The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-01

fiie.nt a conclusion would be reached
by Friday night at the latest He ask
ed that. in view of this fact, no action
be taken by either house until after
THAT time or until the present negotia-
tons could be brought TO close. If he
took any of the senator's into his con-
fdence as 10 the basis upon which he
was proceeding they did not repeat the
information in the senate.
CUBANS WILL ACCEPT NO
ARMISTICE.
Havana, via Key West, Fla, March
30.-Sunday and Monday Were days Of
decided anxiety in the political and
buSinesscircles ofHavana, but yesterday
and today there has been a much more
quiet feeling Without being able TO
give any good reason for their belief
many prominent men seem satisfied
that peace is assured. The word
.,arInistice'' Is repeated from lip TO lip,
as If there were some magic within il
to solve the whole problem Of Cuban
strife. Those, however, w(no know
General Maxine Gomez. General Gar
cia, Senor Bortolomeo MasSo and the
other inSurgent headers best say that
all reckon without their host who be
leve these men will agree to an armiS-
tice, even if asked to do so by the Unit
ed States, unless it is plainly under
stood that the truce IS to be followed
Gby a recognition of Cuba lfbre.'
1t is argued that General Gomez, af-
ter holding out all through the dry sea-
son, win decline to agree to truce
during the rainy months in which the
insurgents would have the advantage.
On all sides it is regarded as almost
certain that if war does come il will
not come until all possible plans of ac-
cOrnmOdating difficulties fail. A Span
lard of high influence, talking recently
with Consul General Lee said: the
Sagasta ministry will not oe compelled
to fight to insure sef-protection. Sa-
gaSta could quiet Spain by prOclaiming.
'We have made Cuba an ash pile, a des-
ert. 1t is no longer worth any outlay
Of blood or treasure. 1T is only fit for
negroes and mixed lbloods. Let it go -
But very few take such a view of the
situation, although ignorant Spantards
might be deceived by such a declarya-
tiOn. Meanwhile it seems as if the
Spanish military and naval powers are
either convinced that there is no dam
ger of active hOstilities Cr are utterly
careless of the grave consequences that
the future may hold.
There are no visible preparations to
provision Havana in case of a blockade
nor is there amy notable increase in
the coal supply for naval uses. I'm the
opinion of Americans here ONE of the
graVest dangers lies in the fact that
the ignorant classes OF the city are not
| i'm any way advised as to the chances
| of war or seige. They believe Havana
| impregnalble and the fleet of Spain all
conquering. If rudely awakened to
other views, they might become dam
gerous and foster internal disorders.
| / PLOTS AGAINST LEES LIFE.
! Consul General Lee continues as
| 4heerful aus sunlight, despite the fact
J. that lle was warned last Sunday and
| Monday of five distinct plots against
his life. Of course he does not give
credance to such stories, and he lis
carefully guarded by the government,
but continued warnings of this kind
are not pleasant mental diet. The last
story was that he would be poisoned
| by a brfbed employee of his hotel. To
this General Lee replied by asking the
| newspaper correspondents who sat near
| him AIT meal time, in case he lis sud
denly taken ill, first to shoot his waiter
and then to run for a stomach pump.
| Since the report of the two courts
| of inquiry, the American and Spanish,
| have been sent in, the newspapers,
| clubs and cafes tlave been alive with
. all sorts of old and new theories.
| The exploded scandal about the
| drunken dinner on the City of Washing
ton and the other about careless and
| bad discipline on board the Maine are
| revived day by day. 1t is interesting
| to recall the fact that in the course of
| an interview which the correspondent
of the Associated Press had with cap
| tain Peral, who presided over the Span
| ish naval court of inquiry, the officer
| earnestly denied all such stories, pay
! ing Capain Sigsbee, his officers and
| men a high compliment upon the eff
| cheney of the discipline on board the
| Maine.
| WILD RUMORS.
Among Spanish lower classes it is
| runored that there is a. plot ON foot
TO blow up the Maine wreck with dyna-
| mite and to blow up the Vizcaya or the
| Almirrante Oquendo. Recently the story
gained circulation that three Americans
| had been arrested during the night for
| trying to blow up the wreck and had
| been sent to CubanaS fortress. The
only foundation fer this was that the
| Associated Press correspondent, with
a companion, visited the Fern after
dark for the purpose of reading a bull
| letin, TO the officers and had his boat
challenged repeatedly, as is usual, 10y
the marine SentinelS.
1t is now known here that Captain
Chadwick was the last Of the members
of the court of inquiry to make up his
mind that the evidence pointed incon
testably to an external explosion Cap.
|
Potter and Judge Advocate Mark wert
earlier convinced. AS soon as Oaptair
Chadwick was satisfied by a study o.
the wreck, the plans of its submarine
condition and the testimony Offered
Captain Sampson said: There is nt
use waiting here any longer" and the
| 'Mangrove sailed for Key West -four
hours after their minds were made up
The decision ITO go was taken so sud
denly that there was MO chance to Sanf
the rbattleShip Iowa for the court as
had been thought would be done.
ORDER FOR EXPULSION OF COR
RESPONDENTS.
DIR. Jose Congosto, nlne secretary gen
eral, has countersignAd the order.
General Blanco made on Monday tina.
the moment hostilities are declared b
tween Spain and the United States al
American correspondents are to be ex
PEELED from Cuba The orders are no
dated and can be enforced at any time
NEWS FROM KEY WEST
Key West, Fla, March 30.-The cabl'
| <r<sr,o tn, Dy-x- M Kxsxy VVs.<s