Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-04
VOLUNTEER RIOT IN HAVANA.
A Desperate Outbrenk-Eitter Against
Blanco and Spanish Governmont.

Washington, Aug. News received
from Havana says that the volunteers are
again making things lively there. During
Il recent mu;iny, the most extensive and
desperate of the many which have oc-
CURED lately, they passed all bounds OF
discipline, leaving their quarters, throw
ing away their arms, looting several shops
and in one instance assaulting or attempt
ing to assault n group OF Cuban women
who were walking the street. The arrival
of the civil guard in force sufficient to put
them TO flight saved the women.
Blanco's refusal TO permit them to 60 to
Santiago during the fighting there. togeih-
or with an infusion of Carlist sympathy
promoted by the judicious distribution OF
n quantity Of Carlist circulars, Is said to
have been the cause. The latter reason is
the one given out by the officials, and La
Verdad an independent newspaper has
been suppressed, and its editorial person.
mel arrested and imprisoned charged with
distributing the circulars. great many
of the volunteers have been arrested, and
Gen. Blanco has announced that they will
be tried by court martial and severely
punished as an example to their fellows.
The volunteers have been a disturbing
element in Havana for several months,
and there have been frequent outbreaks,
hut none so extensive as the last one.
The men left their barracks and marched
in disorderly squads through the city, cry
ing against Blanco and tho Spanish gov
crnment, charging treachcry and coward
ice. and committing whatever acts of vio-
lence they could. Residents of the city,
especially the Cubans. closed and barr-
caded their houses, and there was a
reign of terror until n large detachment
of the civil guard. the best soldiery In
Havana, was ordered out to subdue and
arrest the rioters.
There were several skirmishes in diff
ferent parts of tho city, and few OF
the volunteers were wounded, brt none
seriously. Numbers of the mutineers
were arrested and imprisoned. and Gen.
Blanco ordered an immediate court mar
tial for them. He issued a manifesto, af-
ter the riot had been quelled, calling up
on the soldiery to be quiet and orderly,
and not to aid the enemy by breeding
disorder and chaos at home, and assur-
! ing the populaco of Havana that the ring
leaders OF the volunteers revolt would be
speedily and severely punished. The resi-
| dents of the city fear and dread the vol
unteers more than they do the Cuban in
surgents.
Haovnna is without any news Of what Is
going on in the other colinies of Spain.
The Porto Rico expedition is known to
have left Santiago. but they do not know
what has occurred In Porto Rico. and at
| the time this news was brought out they
were In ignoransce Of any peace negotia-
tions or the probability of any. The i'm
preston there was that the war would
continue, and there was great confidence
In the strength of Havana and the ability
of Gen. Blanco to hold out
There is no suffering In the city. Tho
poor are supplied with food at numerous
charitable institutions. and the price OF
food has been regulated so that 1t is with
| In reach of moderate means. There is
comparatively little sickness. and, except
for the quiet which prevails In the busi-
ness streets and around the docks and the
presence of few soldiers there 10 little
, to indicate q city in a state Of siege.