Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-20


Stars and Strips Flying, was
Sailing on and Bantering the
Spaniards to Fire-Some VigOr-
Gus Languages Used by the Cap
tain to the Spanish Representa-
tives.
New Orleans, La, October 19.-Th'
T.mes-Democrats Key Wes- special
says:
If the Spanish authorities had 'aken
Senor Angel Fernandez of the Ward
line steamer Vigilaucia while chat vessel
was in Habana harbor last Friday, Unit
ed States war ships would have been i'm
med.ately ordered to Havana TO force a
demand for reparat.on, and war between
this country and Spain would undoubl-
edly have resulted For three hours
last Friday the United States and Spain
were on the brink Of WEI and the threat
enng situation was only relieved when
the Spanish author.,e ignominiousIy
backed down and allowed he Vigilancia
to proceed to sea wi,a Fernandez still
on board.
A letter received here from corre-
spondent in Havana VINO is close TO Con-
sui General Lee. gives dramatic ac-
count of the pisode.
According 10 the letter, when the Nlg-
tlancia put into Havana, The Spanish
authorities demanded the surrender OF
SenOr Angel Fernandez, MeXion, on
board the vessel. The Sp3uIards all
legged that Fernando was not Mexican
but subject of Spain. CapaDin JOhn
Mcintosh, of the N.gilancia, refused TO
surrender Fernando. Then the Span
ish authorities told Mcintosh that if tho
Vigilancia attempted to 90 10 sea Win
Fernandez on board, she would be sunk
by the guns Of MORO Castle. Captain
Mcintosh Immediately laid the matter
before Consul General Lee, who clmpi.-
mented IN ecapJain on his bravery and
joid him to take the Vigilancia 10 s-L
when he pleased. Consul Lee was great
ly enmged at the threat 10 sink the Wig
ilancia. and is reported 20 have said 10
Captain Mcintosh: If the guns of Nor
TO Castle sink your ship, the American
war ships will be b0mbaTding Havana
in a few days"
Captain Mcintosh returned 70 the
VigaleHcia, and Consul Lee informed
Weyler that the vessel was going lO sea
and that If any attempt was made TO
take off Fernandez or that If the yes
sci was fired upon Spain must take the
consequences. WeyIer Immediately
summoned a cabinet council and while
this council was considering the mat-
ter, the Vigilancia began to weigh an
Choir The Spanish officials on beard
protested but Captain Mcintosh said,
in vigorous language the latter states,
Damn your objections; my ship has
been cleared My consul has told me to
go to sea. | am going and / dare You
TO try 10 prevent me. Get off my shis -
and with that the Yankee rCuhly showed
the SpaniardsI into the waiting boats,
and the Vigilanc.a, flying the stars and
stripes. started for the mouth Of the
harbor. which is commanded by The
guns of Moro Castle All was excite
ment in Havana and the quays and
mouse top were lined with hundreds
of persons who expected 10 see the
Vigilanc!a fired upon.
Consul Lee himself watched the
Vigllancia through glass. meanwhile
signals being exchanged between Wey-
lers palace and Moro Castle, and in
the latter place there were signs of great
excitement Slowly the Vigiiancia en-
tered the mouth Of The harb0r and then
it was noticed that the guns of Moro
were turned on the ship. The Nigi-
lancia repeatedly signailed Moro Cas-
tie 81 am going TO sea- but no answer
came from the fort until the vessel
was blue water and then the Span
iards ran mp The signal which means
good bye"
IL is said that Weyler is furious over
the departure Of the vessel and Consul
Lees course. II Is stated Wey.er Or
dered the commander OF Moro TO sink
the Vigilancia but that az the last m0-
ment he yielded 10 the enrea,ies OF
his cabinet and COuutermanded the
order The episode caused more eX-
citement in Havana than anything
since the beginning Of the war;