New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-09
PEACEFUL CUBAN PROVINCES.
GENERAL WILSON'S EXPERIENCE IN
MATANzAs AND SANTA CLARA.

tI.,.ra Nav S-Major- General Wilson, Mill
,arv Governor of the new Department Oh
Matanzas-santa Clara has visited WITHIN tue
last ten DAYS every railway point in santa CARA
Province and seen every alcalde, judge, priest
school teacher banker and important planter IN
tho localities he has visited. He now intenos
10 go on horseback to many of the communities
Off the railway lines His experience has been
TO hold receptions for the purpose OF MS investi
cations until 10 or / o'clock every night. ana
then to dance until II or /. Everywhere ne mas
been the recipient OF complimentary attentions
Half dozen balls have been given in his honor
At several points where he received reports OF
brigandage he made 1t point 10 investigate
these personally or through members Oh MS
staff While he was near Calabassa he was told
that six bandits had attacked the Los Angeles
estate and been driven off by the police AFTER
sharp interchange Of shots. He sent Lieutenant
Colonel Reber and the Cuban General Jesus
Monteagudo to make inquiry They found that
there had been no bandits near the estate, and
that the only basis for the story was that Mr.
McCullagh owner Of the Unidos estate had seen
flashes and heard firing In the direction Of Los
Angeles The theory Is that some Spanish to-
bacco-buyers had arranged to have shots fired.
to give color to rumors of the presence OF ban
dts, in order to cause timidity among tobacco
sellers and thus secure sales at low prices. the
buyers emphasizing the danger of the ware
houses being burned II there were any delay.
General Wilson was told that two bodies Of
men evidently murdered had been found at one
point. but it turned out that the "hnd' was a
single skeleton with the skull marked by a.
machete, obviously a relic of the Spanish
regime.
NO USE FOR RURAL GUARDS
To-day General Wilson came TO Havana and
conferred with Governor General Brooke, rep
resentng that there was no necessity for rural
police in the new department and that 1t would
he useless expense to arm 500 men in the
provinces merely to catch a few chicken thieves
He said he desired 10 use the appropriation OF
S40OOO a month In other ways. General Brooke
adopted his conclusions. and the rural guards in
Santa Clara will he disbanded General Monte
agudo, their commander will aid General VIII
son in every way To keep the province quiet.
During the month of May 10000 rations will
be distributed in Havana to the INDECENT.
According to a dispatch from Puerto Principe
City, an American syndicate has secured the
electric lighting franchise there for SIO,0U, and
another syndicate has purchased 800 caballerias
"a caballeria is about SO 1-3 acres) Of land for
100000 and will construct a sugar factory.
The local papers to-day report that twenty
bandits made their appearance on the Planta-
ton Constancla, led by mulatto named Mer-
Goa, former captain Of gueras. Warned by
the alarm given by the sentry. who called for
help, they reiterated. closely followed by the
Cuban troops under General EZquerra.
ABSENCE OF YELLOW FEVER.
The continued absence Of yellow fever from
this city astonlshes even the Sanitary Depart
ment Although a great deal of hard work has
been done in the last three months In the SANTA
ton Of Havana. there was no expectation OF
such a result until the city shall have been
thoroughly drained. Resident physicians be-
leve that the steps taken since American occu-
patton have made II possible that the disease
may be checked for a short time, and look for
from yellow fever. Medical practitioners, how
ever. believe that some cases will develop before
June