The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-26
WANTS TO FIGHT DUELS
SPANIARD CHALLENGES GENERAL
LEE AND CAPTAIN sIGSBEE.
Lieut.. Cnrrnnxn, Late Of Minister
POIO's Stan, GricvOusIy Offend
ell at Two Heroes.

WASHINGTON, April 25.-Lieutenant Ra-
mon do Carranza, of the Spanish royal
army, until recently naval attache OF the
Spanish legation at Washington, has chal-
lenged General Fitzhugh Lee and Captain
Sigsbee, of the Maine, to fight duels. The
challenges were issued on the night that
the Spanish minister withdrew from Wash
ington. Lieutenant Carranza had deter
mined on this course of action Immediately
after General Lee and Captain Sigsbee stat
ed before the congressional committees that
in their belief Spanish naval officers were
responsible for the blowing up of the Maine.
He made known his purpose to Minister
Polo, who peremptorily forbade him from
issuing the challenge while he was mem
Der of the legation staff. Lieutenant De
Carranza persisted that his official position
in no way restricted his rights as gentle
man to call another gentlepan to account.
1t was finally arranged that the issuance
of the challenges should await the ternina-
ton of diplomatic relations between Spain
and the United States, whereupon Lieut..
De Carranza would be absolved from any
restraint as an official under Minister Polo.
In the meantime Lieutenant De Carranza
consulted his close friend Captain De la
Casa, of the Spanish army, late military
lenges were arranged. Only Minister Polo,
Captain De la Casa and one other person
were aware of what was done, the strictest
secrecy being enjoined on all parties &C
cording to the ethics OF dueling, which gave
to the party challenged the privilege Of
making public the facts in the transaction.
This secrecy is now broken, however by
the rumors current, and the facts of the
challenges are made public.
Lieutenant De Carranza's first challenge
was sent to General Lee and 1t is rather
moro lengthy than the one to Captain Siss-
bee, It is most deferenGial. even courtly,
in tone. according to the tenets of dueling,
but aside from the challenge proper 1t con-
tains an intentional insult to General Lee
with view to provoking him to an accept
ance. The letter states that General Lee,
In his testimony before congressional
committee stated that in his judgment
blew up the Maine. This, Lieutenant De
CarranZa asserts in his challenge, is q d.
rect reflection on the honor Of the naval
officers who had charge OF the defenses OF
Havana. ANY man who makes such a
charge on belief, and not on proof the
fRe e5 Gape e Carr
rama refers to reports that General Ice
will return to Cuba as a major general and
lieutenant the privilege of fighting him. The
challenge closes as follows: Tor eight days
L shall await your answer at the Spanish
The challenge to General Lee was mailed
at $3.50 p. m. on the Doth inst. as the Spanish
mir and lib his party about to take
furnished him his passports that afternoon.
1t was directed to the State Department,
as General Lee had been assigned room at
the department. It happened, however that
he had gone to Richmond, so that it is not
known whether he received the letter the
following morning. Lieutenant De Carranza
felt satisfied that General Lee would accept
the challenge, and that meeting would oc-
cur probably on Canadian SOIL
The challenge to Captain Sgsbee is sub
stantially the same as that to General Lee,
but is slightly briefer, owing to the orns-
sion OF the phrase relating to General Lees
return to Cuba as major general. 1t re-
fers to Captain Sigsbee's testimony before
the Senate committee and says that the
statement that the mine was fired by per-
sons on shore directly impugns the naval
officers in charge of the shore defenses. In
this challenge, also. eight days are given
Spanish consulate at Toronto. The chal-i
lenge was sent in care of the Navy De
left Tor Philadelphia 10 take command or
the auxiliary cruiser st. Paul, so that the
letter may not have reached him. Since the
challenges were sent no word has reached
here 70 the purpose of General Lee. or
Captain Sigsbee. The dispatch from To-
ronto indicates that no acceptance or dec
linations have reached there.
Lieutenant De Carranza is about forty
Eve years old, tall and OF athletic build. He
Spaniard.. Ills face is full bearded and
rudy from exposure on the sea, for he
came to Washington after long sea service
It was he who was intrusted by
General Rlanco with the delivery
to Washington of the report OF
the Spanish naval commission which
investigated the disaster to the Maine, and
after delivering the report into the hands OF
Minister Polo he was attached to the lega-
ton. For three years he commanded
gunboat in Cuban waters. Like most Euro
pean naval officers, Lieutenant De Carranza
Is an expert swordsman and pistol shot. He
made known his purpose before leaving
here of waiting eight days when If answers
were not received he would publish the
challenges sent to General Lee and Captain
Sigsbee. 1t was suggested to him that duel
ing was looked on differently in this coun-
try than IN Europe and that the laws pro-
hibited it, but he insisted that these officers
would not invoke the law or the custom Of
the country in the present case.