The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-03-03

Capt Sampson, Capt Cadwick and
Lieut. Commander Potter came ashore
and arranged preliminary details for
the sessions of the court
Martin Redding, a diver, returned
here Sunday. He was taken to Havana
10 work on the wreck and his arrival
caused much comment, it being said
that he had talked too much at Havana
and had been removed in consequence.
On his arrival he held forth at consd-
erable length before a street corner
audience and but little credence could
be given to his numerous statements
Rr. Adm Sicard has had frequent con-
ferences with Capt. Sampson and other
members of the court of inquiry at the
hotel. He said Sunday night: Il think
they ought to get away on Wednesday.
AS yet there is nothing that can be
said about their work"
In reply to a question as to the ru-
mored removal of the war ships to
Cuba, Adm. Sicard said: THE fleet is
now moving and know nothing about
it going to Cuba. Still you know l
have steam up and could go anywhere
il ordered"
He was asked if anything had hap
pened to justify the statement that the
situation was more serious to-day then
it had been. and he replied: They
know at Washington about that. Just
how strained our relations are with
Spain am unable to say"
The excitement Saturday after the
arrival of the Cuban filibusters, head.
ed by Gen. Nunez and Capt. John
O'Brien, completely eclipsed all the
doings and sayings of the court of in
quiry officers Their quick departure
prevented very much being learned as
to the expedition, but the Cubans here
are elated. An expedition has been
preparing to get away from Key West
for some time, but it probably will
suffer another delay, as the plot has
leaked out through two Spanish spies.
HAVANA, Feb Ex-senator Proctor,
of Vermont, arrived here Saturday.
He comes on mission similar to that
of Calhoun last year, and will make
special investigation of the general
prevailing in Havana and in
the island, as well as into the Maine
disaster. He expects to remain ten
days or two weeks.
TAMPA, Fla, Feb. 2S.-Capt Eanlon,
Of the Plant steamship Mascotte,
which arrived here Sunday night from
Havana, was granted an audience Sat
urday by Consul General Lee, and
took breakfast with him at Hotel In
gleterra. To him Gen. Lee positively
denied the reports to the effect
that he had advised Americans to leave
and that he has discovered no
evidence of any anti-American feeling
there, and that he anticipated no un-
friendly demonstration whatever the
finding of the court of inquiry in the
Maine disaster might be.
Capt Hanlon states that the body
guard of Gen. Lee consists OF only
three soldiers, and that fewer soldiers
were in evidence on the streets
Of Havana than usual, and that
no excitement among the people
there had been caused by the
of war published in the papers
Of this country. Gen. Lee admitted to
Capt. Hanlon that both Cubans and
Spaniards are intensely interested in
the result of the investigation by the
board of inquiry, but said that further
than that reports of excitement or
threatened demonstrations were
yroundless.
HAVANA, Feb. 2s-The excitement
in the city, growing out of the Maine
continues unabated. An
outbreak of some kind, sooner or later,
IS expected.