The evening times., 1898-11-28
HAVANA IN CONTROL
OF LAWLESS GANGS
DesperadOes Have Sway at the
Cuban Capital.
DUELS OCCUR EVERY DAY
Spanish Officers. Relieved From Re-
,, straint, Settle Old Grudges.
10, -------
DUELS OCCUR EVERY DAY
Ca plain HOsmer. Quarternaster
at Matanzus.

from Havana:
Havana is suffering from a carnival of
crime. With the disappearance of the
Guardia sCiyil and the Orden PublcO VINO
were hurried back TO Spain after their
mutiny, all restraint was removed and the
city hss-siaee- e-beeEr practically controlled
by the lawless element. Not alone are
crimes Committed upon the streets by
desperadoes but even those who should
defend order are serious offenders.
Dueling has been revived, and not a
day passes without several meetings upon
the field of honor. So far only one fatal
ity has occurred, though several duels
have resulted in dangerous wounds for
one or both contestants. Spanish officers
who have had misunderstanding during
the insurrection and who have been re-
strained from personal combat by army
discipline are now making settlements
Ii is only fair to these men to say the
duel is more a means of amusement than
anything else. The differences have sell
dom been so serious 10 demand feh-
to the death. Most of them being eX-
pert swordsmen, the combat continues for
some time before either one receives
scratches; the appearance Of the least
drop of blood is a signal for reconc4ia-
ton.
Because of intense political animosity
among the Cubans their dueling is at
tended with more serious results, the
combat proceeding until one participant
is unable TO continue. On Wednesday al
ternoon Juan Antonio Garmendia and
Tiers Mesa met in private house in the
Prado to settle a misunderstanding re-
garding loyalty TO Cuba Libre.
Dueling rapiers were the weapons, and
from the first it was seen the affair was
in earnest Mesa was first touched, re-
ceiving a scratch across his sword hand
The seconds tried TO bring the combat to
a close, but neither principal was salts
fed. In the course of twenty minutes
each was wounded three times, in no
case seriously. Then, when Garmendia
seemed to have tired his opponent out
the latter rallied, and with a vicious
thrust pierced Garmendia's arm, making
it impossible for him to hold his sword,
In several other cases more serious
wounds have been inflicted. Last week
Juan Carbonell, in duel with a relative
of Genera Maxine Gomez, had his lung
punctured and died the next day.
So bold have grown the highwaymen in
their operations that employees of the
large cigar factories employ private po
lice to- protect them on payday. Last
week the girls employed in one of Books
factories, after receiving their pay, were
held up in body. and compelled TO give
UP their wages. This week a squad of
soldiers accompanied the girls, who
marched to their homes in body
Capt. Hosmer, the quartermaster To-
p9teR at
against his life which seems TO throw
light on one of the insurrection's myste-
rious tragedies. Hosmer and his clerks
have taken quarters in IA house owned by
the wiodow of a wealthy contractor of
MatanZas named Beatto. This man was
known to be a Cuban sympathizer,
though not actively engaged in assisting
the rebels.
Beatto. about eighteen months ago. was
called to Havana. The morning after he
arrived here he left his hotel TO call upon
friends. Shortly after he left Spanish of
ficers searched his apartments, 1t is not
known whether they found evidence
against the man.
In fact all that is known is that Beatto
never reached his friends house and so
far as his family and friends know, dis
appeared of the face of the earth. 1t is
supposed he was arrested and made the
were then being nightly enacted in Ca
hanas.
Some time after taking the apartments
Capt Hosmer learned that a plot against
his life had been formed by officers of the
Spanish army These men were heard
discussing the best method of removing
him. One advocated a shot through the
window, but others said the better method
would be to give him the same treatment
as was given TO Beatto.
This was the first absolute knowledge
Beattos friends had that the Spaniards
| had killed him. Hosmer, who is vet
| eran of the civil war, wrote an account
| of the affair, with the names of those in
| the conspiracy, and then notified them
| that this had been forwarded to Wash
| ingtoH.. and in case anything happened to
| any American in Matanzas the United
| States Government would demand of
| Spain that they be held responsible. Since
| then he has been treated with the great
| est conSidera tion.
| While the more intelligent and liberal
leaders of the Cuban forces are endeavor-
| ing to arrange the formation of Cuban
| guards With American officers and under
| American control, the more radical Gu
| bans are plotting armed opposition TO the
| United States. American officials know
| this to be true and the Cubans admit it,
1
| ters have no considerable following.
| 1t is believed that they have been sue
| cessful in hiding several thousand rifles
| and carbines and a large amount OF am
| munition. In Havana and Matanzas prov
| inces the Cubans have established three
| secret depots for arms. 1t is probable,
however. that information as to the loca-
I ton of these plants has already been CIV
| en- to the Americans, and when the prop
| er time arrives our troops will take
| charge of them
| The late Col. Waring when in Havana
| advocated the formation of a military po-
| lice force recruited among the men dis
| charged from the Spanish and Cuban ar
| mics At first this met great opposition,
| but It Is now admitted by army officers
| generally to be a wise suggestion, and
| conferences are being held by the Cuban
| leaders with the American officers look
| ing to the fruition of the scheme origi-
| mated by Col. Waring.
A political turn which might be said to
have tinge of International meaning
| was given Thanksgiving Day at the BAN
| quet of the American colony at the Hotel
\ Pasaje by Acting British Consul Jerome
| The latter was one of the guests of hon.
| or and responded to the toast of Eng
| land and America As he ceased speak
| ing some one proposed three cheers for
Queen Victoria. These were given with
great enthusiasm. Mr.. Jerome grasped
and the British flag in his left and waved
| them over his head.
The crowd, quick to see the meaning OF
e. e.