The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-11-19
Sensational WAR RUMOR.
A REPORT WOULD INDICATE
THAT UNCLE SAM HAD DE
SIGNS ON CUBA.
ROADS ASKED ABOUT MOVING TROOPS
All Railroads to Southern Ports Are
Questioned as to Their Capacity.
The Insurgents Besiege a Town
for Five Hours.

Chicago, Nov. ia special dispatch
to the Inter-Ocean from Washington
says:
The war department has called on the
leading trunk lines running to Key West
New Orleans and other gulf ports for an
immediate statement of their capacity to
move troops, supplies and heavy war ma.
terial.
The information demanded is complete
TO the most minute detail and embraces
such questions as: "If you are required
to move 5000 troops over your lines with
necessary equipments and supplies, how
long notification will you require to per-
form the scrvice?"
Caution as to secrecy is imposed on all
roads called on for information.
ATTACKED BY INSURGENTS.
Havana, Nov. 1.-THE insurgents have
attacked the town of Cascioca in the
province of Matanzas. After firing upon
the place for five hours the fire was re-
turned by the garrison. The enemy re-
treated, leaving four men killed on the
field, plundcred the stores, burning sew
eral houses and wounding woman
A dispatch from Matanzas today saws
mat ten persons who were imprisoned
there on political charges have been re-
leased.
The insurgents, with the use of dyna-
mite have destroyed the bridge of Cal
derOn, province of MatanZas, at about
the time prisoners train was due 10
cross it.
Accounts from Gen. Weyler's field of
operation say that an insurgent encamp-
ment in the mountains of Rubi and
fifteen dwellings, lately abandoned, have
been destroyed and the household effects
scattered through the woods.
An epidemic of fever and smallpox. it
is reported, prevails in the insurgents
camp and among families, causing great
mortality, as many as five or six men,
bers of family having died from the
epidemic.
The well known insurgent leader.
Perico Delgado, is said to have been
seriously wounded in the early part of
the month and is recovering at Rubi,
having been carried thither by the insur-
gents.
Maceo and the other insurgent leaders
are now in the mountain retreats and the
Spaniards are continuing their com
bined movements against them, in pur-
suance of Gen. Weyler's plan.
THREE FRIENDS IN TROUBLE.
Jacksonville, Fla, Nov. 1.-THE
steamer Three Friends which was
seized at the mouth of the st. Johns
river last Saturday by the revenue cutter
Boutwell,, acting under orders from the
treasury department at Washington.
through the collector of the port, was
formally libelled and attached today. The
boat is now in charge of q deputy mar
shall The Three Friends is charged
with fitting out on May %, 1896, as an
armed cruiser. with the intent to be en-
ployed by certain insurgents or other
persons on the island of Cuba to cruise or
to commit hostilties against subjects and
of the island of Cuba and
against the king of Spain. The attach
lnent is returnable before the United
Btates court on the first Monday in De
lember. The governments information
is said to have been secured through two
persons who were passengers on the
trip and who afterwards made their way
back to New York, going thence to Wash
ington, where they divulged the facts to
the Spanish minister. If this be true
they will need body guard when they
come to Jacksonville to give their testi-
mony in the case.