The Portland daily press., 1898-04-09
MAY TAKE OFF POLO.

MAY TAKE OFF POLO.
Washington, April S.-The Italian
cruiser Amerigo Vespucci is anchored in
the Potomac a few miles down the river
below Washington. She is q cadet school
ship aud is understood to be on a practice
cruise She draws about seventeen feet
of water.
There was considerable gossip in naval
and military circles regarding the visit tc
this city of this foreign vessel at this
critical juncture There was uncon-
firmed gossip that the presence of this
vessel at this time was for the purpose OF
using her as an asylum for the Spanish
minister and his staff in case 1T WAS found
impracticable for them to leave the
country by the ordinary means of travel.
Senior Polo Barnabe the Spanish minis
ter. when his attention was called to the
rumor that the Vespucci might be here to
take him away from the country charac-
terized it as absurd and without any basis
of fact.
GEN. LEES PROGRAMME.
Tampa, Fla, April 8.-The programme
for the departure of General Lee from
Havana, has been announced as follows:
The Olivette will enter Havana harbor
on Saturday morning and General Lee
will at once notify all Americans that
SAN~
island under the American flag.
After all are on board the steamer, in
Guiding the United States consuls from
the various ports in Cuba, General Lee
will pull down the American flag from
the consulate, will turn over the archives
to the British consul, Mr.. Collin, and
will go abroad the Olivette, which will at
once sail for Key West.
Tt is possible that one of the gunboats
or cruisers at Key West will accompany
the Oliyette to Havana to protect the
Americans as the last OF them leave the
city.
The Oriverte will reach Key West on
Saturday night or Sunday night, II the
United States consuls cannot reach
Havana before Sunday.
SPANIARD ON THE COLUMBIA.
Old Point Comfort, Va, April Sit
is learned on good authority that the
master at arms of the cruiser Columbia,
q native born Spapiard, has been trans
ferred to the receiving ship. He has
been a naturalized American citizen 16
years and it is believed that the transfer
Is merely precautionary measure and
not because of any charges of disioyalty
against him. He is not and has not been
in irons and the officers of the Columbia
speak very kindly of him as one of the
best men in the squadron. The officers
of the boat decline to talk except to this
effect, and Commodore Schley denies
that there is any truth in report that
Ii has been discovered that this petty
officer was disloyal.
A NEWPORT GUNNER KILLED.
Key West, April s.-The day here has
heen one of expectation and conjecture.
There have been no advices from Wash
ington indicating any change in the
situation, and the little remaining
Preparations has gone on with incessant
vigor. Apart from the arrival OF the
Mangroye and the monitor Amphitrite,
tho only incident of the day was of q
Caief Gunner's Mate Johnson, of he
gunDoat Newport, while making an ex-
animation of the ships bottom met with
sudd IN death from asphyxiation. The
exac; cause is unknown; but it is thought
the ar pipe became entangled in some
way. He was down some time and, as he
gave no signals, he was drawn up, when
rs was found to be dead. The accident
has cast gloom over the ships company.
The remains will be inferred here tOInor-
row morning. The examination was a
routine affair and not made because of
any supposed defect
KATA HDIN AT HAMPTON ROADS.
Fort Monroe, Va, April 8.-The ram
Katahdin arrived in Hampton Roads this
evening and anchored near the flying
squadron. The Massachusetts will anchor
with the squadron at O'Clock tomorrow
having finished her cleaning.
QUIET DAY AT WHITE HOUSE.
Washington, April S.-The entire day
passed with the same unusual absence of
callers that had marked the forenoon.
Assistant Secretary Day was with the
President for over an hour in the after
noon, but when he left stated that there
had been nothing new, not even in the
way OF fresh communications from
Madrid and Havana. He said that Minis
ter Woodford had not communicated with
his home government today, and that no
instructions as to when he should leave
Madrid had been issued by tn is govern
Inent A member of the cabinet was
asked in this connection as it was con-
templated that General Woodford should
leave his post at the same time that Gem
eral Lee left Havana. He said that it
would be very violent and wrong pre-
sumption to make and that he understood
the question of leaving. Spain had been
vested in the discretion of the minister
President Mckinley after his general dis.
cussion of the situation with Judge Day
was closeted with Senator Spooner of
Wisconsin and about three O'Clock went
on an afternoons drive with Vice Presi-
dent Hobart. The latter came over for
him in his own brougham.
DESPATCH FROM LEE.
Washington, April S.-A despatch was
received at the State Department late
this afternoon from General Lee, but it
was said it related simply to detail of
no great Importance. From the fact that
l,o made no reference to any disturbance