No. 416.
Mr. Foster
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Mexico, February 9, 1875.
(Received February 20.)
No. 241.]
Sir: In my No. 237, of January 30, I communicated
to you the telegraphic information I had received from the consul at
Acapulco, of the assault upon the Protestant church at that place and the
assassination of an American citizen, together with the murder and wounding
of a number of Mexicans; and inclosed copies of correspondence between this
legation and the Mexican government in relation to the affair.
I now inclose copies of three communications from John A. Sutter, esq.,
consul at Acapulco, to Julius A. Skilton, esq., consul-general in this city,
giving further details of the assassination, which aggravate rather than
mitigate the outrage, as reported by telegraph. In these communications the
consul states that, up to the 1st instant, the guilt of no person had been
established as having participated in the affair, and that he feared that no
one would ever be convicted and punished therefor. He further reports that
the assault partook of the character of a cowardly massacre; that the
American citizen, Henry Morris, a native of Boston, was horribly mangled,
and that he leaves a large family at Acapulco, which, I am informed through
other sources, was dependent upon him for their support; that the furniture
in the church was cut to pieces; and that several of the wounded have since
died. He represents the ignorant Indians, incited by a fanatical priest, as
having created in the community a reign of terror; that the district judge,
having arrested the parish priest, was forced to release him owing to the
threats of armed violence made by the captain of the matricula, (a federal
armed force;) that he, the said consul, together with others who have shown
any sympathy for the Protestant congregation, have had their lives
threatened; and that nothing but the most energetic and severe measures on
the part of the Federal Government will have any influence in restraining
the reign of intolerance and lawlessness.
[Page 866]
In communicating the substance of the communications of the consul to the
Mexican minister of foreign affairs, in a note dated yesterday, I expressed
the hope that they would furnish his government additional motives for
enforcing strict and decisive measures against the criminals.
In the same note I stated to the minister that the Government of the United
States will expect that of Mexico to inflict rigorous punishment upon the
murderers, and make full indemnity and compensation to the bereaved family
of the American citizen assassinated, for the loss sustained by any failure
of the authorities to afford the protection guaranteed to American citizens
by articles 14 and 15 of the treaty of 1831.
I felt it my duty to give this prompt notice of indemnity, not only because I
deemed it an act of obligation and justice to the bereaved family, but
because I was satisfied it would have the effect to incite the Mexican
authorities to greater diligence and care in the protection of other
Americans similarly exposed, and in punishing the persons who participated
in and instigated the assault at Acapulco.
I beg to direct your attention to my action on this point, which I trust may
meet with your approval; and, if so, I respectfully request specific
instructions as to my future action in fixing and enforcing the
indemnity.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 241.]
Mr. Sutter to Mr.
Skilton.
United
States Consulate, Acapulco,
January 27, 1875.
No. 3.]
Sir: Last night, at 8.15, about, the
Evangelical congregation were surprised in their chapel by an armed mob,
comprised of about forty to fifty men, said to belong to some Indian
village in the neighborhood of Acapulco. Four Protestants—three men and
one woman—were killed, and ten men wounded. One man of the aggressors
was killed by a pistol-shot fired by the chief of police, who is a
Protestant, and two more were wounded. Among the killed Protestants is
Henry Morris, a native of Boston, married here, who leaves behind a
numerous family. He had received three fearful machete-cuts, one of
which nearly severed the head from the body. As soon as the cowardly
massacre had taken place, and the organ and benches were cut to pieces,
the assassins fled. When the garrison of the fort appeared they had all
disappeared. Still, some arrests were made; and it appears that the
district judge, who took the matter in hand immediately, will succeed in
discovering the guilty parties.
All the Indians are under arms, and threaten to attack the town if the
parish priest, who, in my opinion, is the prime mover of these heinous
crimes, should be arrested. So he is still at large, and laughing
probably at the impotence of the authorities.
Rev. Mr. Hutchinson yesterday had taken medicine, and consequently did
not attend the meeting. A party is said to have gone to the house he
inhabited and knocked, but as nobody stirred they supposed him to be
among the congregation, and went away. He is, as the town is not safe,
on board the American ship “Ida Lilly,” and will return to Mexico via
Panama and Vera Cruz. The road would not be safe for him. The military
commander of the fort offered him the hospitality of the federal
garrison, but I think the ship is more convenient. His servant is with
him.
Everybody in town is in fear of the Indians, who, incited by a fanatical
priest, would perpetrate the most atrocious crimes.
Threats have also been uttered against the lives of parties who had
contributed towards the purchase of an organ for the congregation, and
against parties who spoke of and acted friendly towards the new
movement. Your humble servant is amongst the number.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Julius A. Skilton, Esq.,
United States Consul-General, Mexico
[Page 867]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 241.]
Mr. Sulter to Mr.
Skilton.
United
States Consulate, Acapulco,
January 27, 1875.
No. 4.]
