Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-19
GRESHAM WILL NOT TALK.
NEITHER AFFIRMs OR DENIES HAVING
 HEARD FROM SPAIN.

NEITHER AFFIRMs OR DENIES HAVING
 HEARD FROM SPAIN.
 WASHINGTON, March 18.-For few hours today matters connected with the Spanish incident were in most am biguous state. Early this morning one of the con- ddential officials of the state depart me n t guye out what was characterised as tan authoritative denial'' of the report that the Spanish govern ment had made answer to Gresham's s protest and demand for apology in connection with the alleged indignity offered to the Allanca. Just before o'clock, however, Secretary Gresham told a reporter that he would neither affirm nor deny the story'that Spain had replied, and he went on to say that he had made no statement that would indicate that an an swer had been received. These remarks by Gresham place the first denial in a new light aud leave matters in a state of uncer- tainty as far as the public is concerned.
 Alter the denial had been made this morning and before Secretary Gresham had made his statement officials of the depart- mentsaid it was not strange that no an- swer had been received from the Spanish government. They explained that the de- partment did not expect an answer so early, despite Gresham's demand for 'sprompt'' redress, for the reason that it would take some time to ascertain the facts in the mat ter from Spanish point of view. To quote one of those who talked of the matter: sIt is long way from Madrid to- Havana and from Havana to Cape Maysi, and thence back to Havana, and from Havana to Madrid and from Madrid to Washing ton. .n
 It was admitted that the department had heard from Minister Taylor since he was instructed to present the protest of this country to the minister for foreign affairs at Madrid, but it las stated that he merely notified Gresham of the presentation and said that the Spanish government had made DO answer.
 Secretary Gresham went over to the White House about o'clock with chart aud a number of papers pertaining to the AllIanca case under his arm.
 HTS AN INTERNAL LIE,''
 SAYS CAPTAIN cRossMAN REFERRING TO THE STEAM LAUNCH.
 NEW YoRK, March 1S.-When a reror- ter called on Captain Crossman of the steamer Allianca this forenoon and showed him the dispatch from Tampa, Fla. tell ing how the passengers on the steamer Oli- vette from Havana had heard that there was semi-o fficiai report current there that steam launch had been seen leaving the Alianca by Spanish war vessel, the cap. tain said emphaticaily:
 s'lt is an internal lie. l have no steam launch and never had. Neither did see a steam launch on my trip from Colon. If the Spanish people have seen steam have seen the gun boat that fired on us and would of course have known what gunboat it IS. But they pretend not to know that the Sponish war vessUl fired on us. In my opinion they certainly knew what vessel was stationed on the east coast of the island of uba, and of course that is the vessel that chased us. It is a contemptible lie for the Spanish officials to say that we lowered steam launch or received a steam launch or any kind of 8 launch from the shore of Cuba.''
 DIDN'T TRY TO HIT.
 COMMANDER OF THE vENADITo SAYS HE ORDERED SHOTS FIRED JUST TO ATTRACT
 ATTENTION.
 HAVANA, March 18.-The commander of the Spanish cruiser Condo de Venadito reports that on March 8, while cruising of the eastern coast of the island, he sighted steamers course was to the northeast. hecruiser hojsted flag and the steamer replied by raising an English flag The cruiser signaled the steamer to stop, but without effect. As the steamer proceeded at full speed the cruiser first fired two blank shots and then two solid shots. The commander says he did not desire to hit the steamer, but merely to cause her to heave to. He asserts that the steamer was but one aud one- half miles of the Gu ban coast when the firing occurred. The authorities here have ordered that a full inquiry be made into the commanders acts. Judging from Captain Crossman's story, nobody can doubt that the steamer in question was the Allianca, which was fired on by Spanish cruiser March 8.
 Nothing has been heard here to confirm sunk an American schooner. The rumor is regarded as utterly unfounded, in fact.
 HEARD NOTHING OF IT.