The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-30
Spain IS Losing HER Hold
Her Sway in the West Indies Is
Weakening.
MR.. SPRINGER SAILS FOR CUBA
Costa Rica brought Into tho Dispute and
Venezuela May Cut an Importan;
Figure Americans File Claim
for Damages Against Spain.

Washington, Sept. 29-Whatever will
be the final action of the government
in regard to Cuba, the state depart
ment is collecting much information
about the revolt. United States Vice
Consul Springer has been here for sew
eral days in consultation with Secre-
tary of State Olney. He left tonight
for Cuba bearing Instructions as to the
conduct of the American officials there
in the Interest of Americans temporary
resident in Cuba at the time their lives
and properly might be jecpardized by
the insurrectiOn.
The state department has been in
formed that Spain's foCthold In Cuba
is in a precarious condition. and grow
ing worse each day. 1t is believed they
cannot quell the insurrection. One seri-
Gus point I'm the trouble is in regard to
Costa Rica and Spain. Spaniards ac-
cused the Costa Ricans of furnishing
supplies to the Cubans, and there is
danger that Spanish war vessels may
at any moment blockade Costa Rica-
The Spaniards hesitate to do this, fear
ing No unity Southern and Central
America against themselves, knowing
that if such an excuse were offered the
Central and South Americans would
immediately send ships and men to
apprehensive lest this should be fol-
lowed by the recognition of the Cuban
insurrectionists as beliigerents by the
Central and South American countries,
and that then the United States might
follow suit.
In Case Of Blockade.
This government would be unable to
interfere if the Spanish should blockade
Costa Rica, because of the precedent
established by the failure to prevent
Great Britain from blockading Corinto
during the dispute between Nicaragua
and England. 1t is believed here that
Spain can hardly hold out much longer.
for the Cuban revolutionists are daily
| making progress in their fight for free
dom. What action the United States
will finally take is uncertain, but the
state department, through Mr..
Springer. has full information of condl-
tions and can take such action as
Seems necessary at the proper time.
A $4,000 claim for damages against
Spain was filed with the state DEPART
ment this morning in behalf of Gustav
Richelieu, an American citizen. Richie
lieu and August Bolton, both Of this
country. were engaged in turtle fishing
and left Port Au Prince, Hayti. Feb.
s last for Cape Haytien, with papers
in regular form. Bad weather drove
them to the Cuban coast and they final
ly nut in to the port of Santiago de
Cuba, Feb. %. Here they We're arrested
and thrown into prison for sixty-two
days and kept there without trial.
charged with having brought one of the
Maceo brothers to Cuba.
The men appealed to United States
| Consul Hyatt, who. after many pro-
| tests. finally secured their liberation on
April %. Both men deny having any
thing to do with the insurgents. Their
papers showed they We're in legitimate
trade, but despite all these representa-
tions. their sloop was confiscated and
they were only enabled to reach the
| United States through the aid Of the
| United States consul.