The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-11

KEY WEST. April 1o.-"Teli the OH
vette to get under way at once. Capt
Cowies: signal the Bache that the United
States feet is ready to clear out Of Ha-
vana and please follow the Bache OUT
These were the words Of Consul General
Lee yesterday at 5:l5. as he stood on the
poop Of the Fern, with a group of corre-
spondents around him. It was evident 10
all that Gen. Lee WAS to be the last to
leave. The Evelyn had already passed
Moro Castle when the Olivette weighed
anchor. The Bache was close behind and
the Fern was the last of the line. The
wharves AMI boats on both sides of the
narrow entrance to the hartor were crowd
ed 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 sat
isfactioE at leaving Havana. With one
accord. each man doffed his hat In salute
to the brave dead. while silence fell on
all for the space Of q few minutes.
Gen. Lee being on board the Fern, made
that boat target for redoubled Kissing,
groans, catcalls and whistles from the
crowds en- shore.
Get out. Yankee swine" was about the
r1ildest expression used. This seemed to
strike every one ON board as ludlcrous
Vice Consul Springer. who had been on
the island thirty years, waved his hat TO
al particularly abusive group saying. n,
tones loud enough for all To- hear: ..wast
wait. my friends; We shall all be back
soon.''
There was one pretty incident On the
Cabanas shore British steamer was IN
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 Gen. Les was real
ly going, and the American citizens with
MIN. Not to see the United States flag
floating from the staff at Casa Nueyo
struck many residents as little less than
a calamity. The correspondents we're be-
sieged with eager questions as to the In
tentions Of the Americans, and when the
fleet was TO be expected and lombard
ment was likely TO commence. The gov
ernment officials seemed as much al
loss as all the rest. A Spanish officer of
high rank besought n correspondent 10
! tell him II he had any news not made pub
lie and affecting the future OF the city.
| The fact that Mr.. Golan. the British
| consul, called with Gen. Lee on Capt. Gen.
| Blanco also puzzled many. some believing
| that this meant that an English alliance
| had been settled. The truth is, the Ha-
! vana papers have been nnder such close
| surveillance for months, have been made
| TO publish so many untruths. ard have
| printed so many tales or the United States
| backing down at the demand of Germany.
| Italy, Austria and Russia, that the resi-
| dents take no stock whatever in anything
| published Consequently when they saw
| the Americans leaving. despite the state
| ments OF the papers that they had no in
! tenticn Of going. the people believed a
| crisis was at hand.
| Under Instructions from Gen. Lee, who
| went ON board the Fern Immediately after
| his farewell cail on Capt. Gen. Bianco, the
| consular people ard the correspondents
| went quietly on board I'm twos and threes
| No one vas u1olested or insuissd, but the
| people stared curioasiy at the newspaper
| men 20 whose presence ali had grown ac-
| customed. as they rode down 10 the dock
| with their gfipss canes and other hand
| baggage. showing their intention TO de-
/ part. In fact. Havana was kinder than
l the ocean outside. All arrived az Key
1 West today IN a state of wreck Every
| body was sick. some more so than others.
Even The naval men did not escape. From
! the crowded decks Of The OIyette hearty
/ cheers went up as the Fern. with the cor
| respondents and consular agent on board.
| nut ashore Several hundred persons on
/ the dock added their shouts 70 this lusty
| welcome. and for some hours stood gazing
| al the Fern, on which Gen. Lee could bs
| seen pacing the deck. At about ii O'clock
| Gen. Lee came ashore and received an an
| Sver from Washington 10 his request for
| orders. sens earlier. After a brief recep-
| ton. Gen Lee went on beard the Oitvette,
which had been kept waiting. aud sailed
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