The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-17
OLD CUBAN TROUBLES.
Steamship Eagles Escapade in South
ern Waters.

Slipped into the Harbor of Havana with
the Shotted Guns of a Man-of-Wa Point
ed at Her a stones Throw Away-Eye-
Witnesses Story.
Des Moines. Iowa, June 1.-THE I'M
disguised desire of the United States
to acquire possession of Cuba has been
source of irritation to Spain for many
years. At the time of the Lopez filibus-
tering expedition the Americans on the
Island were subjected to insults and their
lives were IN constant danger from the
populaoe, in spite of the fact that Presi-
dent Fillmore had outlawed the filibus-
terers. Lopez had been distinguished
Spanish officer stationed on the island
and aspired to become captain general
Failing in that, he became discontinued
and allied himself with the secret revo.
lutlonlsts. The Shareholders in the South
were anxious to acquire the island that
the political power of the slave states
might he streng thened, hence they aided
Lopez in getting up his expedition.
They, however, advised him against sail
Ing in its incomplete condition.
Lopez had advice from the island as
surfing him that everything was ripe for
an uprising and that the moment he set
foot on land there would be a popular
revolt, which would sweep the govern
| ment Into the seas His former popular
| ity, perhaps, had some weight In causing
| him to discard the advice Of tho Ameri-
cans. The landing was successfully made
but the populaoe did not revolt They
waited to see which side was to be vioto-
rious. The filibusterers were Adventures
of nearly every tongue except American,
but they were good fighters. Several en-
gagements took place, in which the
| Spanish troops were defeated. Reinforce
ments were going to their aid from every
| direction, however, while the invaders
did not obtain o recruit. Every engage
ment, therefore, weakened them.
FILIBUSTERS WE'RE ALL Exc
CUTED.
| Desiring to reach certain point, Lopez
divided his force and marched in two
columns, but by some oversight the am
munition was all with the column of
Lopez. The other was captured. Upon
ascertaining this Lopez broke up his
command and ordered each one to look
out for himself. They did not lock out
very long. They were run down by
bloodhounds, and every man, woman
and child who could give Information
against them fastened to the officers
with their stories. The American consul
| made an attempt to prevent the whole
sale executions, but the Spaniards shook
the proclamation of President Fillmore
| in. his face and asked him what he WAS
going to do about it. Before the consul
could communicate with Washington the
| flibusterers were all dead.
| President Pierce assisted the slavehold-
ers in every possible way, agreeable to a
contract signed and looked up in the safe
of Col. John. II. George in Concord, n.
H., several months prior to the nomina-
tion. The Cuban matter during his ad-
ministration was overdone and rendered
aportiHe, except in or eating All ugly feel
| ingF partially overshadowed by ridioule.
Pierre Soule was appointed minister to
| Spain, an appointment which was an
unqualified insult to that country. Then
came the Ostend manifesto issued by
Buchanan, Soule and Mason. The mani
IeSIO proposou tno purchase VI Cupes, II
| Spain would sell at the price offered; In
the event she refused. the other plan was
to walk down and take it anyhow. Tbs
commissioners were self-appointed, and
the manifesto was characterized as day
light robbery. Europe was filed with
laughter and the North with shame and
anger. However, the South saw presi-
Dental timber in Buchanan and that
was what he wanted. In the Buchanan
campaign the cartoonists represented him
as holding out to Spain purse in one
hand and sig shooter, muzzle first, in
the other, telling Spain to take he:
choice. Cuba, as little scared negro,
was standing between Buchanan's feet.
NAIL STEAMER EAGLES ESCA.
PADE.
The closest call which the two countris
ever had to open rupture occurred Nov.
2. 1862 and has never been made public.
In 1868 rebellion broke out on the
island and the Cuban junta in New
York raised considerable money to carry II
on. also using every means within its
power to embroil the United States with
Spain. The latter felt aggrieyed that
the junta was permitted to exist and
openly carry on it's work in the heart OF
| a nation with which she was at peace,
though President Grant Eeld to strict
neutrality with steady hand. The junta
made great efforts to hire foreigners tc
enter its service. and with this object in
view secured Gen. Jordan to command
them. Gen. Jordan served in the Con.
federnte army during the great rebellion
and at its close went to New York to re-
side. He was engaged by the junta for
one year. the consideration being $40, DOC
down and an insurance OF $50, 600 on his
life in favor Of his wife. The foreigners
whom Gen. Jordan was expected TO oom-
mand did not materialize. The general,
| however, was the life of the insurrecJion
for the twelve months, and then succeed
ed in escaping, soon after which the wal
simmered out. American sympathies
were largely with the insurrectionists, as
is likely to be the case when foreign
countries are treated with them. Gen.
Banks had bill before Congress to rec
ognize the insurreotionists as belligerents
which served still further to keep things
| warm.
At this important junoture trouble
aros. between the Spanish authorities
and the steamship Eagle, carrying the
United States mail between New York
and Havana. The authorities had been
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