The times., 1898-10-26
THEY Want TO GET AWAY
Spanish Troops in South Cuba
Ready to Leave.
TRADE HAS NEW IMPETUS
The Revenues of Santiago, Manza-
milo, Baracoa, Guantanamo and
sngua de Tnnamo aundrupIed In
Six Weeks-Cubnns Persist in LAW
lessness-SeveraI Arrests Made.

Santiago de Cuba, Oct ga Spanish
coastwise steamer which arrived here to-
day from Havana by way of the north
coast brought word to Gen. Wood that
one transport had left Gibara with part
of the garrison of the Holguin district.
Another ship was in the harbor waiting
to be loaded with troops.
The United States is represented in the
harbor of Gibara by the gunboat Mariet-
ia, which has relieved the Nashville
The evacuation of the Holguin district
is being conducted according to the plans
formulated by Gen. Blanco and officers of
Gen. Narios's staff, who were summoned
to Havana a month ago for consultation.
An American officer is at Nuevitas with
an interpreter. watching the preparations
of the Spaniards for leaving the island.
A south coast steamer came in the aft
ernoon from Batabano. She reports that
Spanish garrisons at Cienfuegos and 9TH
er towns along the south coast have their
luggage packed and all arrangements
made for leaving for Havana as soon as
transports come for them. The Span
iards are all anxious to get away and
are willing to facilitate the American
occupation.
Upon the departure of the Spaniards
and the occupation of the country by
the Americans there will be an extensive
revival Of the coastwise trade. The mer-
chants Of Havana and the smaller towns
are awaiting a final settlement of the
matter Of customs duties and the re-
lative value of Spanish and American
money before making their Winter pur-
chases.
The trade of Santiago has received new
impetus under Gen. Woods intelligent
port regulations. The revenues of this
city and the supports of Manzanillo.
Baracoa. Guantanamo. and Sagua de
Tanamo have quadrupled in the past six
weeks. The collections here in October
will exceed 100000 If the present rate is
maintained TO the end of the month.
With the establishment of regular Gus
toms collector at Gibara for the Holguin
district the customs service OF the pro-
vince will be completely organized.
Gen. Wood has received dispatch from
Manzanillo. stating that the battalion
of the Third Immunes, under Col. Ray.
which occupied the town after 1t had
been evacuated by the SDaniards. has
sailed for Guantanamo. leaving Col.
Petit. of the Fourth Immunes at Man
zanillo. Col Ray will not stop at San
tiago. but will hurry to Guantanamo.
where his men are needed TO maintain
order.
Gen Wood is daily receiving reports
concerning the disorderly conduct of the
Cuban sodiery in the small towns and on
the plantations in the Guantanamo dis
trict The Cubans ride into houses, occa-
sionally shooting off their rifles and re-
volvers and frightening the people.
Gen. Pedro Perez, the commander of the
Cubans in the Guantanamo district, did
not lay down his arms and disband his
force on October Il, as he promised he
would do. He told the Americans that
he was awaiting the action of the Cuban
convention at Santa Cruz A number of
his men have been disarmed and locked up
by the Americans recently for riOtous con-
duct.
A committee of forty prominent citizens.
comprising the Board of Trade of Santa
GO, waited on Gen. Wood this morning
and volunteered TO pay an additional tax
on all imports brought into the city. Their
idea is to have the money devoted TO the
Improvement of the wharfage and ware
house facilities of the city and the dredg-
ing of the harbor.
The scheme submitted to Gen. Wood is
TO have the tax collected by officers of
the municipality at the custom house af-
ter the regular duties have been paid to
the regular customs cOllectors The mer-
leading men of the city. and they are all
anneXationists.
They desire that the collection of the
tax shall begin Immediately. but are will
ing to leave the whole matter to Gen.
Wood. The latter regards the plan in
favorable light, and he told the mer-
chants that he would give the proposition
careful consideration.
The merchants are confident that I'M
der existing conditions 100000 could be
raised annually by a tax so light that it
would scarcely be felt They think that
the fund would increase greatly year by
year. as the commerce of the city grows.
There is an immediate need of harbor
improvement here. The water at the ship
landings is steadily becoming shallower
and the wharf and warehouse facilities
are wholly inadequate to the demands of
trade. Gen. Wood intended to make the
improvements during the coming Winter,
using the municipal funds for the pur-
pose but the voluntary offer of the mer-
chants will enable him, IL he accepts the
plan, to begin work in very short time
The Cuban general, Mayia Rodriguez.
arrived here today from Santa Cruz del
Sur. The Cubans celebrated his coming
with q reception at the San Carlos Club
and procession through the streets.