The times., 1898-04-29
IN IMPORTANT SEIZURE
Letter of a Treas0nabIe and
Startling Character.
OFFICIALS ACT PROMPTLY
The Writer and Her AccompIices
Viii he Arrested Immediately
Our Western Const Defenses-Hot-
bed OF Treason Located.

New York. April pa special from
Washington to the Brooklyn Eagle to-
night says:
The most important military seizure
effected by the Postoffice Department
since the declaration of war between
this country and Spain was made this
afternoon when a letter addressed to
Senor Sagasta Madrid Spain, was taken
from the mail by order of the PostmasJ Ter
General The letter was written and
signed by a woman. 1t came from Santa
Cruz. Cal, at place il was posted
a little over a week ago. Upon being
opened the letter was found to be of a
most reasonable and startling charac-
ter
1t gave detailed account of the con
dition OF our Western coast defense
where our guns and mortar batteries
and harbor mines are located. where il
would be dangerous to land and how
these dangers could he avoided. The
writer went on 10 say that Spain had
many sympathizers in this country. par
ticularly in California, who wished for
her success in the war and that they
would do everything in their power to
help Spain
The writer advised Senor Sagasta not
to permit an attack on San Francisco,
but to select Monterey, which was poorly
guarded, and where a large force could
easily get ashore. At this place the writer
said there were no batteries or fortih-
cations worthy of the name.
In closing her remarkable communi-
cation, the woman informed Premier Sa-
sasta that if the Spanish government
would follow her suggestions and order an
attack upon the United States on the Pa
cific coast at Monterey, Spain would find
plenty of aid from her sympathizers in
California. who would lend her material
aid
The Postmaster General, on learning
the contents of the letter, sent for one
OF his best inspectors and turned the doe
ument over to him. Later in the day
Gen. Meiklejohn, the Assistant Secretary
of War, was summoned to the Postoffice
Department, where he held a long con-
ference with one of the postoffice officials
as to the best course to pursue in regard
TO the letter. The utmost secrecy is main
tanned at both of the departments as to
1 the nature of the method decided upon.
1t is understood that the women who
wrote the letter to Sagasta will be at
/ once arrested, and other arrests in Cali
/ fornia will follow. 1t is considered by the
! Federal officials who have charge of the
/ matter that il is more than coincidence
! that few days after this letter TO Sa-
/ gasta was written that the California
! Powder Works at Santa Cruz should have
! mysteriously exploded.
For some time the officials Of the WaI
/ Department have regarded with suspicion
the settlement of Spanish monks and
1 Spanish sympathizers located about the
/ colleges at Santa Clara, in Southern Cali
fOrnia. and St. Ignatius at San Francisco
| They are now firmly convinced that 3
hot-bed of treason is located there and
they believe the time has arrived for Wig
orOus action
Lieut.. Gen. Schofield said to the Eagle
| correspondent this afternoon: Treason
VIII not be tolerated in our country. Tall
or attacks against the Administration anC
| against the Government, either in writing
or in print. will be summarily dealt with
During our late civil war, owing to tbs
fact that our contest was a factional on
between our own peOp:S, a great manl
reasonable utterances and publications
were permitted. II will not be so now
Mark my words, men who insult the flag
the Administration and the country from
now on will be vigorously punished, a
I they should be. The people will demant
it and the Government will enforce it
rights.