The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-19
DENLY CHECKED BY WELL
PLACED TORPEDO.
SIX MEN KILLED OUTRIGHT.
NEARLY ALL OF THE CREW MORE
OR LESS SERIOUSLY IN
JURED.
AN INTRIGUE AGAINST wEYLER,
Position of the Captain General Re-
Ing Undermined by "a Powerful
CabaI at Madrid.

HAVANA, Jan. 18-The gunboats
Centinela and Relampago left Manzan-
lilo on the night Of Jan. Is with the OBJ
Ject of going up The river Cauto to Fort
Guamo, in compliance with the orders
of Gen. Bosch. At 10 o'clock on the
morning of Jan. II both gunboats were
near Mango Landing when an explo-
sion or torpedo, which had been well
placed in the river, sank the ReIamp-
ago. Those Of the crew who survived
swan toward shore, but were fired on
from the banks At this critiotl nc
ment boat was launched from the
Centlnela, and nearly all of the crew
stllI IN the water were rescued. In
view OF the instructions, and the fact
that the commander of the Centinela
and nearly all Of the crews Of both gun
Doats had been seriously wounded, the
expedition had to return to ManzanilIo.
Senor Martinez, of the Relampago.
was seriously wounded IN the explosion.
as we'll as Assistant Engineer jacob
Du1s, Gunner Francisco Martinez and
the seamen Vicente Gener, Juan Cam
bello and Felix Dias, while Paymaster
Antero, Chief Officer Masquro Engi-
neer Pazadela, and also the pilot and
four others, were slightly injured Six
Of the officers and crew were killed out
right, and all Of the rest received
wounds of more or less severity. On
the gunboat Centinela the commander,
Senor Puerta, was seriously wounded.
while of the crew one was killed and
Corporal Manuel Cabanas, the pilot,
Duran, Assistant Engineer Martinez
ha
There is considerable complaint here
among newspaper correspondents and
others in regard to the alleged tam
per1ng with mail matter upon the part
of the Spanish authorities here, and
1t is believed that the attention Of the
United States authorities will be call
ed to the matter
Powerful influence continues steadiIv
working to bring about the recall Of
Captain General WeyIer In the first
place 1t is beyond doubt that the at
tacks made upon him by the Madrid
newspapers have placed the general
in very unenviable position toward
the government and almost any other
man would have resigned before this.
Then again, the sister-in-law' Gen.
Marin, the captain general of Porto
RICO, who was acting captain general
of Cuba, previous to the arrival here Of
Gen. Weyler, is actively intriguing in
his behalf at Madrid. She is a. lady Of
great influence in political circles, is
wealthy, of great intelligence and
knows when and how to spend money
in order to satisfy her ambitions. She
took the chance Of Gen. Weyler being
attacked and is reported to have been
throwing wood on the fire kfndled with
the intention of having Gen. Weyler
relieved and Gen. Marin appointed his
successor as captain general of Cuba.
In addition, the wife Of Gen. Marin,
who is also famous for her ambition
and generosity, Is skilfully working in
her husbands cause in Madrid
1t is said that she and her family
took away with them from Cuba nearly
s., ,000, 900, and this is one of the reasons
why the name Of Gen. Marin is not
favOrably received by producers here
as a successor of Weyler. The influence
of the Marquis Palmerola, who took the
ground that even Weyler is preferable
as captain general of Cuba to Gen.
Marin, has had the effect of strengthen
ing Gen. Weyler's position, although 1t
is not believed he can last much longer
unless he succeeds in inf1icting a severe
defeat upon the army of insurgents un-
der Gomez which is understood to be
steadily advancing upon Havana from
the East. Therefore, 1t is thought prob
able that Weyler will push forward
into the province of Santa Clara and
Gomez to fight pitched battle.
1t has only just leaked out from the
palace, the manner in which Weyler
received the news Of the death Of An
tcnio Maceo. At first Weyler would
not believe the report and announced
his intention of paying no attention to
1t until he received official cOntirma-
ton. This was brought to him while
he was at the breakfast table, where
uTon Gen. Weyler arose from his seat,
and raising his eyes heavenward ex-
claimed: MY good star, Fortune, IS
not yet eclipsed." This happened at a
time when, as well-known to the
captain generals most intimate friends,
he was disposed to resign.
Outside assistance is what the insur-
gents stand badly in need of at pres
ent, and without it. it is concluded,
they will be reduced to accept the terms
of Spain, although this may turn out
to be but a temporary arrangement
which will be followed by another and
mere successful insurrection in due
course of time. In any case, everything
depends upon the friends of the insur-
gents in the United States.
It is still insisted in Havana that
Gomez recently wrote to the New York
iunta informing them that he must
have additional supplies of arms and
ammunition shortly, or else the insur-
rection would die of consumption,
but in insurgent circles 1t is emphatic
ally denied, as we'll as the statement
that he has notified the junta that the
insurgents are prepared to accept auto
nomy. A peace party does exist smong
the insurgents, but is in the minority
at present.
A friend Of the insurgents who is
usually very we'll informed, was heard
to remark today that he did not be-
lieve that the main body Of the insur-
gents would advance further westward
than the city of Colon, in the western
part of the province of Matanzas, as
Gomez would be taking too great q
risk in SO doing with the resources at
his command. In these conditions
really energetic general with 10000 or
40 900 under his command, might be
able to make short work of the insur-
re ction, but Weyler is not Of the class
OF men who accomplish anything bril-
liantly.