Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-27
RI0TlNG AT HAVANA.
It Winds Up With a Demonstration
Against United States.
Police and Soldiers Charge Mob-Many
Wounded and Many Arrested.

Havana. via Key West, Fla, Dec 26.
The Christmas saturnalia was
brought to a close by serious riot,
which was quelled by the police, who
used their swords.
In accordance with their CUSTOM the
Spanish population gathered, Friday
night, in the Parque Central to cele-
brate Christmas by dancing and sing
ing songs peculiar to various provinces
of Spain. Almost all were armed with
knives and clubs, fights being frequent
between groups from different prov
inces
A large force of police were present.
but there was no interference with the
festivities until about o'clock, when
most of the crowd became frenzied
from drinking aguardiente, and hostile
cries were raised.
Death to Americans" Down with
autonomy" Down with Blanco,'
Viva Weyler." Viva los Volun-
tarios." were some of the cries. Then
the police closed in and a squadron of
mounted gendarmes, drawn up in front
of the German Club, charged with
drawn sabres.
were many women, fleeing in every di-
rectiOn, but the crowd was hemmed in
on all sides by the police. mounted and
afoot, who struck out savagely with
their swords.
This continued until the mob was
thoroughly cowed, many being
wounded, and then the police formed
Gordon around the square and pro-
ceeded to make prisoners Of the ring
leaders OF the demonstration.
Two hundred prisoners marched to
Prefecture. Among them We're many
officers of the volunteers. On four of
the officers We're found bundles of Cir
culars declaring SPANS honor had
been compromised by granting auton-
omy, and calling on all royal Spaniards
to resist to the utmost. Copies of these
circulars We're also found scattered in
the streets this morning
No further details are at hand re-
garding General Pando's operations in
the Orient, but it is expected that a
serious engagement has already oc-
CURED. News Of the result is anxious
ly awaited at the palace.
The Herald correspondent in Santa
Clara writes that General Gomez is
again in the saddle and using all efforts
to prevent the grinding of cane. Work
on sugar estates is practically suspend
estate, the second largest sugar plan
tation in the world, have been notified
that the slightest attempt to grind will
be the signal for the total destruction
of this valuable property.
he 1iSh oh;
galriscned towns and are unable to af-
ford adequate protection. Six estates
in Havana province were burned. this
week.
The rebels raided - t,ncruciiada. a
town of several thousand inhabitants |
near Sagau la Crande, on the night of |
Dec. q, and carried off all the supplies |
they found. Five days ago q volun- |
tee rs of Cumanayagua went over to the |
rebels.
Insurgents looted the town of Rod |
rigo. on last Monday evening. carrying |
away large sum of money. in addition |
to clothing and food. In Santa Clara |
province. trains are constantly deraiiei |
and traffic is practically stopped.
The local papers publish a report Of
the hanging of a prominent gentleman
in Pinar del Rio province. He went to
l rebel camp with proposals of autono-
my and was executed.
General Parade. with his force, re-
turned to Havana. Friday night, after
a fruitless attempt to surround and
capture Colonel Aranguren. who is not
rebels had all fled to Pinar del Rio
provinces. after the execution of Colonel
Ruiz General Parade will take the
ield again in a few days.
La Lucia in an editorial. lamented
he fact that there is no enthusiasm
lmOng the people over autonomy. The
paper says nobody dares to state in
public just what he thinks about the
lew regime; confidence in it is more
apparent than real. La Lucia adds
hat everybody is looking into the sky,
something from an unknown
quarter.