The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-20
MORE TROUBLE IN HAVANA
ANOTHER SERIOUS CONFLICT RE
TWEEN POLICE AND PEOPLE.
some Seriously - Police Unpopula
With POpulaOe Ever Since the In ter,
ference About a Week Ago with the
Demonstration for General Gomez.

| IOf General Gomez.
Havana, March ia serious conflict
between the police and people Of Ha-
vana last night resulted in considerable
shooting and clubbing. From thirty to
fifty people were wounded, some seri-
ously. Among the injured is Police
Captain Estampes, formerly a colonel
in the Cuban army. Ever since the po-
lice interference about week ago with
the demonstration in favor Of General
Maxine Gomez, they have been unpop-
ular with the populace, who jeer az
them and declare them Inefficient. Ger
tain newspapers let no opportunity es-
cape to criticise the force, denounctng
the arrests as unfair and charging the
police with "trampling upon the rights
of free people" The police are yir-
tually in the position of men who have
to make the people fear them in order
to secure obedience, as they have no
record to fall back upon for example.
Last nights troubl occurred at pub
lie mulatto ball in San Jose street, an
unsavory quarter of Havana. Many Gu
ban officers, colonels and captains
among them, attended the affair. Al
policeman on duty in that street follow
ing orders to prevent a crowd collect
ing front Of the building where the ball
was in progress ordered group Of men
to go in or disperse. His request was un-s
unheeded and, after repeating it, he
was attacked by the group, whereupon
many issued from the building and set
upon him, took away his club and re-
volver and handled him roughly. The
policeman Immediately notified head
quarters, who ordered twenty officers
to the scene Of trouble. The crowd
had departed before their arrival. 1t Is
reported that they opened with pistol
fire upon the police, which the latter re-
turned, the shooting being kept up until
the ammunition was exhausted. The
opponents of the police fought with de-
termination in the affray.
Many women were wounded. A re-
port Is in circulation this evening that
many of the injured civilians have sue
cumbed to their wounds, but this is not
confirmed. Among those seriously hurt
are Patrolmen Donate Rosa and Ben
igue Vasquez, and Civilians Jose Do
minguez, Etouo Galliano, Alberto Aleja
and Irene Rouque. Public opinion re-
specting the police is conflicting. Some
sustain them and others charge them
with interfering with the rights Of the
people AS the facts become known,
however, opinion is increasing in favor
OF the force.
1t is reported on good authority that
many who were wounded withdrew has
tily, because they were unwilling to
have it known that they were present.
American troops were called to the S
scene when the trouble was over and
arrests followed. Police Cap
tain Estampes, who is we'll known In
Cuban military circles, is 50 badly in
iured that fears are entertained that hd
Will not recover. Police Inspector Ra-
roul Arrange, who came into notice on
he day of the Gomez demonstration be-
cause of his attempts to break up the
and who subsequently chal- s
enged GNeral Rodriguez, chief of stain
If General Gomez, for accusing him OF
woman, is credited with
bravery and GOODNESS in his efforts to re-
store order Numerous permits have
oeen issued for similar balls this even
ng, including one for an affair at the
anne house; and it is feared that there /
nay be further trouble. Those who
,ught to know say that they are really
lgainst the law and that the permits
houId be revoked.
Shortly before o'clock it was report
d that another conflict between the
people and the police had taken place
his evening in the outskirts Of Havana,
nd two policemen with several civil-.@
ans, all wounded, were conveyed to po-
ice headquarters 1t is asserted also
hat two policemen were killed and
hat the reserves had been called out.
,here is also a rumor that policeman
vas stabbed to death.