Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-05
THINK SPAIN WILL WIN.
Idea Of Havana People that Should be Dis.
PEELED Soon.
SAMPSON GETS CLOSE INFORMATION.
An Escaped American Tells OF Important
Things In Havana-Prices of
Provisions Rising.

New York, May 5.-The Herald today
publishes the following Cuban advices
Gent via Key West:
Admiral Sampson received detailed
news from inside of Havana wher
Charles Thrall was transferred from
the Wilmington to the flagship off tn,
Cuban coast.
Thrall. acting as agent for the United
States government went to Havana oil
tie bark Matazas the day after Gen
Lee arrived in Key West. He was Q
manager of the electric light works al
Regla. opposite Havana. 1t is due te
Yankee wit that he escaped. He was
picked up by the Wilmington at Bacur-
aro. seven miles east OF Havana. He
told Admiral Sampson some important
news relative to the changes in the
guns at the CoJimar and Reina bat
tcries. which increased their strength
as well as widened the fighting radius
OF the guns
According to Thrall there is yet no
suffering In Havana for the necessities
OF life, ana there has been no riotiug
CT any consequence. The Spanish say
they have 100000 men, counting volun-
teers an those who man the batteries
but Thrall beliees there are not more
than 10000 in the city available at an
hours notice.
There has been as yet 10 marked
Increase In yellow fever or smallpox,
which TACT Is due to the continusy dry,
cool weather.
Havana he said, sis eager for war.
The opinion of the common people there
now Is that the Americans are afraid
to engage the shore batteries.
When the feet first arrived of Ha-
vana the city was panic stricken.
Failure to lombard at once had the eff
feet of restoring confidence 10 some ex-
tent, and was accepted as evidence OF
fear of the shore batteries. and after
the squadron had moved up and down
for As hours without firing a gun the
tide OF popular feeling in Havana is
that Spain will win.
"You ask ne what the people are do
Ing. The first answer to that question
which suggests itself is, 'curslng the
Yankees
Meat has gone up to SO a pound In
geld. Prices are still rising. 1t is i'm
possible 10 learn with any accuracy the
food supply of the city. From the palace
II Is reported that the provisions will
last indefinitely, but this Is not true. II
the blockade IL not raised the city
might held out some weeks, but each
day makes the peoples temper more
dangerous, and once famine grips them
Gen. BlancO viii be able to preserve
order only by the s,ernest measures"
MIR. Thrall stated that in spite of In
cessant work ON he batteries no more
big. high power modern rifles had been
added. Many small guns have been
mounted. however. ESPECIALLY to the
westward If the Santa Clara battery.
Havana is we'll supplied with am
munitlon for both large and small
arms. on Monday an American news
paperman was captured as a spy and
will probably be shot.
Thrall left Havana disguised as a
cattle drover. He hired out" with a
man who was moving bullocks to a
grazing place. He speaks Spanish per-
fectly. He deserted his employer in
the night and struck for the coast.
climbing the range coast hills and
postponing all efforts to sleep because
of his desire not to fan into the hands
of Spanish soldiers Near Bacuranao
he was fired on by sentries, but escaped
unhurt. Creeping to the sea, the
American saw two ships in the offing
which proved to be the Mangrove and
Wilmington. He hoisted a handker-
chief on stick and waved 1t For an
hour the handkerchief waved In vain.
Then he pulled off his shirt, tied 1t to a
stick with the handkerchief and waved
the two. Then came an answer from
I he Mangrove. The Mangrove notified
the wilmington and the latter sent a
boat to the shore and took him off.
Numerous shells have been fired into
the Cuban shore east of Havana dur
Ing the last two days by the Whining
ton.
The Wilmington. being n river boat.
can go almos. anywhere inshore and
her patrol Is from in front OF MORO
about II miles along the coast east
ward. As she keeps less than 1000
yards she is constantly watched by
the Spaniards, and has good oppor
tunity for watching them. Little
squads of cavalry can now and then be
seen following along the water front
shaking the carbines at the Whining
ton. and now and then firing a few
bullets. When this is done the VIII
mington trains one of her guns and
let's fly. The result is that there is n
great scampering OF Spanish horses
and tearing OF bushes and fiyinr OF
dirt as the shell goes home. These are
portions of about 1000 cavalry that
Gen. Blanco has sent to the east Tor
the purpose. apparently, of preventing
A landing OF United States forces in
the bay OF Barucanao.