The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-14
HAVANA'SNEW SCARE
The Patriots Burn Towns Only
aFew Niles Distant.
LAYING WASTE THE ISLAND.
But Just Wait TIL Campos Gets Horses
to Chase Gomez The spaniards
Thoroughly Disheartened.

Havana, Jan. f3-There was another
alarm here this afternoon. Clouds OF
smoke were seen arising in the direction
OF the village OF Vegas, near San Fran
cisco de Paula, a. small town only about
five miles distant. This was followed by
red g4are, showing that a great fire was IN
progress IN that direction. The alarm
spread throughout the city, and the re-
port was again circulated that the insur-
gents were approaching. But this was as
nothing TO the feeling OF terror which
came over the more tirnid portion OF the
population when a stu larger ire was
seen to have broken out. This time IL was
made out that the town OF San Francisco
de Paula had been set on fire BY the in
surgents. and the alarm increased, al
though the authorities professed TO sneer
at the matter. claiming that the fires were
only the work OF a few beaten insurgents
who had been driven 10 desperation.
In spite or these assurances and the
statement that the Spanish generals have
for three days past been aware of the
whereabouts OF Gen. Maxine Gomez and
completely ignore his presence near Ha-
vana, it is claimed the troops must be very
husily engaged elsewhere for the insurgents
10 be able TO burn a town and a village
within sight of Havana and yet remain I'M
attacked by the government forces.
The greatest apprehension is felt for the
SAFETY Of the water works which supply
Havana. They are situated at Vento,
about five miles from this city, and less
than that distance from San Francisco de
Paula, reported 10 have been burned this
afternoon by the insurgents.
The friends OF the insurgents have re-
peatedly asserted that they expect a popu-
lar demonstration in their favor 10 be made
in this city as soon as they arrive in sight
OF Havana. But they are now practically
In f1Nf of 81 ma "a M ( fcUs
of an uprising. and the authorities claim
there is absolutely no danger OF such an
outbreak. Every measure which II is pos
s.ble to take for the defense of the city
and in order to protect property has been
taken.
Although the Spanish authorities are
making the best Of the situation, IL is
known that Capt. Gen. Campos is very
much dsheartened at the turn events have
taken during the last six weeks, and rumor
succeeds rumor day by day Of his prob
able retirement from &C mmand. The gov
eminent is securing all the horses possible,
in order to mount the Spanish infantry, the
great advantage of the insurgents being the
rapidly with which they have been able to
move, on account OF their forces being
mostly composed of cavalry.
1t is stated in official circles that Gen.
Gomez camped last night at the planta-
ton of Fajardo, near Gabriel, in the prov
fEce or Plnar del RIO, having found IL I'M
possible to pass the military line drawn
by the Spanish across the island and that
the insurgents reported moving northward
from Quivican are not the main body Of
Gen. Gomez. as at first supposed, but only
a portion OF his forces, which have been
cut off from the rest.
The insurgents operating in Havana and
Pinar del Rio burned the village of Salud.
and have partially burned the village Of
QuiWcan. and then marched toward Be
tucal and burned on the way a freight
train and destroyed the engine. They then
attacked the town of BeJucal, the garri-
son OF which made a heroic resistance for
five hours AT the end OF that time. II is
reported, the insurgents retreated, but be-
fore they went they plundered some stores
in outlaying streets. and also burned some
houses and the depot. The course of the
insurgents is now southwark again. At
Saratoga the insurgents have burned the
cane1elds on the plantations of the Brook
Company, of Guantanamo, the value being
$50 600.
Charles Solomon, correspondent of a
New York newspaper, who arrived on the
steamer Seneca, was detained by the po-
lice. charged il is believed. with having
a compromising letter in his possession.
He was sent back TO New York today.