Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-03
AFFAIRS AT HABANA.
Realization That Big Game IS Being
Played Elsewhere.
BITTERNESS AGAINST AMERICANS.
People AVakins 10 Idea That siege
and Suffering Impend.
LEE CALM AND CHEERFUL.
He is Armed, Of Course, and AlludeS
Sometimes 10 Pistol Practice.
LEE CALM AND CHEERFUL.



1t Is mt observation-disclosures I'm
the Autonomist Cabinet-Rumored
designations.
HABANA, via KEY WEST. FLA,
April 1.-The week just closing has not
lacked In events. All realize that a big
game is being played In larger theatre
Madrid and Washington. The principal
happenings here since last Wednesday
have been-frst, General Blanco's order
abolishing recommendation and directing
the mayors, alcaldes, and other officials
TO provide food for the destitute and en-
ployment for those able to work; second
the telegram to President Mckinley from
Senior Galvez, president OF the Colonial
Cabinet. begging for more time for trial
of autonomy: third, the departure OF the
cruisers Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo;
fourth. the war-scare in Habana on
Thursday night, after Captain-Generai
Blanco had called the colonies OF the vol
unteers 10 the Palace for advice and
declaration of fealty; fifth, the awaken
ing of all classes Of the people to the
knowledge that q war-siege and suffering
in Habana are at least possible, II not
probable. and a bitter feeling toward
America and Americans consequent upon
that knowledge.
As TO General Blanco's orders regarding
recommendation, the papers praise IT,
| though I'm a somewhat perfunctory tash-
ion. So far as can be learned, not a
single veconcentrado has left the shelter
| of city or town for the country, nor
| are any likely to do so, so long as II Is
possible that they viii fall an easy prey
to Spanish guerillas or Cuban insurgents.
DIssENsIONs IN CABINET.
There are discussions in the Autono-
mist Cabinet, and rumors are rife that
| Senores Dolz, Gown, and Montero, re-
spectively, Minister Of Posts and Tele-
| graphs. Minister Of the Interior, and
| Minister of Finance, have resigned. These
| rumors. however. are not confirmed.
on Thursday night a story was bruited
| about. first quietly, then openly, that
war had been declared. The result was
| that in all quarters OF Habana great
persuasion had TO be used by men OF
| good Judgment to prevent demonstra-
ton. the results Of which 1t would have
| been hard TO foresee. Up to that night
| the correspondents had really nothing 70
| complain OF in the treatment they re-
ceiyed at the hands of the Habana people,
| but on Thursday there were black looks
| and open threats. Police precautions
were at once doubled.
Threats Of violence In the event OF
war being declared by the United States
and Spain are still plentiful, but the
better classes seem, since Thursday nj yht'
| TO have resumed their outWaruly cur
| teous manner, at least.
The intelligent people here believe that
tho cruisers Vizcaya and Almirante
| Oquendo are bound for Porto Rico, 70
meet and IL necessary protect and fur
| nish supplies TO the torpedo ,hOtilla, now
at the Cape Verde Islands.
GENERAL LEE CALM.
United states Consul-General Lee main
| tains a calm cheerfulness throughout all
the rumors and excitement. He is con-
stantly watched, in accordance with gov
eminent orders, but goes his way as II
he were I'm Richmond, declining TO regard
as serious the numerous and constantly
recurring threats against his life. lie Is
| armed. Of course, and sometimes says
he has not forgotten the lessons or his
youth I'm pistol practice.
| The steamer Mascotte, from Key West,
arrived here this morning, without sin
gle passenger, except Cubans or Span
iards. She left for the north, with i'm
| munes" only.
| The Ward Line steamer Lampasas
which was due TO sail for New York this
afternoon, had sold every state-room.
FLOTILLA AT MARTINIQUE.
News was received at the Palace late
to-day TO the effect that the Spanish tor
| pedo flotilla had arrived at the Island OF
| Martinique where the destroyers are
busy mounting rapid-fre guns brought
on the transport accompanying the fleet,
and not heretofore in position on the de-
stroyers. According 10 these advices, the
Vizcaya and the Almirante Oquendo have
gone to Martinique to meet the torpedo
fotilla. The gunboat Martin AlOnzo Pin
zon and the other Spanish gunboats sta
toned at Habana have gone 10 the
southwark. 10 patrol the coast.
II IS fully believed that United States
squadron OF three vessels was off the
north coast yesterday.
The government is said TO be discussing
the question Of declaring martial Law
throughout the Island.
MAINE WRECK ABANDONED.
HABANA, April 2.-The newspaper
here. from news which they have re
ceived from the exterior and Interior o
the island, regard the situation as criti
cal The tone Of all the papers Is In
tensely patriotic.
Orders were received here to-day 10
the closing OF the contract with IN
wreckers now at work on the Maine, an
directing that salvage operations shoul
be suspended. The tug Merritt and TN
barges Chief and Sharp will procee'
North as soon as practicable.
The tattered flag at the poop OF tn
Maine will probably be removed. An
further action that may be taken VII
be the subject of a conference.
The decision arrived at Is doubles
based upon the report OF Captain Chad
wick, acknowledgements Cowles
and Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
composing the board appointed to decid
| what was best 70 be done with the Main
wreck. In their report, 1t Is believed
the board set forth that II was not pos
sible to save the lO-inch guns unles
dynamite was used to blow the tops fror
the turrets.
AGAINST AMERICAN RELIEF.
La Lucha, in an editorial under IN
caption. Commerce in Philanthropy an
Charity" to-day, says that many bus
ness houses in Habana have ceased buy
| H.. s,rplfaa otiteida fha island finding