The times., 1899-07-26
INDEPENDENCE FOR CUBA
Alleged Authentic News From
Washington Agitates Havana.
Possibility of the Withdrawal OF
American Authority From the ISL
of Annexntiunists Arouscd-EGcct
of the Rumor on Real Estate.

Havana. July 25.-Most of the newspap-
ers here today print editorials based on
dispatches from the United States TO the
effect that President Mckinley has determ-
ined to soon grant independence to Cuba.
While the Discussion and other strongly
Cuban papers demand independence. the
''Lucha" urges the establishment of form
of self government which. while allowing
the Cubans the widest liberty, will yet
keep a restraining hand upon them. in
other words, the granting OF autonomy.
The news OF President McKinley's inten-
ton finds strong belief here, and a ma
;ority of the people look on the probable
tty OF independence within a comparative
ly short time with favor On the other
hand. the annexationists fear trouble II the
Americans withdraw absolutely. wealthy
hnancier told a correspondent today that
he knew OF a real estate deal where prop
erty had dropped 20 per cent in conse-
quence of the news indicating an early
withdrawal of the American forces.
The stock exchange was closed today
owing to the fiesta of St. Jago or ST.
James. the patron saint of Spain, hence
10 expression of sentiment on the subject
could be obtained there. Cubans who are
are worried over the outlook, as the out
and-out Cubans viii deprive them of Of
flee until they renounce their American
citizenship. Secretary Capote is credited
with q scheme to persuade Governor Cen
sral Brooke to debar them from office in
order to force such a renunciation so that
1t could be shown TO the world that all
Cubans were rallying with one aim to make
q united. Independent nation. The Cuban
Fh..r
men of the island. but they are looked
upon with suspicion. as being too favorable
to the United States. General Brooke is
not likely TO follow Senor Capote's idea
in the matter
An American guard at the custom house
created great excitement this afternoon
by threatening to kill Captain Aguero, a
Cuban employed there. Orders were re-
Gently issued to the guards TO prevent spit
ting on the floors and also to make any
one throwing cigarette stumps on the floor
pick them up. Aguero threw a cigarette
on the floor and when he was ordered by
the guard to pick II up he refused to do
So The soldier then said: II will give
you five minutes to pick it up. and If you
don't. pointing his cooked rifle at him. 'I'll
blow your brains out" I'm not afraid -
retorted Aguero. y went through the
war, and neither your nor any other id
the five minutes over" A big crowd had
gathered and there was great excitement
Collector Bliss happened to come along
and he ordered the soldier to drop his gun.
Colonel Bliss said that Aguero was the
soldiers superior by reason of his appoint
ment in the custom house, and ordered that
the guard be relieved from duty. Nothing
was said about the order that the soldier
was trying to enforce.
The fiesta in honor of ST. Jago has caused
no trouble here. Flags are displayed
everywhere. At Placetas a Spanish flag
flying over the casino was pulled down be-
cause the Spaniards refused to hoist the
Cuban and American flags.
Four companies of the Eighth Infantry
were transferred today from Havana TO the
barracks at Buena Vista. Four more COM
panies will be transferred on Thursday.
All the men are in good health.
There are no cases of yellow fever In the
city proper. Dawson and Crib, the Amer
leans who were attacked by the disease
while working at the Triscornia docks,
across the bay, are making progress toward
recovery. Major Davis, the chief sanitary
officer. has made an inspection Of the sur
roundings there and found the conditions
satisfactory. The patients are thought to
have contracted the disease while visiting
some Of the resorts in Havana.