Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1899-03-25
CUDANS and POLICE CLASH.
Officers Have Had Hard Row to
Travel Since Gomez Affair.
THIRTY PERSONS ARE INJURED

HAVANA, March Goa serious con-
hict between the police and people of
Havana last night resulted in mach
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.
Ever since the police interference
about a week ago with the demonstra-
ton in honor of General Maxine Go
mez 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 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 back upon for example.
The trouble occurred at a public
mulatto ball in San Jose street, an I'M
savory quarter of Havana. Many Gu
ban officers, colonies and captains
among them, attended the affair. 4
policeman on duty in that street, fol-
lowing orders to prevent crowd col
Letting in front of the building where
the ball was in progress, asked n group
of men to go in or dispense. His re-
quest was UNDECIDED, and after repeat
ing it, he was attacked by the group,
whereupon many men issued from the
building, 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 of trouble. 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 to the roof. which is COM
paratiVely low, and fred upon the po-
lice from that point. They were ap-
parently well armed, and this fact,
tog ether 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 con-
frmed. Among those seriously hurt
are Policemen Donate Aroza,- Enrique
| Munez and Benigue Vasguez, and civ
| ilians. Jose Dominique, Etouo Galiano,
Alberto Alicia and Irene Rogue.
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.
1t is reported that another conflict
between the people and the police has
taken place in the outskirts of Havana
and that two policemen and several
civilians, all wounded, were conveyed
to police headquarters
1t is asserted also that two police
men were killed and that the reserves
had been called out.
There is also a rumor that police
man was stabbed to death.