The Topeka state journal., 1898-03-28
TO. FLEE.
Americans Prepare to LeaVeHa-
vana at a Moments Notice.
Consul General Lee Offered a
BOdyguard
BY GOV. GEN. BLANCO,
But Refuses Tt Though an Ex-
ira Guard
Is Placed Around the Ameri-
can Consulate.
AN UPRISING FEARED
Against Americans by the Span
ish in Havana.

New York, March 28.-A dispatch to
the Herald from Havana says: Secre-
tary General Congosto, asked Consul
General Lee to permit him to furnish
him with a personal body guard. Cen
eraI Lee declined this offer and General
Congosto contented himself with An
creasing the detail of plain clothes de-
tectives which for weeks have kept a
careful eye on General Lee at all times
with a view of protection as ne goes
about the city.
Consul General Lee believing that a
serious crisis in affairs is likely to oc-
cur now at any moment is today pre-
pairing revised list of all Americans
now in Havana, together with their
addresses, SO that in case of emergency
they may be communicated with at
short notice. There is an extra guard
now around the American consulate.
New York. March 2S.-It is now said
on good authority that the Mangrove.
which sailed for Havana. on Friday.
went there ostensibly to bring away
material saved from the Maine, but in
reality to be on hand in case of an out
break in Havana, so that Americans
could take refuge on the vessel, AYERS
| the Key West correspondent OF the
Herald.
Twenty-one American citizens arrived
| here on the steamer OIfvette from Ha-
vana Among these were Captain Sigs-
| bee and other officers of the Maine or
| dered home by the Washington authori-
| ties. Chaplain Chadwick, will remain
| here temporarily; all the other officers
continued north via Tampa.
| Concensus of opinion among all the
| passengers was that a general exodus
| from Havana oUld shortly follow.
! the result of the present excitement,
| attending the present attitude Of the
| American government Unusually strict
| censorship has been maintained over
| the cable to prevent any information
| being known regarding the attitude of
]
| authorities fearing violent demonstra-
| tions against the American residents Of
| Havana.
| Among the passengers who arrived
| was Julio HidaIgO, of the prominent
| banking firm of HidalgO & Co., Havana.
| No better informed person than Mr.
| Hidalgo or one who is better qualified
| to express an opinion regarding the
/ present condition in Havana can be
| found. The fact of his being a careful,
| conservative business man, gives
| weight to any assertion he might make
He said that the city of Havana
| might be Ikened to a volcano liable to
| eruption at any moment. Palace auth
| critics by the enforcement of stringent
| measures, aided by bayOnets, had been
able to hold the rabid populace in check
| but he feared this element was determ-
| ined now on conflict with the United
| States and could not longer be con-
| trOlled, more especially as the move
| ment would have among its most ac-
| tive leaders and ardent supporters, wen
| known military officers and prominent
| merchants of the island. Once started.
| there was no telling he said, where an
| uprising would end.
Paris. March 28-1 p. mon the
! bourse today Spanish IS were quoted at
| 1895, against 487s on Saturday.
| Madrid, March 2s-The impartial and
! the Liberal today agree in saying that
| the mediation of the European powers
| will be difficult in view of the crisis ia
| the far east, adding: Anyway Spain is
| able herself to resent insults and re-
| pudiate unjust pretension."
Paris, March 2s.-The Figaro COM
| menting today upon the Cuban situa-
| ton says: There is more reason to-
day than yesterday to suppose that the
| ostentatiOus policy of the United States
| will be transformed into ready, active
| policy. The sole danger of war lies in
| the new cortes allowing themselves to
| be drawn into replying to the imperti-
| nences addressed to Spain"
| The Eclair says that in spite of the
| pessimistic cable dispatches, we do not
| believe war is inevitable
The Journal approves of NJ. Hama
| tOuxs adoption of neutrality. the
| moral standpoint of which permits him
to assist in solving the difficulty"
London, March 28-2 p. m.-Spanish
| As on the stock exchange today opened
| lower at 1917, further declined to 48a6
but reacted to 5O3s. The closing price
on Saturday was 4924.