There is speculation that the fire was started on purpose by arsonists sent by the Spanish empire attempting to undermine Key West citizens' support for Cuban independence. This stems from three key details of the fire. The fire was started immediately next to the San Carlos Institute, which was the heart of Cuban culture in Key West. The economic prosperity that Cuban emigrants found in Key West was the source of direct financial contributions to the Cuban revolution. Secondly, the morning after the fire, there was a Spanish ram waiting to take on any unemployed Cuban cigar workers who wanted to return to Cuba. 400 workers returned at that time. Thirdly, Havana newspapers reportedly ran an article describing the great fire the day before it actually took place.