Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-28
AWAIT A RUSH FROM GOMEZ
Authorities at Havana Expect the Insur-
gent Leader to Arrive Soon.
CITIZENS INDULGE IN HOLIDAY PLEASURES
Approach of the Rebel Army Has Not
So Far Disturbed the Careless
Course OF Life In the
Capital.

blegram-Special Telegram.)-The latest ad-
vices of Gomez locate the entire insurgent
band in the forests about Guantanamo. This
locality is to the south of the village Alfonso
NH, which is on a line nearly south from
Matanzas. Guantanamo is on a level plain,
covered with heavy timber. 1t was a ia
vorite resort of Manuel Garcia, the noted
bandit. On the south is the great Swamp of
the Shoe. which extends along the south
coast Of Havana province to the vicinity of
Cienfuegos, and is a distance of nearly 100
miles. The insurgents apparently are catch
ing breath with a strong defensive country
Immediately behind them.
I am informed that they intend to go to
the vicinity Of Madruga, a town south of
Aquacate, on the railway from Matanzas to
Havana, as there are numerous rich sugar
estates thereabouts. A small party was seen
near Nueva Paz, a hamlet ten miles west
of Alfonso XIII.
There has been a general destruction Of
sugar cane in the country last visited by the
insurgents. So large a number Of estates
has been burned it is useless to try to men
tion names. Reports come from Guantanamo,
too, of the wholesale burning of cane in
Santiago province. An American, named
Glynn, came to Havana today from near
Sangua to report to Consul General Williams
the burning of his extensive cane fields. He
had much difficulty in saving his house, and
expects to find it gone on his return.
Gomez in the edge of an almost impene-
ttable swamp. He evidently intends to pro-
coed n%orthward toward Madruga, If he can
get there. Meanwhile the country thereabouts
is alive with Spanish troops.
NO PANIC IN HAVANA.
At the most critical time in Gomez's raid
to this heart OF Matanzas province, the city
Of Havana was singularly. undisturbei. On
Buenos Noche christmas eve) the city was
alive all night. The great square Isubslla
Segunde was crowded, with merrymakers,
mostly Of the humble order of society, who
dancsd, sang and shouted until daylight.
During Christmas, day the streets were
throngsd. More ladies were out than in
any previous season in a long time. There
was absolutely no panic. Consul General
Williams expressed surprise at the prevailing
quiet.
Robert Lawton of Lawton Bros, who
have an office in the Produce exchange at
New York, and are American bankers and
general dealers here, tells ms he is aston
ished at the utter absence of excitement.
When Gomez was at Coliseo, his nearest
point, ninety-two mills distant, Havana made
no responsive whatever.
In Mantazas City different conditions pre-
vailed because it is only eighteen miles
from the scene of Martinez Campos' en-
counter with CONF at Coliseo. People. were
forbidden to be in the streets after 10 o'clock,
and the volunteers were all in arms. No
doubt many people were scared.
l endeavored to ascertain from Cuban
sources whether any young men event out"
from Havana. / was assured on good au-
thority that none did so. The same applies
to Matanzas. Gomez's column had additions
during it's wild march through the cane dis
trict of Matanzas.
The negroes have had a thorough scare,
which may prevent their working on the
debris of the sugar cane. l learn that COM
paratively few mills were actually destroyed.
The insurgents were chiefly bent on running
the cane fields.
CAMPOS' RETIREMENT RUMORED.
The eve before Christmas a rumor was
afoat that General Campos intended to retire
to Spain. Christmas day the rumor had as
sumed a shape to make it appear to be true.
There are several versions of the report.
One was that, although there was no indi-
cation Of even suppressed public excitement,
General Campos appeared in Havana, while
the insurgent raid was proceeding almost |
unlnterruptedly in Matanzas. There was in |
tense fear in the hearts of many intelligent |
and distinguished citizens that he had re- |
signed and would return home by the Spanish |
mail steamer. The other story was that he |
had resigned and was awaiting instructions |
from Spain. A third report, which had less |
currency, was that General Campos intended |
to resign after returning to Havana Christ
mas night. How these reports started | laye
been unable to ascertain. l have enttf yored
to obtain light today by extensive inyestiga-
ton. The fact remains only that the reports
were current. The leaders of three recog-
nized political parties of Cuba were in c,n-
sternation. They foresaw a calamity IL Gen |
eralI Campos should depart.
The reason allege for his action, actual
or contemplated, was that the insurgent
chieftain had successfully made a raid
through a rich and hitherto unaffected PROV
iRce. From a military point of view. there
was not so much cause for regret, because
a column composed OF active, determined
men, with a full knowledge Of the country
and without any impeachment in the way of
had, by desperate marching and
avoiding the semblance of a battle, swept
like a whirlwind over tn land, escaping a
and powerful army actively chasing
Il. II was a mere military success. But
Gomez and his band, In the course of their
swift progress, have scattered 6rsbrands
right and left. Some Of the finest sugar
states in the provinces has been made desc
by fire. The tanks of Gomez's column
were clouded by smoke, and burning cane.
has chung to his announced policy Of
end kindness. At no time has
ne abused or shown personal i'll will toward
he insurgents. He has regarded tn m
'ather as erring children to be restrained.
,oerc.d into obedience Of the mother coun-
ry, instead Of being subjects to b exter-
URGED CAMPOS TO REMAIN.
Tho leaders Of three political parties
waited on the general at mis- quarters last
light. Each accredited leader spoke briefly.
3surlng Campos Of the devoted support of
his party. The union constitutional party
eader first, then the leader OF the reform
,arty. then Senior Galyez. head Of the home