Gilpin observer., 1902-11-27
RIOT AT HAVANA.
TWO MEN KILLED AND EIGHTY
TWO WOUNDED.
Other Trades Geese Work to Sup
port Striking Cigar Makers-MayeI
Accused of Aiding Trouble-Paims
Threatens to Send Troops to Scene

conflicts of serious nature between
the police and the men On strike here,
two strikers are dead and eighty-two
other persons are wounded. Five Of
the wounded, one lieutenant of .po-
lice whose throat was cut by a striker,
have very severe injuries. Eight
other policemen are wounded. The
police have the rioters we'll under con-
troll, but every precaution is being
taken to prevent further outbreak
Of disorder, 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 makers. became gen.
eral yesterday by the calling out of
all trades in sympathy with the cigar.
makers. All the tradespeople closed
their doors yesterday 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 the general strike.
Trouble began early by the holding
up of the electric cars by the strikers,
whose wrath naturally was directed
against the street railroad employees.
Several cars were held up and 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
motormen and conductors were in
jured during the rioting. The car
men, however, continued running their
cars until 10 o'clock, when Superin-
tendent Greenwood ordered suspen-
sion of traffic. The employees were
willing to remain at work, but the Off
GERS of the company. in order to pro-
.tect the property. deemed it wise to
suspend the service. Mr.. Greenwood
had asked for protection from the
civil governor. but the authorities
were unable to protect the public
vehicles. A mob of strikers drove
the men on the Western railroad
from the trains during the morning.
The mayor Of Havana and the sec.
retary of government had during the
past week openly sympathized with
the strikers and had given orders to
the police not to use force in dispers.
ing the crowds, and under these con-
ditions the police were unable to cope
with the strikers.
Palma Takes 4 Hand.
The situation was approaching a
critical point at noon, serious disor-
ders having taken place in front of
the palace itself, in which q police off,
Ger named Maso and a number of po.
licemon 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 company, the state
would intervene. The mayor then
took drastic measures and issued an
ing 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 all parts of the
city. The police were Obliged to
charge a mob of rioters at the slaugh-
ter house and several among the lat.
ter were injured. The vigorous atti.
tude of the police now made itself felt
and traffic on the car lines, which had
only been suspended for brief period,
was resumed and was continued from
this time forth, with only occasional
Interruptions. Most of the injuries
sustained by the strikers were caused
by the policemen's clubs.
The Central Veterans union, headed
by General Gomez, held meeting in
the afternoon and sent word to the
labor union that II the disorders con.
tinued the veterans would offer their
services to President Palma to pre-.
serve order. No bread or meat was on
sale yesterday and continuance of
the strike will cause much suffering
to the poor. ~