The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-14
SAYS SPANISH OFFICIALS
WRECKED MAINE.
HOLDS BLANCo CUILTLEss
Like Conqusring Hero on Ills
Arrival In Washington -- closet
ed with the President for
Fully an Hour-RIoh-
mond Turns Out

WASHINGTON, April l3.-Consul Gem
eral Lee was before the Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations for an hour
late yesterday. lie talked freely with
the committee In regard to conditions
In Cuba, and especially with reference
TO the destruction of the Maine He
said that, in his opinion, there was
no room to doubt that the destruction
of the vessel was due TO Spanish
agencies.
DO you mean the Spanish author
tiles in Cuba?" he was asked by a mem
ber Of the committee.
81 mean the Spanish officials, he
replied, but not General Blanco. /
think some Of the officials were cogni-
zant of the plans to destroy the vessel,
but do not believe that the captain
general was
General Lee said that he had no
knowledge of the reports that mine
had been discovered by diver under
the Montgomery while that vessel lay
in the hai Dor, at Havana.
Consul General Fitzhugh Lee ar
rived here from Havana at $3.50 o'clock
yesterday afternoon. A large crowd
of enthusiastic admirers had gathered
at the Pennsylvania station, and when
the general stepped from the train he
was greeted with tremendous out
burst of applause. Women waved their
handkerchiefs and men their hats,
and altogether the demonstration was
a notable one. Washington crowds,
81
this occasion was conspicuous ex-
ception
On reaching the b street entrance,
General Lee entered a state depart
ment carriage and was rapidly driven
up the avenue to the state department
News that General Lee was on his way
to the state department spread rapidly,
and when the carriage drew up at the
south front of the building a big
crowd was assembled on the portico.
A rousing cheer went up as General
Lee stepped from the vehicle, and, q,
bowling right and left, hurried into the
building.
As the elevator came to a stop and
the consul general stepped out, a
scene occurred Unprecedented in tho
history of the great building. Hat in
hand, General Lee passed into the cor
ridor, and some one said, "Now boys, "
and three rousing cheers went echoing
down the long halls Then there was
another outburst and people poured
forth from every room. The cheering
caused intense excitement, and 1t was
some moments before quiet could be
restored. General Lee bowed to the
crowd, and as he reached the door TO
Secretary Shermans office, turned
and bowed again. Then the door
closed on him and the crowd dispersed.
After a few minutes the consul gem
eral emerged, accompanied by Secre %
retary Sherman and Assistant Secre-
tay Day. The three entered a car
riage and were quickly driven to the
White house. General Lee got an.
other ovation on his way.
At the White house, the party was
shown at once to the library, where
the chief executive accorded a h earty
reception to the consul general The
only persons present at the meeting
were the President, Secretary Sher-
man, Assistant Secretary Day and
General Lee, Secretary Sherman re.
mained with the others for about
half an hour, and then returned to
the state department. After being
with the President fully an hour,
Judge Day and General Lee took their
departure, the latter going to his ho-
tel. An immense crowd, augmented
by number Of ladies who attended
Mrs. McKinley's reception, was on the
portico when the two came down
stairs, and General Lee was given a
tremendous ovation. AS their car
riage was being driven away, someone
fastened Cuban flag TO the front OF
the vehicle, and this was the cause OF
additional enthusiasm.
RICHMOND, Va, April 13 Consul
General Fitzhugh Lee arrived here at
II o'clock a m, yesterday ia a special
train over the Atlantic Coast line
The train remained at the depot about
ten minutes There were at least
10000 people present, including the
governor and staff and the Richmond
Light Infantry Blues. The governor
welcomed the consul general, who
made brief speech. He said ia,
time for talk was over and that the
time for action had come.
| The howitzers fred salute upon
the arrival of the train. The widest
enthusiasm prevailed