The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-04-12
GEN. LEE ARRIVES.
Great Crowds Greet Him Mt Key
West.

treat CfOWUS WAsct AAA -
Key West, Fla, April II. Tell the
Oliyette to get under way at once,
Capt. Cowles; signal the Bache that
the United States feet is ready to
clear out of Havana, and please fol
low the Bache out"
There were the words Of Gen. Lee
at 5:15 Saturday afternoon as he stood
on the poop of the Fern with group
of correspondents around him. 1t was
evident to all that Gen. Lee intended
to be the last to leave and a murmur
of applause went around in support OF
his intention. The Evyln had already
passed MORO castle when the Ollvette
weighed anchor The Bache was close
behind and the Fern was the last OF
the line. The WharveS and boats on
both sides of the narrow entrance TO
the harbor were crowded with Span
iards. who h ssed and jeered as each
boat went out.
AS the fern rounded to, heading for
the open sea, she passed near the
Maine wreck. The group on deck had
been laughing and talking, expressing
their satisfaction at leaving Havana.
With one accord each man dof1ed MS
hat in salute to the brave dead, while
silence fell on all for the space OF sew
eral minutes. Gen. Lee being on the
Fern made that boat target
For Redoubled Kisses,
groans. cat-calls and whistles from the
crowds on shore. "Get out Yankees,
swine" were among the mildest express
sions used. Vice Consul Springer,
who had been in the island thirty
years. waved his hand to a particularly
abusive group, saying in tones loud
enough for all to hear: "Wait, wait
my friends, we shall all be back soon.
There was one pretty incident on the
Cabannas shore A British steamer
was unloading at her wharf. AS the
Fem passed the Union Jack was
dipped, while the English crew gave Il
hearty cheer. 1t is needless to say
that the compliment was returned
with all possible gusto.
Havana seemed dazed when the
people found that Gen. Lee was real
ly going and that all the Americans
were going with him. The correspond
ents were besieged with eager ques-
tions as to the intentions of the Ameri-
cans, and when the fleet expected a
bombardment was likely to begin. The
government officials seemed as much
at loss as the rest. The fact that
Mr. GolIan, the British CONSUL called
with Gen. Lee on Capt. Gen. Blanco,
also puzzled many, some believing that
this meant an English alliance had
been settled The truth is that the
Havana newspapers have been under
such
Close Surveillance
for months; have been made to publish
f1sI1tI he no w
many tales of the United States back
ing down at the demand of Germany,
Italy, Austria and Russia, that the
residents take no stock whatever in
anything published. Consequently,
when they saw the Americans leaving
despite the statements of the papers
that they had no intention Of going.
the people believed q crisis was at
hand.
Under instructions from Gen. Lee,
who went OH board the Fern immedi-
ately after his farewell call on Capt.
Gen. Blanco, the consular people and
the correspondents went quietly on
board in twoS and threes. No one was
molested or insulted. All arrived at
Key West Sunday in state of wreck.
Everybody. was sick, some more so
than Others Even the naval men did
not escape. From the crowded decks
of the OIivette hearty cheers went up
as the launch from the Fern with the
correspondents and consular agent on
board were put ashore. Several hun
dred persons on the deck added their
shouts to this lusty welcome, and for
several hours stayed gazing at the
Fern. on whose deck Gen. Lee could be
seen pacing the deck. At about II
o'clock Gen. Lee came ashore and re-
ceiyed an answer from Washington to
his request for orders sent earlier. At
ter a brief reception Gen. Lee went
on board the Olivette, which had been
kept waiting, and sailed for Tampa at
noon. He goes direct to Washington.
Madrid. April 12.-Dispatches from
Manila say that the insurgents have
captured Cebu, but were expelled later
by the Spanish garrison with an in
surgent loss of 800. The Spanish losses
are described as insignificant.
London. April II. The Rome cor
respondent of the Sunday Special says
Archbishop Ireland has cahled to the
Vatican as follows: Il am in despair.
There is no longer any hope of pre-