Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1902-11-28
A REIGN OF TERROR
Many Killed and Wounded in Front of
Palace at Havana.
LIVES AND PROPERTY IN DANGER.
Police Captain Maso Was Killed and Two
Officers Were Wounded and Two Strikers
We're Killed During Demon stration in
Front of the Palace-In Addition Two
Policemen and Several Strikers Wounded.

Havana (Special) AS the result of
conflicts between the police and the
men on strike here 2 strikers are dead
and 81 persons are wounded.
Five of the wounded, one lieuten-
ant of police, whose throat was cut by
a striker. have extremely severe in
jures. Eight other policemen were
wounded.
The police have the rioters we'll I'M
der control, and every precaution is be-
ing taken to prevent further outbreak
of disorder, which is feared. All the
police and rural guards in the suburbs
have been summoned to concentrate in
Havana
The strike, which at first concerned
only the cigar workers. became general
Monday morning by the calling out of
all trades in sympathy with them Mer
chants closed their stores Clerks, cooks
and cverv class of workmen obeyed the
command of the union, except the mo-
tormen and conductors of the electric
cars, who refused to join in the gen
eral strike
Trouble was begun early by the hold
ing tip of electric cars by the strikers,
whose wrath was directed against the
street railway employees. Several cars
were stoned in the outskirts of the city,
and the passengers were compelled to
walk into Havana, among these being
the British and German Ministers. Sew
eral cars were wrecked and some mo-
tormen and conductors were injured.
The car men continued running their
cars until 10 O'Clock, when Superin-
tendent Greenwood ordered suspen-
ling to remain at work even then, but
protect the property deemed it wise to
suspend the service. Mr.. Greenwood
had asked for protection from the Civil
Governor, but the authorities failed to
guard the public vehicles. A mob of
strikers drove the men on the Western
railroad from the trains
retaly of Government, Diego Tamayo,
had during the last week openly cx-
pressed sympathy with the strikers and
given orders to the. police not to use
force i'll dispensing the crowds. Under
these conditions the police were unable
to cope with the disorder.
The situation approached a critical
point at noon, serious disorders hav-
ing taken place in front of the palace
itself, in which police officer named
Maso and number of other policemen
and strikers received injuries. At this
juncturc President Palma sent word to
the Mayor that unless the city authori
ties could preserve order and protect the
railway company the State would inter
vene. The Mayor then took drastic
measures He issued an edict nrohib-
iting crowds from gathering i'll the
streets and authorizing the Chief of Po
lice to kill. if such action should be
necessary. to preserve order.
A similar show OF force carly i'll the
morning would undoubtedly have pre-
vented the trouble, but by noon the
strikers had become emboldened and
frequent clashes between them and the
police were occurring in all parts OF the
city The police were obliged to charge
mob of rioters at the Slaughter House,
and several among the rioters were in
jured.
The vigorous attitude Of the police
though late. soon made itself felt. and
traffic on the car lines was resumed
being continued from the time forward
with only occasional Interruptions.
Most of the injuries sustained by the
wounded were caused by policemens
clubs.
The Central Veterans Union, headed
by General Gomez. held meeting in the
afternoon and sent word to the labor
unions that if the disorders continued
the veterans would offer their services
to President Palma to preserve order.
No bread or meat was on sale during
the day and a continuance of the strike
will cause much suffering to the poor.
The police greatly fear that further
trouble may occur.