The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-06
DARING ESCAPE
FROM HAVANA.
An Ameriean Leaves the City i'm Dis.
gufse and Reaches the Fleet
With Imn0r MT Infor4a ton.

An American Leaves the City in Dis
gatse and Reaches the Fleet
With Important Information.
NEW YORK. May 5.-The Herald today
publishes the following Cuban advices sent
via Key West:
Admiral Sampson received detailed news
from the inside OF Havana when Charles
Thran was transferred from the Whining
ton to the flagship Off the Cuban coast.
Tnran. acting az agent for the United
States government, went TO Havana on the
bark MafanEas the day after Gen. Lee ar
rived In Key West. He was manager OF
the electric light works at Regla. opposite
Havana 1t was due to Yankee Wit that
ne escaped He was picked up by the
Wilmington at Bacuranao. seven miles east
OF Havana. He told Admiral Sampson
some important news relative TO the
changes in the guns at the Cojimar and
Reina batteries. which increased their
strength. as well as widened the fighting
radius Of the guns
According to Thrall. there is yet no sur
fering In Havana for the necessities OF lie
and there has been no rioting OF any conse-
auence. The Spanish say they have 10000
men. counting volunteers and those who
man the batteries. but Thrali believes there
are no more than 5000 in the city avail
able at an hours notice.
There has as yet been no marked IN
crease In yellow fever or smallpox. which
fact Is due to the continued dry, cool
weather.
Havana" he said, is eager for war
The opinion of the common people there
now Is that the Americans are afraid to
engage the shore batteries.
when the fleet first arrived or Ha-
yana the cit ywas panic-str!cken. Fall
ure to lombard at once bad the effect OF
restoring confidence to some extent. ana
was accepted as evidence OF fear OF the
shore batteries. and after the squadron
had moved UP and down for forfy-eight
hours without firing gun the tide OF pop
ular feeling began to set strongly for war.
The popular feeling in Havana Is that Spain
will win.
"You ask me what the people are doing.
The nrst answer TO that question which
suggests itself Is 'cursng the Yankees
Meat has gone up 30 50 a pound In gold
Prices are still rising. 1t Ia impossible TO
learn with any accuracy the food OF the
city. From the palace IL is reported that
the provisions will last indefinitely. but
that is not true. IL the blockade IL not
raised. the city might hold out some weeks,
but each day makes the peoples temper
more dangerous, and once famine grips
them Gen. Bianco will be able TO preserve
order only by the siernest measures"
Mr.. Thai stated that in spite OF inces-
SAINT work on the batteries. no more big
hgh-power modern rifles have been added.
Many small guns have been mounted.
however, especially to the westward of the
Santa Cruz battery. Havana Is well sup
piled with ammunition for both the large
aud small arms.
On Monday an American newspaper man
was captured as a spy and win probably
be- shot.
Thrall left Havana disguised as a cattle
arover. He hired OUT with man who
wa, moving builocks TO grazing place.
He speaks Spanish perfectly. He deserted
his employer In the night and struck out
for the coast. climbing the range OF coast
hills and postponing ali efforts TO sleep be-
cause CO his desire not 10 fab into the hands
OF Spanish soldiers. Near Baeuranao he
was firea on by scnIries but escaped un-
hurt. Creeping 10 the sea The American
saw two ships In the cfiing. which proved
10 be the Mahgrove and Wilmington. He
h,isted q handkerchief on r stick and
waved Il. For an hour the handkerchief
waved IN vain. Then he pulled OF his
shirt. tied It 10 stick with his haniker-
chief aud waved the TWO. Then came an
answer from the Mangrove.
THE Mangrove notified the Wilmington.
and tas latter sent boa. TO ihe shore ana
took him or.
Numerous shells have been fired into the
Cuban shore east OF Havana during the
las TWO DAYS by the Wilmington.
The Wilmington being river boat. can
60 almost anywhere insAnge. and her patrol
z frevn in front of Moro about twelve
miles along the coast eastward. As she
Keeps less than sesa wards from the shore
sAs is constantly watched by the Span
!a;is. and hAs good opportunity for
watching them. Little Squadroas 81 cav
=long tAe water from, Stalking their car
hines al the Wilmington. and now and
ihtn firing few bullets, When this is
done the Wilmington trains ere OF her guns
aot lets ay Tae result is that there Is
SFes; scsalperlaS % Spanish horses and
ana a tearing al bushes ard a flying OF dirt
as the sheii goes home. These are per
items % about 100 cavalry that Gen.
BlAneo has sent OUT 10 The east for the
purpose apparently % preventing = land
Bacuranao.
Several supposed for,,fsaiions have been
Fred OF for the purpose cf locating the
enemies batteries, eDg 50 far the Whining
ton has net beer able - discover that