The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-20
Weyler Did Not Fire on
Steamer Vigilant.
Captain OF the Vessel Showed
That He Had Pluck.
He Also Had the Backing Of United
States Consul General Lee.

New Orleans. Oct. 20.--The Times
Democrats Key West special says: If
the Spanish authorities had taken Senor
Angel Fernandez off the Ward line
steamer ViglGncia, while that vessel
wes In the Habana harbor last Friday,
United States warsaips would have inn
mediately been ordered to Habana. to
enforce a demand for reparation, and
war between this country and Spain
would have undoubtedly resulted. For
three hours. last Friday. the United
States and Spain were on the brink Of
waF, and the threatening situation was
only relieved when the Spanish author
tiles ignoainiously baeked down, a5o
allowed the Yigilancia to proceed 10
sea, with Fernandez still on board.
a letter received here from a corre.
spondent In HabaEa. who Is close To
Consul General Lee, gives a dramatic
account OF the episode. According TO the
letter when the Vigilancia put into Ha-
bana the Spanish authorities demanded
the surrender OF Senior Angel Fernandez,
a Mexican, on board the vessel. The
Spaniards alleged that Fernandez was
not a Mexican, but subject OF Spain.
Captain John Mcintosh. Of the Nigilan-
ella, refused TO surrender Fernandez.
Then the Spanish authorities told Nc
Intosh that If the Vigilancia attempted
to go to sea, with Fernandez on board,
she would be sunk by the guns Of MORO
castle.
Captain Mcintosh Immediately laid
the matter before Consul General Lee,
who ccmplimented the captain on his
bravery and told him TO take the Vigil
lsncia to sea when he pleased. The
consul general was greatly enraged at
the threat to sink the Vigilancia, and Is
reported to have said to Captain Nc
Intosh: IF the guns of MORO castle
sink your ship, American warships will
be bombarding Habana in q few days"
Captain Mcintosh returned to the
Niglancia, ard Consul Lee informed
General Weyler that the vessel was GO
ing TO sea, and that If any attempt was
made TO take off Fernandez. or that If the
vessel was fired upon, Spain must tale
the consequences. Weyler Immediately
summoned a cabinet council, and while
this council was considering the matter,
the Vigilancia began to weigh anchor
The Spanish officials on board protested
but Captain Mcintosh said in vigorous
language. the letter states, "D-n your
objections; my ship has been cleared.
My ul has told mo TO go TO sea- / 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 Vigilancia, flying the
Stars and Stripes, started for the mouth
of the harbor which is commanded by
the guns oS Morro castle. All was eX-
element in Habana. and the quay and
housetops were lined with hundreds of
persons, who expected to see the Vigi.
lancia fred upon.
Consul Lee himself watched the Vigi-
lancia through a glass. Meanwhile
signals were being exchanged between
Wey,er's palace and Morro castle, and
in the latter place there were signs of
great excitement. Slowly the Vigilancia
entered the mouth of the harbor. and
then IL was noticed that the guns of
Moro castle were turned on the ship.
The Vigilancia repeatedly signalled
Morro castle: Il am going TO sea-" but
no answer came from the fort until the
vessel was in blue water, and then the
Spaniards ran up the signal which means
"Goodby"
1t is said that Weyler is furious over
the departure OF the vessel and Consul
Lees course. IL is stated that Weyler
ordered the commander OF Moro to sink
the Vigilancia, but at the last moment
ne yielded to the entreties of his cabinet.
and countermanded the order The
episode caused more excitement in Ha-
beginning OF the war.