The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-09

Havana. Dec. {. (via Key West, Fla,
Dec. 0.-The statue of Isabel la Cato
lea, which stands in the middle of
Central park. in this city, was found
this morning holding a Nalise i'll one
hand and a steamship rug in ihc other
An immense plaCard was slung across
the back of the statue with the words
"Bon voyage" Inscribed on it.
Several disturbances occurred here
yesterday afternoon between a num-
her of Spaniards and Cubars, hut luck
lily there was no serious consequences.
At o'clock in the afternoon of the
day mentioned several Cuban ofiCers
who were walking down ObS,po street
asked each other in tones rather loud
cr than necessary when the Spaniards
wern to finally leave cuba, and com
mentcd on what they termed the lat
tors want of shame in DarauinS the
streets dttired in their uniforms. Two
Spanish officers who CHANGED to be
passing overheard the conversation,
ana one Of them approached and
slapped the face of a member of the
Cuban party
Several blows We're exchanged, but
the fighters WeIa arrested soon and
taken to the military governors palace,
where they were discharged.
a repetition o. this incident occurred
in the evening. when Spanish officer
in Central Park tore panama hat off
a Cuban's head and cut it into pieces
with his sword The offender was ar
rested, and Gen. Arolas. fearing further
trouble, distributed a force of soldiers
liz the park and its vicinity. No other
disturbances occurred, however.
Serious problems confront the last
two days of Spain's sovereignty in Gu
ba. One of the most delicate and most
difficult of solution is the question of
return bonds given by civil officials
and employees upon Ceasing to hold Of
flee. Many of these are cash bonds
furnished years ago, the refundng of
which now becomes imperative. All
such moneys having been appropriated
and spent the government is therefore
unable to meet these obligations or to
fulfill the guarantees.
The settlement of the arrears of
n" due to tie mObiized and all the
Irregular troops offered a brilliant op-
portunity for mastery linanciering on
the part of the military intendant
QUARTERMASTER'S PLAN.
With money i'm hand for a full set.
tlement of all pay due to the troops
the uuartermaster general devised an
ingenious plan. Paying the men off in
notes, payable in Madrid. he offered
through trusted agents, to discount
such notes at 20 or so per cent for cash.
AS practically every one of the irreg
ular and mobilized troops will remain
on the island. the men eagerly embrac-
ed the opportunity to have their notes
cashed, and a handsome profit thereby
accrued to the astute originator OF the
scheme.
The first mortgages held by the Span
ish bank on municipal property here
amount to $4,000 900. Propositions for
the acquisition of the mortgages have
been made by Les Ion, New York and
Perrin bankers. Although the mort
gagged property represents more solid
investment. the Spanish bank seems
ready to transfer the title to the for
eign corporations through a lack of
confidence in the stability of the future
government.
Santiago de Cuba. Dec. S-The Gu
bans here are greatly excited over yes
terday's proceedings, resulting from
the CommemoratiOn of the death of An
tonic MaceO, particularly at the fact
that bullets reached the camp of the
Fifth immunes which proves that the
shots were not fired by the Cubans who
fired volleys in the air from the public
square here. Those shots only dam
aged the cathedral slightly.
1t appears that the bullets which
damaged the tents of the Fifth i'm
munes came from a different party of
insurgents, near the trocha. who were
also celebrating.
IN respect to the action of the three
drunken Cuhans who entered the Span
ish club and smashed chandeliers and
furniture, which building i'm five days
becomes the property Of the Anglo
American club, the Cubans say they
deeply deplore the outrage and do not
think it fair to regard it as race act.
The San Carlos club intends to hold a
meeting and to tender an apology Ia
the Spanish club. The police are blamed
for not making any arrests.
Colonel Beacon, the American act
ing military commander here, accom-
panied by the chief of police. person
ally arrested Juan Castillo this morn
ing. He is captain of the Cuban
army and was the man who led his two
tillo who is well connected. objected
to going to Jail and offered his card in
stead. Colonel Beacon, however, was
obdurate.