Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-05
THE SPANISH FLEET.
News at Washington Of lts Depar-
tire from Cape Verde.
uIrouSDED REPORT OF 1RnsOy.
Bumor Arose from the Strange Action Of
Fireman on the Puritsn--striot Secrecy
Ordered Regarding War Plans-
Bombardment CansPd.

ordered koHnf0lnB Wef flAne-
Bombardment CanaFd.
WASHINGTON, April s0.-This was q
day Of alarming rumors, running al
the way from the blowing up Of a big
monitor to the detection and punish
ment Of traitors, but fortunately, all
turned out on inquiry TO be without
foundation. Actual events Of impor'
tance were few In number. The news
Of the day Of most interest was the
departure from Cape Verde Of the
Spanish feet the stay Of which 81
81 Vincent has been . source Of
anxiety on the part Of omcisls here
because II seemed 10 indicate the
sympathy Of Portugal for Spain might
LEAD her TO wink at . violation Of
neutrality laws In favor Of Spain.
Late In the afternoon . cable.
gram came to the state department
from Cape Verde, bearing no signature,
announcing that four battleships and
three torpedo boats had started north
and some Of the transports for Cuba,
and that the northern feet returned
4 shortly, having been In collision. BE-
cause there was no signature attached
the officials did not know what i'm
portance to attach TO this message, as
these are not times TO accept what sp-
pesrs TO be information without close
scrutiny. The statement that the YES
sels when leaving St Vincent were
headed In southerly direction Is
vslusless as an indication as to the
real course Of the fleet The majority
Of the naval officers here feel con-
6dent that the Spanish feet will next
appear at the Canary islands, about
half way between Cape Verde and
Spain, and lying directly In the home
ward path Of the ships As the Cana
ries are Spanish islands and possess
some Qualifications worthy Of consider.
alton, II may be that the feet will be
allowed to remain there for some time,
n the islands form a good strategic
base What most concerns the navy
officers just now Is how 10 learn when
the feet does arrive there. The cable
TO the Canaries being In Spanish hands,
the arrival Of the feet would be kept
secret
UNF0UNDED REPORT OF TREASON.
KEY WEST, Fla, April 80 There Is
absolutely no foundation for the sen.
sationsl report cabled from here to the
effect that . case Of treason has been
discovered on board the United States
monitor Puritan. The rumor arose
from the strange actions Of fireman,
with a Spanish sounding name, now
under restraint on the warship because
Of his eccentricities. The action Of
the officers OF the monitor In placing
the man under restraint was guided
solely by the danger Of allowing an
.pnevenly balanced man to be at large.
The story as cabled out from here was
- follows.
II Ii asserted In nm authoritative quarter
that Spanlard whose name Is Carlos Ygla-
niase, was discovered tampering with the lnrg-
ct magazine on the monitor Puritan. The
Spaniard was engaged In drilling holes In the
bulkhead OF the l2-inch magazine when discov-
cred He was Immediately placed under ar
rest A thorough examination Of the man and
his suspicious actions during the lost few
( weeks when recalled by his detection, have
convinced Capt Harrington, commander Of the
Puritan. that tho man harbored on insane no.
ton that, on his country demanded 1t he was
willing to make himself o sacrifice and de-
stroy the monitor by lgnlting the contents Of
the largest magazine on board When searched
the man was found to have about his person
cotton waste saturated with turpentine This
u Is believed was to have been used Us o fuse
A SOURCE OF NEWS SHUT OFF.
WASHINGTON, April 3O.-The war de-
partment Is very seriously concerned
over the publication in some Of the
morning papers Of Its intention to Sc.
lect Gen. Shafter to command the first
detachment Of troops to be sent to
Cuba To prevent any further disclo.
sure Of the plans Of the campaign Sec.
rotary Alger yesterday issued most
sweeping order directed 10 oil bureau
chiefs Of the war department and all
officers on special duty, from the high.
~ 10 the lowest, instructing them,
under no circumstances, To give any
Information TO the press on any sub
jsct connected with the war. While
this seems 10 work hardship upon
The newspapers that feel impelled In
IL campaign, II Is said to be necessary
X 10 meet the present conditions The
name state Of affairs exists In the navy
department.
A COMMANDMENT CANARp.
KEY WEST, Fla, April 3O.-Yester.
day was one Of wild rumor and little
action. First came the story Of the
bombsrdment Of Cardenss by the ships
Of the feet stationed there. The ru.
\ NOR suddenly developed from no.
\ where and thrived Justify, acquiring
IN elaborate finish Of detail and or.
nAmentAtion. Then the monitor
Puritan steamed into port and Capt
Harrington, the commanding officer Of
the Cardenas fleet, gave the story Its
quietus by Q firm declaration that
y there had been no bombardment Of
{ the Cardenss batteries, incidentally
adding that there were no batteries
there, and only one or two insign ia
cant RunbOats, which had given nc