Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1897 — TRIES TO KILL DIAZ. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TRIES TO KILL DIAZ.

President of Mexico la Assaulted by an Anarchist. President Diaz was assaulted with deadly intent during the ceremonies in the City of Mexico attending the celebration of the declaration of independence. Ignacio Arroyo, a violent anarchist, broke through the line of solders that marked the line of the procession to The Alameda and attempted to brain the president with a heavy cane as he was walking to the national palace. The blow, which he aimed at the president’s head, fell short and the would-be murderer was immediately seized and handed over to the police. Intense excitement prevailed when it became known that an attempt had been made upon the life of President Diaz. President Diaz was the coolest man of all who witnessed the assault. He turned around as his assailant was seized, and looked at him somewhat curiously, and

then resumed his march, bowing right and left to the people. The effect upon the crowd that saw the affair was instantaneous and awakened the greatest excitement. The police started away with the prisoner by a side street, hoping to avoid any further disturbance. Hundreds of men ran after the police shouting for vengeance upon the man. “Give him to us,” they cried, “and we will hang him.” But the gendarmes succeeded in keeping their prisoner, being re-enforced by cavalrymen, the great crowd shouting and running behind. The man was taken to the palace and stripped, but no weapon was found on his person. He was taken away to the city hall, securely bound and placed in solitary confinement. At night a great mob of common people broke into the jail by forcing the doors with huge timbers handled by 100 men. They overpowered the guards and surrounded them, while a detail of men ran down the corridor, dragged out the trembling Arroyo and lynched him. The mob had apparently no organization, but it was directed in some mysterious way. About twenty of the lynchers were arrested.

PRESIDENT DIAZ.