The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-12
EXPLOSIONS IN HAVANA.

They wero In Alleged 1nsurEent Stores II
slump on 'ChanGe and n Paniohy Feeling
nlnnco Has Fun with Our Statement.
HAVANA, March l1.-A big slump on the Stock
Exchange was tho most important manifesto
ton In Havana to-day Of the great uneasiness
prevailing here on account Of the news from the
United Statos. Tho excitement continued all
day both In financial and political circles. The
Government 10 trying to calm the public by do
claring that there Is no cause to Justify q com.
mercial panic.
The newspapers here have been allowed by
tho Government to comment editorially upon
tho situation In order to calm the general e-
element. La Discussion accordingly says to-
day that IL a rupture between the United States
and Spain is possible. according to the reports
that come to Havana. 1t is still not logically prob
able in view of tho situation, for the United
States Is eager to secure a commercial treaty
with Cuba and obtain advantages for it's trade
under tho sovereignty Of Spain. IF there 10
any American Intervention in Cuba" says La
Discussion, at will be n friendly one. II not,
why enter upon negotiations for a commercial
treaty. T.
Tho Diario de Ia Marina says that the Amer
lean correspondents in Havana are alone re-
sponsible for the present grave situation.
Other causes also have influenced Havana's
general alarm to-day. Last night q terrific
defamation put to flight all the residents of tho
houses in Havana street. A few minutes later
about ten moro frightful explosions. originating
in the same place, increased the panic. In the
crowd that ran through Havana street tho
police singled out q man who was in night at
tire, and who proved to DO the proprietor OF Tho
house In which the explosions occurred. Some
damage was done to the building, but nobody
was wounded. Several persons received slight
injuries while fleeing.
Tho official statement OF the affair, which
is all tho correspondent can communicate, Is
that the proprietor Of the house has declared
that the first explosion occurred in three largo
cases of benzine, and that the others were
caused by the blowing up Of ammunition stored
there by friends OF the Insurgents. This state
ment is published in the newspapers. The Gov
eminent has It's eye on an alleged insurgent plot
which Is said to be brewing in Havana.
After the explosion two houses took fire and
the loss of property was considerable.
AS II this were not enough, the insurgents
made q fierce attack last night upon n strong
Spanish fort on tho outskirts of Havana. which
is on an estate belonging to the wealthy Span
lard. Don Goyo Ruiz. The official statement
given out to-day is that the insurgents we're
thoroughly defeated. The continuous volleys
on both sides were heard throughout the city.
Tho city Of Santa Clara, capital Of the prov
ince of that name. was also attacked last night
by insurgents under Col. Roberto Bormudez.
According to the official report Bermudez added
to his forces near Santa Clara those of Chucho
Monteagudo. Hisinio Esquerra, Cayito Alvarez,
and the brothers Antonio and vincente Nufiez,
The insurgents numbered about 1000 men.
About $50 o'clock an explosion of dynamite
near the railroad station notified the inhsbi-
tants OF the city Of the proximity of tho insur-
gents. Between Santa Clara city and Jicotea,
at Ceciba, the insurgents had blown up a bridge
and inflicted other considerable damage. The
| official report, which Is the only one published
| here, says that the insurgents were finally re-
pulsed with heavy loss. although they used
dynamite and Orsini bombs.
The situation among the reconcentrados grows
worse day by day. Mr.. Klopsch, editor of tho
| Christian Herald. who Is here on a mission
from President Mckinley, and who had already
turned over $4,000 for the relief Of the pacif-
| cos, gave to-day $40, 900 more for the same pur-
pose. Mr.. KlopsCh told your correspondent
that what he has seen here Is much more ap-
palling than he could imagine while reading at
home descriptions that were said to be exag-
gerated. Even photography. he said. was not
sufficiently vivid to depict the terrible misery.
When one sees with his own eyes the sufrerings
| of these many thousands of people who are
starving to death tho real horror OF the Cuban
situation may DO understood.
Senior Pavon, manager of the railroad from
Havana to Caibarien. has refused TO accept for
transportation by his line any relief supplies
for the concentrates unless the full freight
| charges are paid. All the other companies are
carrying the supplies free. His attitude is very
much criticised.
Gen. Blanco did not desire to-day personally
to return the visit of courtesy paid to him
| yesterday by Capt. Converse of the Montgom-
| cry. The Governor-General was very busy. and
he delegated the duty to his second in command.
Gen. Gonzalez PARADE. But Gen. Parade was
also very busy and delegated his secretary. who
finally went on board the Montgomery.
Senior Abelardo Valdes Aria, an attach6 of
the Spanish Legation in Washington who came
here on some official mission, returned to-day to
| New York by tho steamer.
Gen. Blanco this morning received the Sem
| ators and Congressman who came here on n
self-appointed mission and who called on him
with their wives. Thay were introduced by
Consul-G eneral Lee. The Governor-General
received them at 10 A. NJ. in tho hall where the
throne stands. under the pictures Of the Queen
and King. He stood near the throne. and be-
side him were Gems. Gonzalez PARADE and So
lano. A Spanish Colonel acted as
interpreter.
Gen. Blhnco said to them that he was glad to
see that they had come to Cuba to learn about
the progress OF pacihcation. which he hoped to
entirely achieve very soon. He only regretted
that they were to remain 80 short a time. 81
hope" said the GovernOr-General, to spend my
summer vacation at Saratoga"
He added that no was very much pleased with
the American people. but not with the American
newspaper men who desire to break the friend
ly relations between the United States and
Spain. with two or three OF Them the Cap
tain.G added. II am especially indignant.
/ was going to expel the whole crowd from Cuba,
and have only RETAINED because Of the presence
here of such distinguished members OF the Amer
lean Senate and Congress. But II this campaign
OF Islander is not stopped, ! shall have to send
them back to their country"
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MORE HARSHIPS AT HAVANA.
An Austrian Cruiser Arrives and the british
Warahip Cordoba IL Expected To-