The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-20

Havana, March ia serious con-
fiict between the police and people of
Havana last night resulted in much
shooting and clubbing. From thirty to
fifty people were wounded, some seri-
ously. Among the injured is Police
Captain Estampes, formerly a colonel
in the Cuban army.
Ever since the police interfered about
week ago at the demonstration in
honor of General Maxine Gomez, the
police have been unpopular with the
populace, who jeer them and declare
them inefficient. Certain newspapers
let no opportunity escape 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 position 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 mulatto ball in San Jose street,
an unsavory quarter. Many Cuban Of
ficers, colonies and captains among
them, attended the affair. A police
man 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 so in or dispense. His request was
ulheeoed, 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 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 ARRAY. Many
who were in the building mounted the
roof, which was 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 confirm
the belief that the attacking party
was mostly made up of Cuban officers,
as ordinary civilians would have fed
from the reyolvers 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 Aroza, En-
rique Munoz and Benigue Vasquez,
and civilians Jose Dominguez, Etouo
Galiano, Alberto Alicia and Irene
Rogue.
1t is reported on good authority that
many We're 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
Captain 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 that there may be further trou-
Bile.
Shortly before . O'Clock it was re-
ported that another conflict between
the people and the police had taken
place this evening in the outskirts of
and that two policemen and
several civilians, all wounded, were
10 police headquarters. 1t is
asserted also that two policemen were
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
for Il transfer and has
urged that it be made. He |
is weary of the details of city admin !
istration.
Captain Johnston of General Lud- !
lows staff sailed for Tampa today, en-
route for the Philippines.
The workmen's demonstration in ia |
vor of General Gomez this afternoon !
was successful affair, some 500 men
and women forming on the Prado and |
with music and banners to |
the residence of General Gomez, where /
they We're joined by a similar process
sion from Guanabacoa.