The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-29
COLUMBUS CASKET ROBBED.
VANDALS DESPERATE THE TOMB
OF AMERICAS DIsCOVERER
Mystery and Secrecy Surround the
Exhuming OF the Remains, bat
the Facts Leaked Out.

ExhuminE OF the Remains, bat
the Facts Leaked Out.
HAVANA, Sept. 28.-Mystery and Sc
crecy surround all the official acts of
the Spanish government. Especially
was this the case in exhuming the re-
mains of Columbus, and this fact has
caused much unfavorable comment and
given rise to grave rumors which,
though uncOnfirmed, appear to have
some foundation, as there has been no
attempt at denial from any source.
The removal Of the remains, which
should certainly have been a public
ceremony, was yelled in the deepest
mystery, and was effected behind
the closed doors Of the cathedral, which
was guarded by an armed force. Few
OF the authorities were present, the
names of those who were to attend be-
ing handed to the chief of police the
night before in Gen. Blanco's own
handwriting. The chief Of police sug-
gested that comments would be made
by the press upon the secrecy of the
proceedings, and asked whether it
would not be advisable to allow repre-
sentatives of the newspapers to be
present To this Gen. BlancO positively
refused to accede telling the chief of
police to limit himself exclusively to
the list Of guests which had been hand
ed him.
No official account of the ceremony
or statement regarding the condition Of
the remains has been made public, but
it has leaked out from an almost au-
thoritative source that they are not in
exactly the same condition as when
they were placed in the niche. When
the remains were placed in the mauso-
leum a small caSket was enclosed, con-
tanning coins, gold and silver medals,
Of 1c.y1t
as was then the custom upon the oc-
casion of burial.
It appears that this casket had been
tempered with and rif1ed Of it's con-
tents, and further rumors say that
only portions Of the remains are left.
Gossip of scandal and speculation are
rife the truth of which the authOri-
ties make no effort to affirm or contra
dict. A quasi Official explanation, how
ever, is to the effect that secrecy was
given to the ceremony because a cable
dispatch received here reported that
Gen. TOral had been murdered in Mad
rid the day before, and fears were en-
tertained that disorders might occur if
the public and military came together
in great numbers. Some Of the more
radical Spaniards go to the length of
saying that the whole ceremony was
a farce, the Washington government
having objected to the removal of the
through the pantomime in order to
make the public believe that the re-
mains, which are really left here, were
shipped to Spain.
The distress, disease, death, hunger
and starvation at Matanzas continue
undated. The daily average Of deaths
upon the street corners exceeds TWEEN
ty, and the condition Of the poor in
Havana is not much better than in
Matanzas. Mothers, gaunt and fam
lshed, hugging the shadows Of skeleton
children to their breasts, beg food and
fall by the Wayside; but the govern
ment refuses to admit the gravity of
the situation and has closed the SCUM
kitchens, proclaiming to the world that
want and restitution no longer exist
here.
Lieutenant Of Cavalry Wade, a. son
or Gen. Wade, president of the Ameri-
can evacuation commission arrived this
morning on board the steamer Mas
cote. Shortly before dusk the steamer
Saratoga arrived with Mrs Sampson
on board. The admiral awaited her on
the dock. Tomorrow the admiral and
Mrs. Sampson will occupy their new
residence.
Capt. Jay Cooke, Of Gen. Wade's staff.
today resigned his commission in the
army, and tomorrow will sail for New
York, business interests demanding his
immediate presence there.
The Spanish commission today hand
ed a communication to the American
commission, requesting that a meet
ing of the commissions be held to treat
orally upon matters Of the most impor-
lance. Friday, Sept. 80, was agreed
upon by the Americans for the meeting
The American commission tomorrow
will appoint three officers to go to Pu-
eric Principe and report upon the con-
ditiOnS there.