The Portland daily press., 1898-05-23
CAN'T ESCAPE.
Impossible for CerVera to
Get Away.
WITHOUT MOST DESPERATE
CONFLICT In HISTORY.
Northern and Southern Coast Of Cuba
Guarded.
REPORT OF AMERICAN REPULSE
AT SANTIAGO DISCREDITED.
Copyright, 1883. by the Associated press)

Copyright, 1858. by the Associated Press)
Key West, Fla, May 22.-6.50 p. H.
The tranquility of tropical Sunday has
been undisturbed by definite news from
any quarter. A few uniforms on the
street are the only signs of the proximity
of this languid town to the theatre of
war. There are only one or two ships in
the harbor and they are coaling with
all haste to get away to join their fell
lows in an action which all are convinced
is only matter OF days, perhaps hours.
Speculation is still concentrated on
squadron, the general opinion fayoring
some point on the southern Cuban coast
AS both sides of the island are now pa
trolled by United States warships, the
naval authorities will not admit the pos
sibility of Cervera's escape without the
most desperate conflict in the history of
naval warfare.
Reports from Admiral Sampson S
squadron say that all is quiet off the
N orthern coast of Cuba. Nothing from
Commodore Schley is expected before
Monday or Tuesday. A rumor reached
here that four American warships, while
bonn harding Santiago de Cuba, had been
driven off by thu Spanish fleet, but the
story is generally discredited. Where it
comes from is a mystery.
Senior Ernesto Castro, a welI-known
lawyer and President of the revolutionary
Junta Of Cardenas, arrived here today on
the q. S. gunboat Annapolis. During
the recent bombardment at Cardenas,
Senior Castro was in the bay in o small
| boat, trying to reach the American yes
sells and get transportation to the United
States on an important mission. He was
compelled to return to the shore, where
he heard of the results of the lombard
ment. The Spanish gunboats that lured
the United States torpedo boat Winslow
into the death trap were the Antonio
Lopez, Lealtad and Ligera. During the
fight, the former two retreated behind
Key. It was the Antonio Lopez that
opened fire on the Winslow and decoyed
| her into the channel The Spanish troops
| formed on the public square not daring
| to go to the wharves. All of the Spanish
flags were lowered. as they furnished tar
gets, and the families all fled to Jovel.
| lanes.
exploded in the very entrance to the
Spanish casino. shattering the building
and setting it on fire. The casino, which
had been used as military headquarters
and infantry barracks and which was the
largest structure in the town, was utter.
ly destroyed. Other buildings were
wrecked. Some of the shots went as far
as the Triente sugar plantation, two
miles in the interior. The Spanish loss
of life, Senior Castro believes, was very
heavy It was so reported. After bonn
bardment ceased the military commander
pressed all able -bdied men into the work
| of carrying sand to build new batteries,
and the next day 1870 men were brought
from Mantanzas and Havana to continue
the work.
Senior Castro. after passing four days
on the Piedras Key, signalled the United
States gunboat Wilmington and succeed
ed in making his escape.
| EThe insurgents are in dire distress
| Formerly provisions were smuggled from
sible, since the cities themselves are
| starving. The insurgents are trying to
subsist on pepperywood and palm buds.
Senior Castro tasted meat to-day for tbs
| first time in five weeks.
| Gustayo Aranguren, brother OF the
late Cuban insurgent general, Nestor
Aranguren, todsy received letters from
Havana, via Vera Cruz, dated May z,
stating that Gen. Blanoo orders impress
| ing ali Cubans into the Spanish army has
had the effect of driving many into the
| insurgent ranks.
| A. Betancourt an American citizen,
and Gonzales Arrange, the letters state,
have been arrested and confined in the
Csbanas fortress on the charge of aiding
the insurgents.
The destitution in Havana IS trlgntful
and is increasing. The grocers, all of
whom are Spaniards, refuse absolutely to
sell food to the Cubans as II determined
to starye them. The Cubans say the
Spaniards hate them more than they do
the Americans. -
Senior Aranguren's correspondents de-
clare that the Spaniards realize that
Cuba is lost but that before yielding the
island they will endeavor to exterminate
the Cubans.