The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-20
Revolver and Club Were Taken Away and
He Was Very Roughly Handled.
RESERVES SENT TO HIS ASSISTANCE.


Havana, March 20.-A serious conflict
between the police and people Of Havana
Saturday night resulted in~considerabe
shooting and clubbing. From 80 TO so
people were wounded, some seriously.
Among the injured is Police Captain
Estsmpes, formerly a colonel in the
Cuban army.
Ever since the police interference
about a week ago with the demonstra-
ton in honor of General Gomez. they
have been unpopular with the populace.
who jeer at them and declare them in
efficient. 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 i'm order to cecure obedience, az
they have no record TO fall back upon
for example
Saturday nights trouble occurred at
a public mulatto ball in San Jose street,
an unsavory quarter OF Havana. Many
Cuban officers. colonels and captains
among them. attended the affair. A po-
liceman on duty i'm that street. follow
ing orders TO prevent a crowd collect
ing in front OF the building where the
ball was in progress, asked group OF
men TO go in or to disperse. His re-
quest was unheeded and, after repeat
ing IL, he was attacked by the group.
whereupon many issued from the build
ing. set upon him, took away his club
and revolver, and handled him roughly
The policeman Immediately p2tiied
headquarters. who ordered 20 reserves
to the scene OF the trouble. The crowd
had prepared for their arrival. III is said
they opened with "A revolver fire upon
the police which the latter returned. the
shooting being kept up until the am
munition was exhausted. The oppo-
nents OF the police acted i'm the affray
with determination. Many ~ho were
in the building mounted 10 the roof.
which is compar ratively 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 revolvers of the police.
Many women were wounded. A re-
port is in circulation that two of the
injured civilians have succumbed to
their wounds but this is not confirmed.
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 in
creasing in favor OF the force. 1t is re-
,,ot l,,
were wounded withdrew hastily. be-
cause they were unwilling to have IL
known that they were present.
American troops were called TO the
scene when the trouble was over and
numerous arrests followed Police
Captain Estampes. who is well known
in Cuban military circles. is so badly In
jured that fears are entertained that he
will not recover. Police Inspector Ar
ango. who came into notice on the day
OF the Gomez demonstration. because of
his attempts to break up the procession,
and who subsequently challenged Gen
eral Rodrlgues chief Of staff Of General
Gomez. for having accused him Of club
biuy wUurHrr is credited t-itif- bravery
and coolness I'm his efforts TO restore or
der.
Numerous permits have been issued
for similar balls. including one for an
affair at the same house. and IL is feared
that there may be further trouble
Those who ought TO know say that they
are really against the law and that the
permits should be revoked.
Shortly before o'clock il was reported
that another conflict between the people
and the police had taken place last even
ing i'm the outskirts Of Havana. and two
policemen and several civilians all
wounded. were conveyed To police head
quarters. Ii is asserted also that two
policemen were Killed. and that the re-
serves had been called out.
There is also a Tumor that policeman
was stabbed TO death yesterday after
noon.
WANTS ACTIVE SERVICE