The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-10-30
ALMOST An INHDthT
WEYLER THREATENED TO SINK
AN AMERICAN VESSEL.
Warned by Consul General Lee--A
Plucly aptain-Facing the Guns Of
Moro Spanish Enraged.

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. ia Times
Democrats Key West special says: e
the Spanish authorities had taken
Senior Angel Fernandez off the Ward
line steamer Nigilancia while that
vessel was in Havana harbor last Fri
day, United States war ships would
have Immediately been ordered to IIa-
vana to enforce a demand for repara-
ton, and war between this country
and Spain might have resulted. For
three hours last Friday the United
States and Spain were on the brink of
war, and the threatening situation
authorities ANONYMOUSLY backed
down and let the Nigiancia proceed to
sea with Fernandez stu on board.
\ letter received here from cor
respondent in Havana who is close to
Consul General Lee gives dramatic
account of the episode. According to
the letter, when the Nigiiiancia put
into Havana the Spanish authorities
demanded the surrender of Senior
Angel Fernandez, a Mexican on board
the vessel. The Spanish alleged that
Fernandez was not Mexican but
subject of Spain. Capt. John McLn-
Josh OF the NigIiancia refused TO sur
render Fernandez. Then the Spanish
authorities told Mcintosh that if the
Vigilancia attempted to go to sea with
Fernandez on board she would be
sunk by the guns of Moro Castle.
Capt Mcintosh Immediately laid
the matter before Consul General Lee,
who complimented the Captain on his
bravery and told him to take the Wig
ilancia to sea when he pleased. Consul
General Lee was greatly enraged at
the threat to sink the Vigilancia, and
is reported to have said to Capt. Nc
Tntosh:
eff the guns of MORO Castle sink
your ship American war ships will be
hombarding Havana in few days"
Capt. Mcintosh returned to the Wig
ilancia and Consul General Lee in
formed Weyler that the vessel was
going to sea, and if any attempt was
made to take off Fernandez or if the
vessel was fired upon Spain would
take the consequences. Weyler inn
mediately summoned Cabinet coun-
Gil, and while this Council was con-
sidering the matter the Nigilancia be-
gan to weigh anchor. The Spanish
officials on board protested, but Capt
Mcintosh said in vigorous language,
the letter states, % your oblec-
tons; my ship has been cleared. My
Consul has told me to go to sea. L am
going, and dare you to try to prevent
me. Get off my ship"
And with that the Yankee roughly
showed the Spaniards into the waiting
boats, and the Nigilancia, flying the
Stars and Stripes, started for the
mouth of the harbor, which is COM
manded by the guns of MORO Castle,
All was excitement in Havana, and the
quays and housetops were lined with
hundreds of people, who expected 70
see the Vigilanca fired upon. Consul
Lee himself watched the Vigilancia
through a glass. Meanwhile signals
were being exchanged between Wey.
ler's palace and Morro Castle, and in
the latter place there were signs OF
great excitement Slowly the Wig
ilancia entered the mouth of the har.
Dor and then it was noticed that tn,
guns of MORO We're turned on th
ship. The Nigilancia repeatedly sig
nailed MORO Castle: 81 am going T.
sea-" but no answer came from tn
fort until the vessel was in blue water
and then the Spaniards ran I'D tn
signal which means Goodbye"
1t is said Weyler is Furious over tn
departure of the vessel and Consu
Lees course. 1t is stated Weyler ord
cred the commandment of MORO to sinl
the Vigilancia, but that at the las
moment ne yielded to the entreatie,
of his Cabinet and countermanded tn,
order The episode caused more ex
citement in Havana than anything
since the beginning of the war.
while down in the southwestern
part of the state some time ago" saw,
In.