The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-22
THE UNITED STATES AND SPAIN
CAME VERY NEAR MINING"
LAST FRIDAY.
SPAN|ARDS ANONYMOUSLY BACKED
Down-Gen. Lee Told Weyler if Moro
Castle Fired on the Nigilancia, Spain
Must Take the Consequences.
Excitement Prevailed.

If the Spanish authorities had taken
Senior Angel Fernandez off the Ward
line steamer Nigilancia while that YES
sci was in Havana harbor last Friday,
United States warships would have been
Immediately ordered to Havana to en-
force reparation and war between this
country and Spain would undoubtedly
have resulted. For three hours Friday
the United States and Spain were on
the brink of war and the threatening
situation was only relieved when the
Spanish authorities ANONYMOUSLY backed
down and allowed the Vigilancia to pro-
coed TO sea with Fernandez still on
board. A letter received here from Il
correspondent in Havana, who is close
to Consul General Lee, gives dramatic
account of the episode.
According to the letter, when the Wig
ilancia put into Havana the Spanish
authorities demanded the surrender of
Senior Angel Fernandez, Mexican on
board the vessel. The Spaniards al
legged that he was not Il Mexican, but
Il subject of Spain.
Capt. John Mcintosh of the Vigilancia
refused to surrender Fernandez Then
the Spanish authorities told the officers
if the Nigilanca attempted to 20 to sea
with Fernandez on board she would be
sunk by the guns of Moro castle. Capt.
Mcintosh laid the matter before Consul
General Lee, who cOmplimented him on
his bravery and told him to take the
vessel to sea whenever he pleased.
Consul General Lee was greatly en-
ragged at the threat to sink the vessel
and is reported to have said to Can't. Nc
lntOsh IF the guns of Moro castle
sink your ship, American gunboats will
be bombarding Havana in Il few days"
Capt. Mcintosh returned to the Wig
ilancia and Consul Lee informed Gen.
Wcyler that the vessel was going to sea
and If any attempt was made to take off
Fernandez or if the vessel was fired ON,
Spain must take the consequences. Wey-
Ter Immediately summoned Il cabinet
| council and while this council was con-
sidering the matter, the Nigilanca began
to weigh anchor. The Spanish officials
on board her insisted, but Capt. McIn-
tosh said in vigorous language, the letter
states. oh your objections. My
vessel is going to sea. Get off my ship"
and with that the Yankee roughly showed
the Spaniards into the waiting boats and
the Nigilancia, flying the stars and
stripes, started for the mouth of the har
Dor, which is covered by the guns of
MORO castle.
! All was excitement in Havana and
the Quays and house tops were lined
with hundreds of people who expected
| to see the Nigiancia fired on.
Consul General Lee himself watched
the Viglancia through glass. Mean
while. signals were being exchanged be-
tween Weyler's palace and MORO castle
and in the latter place there were signs
of great excitement. Slowly the Vigil
| ancia entered the mouth of the harbOr
! and then it was noticed that the guns
! of Moro castle were turned on the ship.
| The Nigilancia repeatedly signalled
MORO castle. Il am going to sea-" but
no answer came from the fort until the
vessel was in deep water and then the
Spaniards ran up the signal which means
good bye
| 1t is said Weylcr is furious over the
departure of the vessel and Consul Lees
course. 1t is stated Wcyler ordered
the Nigilancia. but at the last moment
| he yielded to the entreatics of his cab
| met and cOuntcrmandcd the order. The
episode caused more excitement in Ha-
vana than anything since the beginning
| of the war,
Havana. Oct 10.--In the recent en-.
gagement at Tumba Truro Ybouct. an
| ad-de-camp of Antonio Maceo and Leite
Vidal. two insurgent leaders. were killed.
while fighting near GuiabatO. Rodcri-
guez was killed and Lucas and Ducass.
two insurgent leaders, were wounded.
1t is reported that the insurgents at
Union de Reyes. province of Matanzas,
are demoralzcd divided into small
groups and being actively pursued by the
troops. The insurgents in that district
are further said to be without hospitals
and to have many sick men among them.
A number are reported to have died
without medical assistance.
A detachment of about 215 Spanish
troops under Maj. Fundevial was en-
gagged for five hours with an insurgcnt
force estimated to number $500. under
Raoul, Aguirra. Valencia and Machedo.
The Spaniards captured the insurgcnt
positions at Tumbua COstra, Solcdad.
San Juan and Blanquizai. But, having
exhausted its supply of ammunition. the
column was compelled to return TO Cam
DO Florida. this province. Country pco-
pie of the vicinity of the scene of the
engagements say that the insurgents re-
tired with over fifty men killed. The
troops had twcnty-onc men more or less
wounded.
The quantity and quality of the con-
traband of war captured by the Span
iards from the Dauntless expedition is
much larger and more important than mt
first supposed. 1t is now stated that
1904 rifles. fifty-siX machetes, large
number of medicine chests and medicine
bags Il magnificent saddle of Russian
leather with silver mOuntings and mas
sivc silver stirrups. Il silk banner. some
important correspondence. quantity of
ammunition. some boxes and packages
marked in n manner showing that the
expedition left Jacksonville on Septem-
her 26. some labels of the Federico de
In Tore club of Florida and papers show
ing that expedition No. 3 had landed
thirty-two filibusterers in the river San
Juan. where it is reported that ladies
are assisting the expedition.
The flag of the Spanish gunboat Ar
dilla. which. with the Contramesta took
part in the capture. had nine bullet holes
and there were eleven shots through the
smoke stack.
Admiral Garcia Navarro will send the
insurgent flag captured and the flag of
the gunboat Ardila. together with some
of the insurgent arms and some insur |
gent postage stamps, etc, to the queen |
regent.
The minister of the colonies is to take |
into consideration the plan of the board |
of trade for issuing another lot of silver |
bank bills, which step is considered nee !