Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-20
The PJlice and Civilians Come
Together.
SEVERAL BADLY INJURED
The ARRAY Took Place at a Ball in a
Questionable Part of the City
Saturday Night.

Havana, March ia serious conflict
between the police and people of Ha-
vana last night resulted in much shoot
ing and clubbing. From so to 50 people
were wounded. some seriously. Among
the injured is Police Captain Estampes,
formerly a coionel. in the Cuban army.
Ever since the police interference about a
week ago at the demonstration in honor
OF Gen. Gomez the police have been I'M
popular with the populace, who jeer them
and declare them inefficient. Certain
newspapers let no opportunity escape to
c%riticise the force, denouncing the arrests
as unfair and charging the police with
"trampling upon the rights of a free peo-
pie" The police are virtually in the po-
sition of men who rave to max the peo-
pie fear them in order to secure obedience.
as they have no record to fall back upon
for example.
Last nights trouble occurred at a pub
lie mulatto ball in San Jose street an un-
savory quarter. Many Cuban officers,
colonies and captains among them, at
tended the affair. A policeman on duty in
that street, following orders to prevent a
crowd collecting in front of the building
where the ball was in progress, asked a
group of men to go in or dispense. His
request was unheeded and, after repeat
ing it, he was attacked by the group,
whereupOn nan men ISSUED from the
building and set upon him. took away his
club and revolver and handled him rough
ly.
The policeman Immediately notified
headquarters, who ordered 20 reserves to
the scene. The crowd had prepared for
their arrival. II is said they opened with
a revolver fire upon the police, which the
latter returned. the shooting being kept
until the ammunition was exhausted.
The opponents of the police acted with
determination in the ARRAY. Many who
were in the building mounted the roof,
which was low. and fired upon the police
that point. They were apparently
we'll armed, and this fact, together with.
the resolution with which they fought,
seems to confirm the belief that the at
party was mostly made up of Gu
officers, as ordinary civilians would
have fled from the revolvers of the police.
Many women were wounded.
A report is in circulation this evening
two of the injured civilians sue
cumbed to their wounds, but this is not
confirmed. Among those seriously hurt
are Policemen Donate Aroza, Enrique
u n a~ndBenigue Vasquez, and civil
ians Jose Dominguez, Etouo Galiano.
Alejo and Irene Rogue. 1t is
on good authority hat many
were wounded who withdrew hastily
because unwilling to have it known that
they were present.
American troops were called to the
scene when the trouble was owe and
numerous arrests followed. Police
Captain Estames, who Is we'll known in
Cuban military circles, is so badly 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 9 o'clock 1t was
reported that another conflict between
the people had taken place this evening in
the outskirts Of Havana and that two pc
had been called.