The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-28
70 FLEE.
Americans Prepare to LeaVeHa~
vana at a Moments Notice.
Consul General Lee offered a
BOdyguard
BY GOV. GEN. BLANCO,
But Refuses 1t Though an Exc
ira Guard
Is Placed Around the Ameri-
can Consulate.
BY GOV. GEN. BLANCO,
AN UPRISING FEARED
Against Americans by the Span
iSh in Havana.

New York, March 2S.-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
eral Lee declined this offer and General
CongostO cOntented himself with in
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 he 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 a 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 N
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 OliVette from Ha-
vana. Among these We're Captain Sigs-
bee and other officers of the Maine or
dered home by the Washington authOri-
ties Chaplain Chidwick, will remain
here temporarily; all the other officers
continued north via Tampa.
COncenSus of opinion among all the
passengers was that general exodus
from Havana would shortly follow. as
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
the United States government. the
authorities fearing violent demOnstra-
tiOns against the American residents OF
Havana.
Among the passengers who arrived
was Julio Hidalgo of the prominent
banking firm of HidaIgo & Co., Havana.
No better informed person than Mr.
HidalgO or one who is better qualified
to express an opinion regarding the
present cOnd1t1On 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 Hkened 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 2S-1 p. m.-On the
bourse today Spanish As 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 N
| 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-
day than yesterday to suppose that the
! ostentatiOus policy of the United States
| will be transformed into a 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
| toux's adoption of neutrality, the
moral standpoint of which permits him
| to assist in solving the difficulty
London, March 2S-2 p. m.-Spanish
| As on the stock exchange today opened
| lower at 1872, further declined to 4S3z
! but reacted to 5O3s. The closing price
| on Saturday was 49A.