The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
FLED FROM PoRTo RICO.
Consul Hanna and Others at the Is
and of st. Thomas.

and of st. Thomas.
ISLAND OF ST. THOMAS, West Indies,
April lip. C. Hanna, the United States
consul at San Juan, Porto Rico, Thurs
day last as previously announced, received
instructions from Washington to proceed
Immediately to St. Thomas, leaving the care
of the American interests in the hands of
the British consul at San Juan. Mr.. Hanna
was further notified to await orders here.
The British consul accepted the charge,
upon receipt of instructions from London.
Previous to leaving Mr.. Hanna advised all
the United States consuls to move, adding,
however, that the American citizens who re-
mained in Porto Rico would enjoy the pro-
lection of the British consul. Mr.. Hanna
left his post on Friday in company with
Mr.. Van Sickle and the latter's wife; Mr..
Del Vale, the United States vice consul, with
the latter's wife and children, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Wyman Mr.. Van Sickle is the rep
resentative of the Standard Oil Company
at Porto Rico. The British flag was raised
over the United States consulate at San
Juan, Porto Rico, after Mr.. Hanna left, for
the protection of the property, and to Off
cially announce that Great Britain was car
iag for the interests of Americans. Up to
the time of Mr.. Hanna's departure the Porto
Rican government had no news of import
ance from Madrid, or if such news was re-
ceived, it was not allowed to become public.
1t is reported here that work on the forth
fications at San Juan was commenced the
very night Mr.. Hanna left that place.
The inhabitants of the coast towns Of
Porto Rico are seeking safety in the in
terror. Mr.. Hanna's departure facili-
tated in every way and there was no fric-
tiol between him and the Spanish authori-
ties. His personal relations were pleasant
and when Mr.. Hanna left San Juan Ameri-
can affairs in Porto Rico were in as good
shape as ii was possible for them to be. A
few native-born Americans remained on the
island of Porto Rico, but they Were ex-
pected to leave soon. Mr. Hanna arrived on
board a schooner which he had chartered
for the purpose. She was towed part of
the way here by the British steamer Vir-
ginia. Mr. Hanna's party was composed Of
about fifteen Americans and they were MI
in good health. The Spanish cruisers Viz
caya and Oquendo were at San Juan when
Mr. Hanna left that port.
The instructions from Washington,
through United States Consul Dent. for the
withdrawal of the United States consuls at
Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, were
translated here by the Jamaican author
tiles into the British government cipher and
were thus sent to the British consuls at
Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, who con-
yeyed the meaning of the messages to the
United states consuls. Mr.. Hyatt, at Sam
tiago de Cuba. doubted the authority of
Consul Dent in the matter and held the
steamer Brookline for nine hours, so as
10 be able to cable Washington on the sub
ject In reply he received by cable the word
60, and Mr.. Hyatt obeyed his instruc-
tions. Afr. Hyatt left the United States con-
sulate at Santiago de Cuba fun of pro-
visions intended for the reconcentrados, and
the British consul at that port, T.. w
Ramsden, took charge of the relief work
Hnrbor OF san Juan Mined.
NEW YORK. April fl.-A dispatch to the
World from San Juan dc Puerto Rico, says
"The entrance of the Vizcaya and the
Oquendo from Havana created great ex-
citement. Preparations for coaling are be-
ing pushed and seven steamers loaded with
Cardiff coal are coming. The work of forth
fication progresses rapidly and a system Of
coast photographs has been established The
harbor was mined during the night last