The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-30

NEW YORK, April 29.-The Herald
this morning says:
The Spanish authorities here and in
Washington have recently discovered
conspiracy formed by Cubans to
blow up Spanish warship and at the
same time intercept a peninsula mail
steamer and rob her of large quaint
ity of gold intended for the govern.
ment troops on the island.
The plot included, further. the cap
ture OF the seaport town of Nuvitaa
and contemplated certain demonstra-
tons along the northern sections of the
eastern Cuban provinces in order to
precipitate rush of troops from the
west and
EFFECT A WEAKENING
of the military trocha across Pinar del
Rio. While the disclosure of the con-
spiracy may not discourage the
Cuban leaders, it will require an en-
tire change of tactics to free Antonio
Maceo from the uncertain position he
occupies in the extreme west of Cuba
and in Spanish circles it is looked upon
In the light OF blow to the Cuban
cause. The plot originated and was
perfected in this city with the assist
ance Of the insurgent leaders in Cuba
the first blow was to be struck a
month hence. The revolutionary con-
gress has felt for some time the neces-
sity of seizing and holding a seaport
town, and has made several attempts
of
the coast OF Cuba Finally the CON-
gress decided that Nuevitas, on the
northern coast of Puerto Principe pro-
vince, was the most available point
1t is situated at the head of the har-
Dor of Nuevitas, which can be entered
only through a long winding and mar
row channel. The harbor is we'll
sheltered from the sea and affords an
excellent anchorage. The town is
NOT STRONGLY GARRISONED.
The coast line peninsula mail steam
er stops at Nuevitas at regular inter-
walls, and when there are supplies on
board the boat is escorted by a
Spanish cruiser. After long survey the
Cubans devised a plan by which
formidable demonstration could be
made at Nuevitas in order to force
General Weyler to send strong bodies
of troops to the eastern end OF Cuba.
1t was decided that it would be posi-
bic to blow up a Spanish vessel as she
passed through the narrow channel to
Nuevitas harbor and that the wreck
would so completely block the entrance
that no other vessel could pass in to dis
place the rebels after they had cap
tured the place. The insurgent presi-
dent emit listed the carrying out OF the
plot to one of the members of the
Cuban revolutionary party in this city.
The latter called to his aid an ad-
venturous young American who began
to perfect all the details. 1t was not
long afterward that the Spanish and
American detectives
WE'RE ON THE TRAIL
of the Cuban plotters. Negotiations
were enteretd into by the Cuban agents
for the purchase of a Cape Ann schoon-
er and a New England skipper was
employed to navigate her A small
steam tender was purchased, which
was to be carried on board the schon-
er. The entire outfit has been estimat-
ed to cost not more than $4,000 Those
engaged in the scheme were promised
in the event of success 800. 000-and one
half of any prize money found on
board the mail steamer to be trapped
authorities learned, with her crew, was
to sail from this port as a fisherman
She would carry in addition to thirty
days provisions for four men besides
the crew the steam tender, coal, sew
eral small kegs to be converted into
submarine torpedoes, an electric bat
terry and about 1000 pounds of dyna-
mite.
THE PROGRAMME
was to launch the steam tender at
night when near the Cuban coast, and
to work back and forth between the
spot and the schooner under cover of
darkness, using no ship lights. The
men who were to do the wrecking of
the Spanish cruiser. the dynamite and
other material were to be landed and
concealed on a plantation near the
coast close to the entrance of the
harbor. From this plantation the
Cubans could reach the channel and
a war ship could pass, in less than two
hours time.
Information received by the Spanish
authorities indicates that, as soon as
Nuevtas should fall and the cruiser
destroyed, strategic move
ments were to be made around Puerto
Principe, Santa Clara, Giubara,
Cardenas and other eastern points.
A reporter saw the Spanish consul
general yesterday. He claimed that
the Spanish authorities had received
INFORMATION OF THE PLOT.
He said guardedly:
I'VE hear occasionally of some of
these murderous and anarchistic plots.
Some time ago we learned of a plot to
blow up the Infauta Isabella off Key
West. We know enough about this
against a Spanish vessel
in Nuevitas harbor to prevent it's &C
If it ever is attempted.
The Washington office may know
more than I do. hardly believe that
the Cubans could blow up the Alphon
so XI, though I understand it is this
vessel they hope to attack, because that
vessel could not enter Nuevitas harbor
under any circumstances, as she draws
too much water. Nevertheless, 1 be-
lieve the Cuban insurgents are desper-
ate enough to undertake any heinous
affair for their cause is already
threatened with disaster.
Yes, you may say hat we know
all about the contemplated plot against
Nuevitas, and have taken proper pre-
cautions against its being carried out.
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