The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-27
FITZ LEE RECEIVES HIS
But CAPT. SIGSBEE'S HAS NOT
YET REACHED HIM.
INSULTING BRAY OF A SPANISH JACK
Saws he viii Await the Answer 10 His ChaI
lenges For Eight Days at Toronto
The One TO General Lee
Was Sent First.

Washington, d. c.. April 25.-Lieuten'
ant Ramon de Carranzea, of the Span
ish Royal navy, until recently Naval Az
tache of the Spanish Legation ut Wash
ington. has challenged General tltzhugh
Lee and Captain Sigsbee, of the Maine,
To fight duels The challenges were IS
sued on tile night that the Spanish Min
istcr withdrew from Washington. Lieu
tenant De Carrauza had determined
upon this course of action Immediately
after General Lee and Captain Sigsbee
stated before the Congressional Com
mittaes, that in their belief Spanish ma
val officers we're responsible for the
blowing M Of the Maine. He made
known his purpose to Minister Polo who
tclnptorily forbade him from issuing the
challenge while he was member OF
the legation staff. Lieutenant Carranza
mentioned that his official position in nc
way restricted his rights as a gentlemen
to call another gentlemen TO account Ii
was finally arranged that the issuance
Of the challenges should await the ter.
mination of diplomatic relations between
Spain and the United States, whereupor
Lieutenant de Carranza would be alb
solved from any restraint as an official
under Minister Polo. In the meantime
Lieutenant de Carranza consulted his
close personal friend, Captain de la Caca,
of the Spanish Army. late Military At
tache here, and the details of the chal-
lenge were arranged. Only Minister
Polo, Captain de In Casa and one other
person were aware of what was done
the strictest secrecy being enjoined on
Ill parties according to the ethics cd
deulin, which give to the party chal-
lenged the privileged of making public
thte facts in the transaction. This
Sc secrecy is now broken, however, by
the riImors current. and the facts of the
challenge are made public.
Lieutenant de CarranZa's first chai-
lenge was sent TO General Lee, and il
is rather more lengthy than the one
sent to Captain Sigsbee. 1t is most def
erential, even courtly. in tone, according
III to the tenets of dueling, but aside from
the challenge proper, it contains an in
ternational insult TO General Lee with q
view to provoking him to an acceptance
The letter states that General Lee in his
testimony before Congressional com
mittee stated that in his Judgment Span
ishofficials exploded the time which blew
up the Maine. This. Lieutenant de Car
rama asserts in his direct reflection upon
the honor of the signal officer who had
charge Of the defenses of Havana.
ANY man makes Il change on behalf
and not on proof the challenge pro
cecds, lis himself capable of com
able of committing the crime.
Lieutenant de CarranZa refers to re-
ports that General Lee will return to
Cubar as MAJOR General, and she asks
tha before he goes the will give the
tenant Lieutenant the privilege of fight
iilg him. The challenge closes as fol.
lows:
For eight days / shall await your an
swer at the Spanish Consulate at To.
ront0.
The challenge to General Lee was
mailed at 6:3O y. IN. on the Goth instant
rs the Spanish Minister and his party
were about to take the train 1t was
directed to the State Department, as
General Lee had been assigned a room
at the Department 1t happened, how
ever, that he had gone to Richmond. sc
that II was not known whether or no
he received the letter the following
morning. Lieutenant de Carranza fell
satisfied that General Lee would accep
The challenge, and that a meeting wouit
occur probably on Canadian SOIL
The challenge to Captain Sigsbee il
substantially the same as that to Gen
eral Lee, but is slightly briefer. Th,
challenge was sent in care of the Navy
Department CAPTAIN Sigsbee had pre-
viously left for Philadelphia to take
command of the auxiliary cruiser st
Paul, so that the letter may not have
reached him.
Since the challenges were sent, ~
word has reached here as to the purposes
of General Lee or Captain Sigsbee. The
dispatch from Toronto indicates that M
acceptances or destinations have reached
there.
Philadelphia, Pa, April 25.-CaptaiT
Sigsbee. when seen tonight in reference
to the challenge said to have been sem
him by Lieutenant Carranza, said ht
had no definite information concerning
it. He said
Il do not believe any such challenge
has been issued. | have not received il
at any rate, and think / would have
heard Of it if it had been sent to m,
at Washington
I'm case you do receive it, what actor
will YOU take?" he was asked.
1T is too absurd to believe, and
can't say what ] would do. 1t is falls
to say that | testified to the Senat,
committee that Spanish officials con
nived TO blow up the Maine. What
said was that the Maine was blown III
by an exterior force. and | would hay,
been n fool not to say so.
II met Lieutenant Carranza at Ke!
West and saw something of him. II
appeared to be very courteous gen
tleman, and our relations We're Away
pleasant This is the first time ] hav
heard that he took exceptions to my ties
tlmony before the Senate committee
and ] still think there is some mistak
and that he has not issued the chal
lenGe. | can't say what disposal
shall make Of the challenge il it comes.