Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-13
SITUATION IN CUBA.
Protest Against American Congress
Almost SiirS Up a Riot
LAST PROCLAMATION.
IL Provides for Connscation OF Pro-
perty, aud Is Bitterly Denounced
Spanish Troops Make Breast-
works of Observation-Disclosures.


March l2--The protest against the action
of Congress being circulated in Haoana
for the signatures of commeroial-houses,
presidents of clubs. corporations, and
merchants generally has nearly stirred
up a riot here. Many houses refusing TO
sign have been threatened; others signed
under duress. The members Of the Union
| Club 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 to do so du-
ring the absence of the director. who is
in Madrid Given the choice OF signing
| or ceasing publication, he signed.
General Weyler's last proclamation,
providing for confiscation of the property
OF those in active or passive aid of the
rebellion, is bitterly denounced by Gu
bans. 1t is said to furnish the petty Off
Gals a basis for extensive blackmail
operations, and also to wreak vengeance
upon Cubans generally. Under its terms,
the property OF any person falling to
| present 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
to await quieter times, and left their
| homes deserted, or in charge OF servants,
may lose all.
| The elections ordered to take place
| April 18th attract little attention. The
| three parties Will go through the form
| Of holding an election, all voting for the
| tub M have heen
not by the parties themselves, but by the
Spanish authorities. Tho mockery or the
elections will be apparent when 1t Is
| stated that among the candidates are
| found the names of General SuareZ val
dez. now I'm command of the troops IN
/ Pinar del Rio; General Pola Avieja, who
IL in Spaln: Cen. PandO, who Is COM
mand of the secoad 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 q vast, armed camp ana
large portion Of It Is in the hands of the
enemy, has not been diyulged. The wise
men at the Palace have been at work
for davs on a PROCLAMATION covering the
elections. which is awaited with interest.
A number OF residents Of Seiba del
| Aqua. Habana province, have arrived
! here. and tell the following story:
A large party Of insurgents appeared
near their town Saturday. The Spanish
| garrison at once took from their homes
ali the Cubans I'm town, and at the point
OF the bayonet compelled them to stand
! I'm line in front of the garrison. 1hey
were in mortal terror, as the Insurgents
| advanced to attack the town. The IN
voders seeing unarmed men standing in
front of the Spanish troops, withheld their
fire and finally withdrew without making
| anv attack. After this occurrence the
hest part OF the residents OF SeiDa del
| Aqua fed TO this city.
(Slgned) |hAi'N
MACEO RE-ENTERS HABANA
MADRID March ia special dispatch
IN the impartial from Habana says that
| Maceo has re-entered the province OF
| Habana. and is now near San Nicolas
| Gomez remains in the province or Matan-
| Zas.
SEVERAL ENCOUNTERS.
UABANA. March 12.-Several encoun-
ters between government troops and de-
| tached bands belonging 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 Habana, and also near Bagaes, In the
| latter province. ,,
General Gasco reports from Manzanillo
that his command has had an engage
ment with the rebel band LED py reyes.
one insurgent was captured. DURING
reconnaissance the insurgents exploded
an earth torpedo, wounding several SOL
diers. In an engagement between Apa-
rifles Battalion and Palacio's band near
Managua, province OF Habana, the rebels
lost FIVE wounded and three prisoners.
The gunboat Llnce narrowly escaped
| 4 Ao
nandez, near Sancti Spiritus, on March
% The rebels blocked the river with
chains made by twisting fine wires, ana
prevented the gunbOat from getting out
OF the river. The gunboat Satalliet Went
TO her rescue. and acting In conjunction
with a land-force, succeeded IN breaking
the chains aud saving the Lince, To-
gether with her convoy or several schooh-
ers. laden with supplies.
One hundred and ten prisoners arrived
from Las villas yesterday ana were
sent to Moro Castle.
Captain-General Weyler has ordered
tfat all individuals captured from this
date in the provinces OF Habana and
Pinar del Rio who are supposed TO be-
long TO the insurgent forces, be set al
liberty II they deny having Joined the
rebels voluntarily and II they will prom
ice before two witnesses fidelity TO the
cause OF Spain, and don't appear to be
responsible for other crimes. They will,
however be subject to the surveillance OF
the authorities
A fire at Royla. opposite Habana, last
night, destroyed the sugar refinery OF the
American firm OF Crabb TRAY & co.
Two warehouses and twelve small houses
were also burned. The total loss Is esti-
mated at $4,000 The refinery was in
sured for 10000.
AMERICAN CITIZEN THREATENED.
NEW YORK, March 12.-Counsel for
Olivero AgTamonte, manager OF the Jura-
qua estate, situated near St. Dorcengue,
Cuba, appeared before United States
Commissioner Shields to-day for the pur-
pose OF securing governmental Interior
ence' in behalf of his client. Agramonte
has been arrested by the Spaniards, and
court-martial proceedings are pending
against him. He is an American citizen.
Commissioner Shields holds the matter
under advisement awaiting information
from the Department Of State at Wash
ington.
FREE-sILvER DEMOCRATIC PARTY