The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-10-20
CAME NEAR BEING A WAR.
Spain Backed Down 10 An Ignomini-
Gus Style.
CONSUL GENERAL LEE WAS STERN.
when He Ordered the vigIiaucia to steam
Out weyier Made Biun but Was
soon Called.

New Orleans. La, October 1e.-The
Times Democrats Key West special says
II the Spanish authorities had taken Senior
Angel Fernandez off the Ward line steam
err vigilancla while that vessel was in
Havana harbor last Friday United States
warships would Immediately have been or
dered to Havana to enforce reparaton 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 the
threatening situation was only relieved
when the Spanish authorities ANONYMOUSLY
backed down and allowed the Visilancia 10
proceed to sea with Fernandez still On
beard.
a letter received here from correspond
Ont in Havana. who is close to Consul
General Lee. gives dramatic account OF
the episode.
According TO the letter, when the vigil
amelia put into Havana the Spanish author
tiles demanded the surrender o; Senior An
gel Fernandez. Mexican on board the
vessel. Tho spsnarls alleged that he was
not Mexican. bu, a subiec, Of Spain
Captain John Mcintosh OF the Vigilaucia
refused to surrender hin Then the Span
ISL authorities told the captain that If
the Vigllaucia attempted to so 10 sea With
Fernandez on board she would be sums hy
the guns OF MORO castle. Captain Meia-
tosh laid the matter before Consul Gen
era! Lee. who complmentel the captain
Oh his bravery and toli him to take the
VigAanoia to sea When he pleased coa-
sui Lee was grearly engaged at tho thr.u
10 sink the vigil4a1ia aud is reported 20
have said 10 CAPTAIN Mcintosh ~ The guns
Of Moro castle sink your ship. AmeH ~
warahlps will be bombard.ng Havana it,
a few days"
Captain Mcintosh returned to the Wight
aacia and Consul General Lee informed
Weyler that the vessel was going to sea
aud that ii any attempt vas naae to take
Fernandez on oy the ,esscl Was fired u7an
spain mc4, take the consequences.
Wcyler immediately summoned a caeiaet
council and while the council was o.a-
siderlng the matter the vigilauc.a began to
weigh anchor. The Spanish oiaaala on
board protested but Captain Mcintosh said
in vigorous Language. the letter states
"D-n your objections Ny ship t4a been
cleared. Ny consul has to.d me to 20 TO
sea. ! am going. aai l Ilre goa 20 try
to prevent me. Get n my ship 4ai Wits
ihat the Yankee roughly showed the Span.
iaids into the waiting boats aal the vigil
ancia, flying the stars and .lrlpoa started
for the mouth OF the haroor. which IS com
manded by tho guns Of MORO Castle
All was e~cltomon, in Havana, and the
aunys and housetons were lined with hun
dtcds Of persons Who expected to see the
vigllancia treI on.
Consul General Lee himself watched the
vlgilancla through a glass.
Meanwhile signals were being exchanged
between Weylers palace and MORO castle
and In the latter place there were signs OF
great excitement Slowly the Vigiancla
entered the mouth OF the harhor. and thcr
it was noticed that the guns OF Morr,
We're turned on the ship. The Vigilancir
repeatedly slgnaled MORO castle. ~ an
going to sea- but no answer came iron
the fort until the vessel was in blue waite
and then the Spanlards ran up the sigma
which means goodbye"
1t is said that Woyler is furious over III
departure OF the vessel and Consul Gener
al Lees course. 1t is stated Weyler ordere
the commandant of MORO TO sink the Wig
ilaneia. but that at the last moment h
yielded TO the entreat.es of his canine
and countermanded the order. Tho enl
sode caused more excitement IA uav,n
than anything since the beginning of IN
war.
ARMENIAN MASSACRES.