The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-19
MURUACUA keeps silence
The Spanish Minister Denies Him.
self to All Callers.
GRESHAM DENIES MESSAGE
But 1t Is Believed That Spain Has Sent n
Communication-Rcp sport OF
Second Offcnse Is Dis.
credited.

Washington March lS-Secretary
Gresham was closeted all morning with
state department officers and other per-
sons concerning diplomatic happenings
since his illness. In answer to inquiries
on the Allianca affair. Mr.. Lands,
private secretary, said that Secretary
Gresham authorized formal denial,
to be made of reports that he had IT,
ceived from Minister Taylor any an
swer to the secretary's note demanding
an explanation or apology from
Spain.
The denial went into details to show
how it was impossible for Spain to
have secured from the Cuban authori-
ties the necessary information upon
which to base a reply. But in spite of
this denial it is believed here that the
reply was received and given out to the
press by some one in official authority
at the state department. The conten-
tion of the state department that Spain
has not had sufficient time to reply and
would not have replied without first
thoroughly investigating the affair. is
not credited because the terms of the
alleged reply from Spain given in the
morning newspapers covers practically
the same ground contained in the ver-
bal assurances which the Spanish min
lister gave to the state department
when the occurrence was first reported
and he had no facts to base his action
upon except the report made by Captain
Crossman, of the Allianca
senior Muruagua win Not Talk.
Senior Muruagua. the Spanish minis
ter. declined today to see callers or to
receive any messages. In response to
urgent requests for information on the
Allianca affair and the answer of
Spain. a note from the minister was
presented to all inquirers saying: Elk
cuse me. l have nothing further for
publication
Among the callers on the minister
was Mr.. Gray. former owner of the
Allianca. but he, too, was unable to
secure an interview. He next went to
the state department. Mr.. Gray was
the receiver of the American and Bra
lillian Steamship company, which op-
Grated the Allianca. and sold her to the
present owners. He speaks in high
terms of her capabilities. Mr.. Gray
says that his present business with the
Spanish minister and the state depart
ment is of a private nature, and does
not concern the Allianca trouble He
\ is well acquainted with the coast trade
Nbetween the United States. Cuba and
South America, and does not believe
Nr commercial interests will be SER
lvasly Affected by the Cuban uprising
or by the Allianca incident.
Rumor Unverified.
Nothing is known here of reports pub
lished in New York paper today under
Key West date that a Spanish gun
boat had fired on an unknown Ameri-
can vessel off the Cuban coast. Dis
patches to the Associated Press last
night from Key West contained no
mention of any such occurrence, and
there Is no Spanish war vessel Of the
name given, the Arcedo.
The state department has had no in
formation from sources touching the
report that the Spanish cruiser Arcedo
fired upon and sunk a small American
schooner off the Cuban coast, and the
report finds little credence here. The
naval register shows that the Arcedo
is a small schooner rugged iron gunboat
built in Spain in 1888, and of about nine
knots speed. 1t is not known whether
sources of information than the state
department are likewise without any
information on the matter and are in
clined to discredit it.
Spanish Commanders Report
Havana, March 1S.-The commander
bf the Spanish cruiser, COnde De Vena-
alto, reports that on March s. while
truising off the eastern coast of the
Island, he sighted a steamer heading
Tor Maisi Point. The steamers course
was to the northeast The cruiser
hoisted a flag and the steamer replied
by raising an English flag. The cruiser
signalled the steamer TO stop, but with
,ut effect AS the steamer proceeded
1t full speed the cruiser first fired two
blank shots and then two solid shots
The commander says he did not desire
% hit the steamer, but merely to cause
1er to heave to. He asserts that the
steamer was but one and a half miles
pff the Cuban coast when the firing oc-
cured.
The authorities here have ordered
that full inquiry be made into the COM
mander's acts Judging from Captain
Crossmans story nobody can doubt
that the steamer in question was the
Allianca. which was fired on by a
Spanish cruiser on March g. Nothing
has been heard here to confirm the
rumor that the gunboat Alcedo has
sunk an American schooner. The rumor
Is regarded as utterly unfounded in
tact.