Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-15
THE TALK AT TAMPA.
Feeling That the Time for Invading
Cuba Is Very Near.

TAupA FLA. May l4-Colonel A. Il.
WAGNER, representing the army on the
Advisory Board OF the War Department.
and q member of General Miles's STAN
arrived in Tampa to-day, and reported al
once To General Wade. Colonel wagner
said he expected that General Niles
would leave Washington for Tampa to-
day. He refused TO talk on the SUBJECT
of his visit here. The presence OF
member Of the Advisory Board In Iainpd
at this time, however, has brought ABOUT
a feeling that the time for the INVASION
NJ Cuba by the United States forces Is
now very near.
Added significance was given Colonei
wagner's visit to Tampa by the arrival
on the steamer Mascotte to-day of Lieu
tenant A. S. Rowan, who accompanied
Captain Dorst on the Leyden expedition
from Kew West to Cuba. Lieutenant
Rowan brought with him dispatches from
the insurgent leader, General Garcia, IN
volving. II Is believed, complete pan
for the cooperation of that part OF the
Cuban army with the forces or the Ohlteo
states Lieutenant Rowan was brought
10 TAMPA from Port Tampa on a speclai
train. and was Immediately SHOWN 10
Colonel Wagner's apartments III inc
Tampa Bay Hotel.
Lieutenant Rowan said he had 10 trou-
bile in landing in Cuba. General Garcia
Headquarters are at present at bayaho'
one Of the most important oities of San
tiago de Cuba. from which place the
Spanish troops were recently DRIVEN.
Here n large quantity of much-needed
sunnlies we're captured. With the ex-
cention of. perhaps, half a dozen sea-
norris the insurgents are now In complete
nossession Of the eastern portion or the
island.
lieutenant Rowan says the dreaded
rainy season Is commencing. 1t Is sl-
ready raining in the mountains.
Additional details of Lieutenant Row
ans visit to General Garcia were given
by Lleutenant-Colonel Carlos Hernandez,
aid to General Enrique Collazo. both or
whom accompanied the intrepid Amerl-
can officer from the interior Of Cuba to
the seacoast. and shared with MIN the
dangers of the four-days' journey IN an
open boat from the coast to Nassau
Lieutenant Rowan has seen more OF the
island of Cuba in a shorter time. and en-
dured more hardships than any other
American" said Colonel Hernandez.
From where Lieutenant Rowan landed
on April 18th last, near Port Portillo, on
the south coast of Santiago de Cuba. TO
where he left, on the north coast, Is
across the widest part of the Island
With a guard of only four men. he push
ed through part OF the way on foot, ana
through one of the widest parts or the
island. With hardly a stop for rest, ne
reached Bayamo on May lst. and there
met General Garcia. Five hours after
wards we started for the north coast.
Lieutenant Rowan did not stop for an
instant until his mission was accom-
plished. exhausted though he was. For
four days and nights we hardly left our
saddles II Is ride l do not think
Lieutenant Rowan will ever forget, but,
like the soldier he Is. ne never complain
ed. When we finally reached the coast
near Port Manati, on May 5th. the only
boat procurable was little dory. hardly
more than IL feet long, yet our orders
permitted no delay and SIX OF US EN-
barked on this little cockle-sheii. we
were picked up by sponger. and reached
Nassau early on May Sth.'
BAGLEYS BODY SHIPPED NORTH.
The body OF Ensign Bagley. the unfor-
tunate officer of the torpedo-boat WINS
low. who was killed In the engagement
at Cardenas, was brought up from Key
West on the Mascotte. ana was snippeo
tonight to Raleigh, N. c.
A party of four American college grad
yates, who, for the past two years ana
over, have been with General Caracas
army as officers Of artillery, were also