The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-10-20

There are Others Who Can Shoot, 100
Tells McIntosh to Clear Out-McIntosh
swears at the Spanish Onicers, While
Weyler Backs Down.
New Orleans, La, Oct 1S--The
Times-Democrat's Key West special
says:
IF the Spanish authorities had taken
Senior Sanguel Fernandez Of the Ward
line steamer Vigilancia while that YES
sci was in Habana farbor last Friday,
United States warships would have
been Immediately ordered to Haoana
to enforce a demand for reparation 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 ANONYMOUSLY backed down and al
lowed the Vigilancia to proceed TO sea
with Fernandez still on board. A aet-
ter received here from a correspondent
in Havana who is close to Consul Cen
eral Lee gives a dramatic account OF
the episode.
TRUE YANKEE GRIT.
According to the letter, when the Wig
ilancia put into Havana the Spanish
authorities demanded the surrender OF
Senior Sanguel Fernandez, a Mexican,
on board the vessel. The Spaniards al
legged that Fernandez was not Mexi-
can, but subject of Spain. Captain
John Mcintosh of the Vigilancia refus-
ed to surrender Fernandez. Then the
Spanish authorities told Mcintosh that
if the Vigifancia attempted to go to sea
with Fernandez on board she would be
sunk by the guns of MORO Castle Cap
tain Mcintosh Immediately laid the
matter before Consul General Lee, who
complimented the captain on his bra
very and told him to take the Vigilancia
to sea when he pleased. Consul Lee
was greatly enraged at the threat to
sink the Visilancia and is reported to
have said to Captain Mcintosh: IF the
guns OF Moro Castle sink your ship,
American warships will be lombard
mig Havana in few days"
LEE DEFIES WEYLER.
Captain Mcintosh returned to the Wig
ilancia and Consul Lee informed Weyler
that the vessel was going to sea and
that if any atennpt was made to take
off Fernandez or if the vessel was fired
upon, Spain must take the consequent
ces. Weyler Immediately summoned a
cabinet council and while this council
was considering the matter the Vigilan-
cia began TO weigh anchor. The Span
ism officials on board protested, but
Captain Mcintosh said in vigorous Ian
guage, the letter states:
Damn your objections. My ship has
been cleared. My consul has told me
. 20 U Il Ior
you to try to prevent me. Get off my
ship
And with that the Yankee roughly |
showed the Spaniards into the waiting |
boats and the Vigilancia, 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 |
bousetops were lined with hundreds OF |
persons who expected to see the Vigilan |
cha fired upon. Consul Lee himself |
watched the Vigilancia through a glass. |
Meanwhile signals were being eX- |
changed between Weyler's palace and |
MORO Castle and in the latter place |
there were signs of great excitement. |
Slowly the Vigilancia entered the mouth |
of the harbor Then it was noticed that |
the guns of Moro were turned on the |
ship. The Vigilancia repeatedly sig |
nailed Moro Castle: II am going 10 |
sea- but no answer came from the fort |
until the vessel was in blue water and |
then the Spaniards ran UP the signal |
which means goodbye"
1t is said Weyler is furious over the |
departure of the vessel and Consul Lees |
course. 1t is stated that Weyler order
ed the commandant of MORO to sink
the Vigilancia, but at the last moment |
he yielded TO the entreaties of his cab
met and countermanded the order. The
episode caused more excitement IN Ha-
vana than anything since the beginning
OF the war.