The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-03-22
manitomof pilot.
THURSDAY, MARCH %.
Bandits in Cuba.

1t is an everyday scene in Havana
TO see man stopped On the streets by
desperadoes and, after relieving him
of what he carries, he is brutally MUIR
dered IN cold blood. If an honest cit
iZen should see the crime perpetrated
and attempt to make known the facts
to the authorities, he is either exposed
to be murdered by some of the muir
derer's ''chums' or he is arrested and
kept in jail for six or eight months,
so that he will be on hand when re-
quired to testify against the criminals;
consequently, if an honest citizen
should see any crime committed he
dare not say word about it.
Thus crimes are boldly committed
in broad daylight and on the most
crowded streets, such as Ell Parque,
Central Gala. De Obisgo, Calzada,
De La Reina, Ell Louvre, etc., and the
most remarkable feature concerned in
these outrages, and that reflects very
little credit on the Spanish tyrants
that now occupy the island, is that the
entire city of Havana is patrolled by
no less than 6,0OO police soldiers, who
are paid about SIS per month, and get
paid two months in the year. Conse-
quently, they rob and plumber, and
even murder man for % cents il
Spanish paper money, which is about
10 cents in our currency. Matanzas
has always been the residence of rich
sugar planters that own large planta-
tons, and during the dull season they
generally come to the city, as a change
Kidnappers, formed in bodies of from
Is to 90 men, come boldly into the
city and watch one of these planters
as he goes out to take ride or some
place of amusement, and when he least
expects any trouble he is bounced
upon suddenly by two or three of these
murderers, who Immediately put him
into carriage and he is driven he
does not know where, as he is blind
folded, and is kept in the den until a
ransom is paid for his release. The
same thing happened to Senior Forres,
a rich planter, in Matanzas last week.
He was "secuestrado" (kidnapped)
and held prisoner 10 days, and was
released after his check for 5000 in
Spanish pecos was paid by the 'Banco
Espanol de Matanzas" Spanish Bank
of Matanzas.)
kidnapping. They will watch a plant
er's maid 60 out with his children for
a walk, when they deliberately come
up, seize a child and away they 90.
Two or three days after the occurrence
the parents receive letter by mail,
bearing the city stamp, saying: IF
you don't deposit such and such an
amount in such and such place, we
will in ten days send you the child's
head by peon." Last week the mer-
chants of Havana gathered to the num-
Der of over two hundred. and, accom-
panied by hundreds of citizens, APP
peared before the palace of Capt.-Gen.
Marin and demanded protection. He
said he was doing all he could, and
would do no more.
No one in Havana or in any other
city of Cuba is allowed to carry arms
under heavy penalty, yet all crimi-
nails IN Cuba are always armed to the
teeth, and ready at any moment to
kill. About month ago thieves broke
into the aptain-Generars garden,
"Quinta de Los Molinos," occupied by
a whole regiment of guards, and not
only stole all the furniture, but went
so far as to carry away over one hun
dred gas fixtures belonging to tie
premises. The Spanish authorities
claim they cannot stop the 1rigandage
in Cuba, yet it is hardly expected of
them to do SO, when they require all
the time they can get to prosecute the
editors of the Cuban press.-PNtSburg
Chronicle.