Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-06
LEE TALKS SPANISH.
HE WILL NOT SAY ANYTHING
ABOUT THE CUBAN SITUATION.
This =. M. Reply 10 n Question Re-
xarding our Presidential Election
Result-He VIII Return TO HsPana
shortly.

NEW YORK, November 5.-General
Fltzhugh Lee, accompanied by Thomas
Homes his private secretary. arrived
from Habana late last night. on the
ward-Iine steamer Vigilancia. The
steamer remained in quarantine until
,n,s morning. when she was released by
Hcalth-Ohicer Doty.
The General refused to talk about Cuba
He said he would take the hrs'
train for Washington. and return 70
Cuba I'm three or four weeks.
The Vigllancia arrived at her dock al
A. NJ. General lee was met at the
nier by a number of Cubans and Span
iards. some OF whom he had succeeded
IN llberatlng from MORO Castle. where
they had been incarcerated by General
Wewler as political piisoneds. When
ne was asked to talk about the situation
in Cuba. addressing a group of report
ers. he said:
"Now. boys. l understand your posi-
f,on and | think you understand mine.
You know II would be impolitic for me
10 say ANYTHING about Cuban affairs. even
aside from my official position.
The General looked extremely well, ana
was in exceptionally good spirits. RE
was asked what was his mission mere al
this time. and he said:
OUR ELECTION.
ooh only came up TO see how the
election went
Asked what ne thought of IT, he said:
"Paz a los muertos," which he Translated
ms let the dead rest" or peace TO the
dead"
When asked seriously what his mission
here was he refused TO tell, but said ne
would 90 10 Washington by the very
first train. and as soon as he had called
upon President Cleveland would so 10
Virginia and visit his family.
He said he would return TO Habana
In three or four weeks, and would be glad
when the time arrived for his de-
uarture for he did not relish the ldea
Of n winter here. when he could enjoy II
IN a pleasanter place.
Among those who met General Lee at
the dock were Lorenzo Betancourt ;. l..
Tolon. f. Zaldo. the agent of August Bel
mont & Co.'S banking house in Habana F.;
Louis Place. wealthy cuban planter
and Miguel Mendoza. They all congratu-
lated General Lee. and thanked him for
his work on behalf of Americans In CUBA.
HABANA. November 5.-There is one
feature Of the situation which is causing
the insurgents considerable satisfaction
and that is the visit Of the United States
Consul-General, Fftzhugh Lee, TO the
United States. They insist in spite of
all official denials that the relations be
tween the government at Washington
and the Cuban authorities are OF de-
cidedly strained nature. and they fur-
Their claim that the interviews which are
expected to take place shortly between
General Fitzhugh Lee, President CieVe-
land. and Secretary Olney will lead to
important and new departures In poncy
mon the part Of the United States Gov
eminent. The more hot-headed of the
insurgents continue maintaining that the
intervention of the United. States Gov
eminent in Cuba is certain before long.
as the insurgents, the latter insist, have
demonstrated their ah'''.~ - maintain
for more than year past permanent
and independent government In Cuba, ana
TO keep two large armies In the
field. in spite of the fact that Captain
General Weyier has some 10000 troops.
They added that the Spaniards are no
longer in possession OF anything more
than the large cities Of the island, and
that with the investment of Habana- the
fa,l Of several Of these cities would Ne an
ticiuated
SPANISH NERVOUSNESS.
The position Of newspaper correspon-
dents in Cuba is daily becoming more
and more difficult. owing to the strict
ness with which the censor entorces the
new regulations. He is so nervous about
the matter that he sees attacks on
Spain everywhere. and does not take the
responsibility of signing most OF the
matter cab.ed prcferring TO throw the
responsibility upon the Captain-General
chief of STAFF, with the result that very
little accurate news can be cabled from
here. unless by using secret codes when
battle the Spanish officials or by trans
hitting the message via Key West.
In face OF the insurgent statements OF
their inact'v' the Captan-Generai
holds that his troops have now occupied
the positions formerly held by Antonio
Naceo. and that the latter Will never De
able to reoccupy them the insurgents
add that they hope Maceo may never
want TO do so.
THE VIGILANCIA AND WEHLER.
NEW YORK. November 5.-Captain
Mcintosh Of the Vigilancia, which ar
rived to-day, reluctantly told the story OF
General Weyler's attempt 10 take a
passenger from his vessel. and his failure
10 10 so He said no threat that he
know of was made to fire upon his craft
unless ne gave the man up. The pas
senger he said was Antonio Escelante.
who boarded the Vigilancia at this CITY,
and was bound for Vera Cruz. The man
claimed 70 be an American citizen. When
at Habana the Chief OF Police OF That
CITY came aboard and said that General
Weyler had received letter from this
Tty CNew York;; that Escelante was a
Spanish subject. and was on his way
TO Mexico TO escape military duty; and
on the strength of that communication
General Weyler demanded the surrender
of the man. Captain Mcintosh told the
chief of Police that unless Consui-Gene-
raj Lee consented TO the mans surrender
he would not give him up without a
fight. His vessel was then lying in Ha-
bana harbor. He was advised that Gene
rai'I,ee had refused 10 surrender the man,