The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-09
A STORY OF CUBA.
A Riot in Havana That Was QueIIed
by Cupid's Charm.
From Leslie's Weekly.

From Leslie's Weekly.
Here is the story of the only attempt at
rloting that occurred during the block
ade. Il began, so far as my story is con-
cerned, in the house of Mrs. Jose Con
Eales, in Monte street; for it was she who
sfterward related, for my entertainment,
the events of that evening. Mrs Con
Eales, perfect hostess, charming woman,
good Samaritan, beloved by the poor, is of
England but being the wife of a Span
lard, is Spanish at heart Her niece. Miss
T, bright vivacious English girl, lives
with her. This English girl, before and
during the siege, was the fiancee of Gen.
Arolas, the military governor of Havana
often. when out riding with the general,
she wore the uniform, the coat at least.
of a Spanish colonel. The general was
fond of calling her his aide-de-camp. All
Havana knew these two. He had passed
his Goth year, she was under 20. and
when they rode together through the Pra-
do the soldiers Of Spain smiled, while cafe
loungers exchanged sly, significant winks.
Il was the betrothal of spring and winter,
end the people chuckled and wondered, as
people will
One evening in June Gen. Arolas as
usual was dining with his fiancee at the
house of Gonzales. All was quiet in Ha
vana the quietness of a besieged city
whose populace is awaiting the pleasure of
the enemy. Suddenly there were cries and
a great Gathering of horses hoofs in the
street Next there was tremendous up-
roar in the courtyard below. Then all
was quiet, and up the marble stems his
sword clanking on the marble pavemen,
came an officer dashing into the presence
OF the military governor Bowling low 10
me ladles and apologizing for his intru-
sion' the officer said: "Mr. General. the
populace, aided by the volunteers. are at
lacking the Office of La Lucha''
instantly comprehending all that this
news meant, the general arose, Miss t.
brought him his sword, and then. saving
calm adde's, he took the arm of the con-
Iler ana SLOWLY descended the steps. Once
out OF sight of the ladies', he rushed To his
coupe, which stood at the door. A burS
rled order to the coachman, a mighty slam
OF the door, ard the carriage rolled ran
ldly away towards the office of La Iucha
IL must be remembered that under Snan-
ism rule newspapers in Havana printed
only such news as the censor permitted
Also under compulsion rather than from
CHOICE they often printed news which
was not news, but fiction. 1t seems Thai
la hucha had that morning printed some
tning that enraged the populace-some-
thing about England
When Gen. Arolas came within sight Of
the newspaper office the mob gathered
mere was so vast and so tightly packed
that his carriage could make no further
neauway. A squad of cavalry was i'm
mediately behind. It could have charged
the mob making a way for the carriage
hut the general, springing to the pave
ment commanded the troopers to halt
ordered the driver from his seat, and him
sell mounted to the box where all could
eee nun. Making sign that called for
sAence, he began addressing the mob.
commanding the volunteers to disDerse
and warning the excited people to go home
Unfortunately, he alluded to the cause
or the demonstra tion-England aud Eng
ISh friendship toward the Americans
Instantly the mob burst again into ex-
ci'ement, again showed a disposition to
violence and to wreak vengeance upon
poor La Lucia. At this moment a horse
man came Gathering up-no, a horsewo-
mani 1t was Miss T In her colonel's
coat.
The Engshwomanw came out of
thousand angry Threats.
No not an Englishwoman," responded
Gen Arolas, drawing his sword and sa-
luting the horsewoman, but my bride-to-
be, The betrothed to a soldier of Spain"
What magical effect had these words
upon the mob! Out of thousand throats
came laughter. A Havanese crowd is
not unlike a crowd in Paris; flip of the
tongue turns tragedy into comedy, an
ugly mob becomes an extremely good
hundred congregation. Anyway. the pop
UI0pn and md
laughed and sauntered away. And thus
a flip of the tongue linking spring with
winter, averted q riot in the beseged cap
ital of Cuba