The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
Two Hundred Arrested Among
Them Being Officers Of
Volunteers.
ACTIVITY OF INSURGENTS.
the Grinding of Cane Prevented
by Force.
Copyright, 1897, by James Gordon Bennett


HAVANA, Dec. 25.-The Christmas
saturnalia was brought to a close by a
serious riot, which was quelled by the
police, who used their swords. In ac-
cordance with their custom, the Span
ish population gathered last night in
the parque central to celebrate Christ
mas by dancing and singing songs pc
culiar to the various provinces of
Spain. Almost all were armed with
knives and clubs, fights being frequent
between groups from different pro-
vinces. A large force of police was
present, but there was no interference
with the festivities until about
o'clock, when most Of the crowd be-
came frenzied from drinking aguar-
diente, and hostile cries were raised.
Death to Americans Down with
autonomy" Down with Blanco,"
viva Weyler," viva los voluntar-
los" 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 sabers. A panic ensued, the
mob, in which were many women,
fleeing in every direction, 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 wound
ed, and then the police formed a cor
don around the square and proceeded
to make prisoners Of the ringleaders OF
the demonstration. Two hundred pris
oners were marched to the prefectura-
Among them were many officers Of the
volunteers. On four of the officers were
found bundles Of circulars declaring
Spains honor had been compromised
by granting autonomy and calling OH
all loyal Spaniards to resist to the ut
most Copies of these circulars were
also found scattered in the streets this
morning.
No further details are at hand re-
garding General Pando's operations in
Orient, but it is expected that a ser
ious engagement has already occurred.
News of the result is anxiously await
ed at the palace.
The Herald's correspondent in Santa
Clara writes that General Gomez is
again in the saddle and using all eff
forts to prevent the grinding of cane.
Work on sugar estates is practically
suspended The proprietors of the Car
acas estate, the second largest sugar
plantation in the world, have been no.
titled that the slightest attempt to
grind will be the signal for the total
destruction of this valuable property.
The Spanish troops are chiefly in gar
risoned towns, and are unable to af-
ford adequate protection. Six estates
in Havana province were burned this
week The rebels raided Encruiciiada,
a town of several thousand inhabitants
near Saguay La Grande, on the night
of December 21st. and carried off all
the supplies they found. Five days ago
twenty-seven volunteers of Cumanaya-
qua went over to the rebels. Insur-
gents looted the town of Rodrigo on
last Monday evening. carrying away
a large sum of money in addition to
clothing and food. In Santa Clara
Province trains are constantly derailed
and traffic is practically stopped.
Local papers publish a report Of the
hanging of prominent gentleman in
Pinar del Rio province. He went to q
rebel camp with proposals of autonomy
and was executed.
General Parade with his force, re-
turned to Havana last night after q
fruitless attempt to surround and cap
ture Colonel Aranguren, who is not Of
ficially admitted to be alive. The rebels
had all fled to Pinar del Rio province
after the execution of Colonel Ruiz.
General Parade will take the field
again in a few days.
La Lucha, in an editorial yesterday,
lamented the fact that there Is no en-
thusiasm among the people over auto
nomy. The paper says nobody dares
to state in public what he thinks about
the new regime; confidence In it Is
more apparent than real. La Lucha
adds that everybody is looking into the
sky expecting something from an un-
known quarter.
was assured by Captain-G General
Blanco tonight that Cuba will be un-
der astronomical government by Janu-
ary l. The new Ministry is now en-
urely formed. 1t will begin work with
the new year, with offices In the palace.
AS soon as autonomy is working
smoothly General Blanco will take the
field to conduct the most aggressive
campaign against the rebels remain
ing under arms.
Autonomy in Cuba" said General
Blanco, will be an established fact by
January l. The Ministry is completed
and will be at work by that time. OF
course, there are some persons who are
not satisfied, but there always is a mi
nority.
With an astronomical rule estab-
lished, will be to a great extent re-
lieved of the responsibility, except as
sort of Viceroy, and / then intend to
take the field and conduct an active
campaign against those rebels who re-
fuse to submit, but I think that once
Cubans see autonomy actually work.
ing their doubts and prejudices will be
overcome"
La Lucha has published a document
claimed to have been authorized by
United States Consul General Lee,
stating that Colonel Ruiz was executed
because he proposed peace in contra
vention to decree issued by General
Gomez
Reports from Pinar del Rio to the
authorities here say that two commits
sioners who were sent to propose peace
with autonomy to the Insurgents In
that province have been hanged in con-
formity with the decree of General