Dear Sir: After writing to you to-day, I
received a telegram from Colonel Foster requesting me to write to him by
mail, and you will please communicate to him the contents of my letter
to you. Mr. Hutchinson is perfectly safe on board the “Ida Lilly” for
the present.
The district judge, Mr. Bonilla, tells me that already last night he had
arrested the parish priest, but that the captain of the matricula,
Barreto, threatened him openly that if the judge did not set the priest
at liberty at once the entire matricula would rise, armed with machetes,
and attack the soldiers. He then, seeing the necessity to submit, set
him at liberty. The federal garrison amounts to sixty men only. One of
the officers, a Protestant, is badly wounded. Several of the wounded
will have to succumb; they are pronounced by the surgeons to be beyond
recovery.
As far as I am concerned, I shall have to abscond to-night and abandon
the consulate, as I do not consider it prudent to expose the lives of
some men who, in case of necessity, would protect me.
A company of national guards has been called to arms; but I am quite
convinced that should anything happen they would turn with the Indians
and rabble against the federal forces.
At present nobody is sure of his life here. The federal government will
have to act very energetically to suppress this rising, and punish most
severely the instigators and perpetrators of the cowardly massacre of
last night. Should anything new occur before to-morrow, I shall address
you again.
Your obedient servant,
Julius A. Skilton, Esq.,
United States Consul-General, Mexico.
[Inclosuie 3 in No. 241.]
Mr. Sutter to Mr.
Skilton.
United
States Consulate, Acapulco,
February 1, 1875.
No. 5.]
Sir: Confirming to you my communications, Nos.
3 and 4, of January 27th ultimo, I beg leave to state that the town is
more quiet at present. Last night, however, a body of; men, assembled
near the cemetery, did not reply to the call of a detachment of national
guard, who, at the command of their captain, fired upon and pursued the
unknown body of men, which filed and disappeared in the bushes.
Until to-day, eight deaths have resulted from the massacre. Until now
nobody has been clearly convicted of having participated in the
massacre, and I fear that nobody ever will be convicted and punished. In
a few days the excitement caused by this atrocious assassination will
subside, and make room for another sensational affair of a similar
nature.
In June last five men were killed at Tres Palos; in September, eleven
persons at Dos Arroyos; in January, three at Tespan; January 26, the
massacre at Acapulco; night night before last a man was killed at
Sabano.
Fights of all descriptions, and family feuds, in which somebody is
killed, are very common occurrences. Hardly ever anybody is robbed. This
is the character of the people here, and they become worse, as they
never are properly punished, every one generally alleging to have acted
in self-defense.
The governor has not arrived as yet; nobody knows when he may come. Mr.
Hutchinson is on board the “Ida Lilly,” and will leave, per steamer, for
San Francisco. I do not consider the road to Mexico safe for him, not
even with an escort.
May I beg of you to communicate the contents of this letter to Colonel
Foster, and oblige your obedient servant,
JOHN A. SUTTER, Jr.,
United States Consul.
Julius A. Skilton, Esq.,
United Slates Consul-General, Mexico.
[Page 868]
[Inclosurd 4 in No. 241.]
Mr. Foster to Mr.
Lafragua.
Legation of the United States,
Mexico, February 8,
1875.
Sir: The consul of the United States at
Acapulco, in making the report which I called for, in regard to the
assault upon the Protestant church at that place, on the 26th ultimo,
which resulted in the assassination of the American citizen Henry
Morris, and seven other persons, states that up to the 1st instant the
guilt of no person had been established as having participated in the
affair, and that he feared that no one would ever be convicted and
punished therefor. He further reports that the assault partook of the
character of a cowardly massacre; that the American citizen killed was
horribly mangled; the furniture in the church cut to pieces, and that
several of the wounded have since died. He represents the ignorant
Indians, incited by a fanatical priest, as having created in the
community a reign of terror; that the district judge, having arrested
the parish priest, was forced to release him owing to the threats of
armed violence made by the captain of the “Matricula;” that he, the said
consul, together with others who have shown any sympathy pr friendship
for the Protestant congregation, have had their lives threatened, and
that nothing but the most energetic and severe action on the part of the
federal government will have any influence in restraining the reign of
intolerance and lawlessness.
I have deemed it proper to bring to your excellences attention, in this
brief statement, the substance of the consul’s report to me, hoping that
it may furnish your government additional motives for enforcing strict
and decisive measures against the criminals.
The said consul informs me that the American citizen, Henry Morris,
assassinated as above stated, has left in Acapulco a large and dependent
family, thus deprived of protection and support. It is my duty to take
this early opportunity to state to your excellency that the Government
of the United States will expect the government of Mexico to inflict
rigorous punishment upon the murderers, and make full indemnity and
compensation to the bereaved family for the loss sustained, by any
failure of the authorities to afford the protection guaranteed to
American citizens by Articles XIV and XV of the treaty of 1831.
I again reiterate to your excellency the assurances of my high
consideration and esteem.
His Excellency J. M. Lafragua,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mexico.
