The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-08
INCIDENT AT HAVANA.
Accidental Discharge of a Revolver
Causes a FInrry

KEY WEST, Fla, April THE Plant
line steamer Mascotte, which arrived to-
night from Havana, brought eighty Cubans.
None came ashore. Several hundred, who
were waiting here, went north despite the
lack of accommodations. The Mascotte
was to have returned to Havana immedi-
ately, but 1t was decided that she should
proceed to Tampa to relieve the crush of
northbound travel The Mangrove left Ha-
vana this afternoon with a number of
Americans.
The correspondent Of the Associated Press
at Havana says: We may, of course, be
on the verge of momentous events but any
thing more placid, not to say stupid, than
the present condition Of affairs here it
would be impossible to imagine. A large
majority seem to think that everything is
settled and that war is no longer possible.
So absolute is the dearth of real news, while
awaiting the action of Congress- that a
commonplace accident last night in the Cafe
Inglaterre was made the subject of a gov
ernment dispatch from the colonial Cabinet
to Washington. One of the correspondents
of the Associated Press when rising from
chair, dropped his revolver from his
pocket. A cartridge exploded. Before peo-
pie could realize the trivIality of the Incl
IT,.
People On the scene, however, soon laughed
at the occurrence, but wild tales ths,s Con-
sui General Lee had been assassinated
spread through the city and were believed
by so many that the colonial government
felt called upon to send a message to Wash
ington denying that there was any truth in
the rumor. General Lee was not in the cafe
at the time. He was dining elsewhere
AS result of the belief that there is
no further danger Of war. the rush for
passage on the boats provided by the
United States has been much lessened.
When real danger becomes apparent many
will be left here. Havana has heard the
cry wolf SO often that she will not be-
lieve it now until the big guns roar. The
whole situation from the view point of the
ordinary Havana correspondent now is
strikingly similar to comic opera war,
but there may be panic later.
AT breakfast this morning Consul General
Lee was telling the. correspondent what
happened in the civil war. A lot of new
cavalrymen, armed with rifles were riding
in narrow lane at night. A gun exploded
in unaccustomed hands. In the instant be-
lieving the column had been attacked by
the Federal troops, the horses We're urged to
trot. then gallop and then go at full run
until one of them fell, many following also
taking a tumble. General Lee says that
every man yelled as he struck the ground:
II surrender" The next day the patrol that
was Sent out gathered more than a hundred
hats, guns and horse accountrements. The
general, with semi-quizzical smile, ended
the story with the remark: These same
fellows fought like blue devils later"
There are now at the disposal of the con-
sui general, whom the newspaper men call
commodore the Fern. Bache, Mangrove,s
with the Olivette to come and the Ward
liner Yucatan, which is under orders to
touch at Key West if General Lee directs.
This arrangement does not include the Mas
cote, which Is regarded as a regular liner
Necessarily. Holy Thursday, Good Fri
day and the near approach Of Easter would
have something to do with the outward
quietude here. 1t Is hard to believe war i'm
minent in the presence of ladies with mis-
sails, men with prayer books, crowded
churches, the sound of the priests inton-
ing and of the choirs singing Gloria in
Exceisis Deo." All these things are so far
removed from bellicose frame of mind.
News of real strife is likely to come from
Matahzas or Santa Cara province Moth
ing can he learned definitely yet as to the
movements of Generals Gomez and Garcia
but there is no doubt they mean some coup
de main to show the people of the United
States that the insurrection is not dead.