The Dickinson press., 1896-10-24
WEYLER BACKS DOWN.
An Order to Sink an American shi
To- In


In COunterma nded.
Key West, Oct. 21.--If the Spanish
authorities had taken taken Scnor
Angel Fernandez off the Ward line
steamer Vigilancia while that vessel
United States warships would have
Immediately been ordered to Havana
to enforce demand for reparation
and war between this country and
Spain would have undoubtedly result
ed. For three hours last Friday the
United States and Spain were on the
brink of war, and the threatening sit
uation was only relieved when the
Spanish authorities tremendously
backed down and allowed the steamer
to proceed to sea with Fernandez still
on board. A letter received here from
q correspondent in Havana who is
close to Consul General Lee, gives a
dramatic account of the episode. Ac-
cording to the letter, when the Vigil
lancia put into Havana the Spanish
authorities demanded the surrender
of Senor Fernandez. a Mexican, on
board the vessel. The Spaniards al
legged that lie was not Mexican, but
subject of Spain. Capt. John Mcln-
tosh, of the steamer. refused to sur
render Fernandez. Then the Spanish
authorities told Mcintosh that if the
steamer attempted to go to sea with
Fernandez on board she would he sunk
by the guns of Moro castle. The cap
tain Immediately laid the matter be-
fore the consul general. who compli-
mcnted the captain On his bravery and
told him to take the steamer to sea
When he pleased. Consul Lee was
greatly enraged Mt the threat to sink
the Vigilancia and is reported to have
said to Capt. AcIntosh: "If the guns
of Monroe castle sink your ship Ameri-
can warships will be bombarding Ha-
vana in a few days"
Capt. Mcintosh returned to the Wig
ilancia and Consul Lee informed Wey-
Ter that the vessel was going to sea,
and that if any attempt was made to
take off Fernandez or that if the vessel
was fired upon Spain must take the
consequences. Weyler Immediately
summoned cabinet council and while
this council was considering the mat
ter the steamer began to weigh anchor.
The Spanish officials on board pro-
tested but Capt. Mcintosh said in Wig
damn your objections, my ship has
been cleared. My consul has told me
to go to sea. l 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, fly
ing the stars and stripes, started for
the mouth of the harbor which is COM
manded by the guns of Moro castle
All was excitement in Havana and
the quays and house tops We're lined
with hundreds of persons who expect
ed to see the steamer fired upon.
Consul Lee himself watched the
vessel through a glass, meanwhile
signals were being exchanged between
Weyler's palace and Moro castle, and
in the latter place there were signs of
great excitement. Slowly the steamer
entered the mouth of the harbor and
then it was noticed that the guns Of
Moro were turned on the ship. The
Vigilancia repeatedly signalled Moro
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 Good by"
1t is said that Weyler is furious over
the departure of the vessel and Con-
sui Lees course. 1t is stated Weyler
ordered the commandant Of Moro
castle to sink the vessel, but that at
the last moment he yielded to the en-
treaties of his cabinet and counter
manded the order. The episode caused
more excitement in Havana than any
thing since the beginning Of the war.