRL

San Juan de Porto Rico, March s.
4 serious riot has occurred here. Five
artllerymen and a corporal of artil-
lery, named Hiscock, left their guard
post without orders and charged across
the plaza into a street in which mob
If people had assembled.
The soldiers fired volley into the
mir, dispersed the mob and rescued
School Superintendent 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 riotous crowd of
probably 1,500 persons, who shouted
Down with the Americans" and other
similar cries.
The excitement originated in trivial
school incident involving Superintend-
ent Armstrong and illustrating the ex-
cltable nature of the Porto Ricans.
The superintendent reprimanded girl,
10 years of age, for dsobedience and
| forcibly but harmlessly marched her to
| the front from the rear of the school
| room.
Her dress caught in desk and was
thereby torn, and the girl reported to
her mother that she had been kicked
and abused. This excited the girls
| mother, and sensational stories We're
circulated, with the result that when
| the school children We're dismissed a
number of boys gathered together and
paraded the streets. They We're Joined
by many loafers and full grown men,
and it became necessary for the police
to escort Superintendent Armstrong
from the schoolhouse to his home.
superintendent stoned.
The superintendent and the police.
men were stoned as they passed
through the streets. and as the crowt
constantly increased in size they
sought refuge in the Intendencia build
ing. A number of persons from thu
crowd outside succeeded in entering
the building. but We're subsequent.
]. ajected by employees and others
Affairs had assumed such a threaten
ing aspect that Governor Allen ordere'
The mayor to tlspprse the mob. notify
ing him tl.at he could ask for govern
uent assistance if he WAS in need Of II
, The mayor, however. paid no attention
. the governors notification, although
he city police were powrrless. not he
| ny in any way respected by the rio'
,rs. whom they did not attempt to dis
irIsp.
7 The offices were closed. and Mr. Mai
tin G. Rrumbaugh. the commissione
If education of Porto Rico. asked ft
police protection of his office and hote
A treasury clerk. who was one OF III
! men who elected the rioters from til
/ Intpudencia, was attacked, stoned an
. lisarned by a mob
i The msular police. who have no luri
diction in the city except in eases
Ii emergency and at the call OF the maS'
t and governor. were not called upon III
), fiji then. Hut the artillerymen prev
:. ously referred to in this dispatch too
a tbc initiative without orders and dl
! persed the gathering.
u shooting by City Police.
In the meantime the city police h'
a fired about 100 shots, mostly in u
a. air. for there were no casualties.
n Several other Americans besides I'll
e treasury clerk were stoned from roo
It and balconies.
le Up to the hour of filing this dispat'
d there has been no further demonsti
= tion.
u Governor Allen deplores the unfort
~ ~ nate occurrences. especially the actl'
=. of the artilerymen. Corporal Hisco
r. has been placed under arrest ana
If now in the guar,lho,se. 1t is proba'
nj that he will he tried hy court martial
to The teachers who have been ll'
e. toned on tile subject have made sta
a ments agreeing with those of super
rt tendent Armstrong 10 the effect III
zy the girl was not harmed.
n 1t is probable that four-tifths of the
~ ~ who took part in the rioting did
- know why they Were mobbing |
~ Americans. The rioters mostly belol
nd ed to the unemployed men of the POI
ss lation.