The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-30
GREAT HATRED OF
AMERICA In CUBA
Consul General Lees Life Was Threat
ened by Spauiards 10 Havana.
he WAS WARNED SEVERAL TIMES
Policy of Concentration Proposed by
Csmpos and Carried Out by Weyler.
Some Concrete Instances Of tho
Utter Brutality of the Latter.


Utter Brutality OF the Latter.
Among those who were a part of the
exodus deemed wise for all Americans
TO make from cuba is the representa-
tive of one of the foremost of Ameri-
can corporations, n man who has had
charge of all the interests of that cor
poration in the West Indies with head
quarters at Havana. He arrived in
New York on Sunday and is here be-
cause he received warnings from init
mate friends that his name was upon
a list which contained also the names
of many other Americans who were,
the instant hostilities began, to be
assassinated. He had earlier been
told that his life would be in danger
if he remained in Havana, but paid no
heed to the warning.
on Wednesday of last week a Spani-
ard who is a business man in Havana,
and who is under great obligations to
this American representative, came to
him and said: II implore you to go
away as soon as possible after you
have heard what / say. You are among
those marked out for assassination in
case war begins. If worst comes to
worst, and war comes before you can
get away, come Immediately to my
house and l will hide you, although
ii will be dangerous for me to do that"
Another warning coming from a
source which this man was bound to
heed satisfied him that he would be
in deadly peril if he remained i'm Cuba,
and he therefore departed on Thursday
and is now in this city. He is a man
Of oh al oil I'm
Porto Rico. He was educated in the
United States. became an American
citizen and has for some years repre-
sented one of the greatest Of New
York's commercial institutions in the
West Indies.
This morning he met some of those
who are interested in the company he
represents and some other business
men of national prominence, and was
asked to relate from his own expert
ences, which as a business man hav-
ing connections all over the Island Of
Cuba, have been extensive, what he
thought of the condition, it's causes
and it's determination.
LEE WAS IN DANGER.
He said in the first place that the ac-
Cusation made by the Havana news
pdptIS llldl NItIleIdl Lee Hdu Ieu from
Havana because he lacked courage
was far apart from truth. on the
contrary there has not been day
for the past month when Lees life
~was not in danger and the consul gem
era has been aware of that. AS proof
of this assertion, this man said that
about two weeks ago he was dining
with a prominent Spanish naval Off
Ger, and in the course of conversation
this officer said, "Une of these days
General Lees life will be taken. 1t
will be done by an element in Havana
which has become intensely hostile to
him and the plans are already ar
ranged"
In reply the American said that he
did not believe that any Spaniard
could be found in Havana so low and
so foolish as to assaSsinate the Ameri-
can consul general; low, because as
assination is the work of a william:
foolish, because the assassination of
Lee would be followed by such ven
Seance as might leave scarcely a YES
tige of Havana. Nevertheless the
naval officer assured this friend that
the plan had already been prepared
a day or two later this American was
conversing with Spaniard with whom
he had close business relations, when
suddenly this Spaniard pointed to two
men, saying: IF General Lee is killed
you see two Of the men now who will
have a part in that act"
On the following day the American
saw one of these two men lurking
around the American consulate. He
said that he felt it to be his duty ia
thereupon call upon General Lee anc
warn the general that he might be in
danger and to give the reasons for
that apprehension.
LEE WAS WARNED.
General Lee replied that this wa,
only one of a number of friendly warn.
ings he had received, some of then
containing such detailed information
that he was satisfied that there were
grounds for believing that such n plo
had been arranged. But" he said, 80
cannot do anything other than I an
now doing. l must stay here until my
Government tells me to go away, and
l must take my chances of life oI
death" Other things which this Ameri
can business man learned satisfied him
that there were several times wher
General Lees life dependd upon
mere chance or happy accident, anC
that he got away from Havana alive.
In his own case the warning cam,
from those whom he had served ant
who had special reasons, partly of {
business nature, for wishing that hi!
life be preserved, He had been, will
others, selected for assassination be
cause it was believed that although h,
was nominally a civilian, and as :
business man not personally interested
In the conflict, nevertheless he had Sc
cretly given advice and encouragemen
to the Cuban leaders; besides il wa,
known that he had once or twice sought
General Lee upon other than consular
business. He saw a partial list o
American citizens who had beer
marked for assassination, and, Will,
some of them have now departed from
the island, others are still there. per
haps ignorant of the intention of tn,
conspirators. If hostilities break on
and citizens are called from thei
houses to the streets and shot. thi