Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1901 — GIRL STIRS WILD MOB. [ARTICLE]

GIRL STIRS WILD MOB.

Aaericin Fcbool Superintendent Attacked in Ban Juan. Mobs of enraged natives terrorized the city of San Juan, Portb Rico, for hours Thursday evening because a 10-year-old Porto Rican girl had been reprimanded in school by the American superintendent. They surged through the streets shoutiag “Down with the Americans!” “Death to the usurpers!” and other incendiary sentiments, and 1,500 of them, after stoning Superintendent Armstrong ,as he left the school, besieged him in the Intedeneia building, where he sought refuge. The situation having become serious, Corporal Hiscoek and five artillerymen, acting without orders, charged across the plaza, fired a volley into the air and rescued the beleaguered official. For this the corporal was arrested. The unfortunate episode,'arising as It did from a trivial incident, illustrates the worst side of the Porto Rican character and emphasizes the magnitude of the problem of assimilation. The native mayor ignored Gov. Alleu'a order to disperse the mob. The city police, though they charged the rioters nnd fired volleys Into the air. were hooted and insulted. When Martin C. Braumberg, commissioner of education, asked that his hotel and offices be protected from the mob he was scorned. Gov. Allen is considerably worried over the occurrence, which is regarded as the most serious since the early days of the American occupation.