The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-20
WAS A SERIOUS CONFLICT
Populace and Police Clash in
Havana's Streets.
FIFTY PEOPLE WOUNDED
crowd at Mulatto Ball Fire on the
Officers With Revolvers = Many
Women Seriously Injured.
Reports OF Other Fights.

Havana, Mach ia serious conflict
between the police and the people of
Havana last night resulted in much
shooting and clubbing. From 80 to so
people were wounded, some seriously.
Among the injured is Police Captain
Estampes, formerly a colonel in the
Cuban army. Ever since the police in
reference about a week ago at the
demonstration in honor of General
Maxine Gomez, the police have been
| unpopular with the nopulace, who jeer
them and declare them inefficient. Ger
tain newspapers let no opportunity es-
cape to criticise the force, denouncing
the arrests as unfair and charging the
police with "trampling upon the rights
of free people,"
The police are virtually in the posi-
tlon 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 trouble occurred at public mu-
latto ball in San Jose street, an unsav-
DRY quarter. Many Cuban officers, col
onels and captains among them, at
tended the affair. A policeman on duty
in that street, following orders to pre-
vent crowd collecting in front Of the
building where the ball was in progress,
asked group of men to go in or dis
perse. His request was unheeded and
after repeating it he was attacked by
the group, Whereupon many men issued
from the building and set upon him,
took away his club and revolver and
handled him roughly.
The policeman Immediately notified
headquarters, who ordered 20 reserves
to the scene. The crowd prepared for
their arrival. 1t is said they opened with
ravn1var fro hn ltob
the latter returned. the shooting being
kept up until ammunition was ex-
hausted. The opponents of the police
acted with determination in the ARRAY
Many who were in the building mount
ed the roof, which was low. and fired
upon the police from that point. They
We're apparently we'll armed and this
fact, together with the resolution with
which they fought, seems to confirm the
belief that the attacking party was
mostly made up of Cuban officers, as
ordinary citizens would have fed from
the revolvers of the police.
Many women were wounded A re-
port is in circulation this evening that
two of the injured civilians have sue
cumbed to their wounds, but this is not
confirmed. Among those seriously hurt
are Policemen Donate Aroze, Eprique
Munoz and Benigue Vasquez, and civil
lians Jose Dominguez, Etouo Galiano,
talUeIto tilGJd anu lItue ntQue.
1t is reported on good authority that
many were wounded who withdrew
hastily because unwilling to have it
known that they were present.
American troops We're called to the
scene when the trouble was over and
numerous arrests followed. Police Cap
tain Estampes, who is well known in
Cuban military circles, is so baly in
| jured that fears are entertained that he
will not recover. Numerous permits
have been issued for similar balls this
evening and 1t is feared that there may
| be further trouble.
Shortly before Q o'clock it was re-
| ported that another conflict between
| the people and the police had taken
| place this evening in the outskirts Of
! Havana. and that two policemen and
several civilians, all wounded We're
conveyed to police headquarters. 1t is
asserted that two policemen We're killed
and that the reserves had been called
out
Major General Ludlow. military gov
ernor of the department of Havana,
desires to be relieved of his duties and
to go to the Philippines. 1t is under
stood that he has applied to the war
department for a transfer and has
strenuously urged that 1t be made He
is weary of the details of a city admin
istration.
Captain Johnston Of General Lud
lows staff sailed for Tampa to-day, en-
| route for the Philippines.
The workmens demonstration in
| favor of General Gomez this afternoon
| was a successful affair, some 500 men
| and women forming on the Prado and
| marching with music and banners to
| the residence of General Gomez, where
| they We're joined by a similar process
| sion from Guanabacoa.