The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-26
STRIKE AND RIOT IN HABAHA.
Two Strikers Killed and Eighty
Two Persons Hurt.

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Two Persons Hurt.
Habana, Nov. 24.-As the result Of
conflicts of serious nature today be-
tween the police and the men on strike
here, two strikers are dead and 80
other persons are wounded. Five Of
the wounded, one lieutenant of police,
whose throat was cut by striker,
have very severe injuries. The police
have the rioters we'll under control
this evening but every precaution is
being taken to prevent further out
break of disorder, and all the, police
and rural guards in the suburbs have
been summoned to concentrate in
Habans.
The strike, which at first only con-
cerned the cigar workers, began this
morning by the calling out of all trades
in sympathy with the cigar makers.
All the trades people closed their doors
this morning, clerks, cooks and every
class of workmen having obeyed the
command of the union except the
motormen and conductors of the
electric cars, who refused to join in
the general strike.
The trouble began early by tie hold
ing up of electric cars by the strikers
whose wrath naturally was directed
against the street railroad employees.
Several cars we're held up and stoned
in the outskirts of the city and the
passengers were compelled to walk in
to Habana, among these being the
British and German ministers.
Several cars were wrecked and some
motormen and conductors were injured
, , during the occurrences. The car
men, however, continued running
their cars until 10 O'Clock, when
Supt. Greenwood ordered a suspension
of traffic. The employees were willing
| tc remain at work, but the officers of
the company. in order to protect their
property deemed it wise to suspend
the service. Mr.. Greenwood had ask
ed for protection from the civil gov
ernor, but the authorizes were unable
! to protect the public vehicles. A
mob of strikers drove the men in the
| Western railroad from the trains
| during the morning.
The mayor of Habana and the secre-
tary of government. Diego Tamaya,
had the past week openly sympathized
with the strikers and had given orders
to the police not to use force in dis
persing the crowds and under these
conditions the police were unable to
cope with the strikers.
The situation was approaching a
critical point at noon, serious disorders
having taken place in front of the
palace itself, in which a police officer
named Maso and number of police
men and strikers received injuries,
when President Palma sent word to
| the mayor that unless the city au-
| thorities could preserve order and
protect the railroad company, the state
would intervene. The mayor then took
drastic measures and issued an edict
prohibiting crowds from gathering in
the streets and authorizing the chief
of police to kill, if such action should
be necessary to preserve order.
A similar show of force early in the
morning undoubtedly would have pre-
vented the trouble, but now the strik-
ers had become emboldened and fre-
quent clashes between them and the
police occurred in ali parts of the
city. The police were obliged to charge
mob of rioters at the slaughter house
and several among the latter were in
jured. The vigorous attitude of the
police now made itself felt and traffic
on the car lines, which had only been
suspended for brief period was resum-
ed and was continued from this time
forth with only occasional interrup-
tions. Most of the injuries sustained
by the strikers were caused by the
policemens' clubs.
A meeting this afternoon over which
Gen. Gomez presided sent word to the
labor unions that if the disorders con-
tinued the veterans would offer their
services to President Palma to pre-
serve order. No bread or meat was on
sale today and continuance Of the
strike will cause much suffering to the
poor. The police fear that trouble
may occur in the city tonight and a
detachment of rural guards is expected
to reach Habana at 2 80 tomorrow
morning.
Senor Tamayo has resigned the Office
Of secretary of government, but Presi
dent Palma will not accept his resign
alton until the strike has been settled.
Tie public blames Tamayo for his
active participation in the strike and
says that he and the mayor are re-
sponsible for today's riots, as he had
openly expressed sympathy with the
strikers. At political meeting on
Wednesday at which Senor Tamayo
was chairman he endorsed the action
of the strikers.