Evening star., 1898-09-29
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
n
ELIMINATION Of Columbus Remains Starts
Many Wild Rumors.
Important Meeting of Evacuation
Mrs. sanpssn at Havana.

A disratch from Havana yesterday says:
Mystery and secrecy surround all the Of
hcial acts of the Spanish government. Es-
pecially was this the case in exhuming the
remains of Columbus, and this fact has
caused much uhfavorable comment and
given rise to grave rumors which, though
unConfirmed, appear to have some founda-
ton, as there has been no attempt at de-
nial from any source.
Few of the authorities We're present, the
names of those who were to attend being
handed to the chief of police the night
before in General Blanco's own handwrit-
ing.
No official account of the ceremony or
statement regarding the condition of the
remains has been made public but it has
leaked out from an almost authoritative
source that they are not in exactly the
same condition when they were placed
in the niche
When the remains were placed in The
mausoleum a small casket was inclosed,
containing coins gold and silver medals,
precious stones and rolls of parchment; as
was then the custom upon the occasion of
burial.
1t appears that this casket has been
tampered with and rfied of it's contents.
and further rumors say that only portions
of the remains are left. Gossip, scandal
and speculation are rife, the exact truth
of which the authorities make no effort to
affirm or contradict.
Some of the more rabid Spaniards go to
the length of saying that the whole cere-
mony was A farce, the Washington gov
ernment having objected to the removal
of the remains and their government gCing
through the pantomime in order to make
the public believe that the remains, which
really are left here. were shipped to Spain.
1t has been decided to hold a meeting
of the evacuation commissions to treat
orally matters of the utmost fmDOrf-
ance. Friday. September 80 was agreed
upon by the Americans for the meeting.
The Havana produce exchange today an
nounced that it would not hereafter fur
nish the press with the prices at which
sales were effected on the floor of the ex-
change, the publication of the figures
injured the business of the retailers, whose
customers insist that the selling prices
should be fixed in some reasonable propor-
ton to tie purchase prices.
General Rafael Rodriguez. who sent
by General Gomez a special envoy to the
American evacuation commission, besides
requesting the commissioners to use their
influence to induce the Spanish government
to sell commissary stores to the Cuban
troops. conferred at length with the COM
missioners in relation to the disbandment
OF the Cuban army, so that the men light
return to their labors in the fields
General Gomez is still at the camp of
General Rojas, which, it is said, he will
leave tomorrow. His destination, however
is not made public.
Lieutenant of Cavalry Wade, a son of
General Wade, president of the American
evacuation commission, arrived this morn
ing on board the steamer Mascotte. Short
ly before dusk the steamer Saratoga ar
rived with Mrs. Sampson on board The
admiral awaited, hers on the dock. Tomor-
row Admiral and Mrs. Sampson will oc-
cupy their new residence.
Captain Jay iIcooke of General Wade's
staff today resigned his commission in
the army and Will Sail for New York to-
morrow business interests demanding his
Immediate presence in Philadelphia.