San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-04-29

Herald this morning says: The
Spanish authorities here and in
Washington have recently dis
covered a conspiracy formed by
Cubans to blow up Spanish war
ship and at the same time inter-
cept a mail steamship and rob her
of large quantity OF gold intend
ed for the government troops, in
the island. The plot included
further the capture Of the seaport
town of Nuevitas and contemplate
ed demonstrations against the
northern sections Of the eastern
Cuban provinces in order to par
ticipate a rush Of troops from the
west and effect weakening Of the
military trocha, across Pinar del
Rio.
While the disclosure of the con-
spiracy may not discourage the
Cuban leaders, it will require an
entire change in the tactics to at
tempt to free Antonio Maceo from
the uncertain position he occupies
in the extreme west Of Cuba, and
in Spanish circles it is looked upon
in the light of blow to the Cuban
cause.
The plot originated and was per-
fected in this city with the assist
ance Of the insurgent leaders in
Cuba; the first blow was to be
struck month hence. The revo.
lutionists Of Cuba have felt for
some time the necessity Of selling
and holding seaport town, and
have made several efforts to gain
possession of some small towns on
the coast of Cuba. Finally the
congress decided that Nuevitas, on
the northern coast Of Puerto Prin-
cipe province was the most avail
able point. 1t is situated at the
head OF the harbor of Neuvitas,
which is entered only through a
long winding and narrow channel.
The harbor is well sheltered from
the sea and affords an excellent
anchorage. The town is not
strongly guarded.
The coast line Peninsular
mail steamer stops at Neuvit
as at regular intervals, and when
there are funds and supplies on
board, the boat is escorted by a
Spanish cruiser. After a long sur
vey the Cubans devised a plan by
which formidable demonstrations
could be made at Neuvitas in order
to force Gen. Weyler to send strong
bodies Of troops to the eastern end
of Cuba. 1t was decided that 1t
would be possible to blow up a
Spanish vessel as she passed
through the narrow, channel to Ne.
uvitas harbor, and that the wreck
would so completely block the en-
trance that no vessel could pass in
to rout the rebels after they had
captured the place. The rebel
president intrusted the carrying
out of the plot to one of the men,
bers of the Cuban revolutionary
party in this city. The latter
called to his aid an adventurous
young American who began to per-
feet all the details. 1t was not
long afterwards that the Spanish
and American detectives were on
the trail OF the Cuban plotters.
Negotiations were entered nto
by the Cuban agents for the pur-
chase of a Cape Ann schooner and
a New England skipper was EN-.
ployed to navigate her. A small
steam tender was purchased which
was to be carried on board the
schooner. The entire outfit had
been estimated to cost not more
than $4,000.
Those In the scheme were prom
ised in the event of success $780,
600 and one half OF any prize they
found on the mail steamer to be
trapped and seized. The schooner,
the Spanish authorities learned,
with her crew, was to sail from
this port as a fisherman. She
would carry in addition to thirty
days supplies for four men, besides
the crew, the steamer tender, coal
for the tender, several small kegs,
an electric battery and about 1000
pounds OF dynamite. The schooner
was to take the far outside course.
The program was to launch the
steam tender at night when near
the Cuban coast, and to work back
I1A ch nd