The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-05-05
THE SPANISH FLEET.
News at Washington of Its Depar-
ture from Cape Verde.
UNFOUNDED REPORT OF TREASON.
Kum"r Arose from the Strange Action OF
Fireman on the Puritan-Strict Secrecy
Ordered Regarding War Plans
Bombardment Canard.


"AsHISGToS. April s0.-This was
day OF alarming rumors, running all
the way from tHe blowing mp of d big
monitor to the detection and punish
rnent 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 fleet, the stay Of which at
st Vincent has been source of
anxiety on the part OF officials here
because it seemed TO indicate the
sympathy of Portugal for Spain might
lead her to wink at a violation of
neutrality laws in favor Of Spain.
Late in the afternoon a cable
gram came to the state department
from Cape Verde, bearing no signature.
announcing that four battleships and
threS torpedo boats had started north
and some of the transports for Cuba.
and that the northern fleet returned
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 APP
pears to be information without close
scrutiny. The statement that the yes
sells when leaving ST Vincent were
headed in a sOutherlv direction is
valueless as an indication as to the
real course of the fleet. The majority
of the naval officers here feel con-
fdent that the Spanish fleet will next
appear at the Canary islands, about
half way between Cape Verde and
III, \ H., l.
ward path of the ships. AS the Cana
ries are Spanish islands and possess
some Notifications worthy of consider
alton, it may be that the fleet will be
allowed to remain there for some time,
as the islands form a good strategic
base. What most concerns the navy
officers just now is how to learn when
the fleet does arrive there. The cable
to the Canaries being in Spanish hands,
the arrival of the fleet would be kept
secret.
UNFOUSDED REPORT OF TREASON.
KEY WEST, Fla, April 30.-There is
absolutely no foundation for the sem
sational 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 a fireman,
with n 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
unevenly balanced man to be at large.
The story as cabled out from here was
as follows:
1t is asserted in an authoritative quarter
that a Spaniard whose name is Carlos Ygla-
staSe, was discovered tamparing with the larg-
est magazine on the monitor Puritan. TIE |
Spaniard was engaged in drilling holes in the
bulkhead of the Pinch magazine when discov-
cred He Immediately placed under ar |
rest thorough examination of the man and |
his suspicious actions during the last few |
weeks, when recalled by his detection, have
convinced Capt. Harrington. commander of the |
Puritan. that the man harbored an insane no. |
tion that as his country demanded IL he was |
willing to make himself sacrifice and de- |
stroy the monitor by igniting the contents of |
the largest magazine on board When searched |
the man found to have about his person |
cotton waste saturated with turpentine This, |
it Is believed, to have been used as a fuse. |
SOURCE OF NEWS SHUT OFF.
WASHINGTON, April 80. The war de- |
partment is very seriously concerned |
over the publication in some of the |
morning papers of its intention to Sc
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 a most |
sweeping order directed to all bureau
chiefs of the war department and all |
officers on special duty, from the high
est to the lowest, instructing them
under no circumstances, to give any
information to the press on any sub
ject connected with the war. While
this seems to work hardship upon
the newspapers that feel impelIed in
its campaign. it is said to be necessary
to meet the present conditions. The
same state of affairs exists IN the navy
department.
BOMBARDMENT CANARD.
KEY WEST, Fla, April 3O-Yestsr-
day was one of wild rumor and little
action. First came the story of the
bombardment of Cardenas by the ships
of the fleet stationed there. The ru-
NOR suddenly developed from no
where and thrived Justify, acquiring
an elaborate finish of detail and or
namentation. Then the monitor
Puritan steamed into port and Capt.
Harrington, the commanding officer o.
the Cardenas fleet, gave the story It's
quietus by a firm declaration that
there had been no bombardment o.
the CardenaS batteries. incidentally
adding that there were no batteries
there. and only one or two insiga III
can't gunboats, which had given nc
sign of offeuSe.