Evening star., 1897-01-06
WORK OF SPANISH cONSuLS
Getting Information Concerning Plans Of the
Insurgents.
Thousands offered q Supposed Spy
Original Documents That Tell
an Interesting Story.

The Cuban legation in Washington is in
possession of original documents which
they claim show to a nicely the system
follow ed by the Spanish authorities In this
country in securing information about the
plans of the insurgents and of the eff
forts of their friends in the United States
to send them assistance. The recent loss
of the Commodore and the general belief
that the boat was scuttled by Spanish
agent who managed in some way to get
aboard of her give to these documents a
special interest at this time. A member of
TIE Cuban party who has devoted him.
self to the cause of freedom conceived the
idea of representing himself to Don Mar
ciso Perez Petinto the consul of Spain in
New Orleans, as spy who could give TO
the consul information regarding the pro-
posed flibusterins expedition destined
for Cuba. The Spanish consul proved
the Cuban, as the following trans
lation of one Of the documents will
Illustrate The paper. which is sef-ex-
pla1 story, was dated at New Orleans Sep
temher IA, 1896. and reads as follows:
Senior Baldomero Herrera:
Sir: Having carefully examined the
propositions which you have laid before
me in three interviews we have had, tell-
ing ne:
That flibustering expedition of inn
portahce In men, arms and ammunition,
under the commands of the leader Roloff,
Is abe ut to sail from one of the ports of
tfe United States, or, as rumored lately.
from Honduras, or from one of the South
american republics, and of which expedi-
tlon you have made yourself a part.
Ihat you offer to tell me the name of
the ship, the day of its sailing, the port
from which 1t will SAIL that you contract
10 let me know before its departure the
point of its proposed landing on the coast
OF Cuba, SO that the expedition may be
of Of
Spanish navy.
That for this information you demand
reward of 5000 after the capture and
s:iO In advance if l accept your PROPOSE
tion
MY answer is:
Il acc ept. and l contract as consul of
Spain. duly authorized, to pay to you now
the $500 and aftcrward if through the
cor fidence tlat you offer to make the ex-
peo1tion should be captured by the cruis-
ers OF war of the Spanish navy, but only
IN case the capture should be made in this
folm, the sum of 5000 will be paid to YOU
inlme diately after tine capture is effected
IN virtue of what Is offered in this doc,i-
mt mt. (Signed)
NARCISO PEREZ PETINTO,
Consul of Spain"
The original of the above document is.
the CGbans declare, in the handwriting of
Consul Petinto and SO is the following
which he gave Senior Herrera when ne
handed him the 500. 1t is written on the
official laper of the Spanish consulate at
New orleans, and the translation reads:
Don Narciso Perez Petinto
., Consul OF Spain in New Orleans:
Il certify that Don Baldomero Herrera
mas promised to lend important services
to the cause of Spain, and in virtue OF
said promises l give him this safe pass
port, SO that If by the circumstances
through which he is going to pass he
should be arrested by the Spanish autnori-
ties. the proceedings against him may be
detaiEed Until consultation is had with the
minister of bis majesty in Washington
New Orleans September Is, 1886
tSigneO ''NARCISO PEREZ PETINTO."
The seal of the Spanish consul in pur-
pie is affixed opposite the consurs sigma
ture, the words Consulate de Espana en-
NGeva Orleans surrounding the Spanish
coat of arms.