Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1905 — CUBA IN A TURMOIL. [ARTICLE]

CUBA IN A TURMOIL.

Political Hatred Threatens to Plunge Island Into Bitter Strife. Cuba was plunged almost into a state of terrorism on the eve of the struggle for the election of a president. Six persons, including a congressman, are known to have been killed. The list of wounded is long. Bombs were found stored in several places, and pistol fights occurred in a number of cities and towns. An attempt was made to assassinate Gen. Jose Miguel Gomez, liberal candidate for the presidency. Thousands of adherents of the two political parties, moderates and liberals, armed with guns and revolvers, gathered in the larger cities. Train loads of rural guards were dispatched to points where the tjirtnoil was greatest, in an attempt to restore peace. An extra session of the House of Representatives was held, at which the disturbances were discussed. Extra editions of the liberal papers were issued, placing the blame for the prevailing conditions upon the government. The Mayor of Havana issued a proclamation forbidding the carrying of canes or weapons of any kind with or without licenses in the vicinity of the polling places during the election of members of the election board. An official dispatch says that the Mayor of Cienfuegos issued a similar proclamation and has also prohibited the sale of alcoholic liquors. Official dispatches received from Cienfuegos announced the killing of Congressman Enrique Villuendas, leader of the liberal party and the most able orator in the lower house, aiql the chief of police of Cienfuegos, during a conflict between the two political parties. Private advices give the number of persons killed as six, with twenty-five wounded. Two policemen are said to be among the dead. Government advices say the police had information that within the hotel in which Villuendas resided a quantity of arms had been deposited, and they went to the hotel to investigate the matter. As the police ascended the stairs they. were met by a party of liberals, who fired on them, killing Chief of Police Ulance. The police returned the fire, killing Villuendas and wounding several others. A search of the hotel revealed two dynamite bombs in the room occupied by Villuendas.