Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-11-29
FATAL RIOTS IN CUBA
Two Men Killed and Eighiy-two
Injured in Havana,
ORDER WAS FINALLY RESTORED
High Officials Are Blamed for the Situation,
Trouble the Outcome Of Strike Of
Street Car Men.
Street Car Men.


conflicts Yesterday between the police
and the men on strike here 2 strikers
are dead and S2 persons are wounded.
Five of the wounded, one lieuten
ant of police. whose throat was cut
by striker. have extremely severe
injuries. Eight other policemen were
wounded.
The police had the rioters well un-
der control at night, and every pre-
caution is being taken to prevent "a
further outbreak of disorder, which Is
feared. All the police and rural guards
Iii the suburbs have been summoned to
concentrate in Havana.
The strike, which at first concerned
only the cigar workers. became gen.
eral Monday morning By the calling
out of all trades in sympathy with
them. Merchants closed their stores.
Clerks, cooks and every class of work
men obeyed the command of the union,
except the motorman aud conductors
Of the electric cars, who refused to
join in the general strike.
DIPLOMATS MIXED IN IT.
Trouble was begun early by the
holding mp OF electric cars by the
strikers, whose wrath was directed
against the street railway employees.
Several cars were stoned in the out
skirts Of the city, and the passengers
were compelled to walk into Havana.
among these being the British and
German Ministers. Several cars were
wrecked and some motofmen and con-
ductors were injured.
The car men continued running
their csr until 10 o'clock, when SUI
perintendent Greenwood ordered u
suspension of traffic. The employees
were willing to remain at work even
them, but the officers Of the company
in order to protect the property deem
ed it wise to suspend the service. Mr..
Greenwood had as ked for protection
from the Civil Governor, but the au-
thorities failed to guard the public
vehicles. A mob OF strikers drove the
men on the Western railroad from the
trains.
The Mayor Of Havana and the Secre-
tary Of Government. Diego Tamavo,
had during the last week openly ex-
pressed sympathy with the strikers
and given orders to the police not to
use force in dispensing the crowds.
Under these conditions the police were
unable to cope with the disorder.
PALMA INSISTED ON ORDER.
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
juncture President Palma sent word
to the Mayor that unless the city au-
tborities could preserve order and pro-
tect the railway company the State
would intervene The Mayor then
took drastic measures. He issued an
edict prohibiting crowds from gather
ing in the streets and authorizing the
Chief of Police to kill. if such actions
should be necessary, TO preserve order.
A similar show of force early in the
morning would undoubtedly have pre-
vented the trouble, but by noon the
strikers had become embol dened 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 injured.
The vigorous attitude Of the police,
though late, soon made itself felt. and
traffic on the car lines was resumed.
being continued from that time for
ward with only occasional Interrupt
tions.
Most of the injuries sustained by the
wounded were caused bv policemen's
clubs.
GOMEZ OFFERED HELP.
The Central Veterans Union head
ed by General Gomez, held meeting
in the afternoon and 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 during