Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-05-03
RUMORS ARE DENIED.
Sensational War Stories Are Pro-
nounced to Be False.
CARDENASHASNOI BEEN BOMBARDED.
Report That Traitor Had Been Dis
i covered ON Board the Monitor Purt-
tan Also Untrue-No News
of Asiatic Squadron.

hey WSSts L Ia, ~ pm oU.-E Iludy was
a day OF wild rumor and little action.
First came the story of the lombard
ment of Cardenas by the ships of the
fleet stationed there. The rumors sud-
denly developed from nowhere and
thrived Justify, acquiring an elaborate
finish of detail and ornamentation.
Then the monitor Puritan steamed into
port and Capt. Harrington, the com
manding officer of the Cardenas fleet,
gave the story its quietus by a firm dec
laration that there had been no bonn
bardment of the Cardenas batteries,
incidentally adding that there were no
batteries there and only one or two in
significant gunboats, which had given
no sign of offense.
The Puritan was hardly in port, to
which she came for coal, when another
picturesque story appeared. This was
that Spaniard was in the crew of the
monitor and had been detected with a
bunch of skeleton keys attempting to
pick the lock of one of the powder mag
azines with intent to blow up the ship.
This thrilling tale was industrieusly
spread by the Puritan's patriotic crew,
who knew only few of the facts, and
ii, toe, was summarily nipped in the
bud by the highest officers of the ship.
According to them, the story arose
from the fact that in the Puritan's
crew is a SPaniard or Cuban, by name
1glesias, eccentric and trife unbal-
anced. butswhe was never suspected of
anything but the heartiest loyalty to
the United States, in whose navy he has
been for seven years. He was seen the
other day in one of the turrets by
fellow seaman, who reported an at
tempt to break open the magazine door,
adding that cotton waste and rockets
had been found on Yglesias. The lat
ter was Immediately put under re-
straint and court of inquiry has been
appointed to make an investiga-
ton. No court-martial has been
ordered or recommended, and. while
Capt. Harrington refuses to discuss the
affair, pro or cen. other high officers
say that reasonable Interpretation
OF the incident is preposterous.
An Important Capture.
Key West, Fla, April 3O.-A small
Spanish sloop, the Engracia, captured
by the United States gunboat Newport,
Capt. B. F. Tilley, off Cabanas, Thurs
day, was brought in here Friday morn
ing. She was in charge of prize crew,
consisting of couple of blue jackets.
Only one blank shot was necessary to
bring the Engracia to. She had on
board crew of seven men and cargo
of fish. The men on board the prize had
been in the Spanish navy, and serve as
a sort of naval reserve.
The officers of the Newport say the
capture is an important one, in view Of
the fact that the little vessel was at
tempting to carry into Havana news Of
the movements of the United States
feet.
No News from the Squadron.
London, April 30.-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Hongkong, dated Fri
day, says: War news is scarce. Moth
ing has been heard of the American
fleet or from Manila. Commodore
Dewey considers that his duty will be
done when the Spanish fleet is cap
tured and safety has been secured for
American trading vessels. Eleven of
these vessels are overdue and the Amer
leans feel exceedingly anxious. The
formation of the provisional govern
ment at Manila will be announced at
tho discretion of United States Consul
Williams.
Battle Expected sunday.
Madrid, April 5o.-Dispatches re-
ceiyed here Friday from Manila, capital
of the Philippine islands, say the
United States feet is expected to ar
rive at Manila on Sunday. The Spanish
fleet has been divided into two squad
rons. Two cruisers, the Castillo and
other vessels remain near the front of
Manila. The remaining Spanish war
ships, under Admiral Monteio, are pa
trolling the western coast, awaiting the
arrival of the American ships.
The Spanish feet. it appears, has been
reinforced by large auxiliary cruiser,
said to be capable of steaming 20 knots
and armed as a warship. She is known
as the Montevideo, but an examination
of the maritime registers fails to es-
tablish her identity. 1t is claimed, how
ever that she is very large vessel.
BIanco's Report.
Madrid, April 3O.-The following is
the substance of the official report
made by Capt. Gen. Blanco on the sub
ject of the bombardment Of the forts
OF Maanzas by ships belonging to
Rear Admiral SIMPSONS squadron on
Wednesday last:
Three American cruisers fired on the
batteries OF Fort Morillo. at Matanzas,
without doing any damage. We fired IA
shots. to which the Americans replied with
multitude of mitretleuse Quick firing
guns) shots. which did not do any injury.
The American squadron also fired IA
cannon shots at the Abanilla battery, only
one mule being killed. to which the Span
the squadron was beyond range
The whole squadron OF five ships then
threw several shells into the town, without
doing any damage.
The French and Austrian consuls have
protested against the bomba rdment. as II
was commenced without any previous
warning to foreign subjects
The troops manning the stations are fun
OF fight. va
1T appears that our shots did some dam.
age to the American ships"
Information supDressed.
New York, April 30.--The correspond
eut here of the Fabra news agency, of
Madrid, received notification from the
cable company that the Spanish gov
ernment would not permit the delivery
Of his dispatch about the lombard
ment Of Matanzas. This would seem
to explain the impression prevailing
among the newspapers and people at
Madrid that the American vessels were
compelled to retire, which information