Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-26
RIOTS AT HAVANA.
Two Strikers Dead and 80
Other Persons Injured.
All the Trades Called Out in Sympathy
With Cigarmakers.
Police and Rural Guards Have Con
troll Of Situation.

Havana, Nov. 25.-As the result of
conflicts, of a serious character be-
tween the police ana the men on strike
here. Monday, two strikers are dead and
81 other persons are wounded. Five
OF the latter, one a lieutenant of pO-
lice, whose throat was cut by a
striker. have injuries of a serious ma
ture. Eight other policemen are
wounded. The police had the rioters
well under control. this evening, but
every precaution is being taken to
prevent further outbreak of dis
order, tonight, and all the police and
rural guards in the suburbs have been
summoned to concentrate in Havana.
The strike, which at first only con-
cerned the cigar workers became gen.
ereal. Monday 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 con-
ductors of the electric cars, who re-
fused to join in the general strike.
Trouble began early in the morning
by the holding up of the electric cars
by the strikers, whose wrath was ma
turally directed against the street
railroad employees. Several cars were
held uD and stoned in the outskirts OF
the city and the passengers were COM
PEELED to walk into Havana, among
these being the British and German
ministers. Several cars We're wrecked
and some motormen and conductors
were injured during these occurrences.
The car men, however, continued run
ming their cars until 10 o'clock. when
Supt. Greenwood ordered sus-
pension of traffic. The employees were
willing to remain at work hut the Of
fees Of the company in order to protect
the property. deemed it wise to sus-
pend the service. Mr.. Greenwood had
asked for protection from the civil gov
ernor. but the authorities were unable
to protect the public vehicles. A mob
OF strikers drove the men on the west
ern railroad from the trains during
the morning.
The mayor of Havana and the secre-
tary of government, Diego Tamayo,
had during the past week openly SYM
pathiZed with the strikers and had
given orders to the police not to use
der 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 pal
ace itself, in which police officer
| named Maso and a 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 pro-
! tect the railroad the state would in
tervene.
The mayor then took drastic measures
and issued an edict prohibiting crowds
from gathering in the streets and au-
thorizing the chief of police to kill. ii
| such action should be necessary to pre-
serve order A similar show of force
early in the morning would undoubtedly
have prevented the trouble, but now the
uuent clashes between them and the pc,
lice occurred in all parts of the city. The
police were obliged to charge a mob oi
rioters at the slaughter house and sew
eral among the latter were injured.
The vigorous attitude of the police now
made itself felt and traffic on the cal
| lines which had only been suspended for
a brief period, was resumed and was con-
| timed from this time forth with only oc-
casional Interruptions. Most of the inju-
ries sustained by the strikers were caus-
| ed by the policemen's clubs.
The Central Veterans Union, headed 10y