The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-10
POLITICAL TALK IN CUBA
THE MONTGOMERY HAS ARRIV
ED AT HAVANA.
SPANISH TORPEDO BOATS EN- ROUTE
Captain Sigsbee and 0ther Officers of the
Maine Have Quarters on the
Montgomery.

Havana, March 9.-The United States
cruiser Montgomery arrived here at
$3.50 o'clock this morning. The arrival
here of the Montgomery was very quiet,
it being generally understood that she
comes to replace the coast survey steam
er Fern aS quarters for Captain Sigs-
bee and others.
Commander Converse, of the Mont
gOmery, is a high authority on explosives
and his advice will he useful to the
Court of Inquiry into the loss OF the
Maine.
After firing the usual salute and being
saluted in return, the Montgomery was
mOored in the principal harbor near the
wreck of the Maine, and in the centre
of u circle of Spanish ships
Later in the day Commander Converse
received the correspondent ON board
the cruiser and treated him graciously,
though he had nothing to tell him be-
yond the facts already sent. He seem
ed satisfied to have Il rest in Havana
harbor for Il while, as the cruiscr has
been very busy touching ut West In-
dian ports lately.
Captain Sigsbee Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright and Ensign P0Mel-
son will occupy quarters on the Mont
gomery, the Fern leaving Havana thia
afternoon. The Montgomery is as Trim
and neat as possible. Nobody. is al
lowed on board without permission, but
no one is excluded if business or cour-
tesy demands the admission of the visi-
tor There is no Indication Of the length
of the cruisers stay in this haTbUg, ins
more than there is any news of the
duration of the sessions of the Court
Of Inquiry here. The court held IT'S
usual sessions today, examining the
divers. Only thc Spanish divers We're
at work. and they were occupied but
part of the day. The wrcckers are
steadily removing the upper debris OF
the wreck, some of which will be dump
cd into the sea. Other portions of the
wreck are worth saving.
Senator Proctor left here today for
Key West and will go to Miami by to-
mOrrow'S steamer.
Consul General Lee says there was
nothing of Importance in the mail mat
ter which he has just received from the
United States.
The Olivette's passengers list of in
cOmers was small and her outgoing list
Of passengers is not as large as usual.
\ Spanish column under Colonel Te-
jeda, according to Il Spanish report, has
captured several entrenched insurgent
camps in the ManZanillO district, in
cluding the camp of El Chime. The
troops. the Spanish add, killed nine
men, made three prisoners and captured
an armOry with many tools and destroy
ed many great huts and hospitals.
There was another engagement be-
tween these opposing forces, it appears,
at La Sierra, and the insurgents are
alleged to have lost over one hundred
men, while the Spanish colonel reports
only two OF his men killed and Is
wounded
There will be an important meeting
tonight of the Central Committee OF
| the Conservative party. The Marquis
Apezteguia, who viii preside, will, it is
announced expose the proposition that
the Conservatives should take part in
the elections" 1t is generally admitted
that a majority of the Conservatives are
unwilling to take part in the elections,
though the Colonial or AutOnomatic gov
Grnment will reserve sixteen places for
the Conservatives in the Colonial Con
gress, if they participate in the cleo
tiOnS