The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-12-27
CLASH BETWEEN cUBANs
AND SPANISH SOLDIERS.
streets Of Havana the Scene Of Bloody
skirmish Christmas Day--Two Ia
tally Shot and Several Hurt.

streets Of Havana the Scene OF a Bloody
skirmlsh Christmas Day--Two Ia
tally Shot and Several Hurt,
CHICAGO. Dec. MA special 10 the
Tribune from Havana sayBs
christmas day was ushered into Ha-
vana by the cracking OF revolvers and
rattling volleys from Mauser rifles IN
an ARRAY which occurred near the center
Of the city between the Spanish troops
garrisomng tho city and the Cuban resi-
dents.
One Cuban was fatally wounded, two
others were badly injured and Spanish
soldier was stabbed. A Cuban negro who
received three wounds made by Mausor
bullets ana had a bad cut across the fore
head. Is reported TO be dying.
The affair was brought on by the Gu
bans, who fired from house top en-
company Of soldiers asleep IN the hotes
Roma.
The soldiers sprang to their feet and
at once returned the fire. A company
Of infantry scaled the low wall on ous
side Of the building and hunted over the
roof tops for the individuals who had
begun the firing. They found a negro
badly wounded and carried him down.
Other injured men were carried away by
their friends.
The volleying Of the Mausers caused
great alarm among the Americans, many
fearing that the fighting would become
general throughout tha city. An ARRAY
on Christmas night between the Ctbans
and troops has been prophesied by those
who have watched events for the past
few days
The Americans disregarded the warn
lngs they had received to stay IN their
homes during the evening. At midnight
many were on the street. The Cuban
element OF tho city's population was de-
mo1strative all evening Fearing trouble.
the guard Of Spanish troops about the
city was doubled. Toward midnight the
city streets were alive with people in
cabs and on foot, singing and shouting.
It grew more quiet after midnight,
when suddenly the cracking OF revolvers
was heard In the direction Of the hotel
Roma. There was a moments pause.
Thea came a plunging fire OF Mausers
across from the hotel Roma.
At the corner Of Tentients Rey and
Montserrat street is cluster Of one
story buildings. On the fat roofs In the
white moonlight. a party OF cubans had
been celebrating the advent Of Christ
mas.
Under the dark corridors OF the hotel
Roma across the street company. OF
Spanish regulars lay stretched out sound
asleep.
Suddenly some one leaned over the par
apet OF the house on which the Cubans
were celebrating and fired a revolver
into the ranks Of the sleeping troopers
below.
The soldiers sprang to their feet and
the Mausers banged away as fast as they
could pull the trigger. Bullets riddled
the front Of the building and the soldiers
climbed to the roof and hunted for the
enemy. For a while the guard would
permit no one TO wander about the
streets untfi the first excitement was
over.
The Christmas celebration began again
with numerous clashes between the
troops. Several times during the night
firing was heard in the city.
There Is renewed apprehension over the
situation. 1t is feared as the Spaniards
go away there will not be enough left
toward the end Of the week before the
United States troops take possession to
preserve order.
General Ludlow has had an interview
with Captain General Castellanos. He
said to Castellanos that theirs must be
order II It took every American soldier at
Castellanos to enforce H. Captain Cen
erai Castellanos called up the civil gov
ernor. De Castro who said the disturb
aDce had been quelled.
The American troops would hardly
have realized that this was Christmas
day except for the unusual privileges
given them by General Lee in honor OF
the day. A sort of general amnesty was
Proclaimed to all malefactors and the
guard tents were emptied. One commits
stoned officer and fve privates from each
company were given leave OF absence
ard allowed to so into Havana. As a
consequence there were more American
soldiers IN tho town than any other day
since the troors began coming to the
island. Colonel Moulton's police force Is
being put In shape as rapidly as possible.
A crowd OF 800 Spsnards and Cubans
besiege Colonel Moulton's headquarters
at all times, clamoring for places on the
force. Seven Inspectors appointed from
the line OF the volunteer service have
been ordered to report on Monday for
duty Captain Thompson. ccmmissary
officer OF the Second Illinois, is one OF
the new inspectors. The new policemen
will not csrry rifles. but will be equipped
much like the American policemen. They
will wear blue uniforms, straw hats and
carry ''blllies." Precincts will be mapped
out IN the various parishes and tele-
phone service instituted between the
stations, and until patrol wagons can be
procured from the United States army
ambulances will convey Havana maraud-
ers to the station house.