The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-07-17
RIOT IN SANTIAGO;
OUR. SOLDIERS OUT
Mob Uses Firearms and Threat
ems City's Safety.
CUBAN OFFICIALS P0WERLESS
Believe the Revolutionary Societies
Are Behind the Strikers in the
Present Observation-Disclosures at
a Standstnl.

Santiago, Cuba.-With the Govern.
ment unable to control the strike sit.
uation, residents in all parts of the
city are arming themselves, and bar
Reading their homes against the vio-
lence that threatens. Five hundred
members of the Rural Guard patrol
the main thoroughfares, but the
strikers do not fear them. It is re-
ported, in fact, that the soldiers and
the strikers are in sympathy, and
some testimony is borne in this d.
rection by the latest developments
when strikers fired pistols recklessly
without any sign of interference from
the military patrols.
The attitude Of 10 strikers to-
ward Americans is ex.. mely hostile,
and has been growing since the re-
cent fight in which a squad of Ameri-
can sailors was badly beaten. The
strikers we're Infatuated when troops
of the Eleventh Infantry discharged
the cargo of the steamer Antilla, the
crew Of which walked out in a body.
Threats to fire on the American SOL
diers were heard, but the men at
work were guarded by a strong line
of their comrades. American
residents are filled with fear that the
rioters will attack them. 1t is said
that there has been al attempt to
move the strikers in concerted action
against the Americans, but that so
far wiser counsel has prevailed. Many
Of the American colony assert, how
ever, that an assault may. come at any
time, and that the small force Of
American troops at hand may be I'M
able to cope with the emergency.
One bullet entered the main Office
of the Ward line of steamships, lodg-
ing in the wall a few inches above the
head Of a man at his desk. The
strikers have threatened openly to
burn property, and many Of the
weather. families have stripped
their town houses and fed to their
country homes.
Business is at a standstill, and no
meat was received in the city for two
days. Bread is delivered under
armed guard. The strikers seized
two wagons and spilled the bread they
contained into the street. After the
strikers had retired the bread was
gathered up by hungry women and
children.
There are several ships in the har-
Dor, all with large quantities Of per-
lshable supplies. One plan proposed
Is to permit the starving citizens to
remove the supplies from these ships
under the protection of the Rural
Guards. But the strikers have de-
clared that they will not allow this to
be done, as it would go far to defeat
their object.
The cigarmakers voted to walk out,
and this mea practically the cessa-
ton of all work in the city. The
street cleaning brigade stopped work,
and they were followed by men in
other city DEPARTMENTS. Intense dis
satisfaction is felt at the delay of the
Board of Arbitration in starting its
deliberations, with a view to ending
the strike.
The longshoremen, who precipi-
tated the trouble, are opposed to an
early settlement, and it is said that
when the board finally begins its sit
tings they will come forward with in
creased demands. The ship owners
declare that they cannot submit to
the terms of the longshoremen, as
they assert it would mean financial
disaster.