The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-15


WASHINGTON. April iA-The tssti-
mony taken before ths srnste commItteo
on foreign relations, In connection with
the investigation into the relations between
The United States and cuba, was made
. public today. 1t constitutes book oe
about go pages. and includes not only
the Testimony taken slEce the disaster 10
the Maine. but also much that was known
before and running back for year q
more. The statement which contains the
greatest current interest Is that made bv
Consul General Lee on the 18th Inst. In
his statement Leo says he was informed
on very good authority that the Span,ards
had Paced two rows Of torpedoss just xt
the mouth of Havana harbor within the
past two months. or subsequent to the
Maine disaster. and that the switchhoards
are In a room in MORO castle.
Have you any reason TO suppose The
harbor was mined at all before the Blowing
up Of the Mainey' asked Frye
NO. s.r. ! had no reason TO suspect
anything Of that sort up to that times.
He then went on 10 say that weyier's
letter I'D Santos Gusman had led aim %
believe that the mines might have been
placed there previous to the Maine tiixas-
ts-. and he said this supposition was
strengthened by a telegram from weyler
of which he had cosn.zance. Upon the
whole. he thought the weyier letter tthe
Lains letter. was correct copy of the
genuine letter. The telegram 10 which ho
referred was addressed to Eva Canels.
noted Spanish woman and an admirvr
or Wcyier. and to senior Gusman. II read
as follows:
Grave circumstances cause me 10 ask
you TO destroy the last letter. dated Feb
rusry T."
Leo said this telegram had never bs9DFo
been published. and he found In 1t strong
conflfmaiory evidence OF the genutnensse
of the Weyser letter.
With reference to the responsibility fog
the destruction OF the Maine. Lee said:
II am satisfied that the explosion was
from the outside. I have always believed
the Maine was not blown up by any pri-
Fate individual. hut by some officers who
HAD charge Of the mines and electric
wires and the torpedoes In the arssna1,
whs thoroughly understood fhe business.
for II was done remarkably well. ! don't
think Biane0 had auyfhinE TO do with e.
| don't think ms had any knowledge Of IL,
was sitting Tn my room at tae hotal
when | heard an explosion and saw
great column CT fire 20 up IN the air. Att
er ascertasning II was the Maine | went
right down to the palace and asked for
Eiancu He came Ht once. He had Just
heard the news and WAS crying. Tears
were coming out ~ his eyes. He seemed
TO regret II az much anybody l saw In
Havana I think II came from subaifern
officers who had been there under Weyjey.
and who were probably anti-Bianco any
how. and who had full knowledge OF the
business"
Gen. Lee said that he had seen a copy a.
a telegram from Admiral Afanterois. dat
ed tn Havana. prior to the Maine expso-
sion. TO the Spanish commission in f1on-
d0n. asking the commission 10 hurry ~
PLEASURE al the fact - asked Senator Frye.
.whether thai referred to pire for
submarine mines or 10 torpesioes | don't
know saId tsen. Les.
Have yea heard sSFsce the explosion o.
The Maine any expression by SJAuieA Of
,feers IN relation 10 iE. indicating thosr
pleasure Al the faetT'
Gen. Lee responded:
II heard two q thrse days zftkfv1xf@
frog various persons that tiSere MS ~
good deal Of rejoicing among SOME Sf the
officerx. AL the reporfs got said thne
They were drinking champagne i strann6
fh3ng a do n hunoF ~ tn event nn1A -