The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-20
RIOT IN HAVANA.
The Citizens and the Police
In Conflict.
A Bloody Fight In the Streets
of the City.
POLICEMEN KILLED.
American Troops Summoned to
Restore Order.
POLICEMEN KILLED.
Trouble Starts at a Dance and
Many Women Are Hurt.

Havana, March ZO.-A serious COAAiS|
between the police and the people OF
Havana Saturday night resulted IN
much shooting and clubbing. From
thirty to fifty people were wounded
some seriously. Among the injured Is
Police Captain Estampes. formerly a
colonel in the Cuban army.
Shortly before o'clock it was report
ed that another conflict between the
people and the police had taken place
last evening in the outskirts or Havana,
and that two policemen and several
civilians, all wounded, were conveyed
to police headquarters
1t is asserted also that two policemen
were killed and that the reserves mad
been called out
There was also rumor that a police
man was stabbed to death yesterday al
ternoon.
Ever since the police interference,
about a week ago, with the demonstra-
ton in honor of General Maxine Gomez,
the police have been unpopular with the
populace, who jeer them and declare
them insufficient. Certain newspapers
let no opportunity escape to criticize the
force, denouncing the arrests as unfair,
and charging the police with "trampl1ng
upon the rights of a free people Inc
police are virtually in the position of
men who have to make the people fear
them in order to secure obedience, as
they have no record TO rail- pack upon
for example.
Saturday nights trouble occurred at
a public mulatto ball in San Jose street,
an unsavory quarter of Havana. Many
Cuban officers, colonies and captains
among them, attended the affair. A
policeman on duty in that street, fo!-
lowing orders to prevent a crowd col
lecting in front of the building where
the ball was in progress, asked group
of men to go in or dtSperSe. His re
quest was unheeded, and, after repeat
ing it, he was attacked by the group,
whereupon many men issued from the
building, set upon him, took way his
club and revolver and handled him
roughly.
The policeman Immediately notified
headquarters and twenty reserves were
ordered to the scene of trouble. The
crowd had prepared for their arrival
1t is said they opened with revolver
fire upon the police. which the latter re
turned, the shooting being kept up until
the ammunition was exhausted. The
opponents of the police acted with de-
termination in the ARRAY. Many who
were in the building mounted to the
roof, which is comparatively low, and
fired upon the police from that point.
They were apparently well armed, and
this fact. together with the resolution
with which they fought, seems to con-
firm the belief that the attacking party
was mostly made up of Cuban officers,
as ordinary civilians would have fled
from the revolvers of the police.
Many women were wounded. A re-
port is in circulation that two of the in
jured civilians have succumbed to their
Among those seriously hurt are Police
man Donate Aroza, Enrique Munoz and
Benigue Vasquez and Civilians Jose
Dominguez. Etono GalianO, Alberto
Alicia and Irene POQue.
Public opinion respecting 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 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 over and
numerous arrests followed. Police Cap
! tain Estampes, who is we'll known in
Cuban military circles, is so badly in
jured that fears are entertained that he
will not recover. Police Inspector Raoul
! Arrange, who came into notice on the
| day of the Gomez demonstration be-
cause of his attempts to break up the
procession, and who subsequently chal-
! lenged General Alexandra Rodriguez,
| chief of staff of General Gomez, for ha--
| ing accused him of clubbing a woman.
| is credited with bravery and GOODNESS
| in his efforts to restore order.