Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-10-23
CONSUL CALLED THE BLUFF.
Threatened to Sink an Amepi-
can Vessel.
Fold tina Captain 30 Proceed to sea
when NE Wanted TO, and If the
Spanish Fired ON Him. American
ships Would lombard Havana.

New Orleans, Oct. Io.-The Times
Democrats Key West special says: If
! the Spanish authorities had taken
Senior Angel Fernandez off the Ward
+ line steamer "Vigilcania' while that
. vessel was In Havana harbor last Fri
day. United States War Ships would
have been Immediately ordered to Ha.
vana TO force a demand for repara-
ton, and war between this country and
spain would have undoubtedly resulted.
For three hours last Friday the United
States and Spain were on The brink of
war, and the threatening situation was
only relieved when the Spanish authori-
ties ignomin onsly backed down and
allowed ne "Vigilancia" to proceed to
sea with Fernandez still on board.
A letter received her from a cores
/ pendent in Havana who is close to
Consul General Lee gives a dramatic
account Of the episode According to
the letter when the "Vigiancia" but |
into Havana the Spanish authorities
demanded the surrender Of Senior An
gel Fernandez a Mexican, on board
the vessel The Spanish authorities
alleged that Fernandez was not
Mexican, but a subject Of Spain Capt
John Mcintosh of the "Vigilancia" re.
fused to surrender Fernandez, Then
the Spanish authorities told Mcintosh
that if the "Vigilancia" attempted No
go 10 sea with Fernando on board
she would be sunk by the guns Of Moro
Castle. Capt Mcintosh Immediately
laid the matter before Consul General
Lee, who complimented the captain
On his bravery and told him to take the
'Nigilancia" to sea when he pleased $
CONSUL General Lee was greatly enrag-
"a at the threat to sink the "Vigilancia,"
md is reported to have said to Capt. Nc = !
ntosh "If the guns Of Moro Castle T
ink your ship, the American warships
Fill be bombarding Havana in a few
avs"
Capt Mcintosh returned to the
and Consul General Lee =
lformed Weyler that the vessel as :,
DING to sea and that If any attempt -
'as made to take off Fernandez, or if
he vessel was fired, Spain must take -
e consequences. Weyler immediately
lmmoned a cabinet council, and while
is council was considering the matter 81
e "Vigilancia" began to weigh anchor.
he Spanish officials on board protested.
It Capt Mcintosh said in vigorous ~
., IL
iections. My ship has been cleared. ~
y Consul has told me to go TO sea. /
l going and | dare you to try to pre- -,
mt me. Get off my shipm w.
And with that the Yankee roughly
owed tue Spaniards into the waiting
ats and the "Vigianeia," flying the
RS and stripes, started for the mouth
the harbor, which is commanded by ~.
guns of Moro castle. All was ex- IT,.
'ment in Havana, and the quays and tba
lsetops were lined with hundreds OF aio1
sons who expected to see the "Vigil- AZ,
ia, fired upon. Consul Lee himself hon
ched the "Vigilancia" through a a,a.
S. Meanwhile, signals were being he
hanged between Weyler's palace ~
Moro castle, and In the latter place islat
re We're signs of great excitement. thin
WY the "Yigiancia" entered the zatie
18th of the harbor. and then it was char
ced the guns Of Moro were turned able
''e sup ne ishancla repeat local
sgnaled Moro castle, II am going
to sea-" but no answer came from
fort until the vessel was in blue
=, and then the Spaniards ran up Ha
'ignal which means "Good-bye" men
is said Weyler is furious over the today
rture of the vessel and Consul scare
5 course. 1t is stated Weyler or earle
i the commandment of Moro to Robe
the "Vigilancia," but that at the last vaIua
ent ne yielded to the entreaties of Nellie
cabinet and countermanded the Nelli.
! The episode caused more ex- to 20;
tent in Havana than anything since inside
eginning of the war blow
---------------- his lei
on Went Rf~ Head Hm az