The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-20

7 7 AVANA, March ia serious
- conflict between the police and
people of Havana occurred last
Il Il night, resulting in much shoot
ing and clubbing. From thirty
to fifty people were wounded, some Sc
rtously. Among the injured is Police
Captain Estampes, formerly a colonel
in the Cuban army.
Ever since the police Interference
about a week ago at the demonstration
in honor Of General Maxine Gomez
the police have been unpopular with
the pOpulace, who ieer them and de-
clare them inefficient Certain news
papers let no opportunity escape to
criticize the force, denouncing the ar
rests as unfair and charging the po-
lice with 'trampling upon the rights
Of free people," The police are vir-
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 bao'- upon for example.
Last nights trouble occurred at a
public mulatto ball in San Jose street.
an unsavory quarter. Many Cuban of
ficers, colonels and captains among
them attended 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 disperse. His request was un-
needed, 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, which ordered twenty re-
serves to the scene. The crowd had
prepared for their arrival. It is said
they opened with a revolver fire upon
the police, which the latter returned,
the shooting being kept UP until the
ammunition was exhausted.
The opponents of the police acted with
determination in the affray. Many who
were in the building mounted the roof,
which was low, and fired upon the po-
lice from that point. They were appar-
emily well 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 civil
ians 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 injureS civilians had sue
cumbed to their Y>eInds, but this is
not confirmed. Among those seriously
hurt are Policemen Donate Aroza, En-
rique Munoz and Benigue Vasquez and
civilians Jose Dominguez, Etou Cali
ano, Alberto Alicia and Irene Rogue.
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 Estames, who is well 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 it is
feared there may be further trouble.
Shortly before 9 o'clock it was re-
norted 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 were wounded 1t is
asserted also that two policemen were
killed and that the reserves had been
called out.