The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-30
FAKE NEWS OF CUBA'S FIGHT.
THE STORY OF THE SEIZURE OF
THE NEPTHINA UNTRUE.

Fact becoming known Absurd-A
Cuban Society TO be Organized in
Georgia.
Washington, June 29.-No one in a posi-
tion to receive official intelligence from
the Spanish government has been advised
of the detention Of the yacht Nepthina or
the arrest of those on board. 1t is stated
that had such an event transpired the
event would have promptly become the
subject Of diplomatic correspondence, and
no such correspondence has taken place.
The story is said by the friends of the
Spanish government 90 be untrue.
1t is said to be another Of the numerous
sensational stories now being sent out
under Havana date lines instead of Tam
pa. The understanding is that there is
practically a constructive blockade Of the
whole island. Spanish gunboats are pa
trolling the coast and it is claimed any
vessels found within Cuban water without
proper papers, have run this blockade and
are subject to investigation. In this way,
it is said, the Nepthina might possibly
have been overhauled and her papers,
even though a pleasure yacht of gentle
men. and occupied by them, been gone
through. 1t was not reported to the Uni
ted States consul at Havana. The idea
that men of prominence and position in
New Orleans could have been taken to
a city, so large as Havana, thrown into
prison and kept there, even for two days,
without an official report, was held to be
absurd. 1t is known positively that no
ftrs.4 % "a nj "a hn Snan-
ish legation in this city.
Gainesville, Fla, June 29.-It developed
positively this afternoon that the letters
sent out from here to the Chicago Asso-
ciated Press papers purporting to have
been written in Cuba by Maj. Ham,
are fakes Of the first water. 1t was stat
ed by Anderfer and those who have been
assisting him, that the originals of these
letters were written in a Greek cipher end
that they would be shown any one de-
sirous of seeing them.
Yesterday Maj. Tench demanded one OF
the originals of j. o. Lafontise, and af-
ter the offer had been made he could not
refuse. This letter was given 10 Rev.
Mr. Hundley, who translated 1t. They
were not written in cipher, and any one
havin a fair knowledge of Greek can read
them. The one that Mr. Hundley trans
lated begins: Dear Frank" and is dated
Philadelphia, Pa, May l. 1880 aade-is-
signed MAI. r. r. Ham,"
on May a letter appeared in certain
papers dated Puerto Principe" and signed
by the same name. How Maj. Ham went
from Philadelphia to Cuba and sent
letter back to Frank Anderfer here in
five days is not understood. This same
better addressed to Anderfer contains
this: "It was with a great amount of
surprise I learned you were in Cuba, and
especially in the business you are in"
The writer seems to be of the opinion
that Anderfer was in Cuba, but further
on contradicts himself, and he refers TO
him as being in this part of the south.
Anderfer knew nothing about the trans
lation Of this letter. Mr.. Hundley and
several others went down and asked him
to read il for them. He commenced with
child-lke simplicity, reading as follows:
Puerto Principe, Cuba, June IA, 1885. !
have just returned from very successful
raid" Here he was advised to stop on
account of his weak condition, and the
party left.
The Daily Sun issued an extra edition
this afternoon, in which J. O. Lafontise,
who has assisted Anderfer to dispose OF
these letters. admits that they are fakes,
but claims that he has been humbugged
as well as the public.
The conduct of Anderfer, however. IS
still unexplained. A large majority
think that he is shamming illness, and Dr..
Lancaster, one of the first physicians
called, says that he is positive of this.
Considerable Indignation is expressed
against Anderfer for the manner in which
he has fooled the public.
It is said that Anderfer's real name Is
Ham, and it is alleged that he is
fugitive from justice and that he was
the tramp who shot and killed an asso-
ciate here last Christmas. 1t is stated
that Anderfer was at one time employed
in a grocery store in Philadelphia and
that he stole $3.50 from his employer and
ran away Sheriff Tillis has telegraphed
the chief of police there for information,
but as yet has received no reply.
The strange conduct of Anderfer, to-
gether with the developments in regard
to the Cuban letters, is the general topic
of conversation tonight.
1t is given out that Anderfer's condition
is critical tonight, and no one is per-
mitted to see him.
Madrid, June 29.-Advices have been re-
ceived from Havana stating that the in
surgent leader Maceo has been captured
and is now in prison.
New York, June 29-Among the passen-
gers of the Ward line steamer Santiago,
which arrived this morning from Santiago,
Cienfuegos and Nassau, are SIS passengers
from Santiago, many of whom are mem
hers of the best Cuban families Of that
place. They are leaving Santiago because
of the disturbed condition of the country.
The insurgents are so active in the vicini-
ity of Santiago that the Spanish authorities
are placing all of the inhabitants under
strict surveillance Many of the people are
leaving to avoid the annoyance and dis
comforts brought upon them by the in
foreement of these measures.
Atlanta, Ca. June 29.-Senor Gonzales
Ouesada, secretary of the Cuban cause in
the United States, is on his way to At
lanta. He is coming here for the purpose,
It is said. OF organizing state Cuban so
ciety. whose object is to be to give pc
cuniary aid to the Cuban insurgents. In
this connection it has come to
light that there Is now a Gu
ban club in Atlanta of consid-
erable numerical strength. On his arrival
here Senior Quesada will be received by
the club and during his stay here he will
be its guest. Those who join the state or
ganizatIon in Georgia will be asked to con-
tribute ten per cent. of their earnings to
the insurgents.
Sfv Miners Killed.