The herald., 1898-05-06
CURSlNG The YANKEES
A.
THE CHIEF OCCUPATION OF THE
HAVANA PEoPLH
SPANIARDs EAGER FOR WAR
And Fully Convinced That the Amer
ican Fleet Is Afraid to Attack
the Fortifcations
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, May 5.-The Herald today
publishes the following Cuban advices,
sent via Key West:
Admiral Sampson received detailed news
from inside Of Havana when Cnarles
Thrall was transferred from wilmington
to the flagship off the Cuban coast.
Thrall went to Cuba on the bark Matan-
xas the day after General Lee arrived IN
Key West. He was manager OF the elec-
tric light works at Regla, opposite havana.
It is due to Yankee wit that he escaped.
He was picked up by the Wilmington al
Bacurano, seven miles east OF havana.
He told Admiral Sampson some important
news relative to the changes in the guns
at the Cojimar and Rama batteries, which
Increased their strength as well as Widened
the fighting radius of the guns.
According to Thrall, there Is yet no sur
fering in Havana for the necessities OF lie
and there has been no rioting of any con-
sequence. The Spanish say they have
100 900 men, counting volunteers and those
who man the batteries, but he believes
there are not more than $4,000 In the city
available at an hours notice.
There has been as yet no marked increase
In yellow fever or smallpox, which fact Is
due to the continued dry, cool weather.
Havana" he said, 'is eager for war.
The opinion of the common people thre
now is that the Americans are afraid to
engage the shore Batteries.
when the fleet first arrived Off Havana
the city was panic stricken. Failure to
lombard at once had the effect Of restor-
Ing confidence to some extent, and after the
squadron had moved up and down for
forty-eight hours without firing gun the
tide of feeling began to set strongly for
war. The popular feeling in Havana Is
that Spain will win.
'You ask me what the people are doing.
The first answer to that question which
suggests itself is, 'Cursing the Yankees
Meat has gone up to 81 a pound in gold.
Prices are still rising. 1t is impossible to
learn with any accuracy the food supply of
the city. From the Palace it is reported
that the provisions will last indefinitely,
but this is not true. If the blockade Is not
raised the city might hold out some weeks.
but each day makes the peoples temper
more dangerous, and once famine grips
them General Blanco will be unable to
preserve order except by the sternest
measures"
luTdlI stated tHdL III spite Oh Lne
incessant work on the batteries, no more
big, high-power rifles had been added
Many small guns have been mounted, how
ever, especially to the westward Of the
Santa Clara battery.
Havana is well supplied with ammunition
for both the large and small arms. On
Monday an American newspaper man was
captured as a spy and will probably be
shot.
Thrall left Havana disguised as cattle
drover. He "hired out" with man who
was moving bullocks to a grazing place.
He speaks Spanish perfectly. He deserted
his employer in the night and struck out
for the coast, climbing the range coast
hills and postponing all efforts to sleep,
because Of his desire not to fall into the
hands of the Spaniards; he was fired on by
sentries. but escaped unhurt. Creeping to
the sea, the American saw two ships in
the offing. which proved to be the Man.
grove and Wilmington. He hoisted a
handkerchief on stick and waved 1t. For
an hour the handkerchief waved in vain.
Then he pulled off his shirt, tied it to a
stick with the handkerchief and waved
that. There came an answer from the Man
grove. The Mangrove notified the Will
mington and the latter sent boat to the
shore and took him off.
Numerous shells have been fired into
the Cuban shore east of Havana during the
last two days by the Wilmington.
The Wilmington, being river gunboat,
can go anywhere in-shore, and her patrol
IL from in front of Moro. about twelve
miles along the coast eastward. AS she
keeps less than four thousand yards from
the shore, she is constantly watched by
the Spaniards and has a good opportunity
for watching them also. Little squads of
cavalry can now and then be seen follow
Ing along the water front, shaking their
carbines at the Wilmington and now and
then firing few bullets at her. When this
is DONE the Wilmington trains one of her
guns and let's fly. The result is that there
is great scampering of Spaniards and a
tearing Of bushes and a flying of dirt as the
shell goes home. These are portions Of
about 1000 cavalry that General Blanco
has sent out to the east for the purpose,
apparently Of preventing a landing of
United States forces in the Bay of Jaru-
cano.
Several supposed fortif1cations have been
fired upon for the purpose of locating the
enemy's batteries but so far the Whining
ton has not been able to discover that
much fortifying is in progress Immediately
east Of Havana.
There have been no captures and no
chases. The fast Spanish gunboats still
remain bottled up in Havana.
General Blanco left the palace in full uni
form Wednesday for the Inauguration OF
the Cuban Parliament Volunteers were
formed in lines from the Palace to the
Parliament building. with flags and bands.
In front Of the Palace were more than
1000 persons.
AS soon as General Blanco reached the
last step Of the stairs, trumpet an.
nounced his appearance. The great coach
of state waited between the Palace en-
trance and the yard opposite the main
stairs. AS he stepped into the coach the
military band played the National hymn.
General Pando and an Adjutant of the
Captain-General, and DR.. Congosto en-
tered the coach. As they left the Palace
the Cabanas Fortress began firing fifteen
guns and the crowd filling the Plaza burst
into enthusiastic hurrahs for Blanco, Spain
and the Queen Regent.
In Eastern Cuba
KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 5.-Senor
Manuel Care, Manzanillo merchant who
left there six weeks ago and has just
arrived by the schooner Governor Blake,
says that General Pando ordered all the
garrison in Eastern Cuba to concentrate
at Manzahillo, Nuevitas, Guantanamo and
Santiago de Cuba. All other places have
been evacuated.
Some speculators in ManzapjlIo who ha Il