The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-04
THE SEM-wEEKLY MESSENGERS: FRIDAY. MARCH 4. 1898.

ciate the difficulties to be encountered.
Whlle crfticising the naval divers for
their slownesS, II must be remembered
that theirs is grim, dangerous and Diff
fcult work. In muddy, foul water.
through a a Of riven steel, bent
iron, shattered gratings and ladders,
over upturned matches, heaped up coal,
scattered ammunition, guns chests,
machinery and electric wires, they
must make or cut their way. They
must exercise great care lest their air
tubes be severed by sharp projections.
Already many have had bad falls in
the uncertain light and difficult pass
ages. Nothing need be retracted, how
ever, from the former statement that
all the haste possible is greatly to be
desired. The huge weight Of the wreck
caused it TO sink daily deeper into the
soft mud Of the harbor, making the
task Of raising the vessel the more
herculian.
ARE AMERICANS IN DANGER?
The question is frequently asked:
Are Americans in danger in Havana?"
The only truthful answer given by a.
well informed resident or American, Of
fetal or layman, is: We think not:
we don't know OF course Spanish Of
Gals who will talk on the subject
deprecate any idea of danger, but they
are as much in the dark as the rest.
A we'll informed Cuban Of high social
position and on good terms with the
government said to the correspondent
of the Associated Press: ''Of course.
i'm h low dives n saloons there are
constant boasts by irresponsible per-
sons as to what they intend to do to
Americans; but these people are only
dangerous in case riOtous demonstra-
tons come from other quarters, such,
for instance, as the volunteers In the
ten years war the volunteers shot
many innocent people and were con-
trolled with difficulty, but it seems
probable that dissatisfaction is more
likely to be manifested later against
the autOnOmistS or against General
Blanco and his staff than against the
Americans, since the impression is
daily stronger that only a short time
will elapse ere Cuba will be annexed
to or under the protection of the Unit
ed States"
There are no signs of a demonstra-
ton against the Americans, and stories
to the contrary, thus far, are without
foundation. Still, Havana is no place
just now for those without the calls of
business Of duty. The season in in
clement and the variations of tempera-
ture are sudden and violent, causing
much sickness, especially the grippe.
HOT FIGHTING in CUBA.
Havana, March 1.-THE fight in
Puerto Principe was probably one of
the hottest since the opening of the
trouble. Tt is thought that when the
facts are known the reverSes will be
Spanish rather than Cuban. This is
believed here among the Spanish Them
selves, and the official report admits
greater losses on the part of the gov
eminent troops than in amy ngage-
ments of the war. The insurgents
could not lave had 5000 men engaged,
as the Spanish official accounts repre-
sent. Probably they had a 1000 Or I'M
der.
The insurgents continue to burn cane
fields and destroy plantations where
eve the owners fail to pay taxes to
President Masses government. They
loot cattle from under the very walls
of Matanzas, Cienfuegos and other cit
les. Today it is reported from apparent
ly reliable sources that Genera Calixto
Garcia is in santa Clara province with
5000 men.
Early on the morning on the 18th two
dynamite bombs were exploded IN the
railway line near HOlguin and 200 yards
of track was destroyed.