The record-union., 1896-03-13

f1nery of an American Company
Burned.
HAVANA, March II (From a staff
correspondent of the United Press).--
Several encounters between Govern
ment troops and detached bands be-
longing to the forces of Gomez and
Maceo have been reported around Los
Palos, in the province of Matanzas,
near the line of the province of Ha-
vana, and also near Bagaes, in the lat
ter province.
General Gasco reports from Man
zanillo that his command has had an
engagement with the rebel band led by
Reyes. One insurgent was captured.
During a reconnaissance the insurgents
exploded an earth torpedo, wounding
several soldiers.
In an engagement between Arapiles'
battalion and Palacio's band near
Managua, province of Havana, the
rebels lost five wounded and three
prisoners.
The gunboat Lince narrowly escaped
capture by the insurgents at Juan
Fernando on March I'd. The rebels
blocked the river with chains made by
twisting fence wire and preventing
the gunboat from getting out of the
river. The gunboat Satellite went to
her rescue, and acting in conjunction
with land force, succeeded in breaking
the chains and saving the Lince.
One hundred and ten prisoners ar
rived from Las Villas yesterday and
We're sent to Moro Castle.
Captain General Weyler has ordered
that all individuals captured from this
date in the provinces of Havana and
Pinar del Rio, who are supposed to be-
long to the insurgent forces be set at
liberty if they deny having Joined the
rebels voluntarily, and if they will
promise before two witnesses fidelity
to the cause of Spain and do not ap-
pear to be responsible for other crimes.
They will, however, be subject to the
surveillance of the authorities
A fire at Royallam, opposite Havana,
last night destroyed the sugar refin-
cry of the American firm of Crabb,
Tracy & Co. Two warehouses and
twelve small houses were also burned.
The total loss is estimated at S230000.
The refinery was insured for $4,000.
NEARLY STIRRED UP A RIOT.
HAVANA, March II (via Tampa
F'la.), March 12).-The protest against
the action of Congress being circulated
in Havana for the signatures of COM
mercial houses, Presidents of clubs, cor
porations and merchants generally has
nearly stirred up a riot here Many
have refused to sign, and have been
threatened; others signed under duress.
ok alerc Of Int !.
threaten to depose the President for
signing the name of the club. The editor
of La Discussion" declined to sign the
name of his paper, on the ground that
he had no authority during the absence
of the director, who is in Madrid Given
the choice of signing or ceasing pub
fishing, he signed.
General Weyler's last proclamation
providing for confiscation of the prop
erty Of those in active or passive aid of
the rebellion is bitterly denounced by
Cubans. 1t is said to furnish the petty
officials a basis for extensive blackmail
operations and also to wreak vengeance
upon Cubans generally. Under its terms
the property of any person failing to
declare himself in fifteen days must be
seized. Many are compelled to flee to
interior towns or to the cities of the
coast, and others who have gone abroad
awaiting quieter times, and left their
homes deserted or in charge of serv-
ants, may lose all.
The elections ordered to take place
April 18th attract little attention. The
three parties will go through the form
of having an election, all voting for the
same candidates, who have been named
not by the parties themselves but by
the Spanish authorities. The mockery
of the elections will be apparent when
among the candidates are found the
names of Surez Valdez, now in com
mand of troops in Pinar del Rio: Cen
eral Polavieja, who is in Spain; Gen
eral Pendo, who is in command of the
Second Division of the army here. and
Romero Robledo, who is in Spain, and
whom all Cubans hate. Just how the
voting is to be managed while the island
is in a vast army can p, and a large por-
tion of it in the hands OF the enemy.
has not been divulged. The wise men
at the palace have been at work for
days upon proclamation covering the
elections, which is awaited with much
interest
A number of residents of Seiba del
Aqua have arrived here, and tell the
following story: A large party of insur-
gents appeared near their town Satur-
day. The Spanish garrison immedi-
ately took from their homes all the Gu
bans in town at the point of the bayo-
net, and compelled them to stand in line
in front of the garrison. They were in
mortal terror as the insurgents ad-
vanced to attack the town. The in
vaders seeing unarmed men standing in
front Of the Spanish troops, withheld
their fire and finally withdrew without
making any attack.
After this occurrence the best part of
the residents of Seiba del Aqua fled to
this city ]. FRANK CLARK.
A FILIBUSTER LANDS IN CUBA.
PHILADELPHIA, March 1.-THE
vessel which is said to have left this
port for Cuba a week ago to-day with
arms and ammunition is reported to
have landed safely on the island, and
within six hours the entire cargo was
placed in the hands of the insurgent
agents. One of the leaders, who was i'm
strumental in getting this vessel away,
in speaking of it said:
so far as we have been able to learn,
the ship with the munitions of war ar
rived in Cuba on Sunday, and got away
all right. If she had not done so we
certainly would have had an elaborate
report of her seizure or any other COM
plieations that would affect the prize.
There were not many men aboard
only enough to handle the cargo and
! look after it properly. The ship cleared