The record-union., 1898-11-15
An Uprising Among the Troops at
Havana.
Make Demand for the Moneys Due Them
Before Emharking for Spain.
Regulars Called Upon to Queu the
Mutiny Refuse TO Fire When
Commanded to Do So by Mill
tary Governor-Havana Practi-
caIly in a State of Siege.


caIly in State of Siege.
HAVANA, Nov. 13.-via Key West,
Nov. 1.-THE disturbances here are
momentarily over. Everything is
quiet, and regular Spanish troops are
patrolling the city. The mutiny of the
Orden Publico forces, which for two
days threatened the peace of this city,
has resulted in the dissolution of that
body to-day, when after the payment
of some arrears and the promise of a
full liquidation, the revolving troops
laid down their arms. Captain General
Blanco then ordered all the foot and
mounted regiments of the Orden Pub
leo to be disbanded, that organiza ton
ceasing to exist from this date.
As originally planned, it was intend
ed that the mutiny should have ex-
tended to the Guardia Civil and the ar
tillery regiments, and it would in that
event have assumed much graver i'm
portance, and might perhaps have in
augurated a reign Of terror and blood
shed in the island.
For some time past the uprising of
the troops in consequence of the nom
receipt of their pay has been feared.
Not only is their pay owing for months
and in some cases for years, but the
reserve pay of the soldiers, their saw
ingS since the date of their enlistment,
which We're looked upon by them as sa-
cred, have been appropriated or stolen,
as the men say, by the Government,
which now turns a deaf ear to their
protests. What amount their reserve
pay reaches is impossible to estimate,
but it is known that it aggregates mill
ions. This is what has been precip-
itating riots, causing mutiny here, i'm
pelling the men to INSTRUMENTATION at
Neuvitas, and which may yet give rise
to further widespread disturbances in
the island
The Havana mutiny which was start
cd yesterday was precipitated by Cen
eral Arolas, the military Governor of
the city, whose fiery temper and bru-
tai treatment of officers is the source
of daily spreading discomfort. AT mid
night on Wednesday General Arolas, at
the head of a battalion Of regular in
fantry, having been apprised of the in
tention of the troops to join in the
mutiny and demand their pay, surprised
the artillery outpost stations along the
Ved&do road, including the Santa Clara
and Reina Chorrera batteries, disarmed
them and placed them under surveil-
lance.
The next morning (Thursday) the
third company of the Orden Publico,
numbering about 80 men, drew up be-
fore the Captain Generals palace and
demanded their overdue pay. The men
We're ordered to retire, but refused.
General Arolas, who arrived on the
scene almost Immediately, in an ex-
cess Of rage lifted his baton of office
and savagely attacked some of the on
lockers, seriously hurting a Govern
ment employe who had rushed out of
the palace from curiosity.
AT that period of the excitement the
Orden Publico with fixed bayonets, as
sumed an attitude of deep hostility
toward General Arolas, whom the men
considered responsible for the disgrace
full way in which they had been treat
ed. That moment General Solano. Cap
tain General Blanco's Chief of Staff. ap-
peared at the palace door and COM
manded the attention of the men. He
addressed them in cOnciliatory tones
upbraided them for their insubordina-
ton. and condemned the ill-advised
course they We're pursuing. Then plac
ing himself at their head. General So
lano himself marched the men back to
their quarters, where he again ad-
dressed them, promising them they
would be paid Thursday. The day
passed quietly without any further in
cident until dusk
The mutinOus Orden Publico had
then learned that General Arolas had
called over 1000 regulars in from the
suburbs. Believing that General Aro-
las meant to disarm them. the Orden
Publico again left their quarters. each
man with 80 rounds of ammunition in
his belt, and lined up in the street op-
posite the armory, ready to offer resist
ance, if necessary. Shortly after night
fall General Arolas. at the head of the
regulars. and preceded by a band of
music playing national airs, arrived be-
fore the Orden Publicos headquarters.
where he halted. Before him stood
the mutinous third company, grim and
sullen. Turning TO the men, General
Arolas reminded them that they We're
regulars and veterans, not mere po-
1icemen, as they had been tauntingly
referred to. The Orden Publico then
gave three cheers for Spain and ethe
army, which were Justify answered. To
the disgust of General Arolas, right on
the heels of these tvivas'' the regulars
cheered their comrades. and the Orden
Fublico answered in turn
General Arolas, mad with rage or
oered his men to charge, but they re-
lused to obey. He then ordered them
70 nre, which they also refused to do.
General Arolas then realized that he
hau lost his moral influence over the
men, and, after calling the officers aside
anu conferring with them for a few
minutes, he left for the palace. accom-
PANIED by his staff and seven officers.
ABOUT two blocks from the scene of
the mutiny General Arolas' partv came
upon an innocent and unsuspecting
member of the Orden PubIico. who was
unarmed. Mad with fury. General Aro-
las drew his sword and sayagely at
tackled the man, infficting on him se-
we're wounds, from which the victim of
the assault died this morning Tn the
mix-up Lieutenant Malta. General Aro-
las. aide-de-camp. has his head cut.
supposedly by General Arolas' sword.
as it was the only one drawn.
Toward IL O'Clock General AroIas.
who had been informed that further
uDrisings had taken place among other