The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-08
WHEN GEN. LEE CALLED.
A Dramatic Scene Enacted at The
White House on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. April Tho
Post OF this morning gives the following
account OF what transplred at the White
House yesterday:
Until IL o'clock Tuesday night the op-
orator remained beside his telegraph in
s,rument at the White House. and a
State Department clerk, with the cipher
ccoe. kept him company. Again at
o'clock yesterday morning they TOOK their
station, but no response came from Gen.
Lee until ~ clock. Ii was very bret but
emphatic. II reiterated the fact that II
would be impossible to get the Americans
off the island before Sunday. and said
that there were no less than 1000 OF them.
IL went further. IL appealed 10 the Presi-
dent not even TO send 10 Congress his
message for armed Intervention before
the American citizens were safe on Amor
lean soil, because otherwise they would
fall victims TO the uncomfortable fury OF
the Spanish mob and Spanish volunteers.
When the President was handed this
message he decided not TO face alone the
responsibility which the sending OF his
communication 10 Congress would entail
upon him RE summoned Secretary A.!
ger Secretary Long and other members
of his Cabinet; Senators Davis, Frye aud
Lodge. OF the Senate Committee on For
eign Relations; and Representatives Hop
kins, of Illinois: Berry. OF Kentucky.
Adams, OF Pennsylvania; Dinsmore OF
Arkansas Sayers, of Texas. and New
lands Of Nevada. representing all par
ties In the House, and especially tho
Democratic personnel OF the Foreign Az
fairs Committee. Leaving the Capitol,
where an enormous multitude OF people
were awaiting the message these gentle
men we're speedily at the White House
and IN the presence OF the President.
Gathered In the Presidents council
chamber the party awaited the reason
for their hurried summons. Without
word, further than a natural greeting,
the President Immediately laid before his
advisers the cablegram which he had
received
II have prepared the message which I
intended to. transmit 10 Congress to-day.
said the President gravely. but l can
not do 50 In the face OF this warning
which / have just received from Gen.
, Lee. IL do" he added with solemn en-
niasis, 1T will result in the massacre OF
American citizens before the sun goes
down tonight
It was a dramatic scene as the group
gathered around the President listened
| to his words. and felt with him that there
was no trust to be put in the spaniards
, In Cuba The Presidents own declaTa-
/ tions and the message from Lee were
! corroborated bv the agents Of the steam
ship lines running out OF Havana. one
/ Of these gentlemen stated that II the
Spanish were convinced that hostiities
we're about to begin, they would either
7 blow up the Olivette by the Submarine
! mines in the harbor or else they would
! sink the ship by a bombardment from
/ the guns OF Moro Castle. In fact, the
! entire conversation was in the direction
! OF convincing the Senators and Congress
! men Of the great danger which threat
( ened Gen. Lee and his fellow-Americans
! al Havana II time were not given them
| "a make good their escape.
| The cablegram had It's effect. In the
| face OF the dangers thus wildly pictured.
] the Congressional visitors at once ac-
! cepted the situation with absolute unsn-
! Unity and granted additional time which
! he so urgently demanded. They listened
| with FACILITATING hearts 10 the story Of the
| critical situation in Havana. and hav-
: ing been warned az 10 the necessity OF
4 keeping strict silence in view Of the grave
condition OF affairs left the White House
( With sealed lips. They knew that Lees
| life hung In the balance. and its only
safety lay in the postponement Of the
/ message until next Monday.