Evening star., 1898-04-23

The Fleet I'm sight.

The Fleet In sight.
At pm. the semaphoIe signaled that IT
vas the United States feet which was in
sight, and at 6:IJ pm. a red flag was run
up at the signal station. warning guns were
fired from MORO Castle, and afterward
from Cabanas fortress. adjoining it. This
caused Z commotion throughout the city
and was the first real news of the war.
The cannon shots from the fortresses
stirred up the regular troops and volun-
teers throughout Havana and its vicinity.
and there was a rush to quarters The
signal guns from the forts re-echoed to the
palace and throughout the streets. causing
people To rush from the houses, with the
result that all the thoroughfares were soon
crowded with excited inhabitants,
Captain General Blanco heard the shots
while the palace. from which place the
generals and commanders of tha volunteers
promptly rushed. full of excitement AMI
v'arlika enthusiasm. Some time af;crward
the captain general. accompanied by his
staff. thc Generals and Others, left the PAL
ace and was warmly acclaimed by the sol
d:ers ard populace. The general then made
a brief. final inspection of the fortiiica tions
and went 10 a spot from which he could Sc,
the approaching fleet. There certainly was
no sign of alarm anywhere.
The Spaniards are confident that Ha-
vana is prepared for any evcntuaiity. and
they have great faith in The strength of
their forts. batteries, &c, ard in the ef-
.fectiveness of their heavy ARTILLERY. In
tact. In re was feeling o.. satisfaction
at tie wariike tremors which spread every
where when it was seen that the hour of
battle was apparently approaching and that
the Spaniards were soon to give battle
TO their enemies. Only these who witness
ed the deneanor of the people, military
and civilians. can understand the entnu-
siasm which prevailed on all sides
Crowds See the Elect.
As the time passed more and more peo-
PIE crowded to the spots from which the
fleet could be most favorably seen. By
so pm. there was a great movement of
the masses through all the streets and on
all the squares. The coffee houses and clubs
wei re crowded with excited people discuss
ing the arrival of the American warsh1ps
The Spaniards expressed themselves as
anxious to measure arms with the invad-
ers. and there was no expression of doubt
as to the result. Many of the stores are
closed as their owners and employees are
volunteers. and have therefore been called
to the defense of the city As this dispatch
is being sent the military authorities of
Havana are in consultation at the palace,
ara every precauton possible to the Span
iards has been taken to guard against
night surprise and to resist an attack if
the bombardment is commenced.
Scenes During the Evening.
Throughout the evening the scenes of en-
thusiasrn continued in the harbor districts
and San LaZaro avenue was full of people,
who shouted definances at the distant
American fleet. yelling Shoot away"
WHY don't you shoOt?" etc. When the
news of the capture of the Spanish steamer
Buena Ventura by the United States cruiser
Nashville twenty miles off Key West reach
ed here Admiral Manterola. the Spanish
naval commander, wished to prevent the
sailing of the American steamer Saratoga,
but Captain General Blanco was opposed to
this step. and she was allowed to sail.
1t was estimated this evening that there
were from 5000 to 1000 men under arms
in Havana proper. The district outside of
Havana. at the same time, was held by the
battalions of engineers.
Everything breathed war. Armed men
were TO be seen on all sides: the batteries
were alive with artillerymen. and carriages
and pedestrians were not permitted to pass
certain places, and outside of the Vedado
district no movement at all was allowed
Scout Boats Sent Out.
Scout boats were sent ou: from the har-
hor. always in a straight line. and they
will be coming and going throughout the
night.
Coasting steamers have been forbidden
to leave for ports on the north coast of the
island.
General Arolas, the military commander
OF Havana, has issued orders for the es-
tsblishment of patriotic committees to pre-
Vent criminal acts in case of panic dur
ing the siege. or should the city be bonn
barded. The local authorities and the
priests have been appointed ON these COM
mittecS.