The herald., 1898-12-27
the CUBAN CHRISTMAS
SEES THE FLAG FLYING VERY
FREELY
WHEN AMERICANS TAKE HOLD
There Will Be Soldier "Cops" Around
to'Prevent Such Demonstrations.
Some Streets Cleaned
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
CHICAGO, Dec. 28.-A special to the
Tribune from Havana says:
Christmas Day was ushered into Havana
by the cracking of revolvers and rafting vol
leys from Mauser rifles in an atfray which oc-
CURED near the center Of the city between
the Spanish troops garrisoning the city and
wounded, two Others were badly injured and
a Spanish soldier was stabbed. "A Cuban
who received three wounds made by Mauser
bullets and bad cut across his foreheda, and
who was taken to the emergency hospital, is
reported to be dying.
The affair was brought on by the Cubans,
who fred from a housetop on a company OF
soldiers asleep in the Hotel Roma.
The soldiers sprang to their feet and at
once returned the fire. A company of in.
fantry scaled the low wall on one side of tho
building and hunted over the rooftops TOR
the individuals who had begun the firing.
They found negro badly wounded and car
ried him down. Other injured men were
carried away by their friends
The volley from the Mausers caused great
alarm among the Americans, many fearing
the fighting would become general through.
out the city. An affray on Christmas night
between troops and Cubans has been proph-
cied by those who have watched events for
the last few days.
The Americans disregarded the warnings
they had received to stay in their homes
during the evening. At midnight many
were on the street. The Cuban element Of
the city's population was demonstrative all
evening. Fearing trouble. the guard of Span
ish troops about the city was doubled.
alive with people in cabs and on foot, sing
ing and shouting.
It grew .quieter. after midnight, when
euddenly the cracking of revolvers was
heard in the direction of the Hotel Roma.
There was moments pause. Then came
9, plunging fire of Mausers across from the
Hotel Roma.
AT the corner of Tentiente Rey and Molt.
zerrat streets is a cluster of low, one-story
dwellings. On the fiat roofs, in the white
moonlight, party of Cubans had been cell
ebrating the advent OF Christmas.
Under the dark corners of the Hotel Roma
across. the street company of Spanish reg
ulars lay stretched out asleep.
Suddenly some one leaned over the para
pet 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 triggers.
Bullets riddled the front of the building
and the soldiers climbed to the roof and
hunted for the enemy. For while the
guard would permit no one to wander about
the streets until 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.
situation. 1t is feared as the Spaniards go
away there will not be enough left towards
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 there must be order if it took
every American soldier at Marianao to re-
store it, Capain- General Castellanos called
up the civil governor DE Castro, who said
the disorder had been quelled.
The American troops would hardly have
realized this was Christmas Day except for
the unusual privileges given them by Gen
eral Lee in honor of the day. A sort of
general amnesty was proclaimed to all male
factors and the guard tents were emptied
One commissioned officer and five privates
from each company were given leave of abb
sence and allowed to go into Havana. As
consequence there were more American
soldiers in the town than on any other day
since the troops began coming to the island.
The soldiers roamed around Havana, look
ing at all the odd sights and fraternizing
with the Spanish regulars on guard.
OOlOlel MOultOH ponce lOTce Is DelDg
put in shape as rapidly as possible. A
crowd Of 300 Spanards and Cubans be-
sieged 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, commissary officer of the Sec-
ond Illinois, is one of the new inspectors
The new policemen will not carry rifles,
bu will be equipped much like the American
policemen. They will wear blue uniforms,
straw hats and carry "billes." Precincts
will be mapped out in the various parishes
and telephone service instituted between
the stations and until patrol wagons can be
procured from the United States, army am
balances will convey Havana marauders to
the station house.