The herald., 1898-05-06
Everything IS MOVING
TOWARD THE EARLY CAPTURE
OF PORTO RICO
Senator Burrows Makes Unofficial but
Confident Prediction of Action
Within the Week

WASHINGTON, May 5.-There were
many conferences between the President
and members of Congress today. The first
caller was Senator Burrows Of Michigan,
who came to present some friends to the
President, AS he left he said: EVERY
thing is moving along smoothly and we'll
What we want now is Porto Rico. We
ought to have that tomorrow"
"Will 1t be as SOON as that, Senatorr'
EYES," was the response, probably In
day or two"
While refraining from saying what
transpired during his interview with the
President, his statement that the seizure
of Porto Rico is expected to be effected in
a day or two was thought by his hearers
to be significant. having been made imme-
diately after the Senator left the Presi-
dent, though he would not say the Presi-
dent had given him any information.
On the Island
NEW YORK, May 5.-A dispatch to the
World from st. Thomas, West Indies,
says:
On the steamship Marconia, which ar.
rived here from Ponce, Porto Rico, Is
Sonora Henna, mother Of the President Of
the Porto Rican Junta, who has been COM
PEELED to leave by the persecution OF the
Spanish officials. Refugees report the
garrison at Ponce depleted to reinforce the
Spanish in other ports. The rebels expect
the arrival of Colonel Lacret hourly to
initiate a revolt.
The government is distributing arms,
but refused any to natives who are sus-
pected of rebel tendencies.
The price of food Is still advancing. Rice
has gone up 200 per cent and the papers
are complaining bitterly Of the rapacity of
the food speculators, whose large supplies
were expected to cause break in prices.
Officials have confiscated the coal supply
Of the gas works. The prisons are filled
with political suspects, including Jose
Barbosa, the Liberal leader.
Three women are in jail, the wives Of
by Blanco's orders.
Several editors have been expelled.
Alleged Uprising
NEW YORK, May 5.-A special from
Kingston, Jamaica, asserts that official
dispatches passing through that city report
that there has been an anti-Spanish upris-
ing in Porto Rico and that revolutionary
movement is well under way. The dis
patch has not been confirmed.
Spanish Fears
MADRID, May 5.-Fears are expressed
that the United States fleet has gone to
capture the capital of Porto Rico.
Dodged the Enemy
MADRID, May 5, p. NIT was an
nounced officially today that the Spanish
steamer Alfonso XIII, said to have troops
and a valuable cargo on board, has arrived
at Porto Rico. 1t was feared she would
be captured.
In Need of Food
WASHINGTON, May Sowing to the
war demonstrations in nearby waters the
Island of Navassa, one of the small ISL
ands of the Caribbean Sea, off the coast
of Hayti, is threatened with food famine
Senator German of Maryland today called
the attention of the President to the neces-
sity for relief of some sort. In view Of its
close proximity to Cuba, Porto Rico and
the islands in those waters, and the fact
that Spanish vessels at any time may in
tercept and attack vessels going there,
commerce with the island has been sus-
pended. There are represented to be about
seventy Americans on the island, mostly
from Maryland. Senator German urged
immediate action and the President prom
ised to take the matter up and determine
what could be done. 1t was suggested that
a merchantmen with supplies might be sent
under escort Of warship to carry supplies
to the endangered inhabitants and carry
eff those who wish to leave.
More Cruisers Coming
NEW YORK, May 5.-A Key West spe-
cial to the Evening Post says: Four Span
ish warships are reported to be off Baba-
does prepared to intercept the battleship
Oregon. A naval battle is expected.
The prize court today is sitting on the
case of the Panama. Testimony has been
concluded on the Buena Ventura and Cat
alma. District Attorney STRIPPING says
that there is no doubt about the Catalina
and Panama being condemned.