The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-11
Consul General and Correspondence
from Havana Did Not Reach Key
West Untii sunday.
HURRIED ON TO WASHINGTON
REFUGEES RETURNED TO FLORIDA
NOT A PREPOssEssING LOT.
Lying Reports Printed In Havana Pa
pcrs Keep the PopuIace I'm Igno-
rance of the situation.

KEY WEST, Fla, April f0.-"Tell the Oil
vette to get under way at once, Captain
''owles; signal the Bache that the United
states fleet is ready to clear out of Havana
and please follow the Bache out ',sss a-s.ss.sAs
THESE WNre The words OF Consul General
Lee at 5:1a o'clock yesterday afternoon as
he stood on the poop of the Fern with
group of correspondents around him. 1t was
evident TO all that General Lee intended to
be the last to leave and murmur of ap-
plause went around in support of his inten-
ticn. The Evelyn had already passed Nor
ro Castle when the Olivette weighed an
chor. The Bache was close behind and the
Fern was the last of the line. The wharves
and boats on both sides of the narrow en-
trance to the harbor were crowded with
Spaniards who Kissed and jeered as each
boat passed 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 doffeG his hat in salute to the brave
dead, while silence fell on all for the space
of several minutes. General Lee being on
board the Fern made that boat a target for
redoubled misses, groans, cat calls and whis-
ties from the crowds on shore
Get out, Yankee swine' was among the
mildest expressions used. This seemed to
strike everyone on board as ludicrous. Vice
Consul Springer. who had been in the island
thirty years, waved his hand to a particu-
larly 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
Cabanas shore British stesmer was un-
loading at her wharf. As the Fern passed
the union jack was dipped while the Eng
lish crew gave a hearty cheer. 1t is need
less to say that the compliment was re-
turned with all possible gusto.
Havana seemed dazed yesterday when the
people found that General Lee was really
going and that all the Americans were 60
ing with him. Not to see the United States
flag floating from the staff at Casa Nuevo
struck many residents as little less than a
calamity. The correspondents were besieged
with eager questions as to the intentions of
the Americans and when they expected
a bombardment was likely to commence
The government officials seemed as much at
{ loss as all the rest Spanish officer of
high rank besought correspondent to tell
him if he had any news not made public
and affecting the future of the city. The
called with General Lee on Captain General
Banco also puzzled many, some believing
that this meant. an English alliance had
been settled.
The truth is that the Havana newspapers,
having been under such close surveillance
Tor months, have been made to publish so
many untruths, and have printed so many
tales of the United States backing down at
the demand of Germany. Italy. Austria and
Russia that the residents take no stock
whatever in anything published. Conse-
quently when they saw the Americans
leaving, despite the statements of the pa
pers that they had no intention of going
the people believed a crisis at hand. Under
instructions from General Lee, who went on
board the Fern Immediately after his fare
we'll cali on Captain General Blanco. the
consular people and the correspondents
went quietly on board in twos and threes
No one was molested or insuted but the
people stared curously as THE newspaper
men, TO whose presence all had grown ac-
customed. rode down to the dock with their
grips, canes and other hand baggage. show
ing their intention to depart. In fact Ha-
yana was kinder than the ocean outside.
All arrived at Key West to-day 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
Olvette hearty cheers went up as the
launch from the Fern, with the cor
respondents and consular agents on
board. put ashore. Several hundred
persons on the dock added their
shouts TO this iusty welcome. and for
some hours stayed gazing at the Fern, on
which General Lee could be seen pacing the
deck AT II O'Clock General Lee cafne
ashore and received an answer from Wash