The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
Cuba's Capital Said to BE Quiet, De-
spite RumOrs of MObs and
Threatened Riots.
MHSC0TTE At KEY WEST
WITH NEARLY 100 PEOPLE WHO
LEFT HAVANA YESTERDAY.
Business to BE Suspended To-day and
TO-MOrrOw, and a Demonstration
One of the Possibilities.


KEY WEST, Fla, April 6.-The steamer
Mascotte arrived here from Havana to-
night, with ninety-six passengers on board.
Consul General Lee was not among them.
He is still at his post. The Associated Press
correspondent at Havana, writing to-day,
says: After many days of foolish confidence
that nothing would happen. number of
people here, Americans and others, have
been plunged into equally foolish fears, tur-
moiI and all sorts of wild rumors in adj
vance of the message of the President to
Congress. People who should know better
insist that war has been declared; others
are equally sure that his Holiness. the Pope,
has secured peace with honor. Bankers
with close American connections are pack
ing their papers, collecting all possible
debts, arranging for guards for their vaults
and sending their families away. Cuban
women, with husbands. fathers or brothers
in the insurgent ranks, are in state of
terror, and are really much to be pitied,
all history on parallel lines shows no very
great consideration from Spanish rioters for
the gentler sex.
The few simon-pure Americans who re-
main keep as cool as may be with the tenn
perature at IS degrees in the morning hours.
The fact is so far as the officials and
newspaper men are concerned, they have
heard so many weird tales, which they have
traced to their sources and found mere bum
combe, that they are not prepared to be-
ieve any evidence but that of their own
senses.
When Consul General Lee says, with that
delightful chuckle of his, "Well, gentlemen,
guess we would better be getting our traps
together" all will stand to attention, for
mally salute. say, very good. sir" and
pack UP. Probably it cannot be done; but
it would be gratifying to sail out past
Moro Castle with the Yellow Fern as the
flagship in the lead, little but saucy, and
the Bache and Mangrove in her wake, all
decked with American bunting from taf-
rails to peaks, and with banners bearing the
legend, I'VE go, but will return soon," or
the shorter dictum, "See you later"
1t is fact worthy of record and to the
credit of the government here that, despite
it was we'll known that to-day was
crucial, with war probable and Spanish de-
feat certain, Havana up to IL o'clock this
morning was quiet orderly and self-con-
tanned BY Havana the city in general is
meant and not isolated cases of individual
excitement. The removal of the embargo
consequent upon the quarantine laws gives
relief to thousands. but the new trouble
arises of lack of transportation. No doubt
many will leave as the result of needless
here as anywhere, a possible bombardment
being left out of the account. Some of the
Spaniards still talk wildly about the United
States fleet being blown out of water by fire
from the Havana batteries on the water
front, but as careful practice two days ago
showed the inability of the gunners to come
within a hundred yards Of target on
smooth water at range of two miles or
thereabouts naval men need not be appre-
hensive of the effect Of the Havana guns.
The story sent North that forty mines had
been recently sunk in Havana harbor is not
verified. 1t is improbable. Likely enough
however, a single line and perhaps double
line of torpedoes has been laid in the mar
rowest part Of the channel near the en-
trance.
Yesterday afternoon the Spanish general
Alexander Rodriguez, with the subordinate
commanders Rafael Cardenas, Jacinto
Hernandez Luis de Cardenas and Jose
Camejo, with 1900 cavalry, passed near
Guines, this province bound west 1t is be-
lieved that the force has been ordered to
Join the other troops in Matanzas province
in order to repel the expected raid of Cen
erals Maxine Gomez and Calixto Garcia
details of which have already been given
No news has been received from the Moron
Jucaro trocha as yet, nor is there likely to
be any for some days, since the country is
in a state of as high excitement as the
city, and, indeed, owing to the distance
from the news centers, in even greater ex-
element