The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-10-20
ON TIE BRINKBOF.WAR
Aspani.h Threatifi 1t Had Been CARRIED
j Ont Woaid Have Meant Rombardment
h OF Havana by United States Warships.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Oct. 1o.-Thc
Times. Democratic Kew West specinl

Il OF Havana by United States warships.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Oct. 1o.--The
Times Democrats Key West special
says: ..laS l53
II the Spanish authorities had taken
Senor Angel Fernandez on the Ward
line steamer ylgllnncja while that yes-
sci was In Havana harbor last FRI
day, United States warships would have
Immediately been ordered TO Havana
to forceaa demand for reparntion, 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
war and n Threatening situation was
only relieved when the Spanish n au-
thorities ignominouslyg4 backed down
and allowed the Vigllancta to proceed
TO sea with Fernandez still on board.
A letterlrecelved here from a cores
pondent In Havana, who Is close to-
Consul General Lee, gives Il dramatic
account OF the episode. According to
the letter, when the NIgilancla put In,
10 Havana. the Spanish authorities de-
manded the surrender of Senor Angel
Fernandez a Mexican on board & tic:
NSfSSi' IulltHtu lllUl.
Fernandez was not a NTexlcaii, but d
subject to ,Spain.3 Captain ohnfMcIn-
tosf, Of the Vigllancia, refused ptO sur
render Fernandez. Then the Spanish
authorities told Mcintosh that II, the
Eigilancla attempted to go to sea with
Fernandez on board, she would 3be'
sunk by the guns OF Moro Castle. Cap
tain Mcintosh Immediately laid the
matter before Consul General Lee, who
c1mplimcnted the captain on his brav-'
cry, and told him to take the VigIlan-
cia to sea when he pleased. Consul Lee
was greatly enraged at the threat, to
sink the Vlgilancia and Is reported to
have said to Captain McIntosh: 'If
the guns OF Moro Castle sink your
ship. American warships will be bonn
harding Havana In q few days"
Captain Mcintosh returned to the
Nigilancia, and Consul Lee informed
Weyler that the vessel was going. to sea, I
and that II any attempt was made to
take of Fernandez or that II the vessel
was fired upon Spain must take the cons
sequences. Weyler Immediately SUM
monsi cabinet council and while this
council was considering the matter. the
Vlgilancia began to weight anchor. The
Spanish officials on board protested, but
Captain Mcintosh said In vigorous Lam
suase, the letter states. fg
D-----n your objectlons: my ship has
been cleared. Ny consul has told me to
so to sea. am going and dare you to
Try to prevent me. Get off my ship." 81
And with that the Yankees roughly
shovel the Spanlards Into the waiting
boats and the Vigllancia, flying the
stars and stripes. started for the mouth
OF the harbor. which IS commanded by
the guns of Moro Castle. All was ex-
element In Havara and the quays and
house tops were lined with hundreds Of
persons who expected to see the Vigil
lancia fired upon.
Consul Lee himself watched the vigi-
lancia through glass; meanwhile Sig
nails s-werei exchanged between Weyler's
palace and Moro Castle, and In the lat
ter place there were signs OF great eX-
cltement. Slowly the Vigllancia entered
the mouth OF the harbor and then II was
noticed that the guns Of MORO were
turned on the ship. The vigilancia re-
peatedly isignalley. Morro Castle: i.'I 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 Good Bye
1t Is said Weyler Ia furious over the
departure of thevessel and Consul Lees
course. 1t Is stated Weyler ordered the
commander of Moro to sink the Vigil
lancia, but at the last moment he Yield
ed TO the entreatles of his cabinet and
countermaroed the order. The episode
caused more excitement In Havana than
anything since the beginning OF the war
D. # H o.. . Q ( . i