Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-10-22
AN EXCITING TIME.
NEARLY a WAR WITH SPAIN.
General weyler Threatened 20 Fire ON an
American Vessel Hut Finally Backed
Down.

New Orleans, La, Oct. 19.-The
Times-D Democrats Key West special
says:
II the Spanish authorities had taken
Senior Angel Fernandez of the Ward
line steamer vigllancla while that yes
sci was in Havana harbor last Fri
day, United States war ships would
have Immediately been ordered to
Havana to enforce n demand for rep
aration, and war between this country
and Spain would have undoubtedly re-
suited. 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 authorities ignominIously
backed down and allowed the Vigilan-
ella to proceed to sea with Fernandez
on board.
A letter received here from cores
pondent In Havana who is close to
Consul General Lee gives n dramatic
account Of the episode. According to
the letter, when the yigIlancia put In
to Havana the Spanish authorities de-
manded the surrender OF Senor Angel
Fernandez. a Mexican on board the
vessel. The Spanish alleged that Fer
nandez was not a Mexican. but SUBJ
ject OF Spain. Captain John Mcintosh
of the vigilancla refused to surrender
Fernandez.
Then the Spanish authorities told
Mcintosh that II the vigilancia at
tempted to go to sea with Fernandez
on board she would be sunk by the
guns of Moro castle. Captain McIn-
tosh Immediately laid the matter be-
fore Consul General Lee. who compli-
mented the captain on his bravery and
told him to take the vigllancla to sea
when he pleased. Consul General Lee
was greatly enraged at the threat to
sink the Vigilancia, and is reported to
have said to Captain Mcintosh: "If
the guns Of Moro castle sink your ship
American war ships will be lombard
ing Havana In few days"
Captain Mcintosh returned to the
formed Weyler that the vessel was GO
Ing to sea. and that II any attempt
was made to take or Fernandez, or II
the vessel was fired upon, Spain must
take the consequences. weyler imme-
diately summoned cabinet council,
and while this council was considering
the matter the vigilancla began to
weigh anchor.
The Spanish officials on board pro
tested. but Captain Mcintosh said in
vigorous language, so the letter states:
ID your objections; my ship has
been cleared. My consul has told me
to go to sea. l am going and I dare
you to try to prevent me. Get of my
ship"
And. with that, the Yankee roughly
showed the Spaniards into the wait
ing boats, and the vigilancia, flying
the stars and stripes. started for the
mouth of the harbor, which Is COM
manded by the guns of Moro castle.
All was excitement in Havana, and
quays and housetops were lined with
hundreds Of persons who expected to
see the Vigilancia fired upon.
Consul Lee himself watched the Wig
ilancia through n glass. Meanwhile
signals were being exchanged between
Weyler's palace and Moro castle, and
in the latter place were signs of great
excitement. Slowly the vigilancia
entered the mouth of the harbor, and
then 1t was noticed that the guns of
Moro We're turned on the ship. The
Vigilancia repeatedly slgnalled Moro
castle, 81 am going to sea-" but no an
swer came from the fort until the ves-
sci was in blue water, and then the
Spaniards ran up the signal which
means Good by"
1t is said that weyler is furious over
the departure of the vessel and Consul
Lees course. 1t Is stated Weyler order
ed the commandant of Moro to sink
the Nigilancia, but at the last mo-
ment he yielded to the entreaties of
his cabinet and countermanded the or
der. The episode caused more excite
ment In Havana than anything since
the beginning of the war.