Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-18
NOTES FROM HABANA
NOTHING YET FROM MADRID
ABOUT EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.
ALL SORTS OF WAR RuMORS.
Spanish Fleet, 1t IL Said, Making
for an Important Part of the
taries Appointed.

Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press.)
HABANA, H.-Inquirles made at the
Palace here show that Captain General
Blanco was unwilling to receive Lieuten-
ant Brainard, United States navy. the
special agent of the Government of the
United States, in the matter Of the pro-
posal to exchange Spanish prisoners for
the two newspaper men, Messrs. Thrall
and Jones, because the General consider
ed that the Lieutenant was not empower
ed with sufficient authority. Therefore,
he simply accepted the documents
presented by the Lieutenant, and con-
suited with the Spanish Government on
the subject. The answer from Madrid
has not yet been received.
On Sunday morning, the day the rep
resentative OF the United States Govern
ment arrived off this harbor, on a small
steamer bearing a flag Of truce there
were five American vessels in sight from
Habana and four of them were in sight
the same afternoon. In addition, a yes
sell supposed to be a Norwegian frigate
was in the ofiing. Yesterday morning,
there were five American vessels in sight
of this harbor.
AMERICAN IMPRISONED.
News just received here from Porto
Rico confirms the report that Mr.. Free
man Halstead, the American newspaper
correspondent. has been sentenced by
military court-martial at San Juan de
Porto Rico to nine years imprisonment.
after having been convicted of taking
az fnrtC Wi ha Of n
camera.
All sorts of war rumors are in circula-
ton here from Spanish sources. One re-
port has IT that documents taken from
the American correspondents confined in
the Cabanas fortress are in possession of
Captain-General Blanco. Their money
is said TO have been deposited at the
British consulate. Another says the
woman and child killed during the
bombardment of Cardenas by the Ameri-
can vessels were the wife and daughter
of one of the pilots of the American ships
Three American warships were report
ed off Mariel on Sunday. three were
sighted off Cardenas, and there were
some American ships off Cienfuegos.
The Norwegian steamer Bratsborg ar
rived on Sunday at Sagua la Grande, and
will leave there on May 18th with pas
sengers for New York.
COLONIAL COUNCIL
Captain-General Blanco yesterday de-
finitely appointed the secretaries OF the
Colonial Council who have been re-
elected. They are: Senior Galvez, presi-
dent OF the council; Senior Montero. Sec
rotary Of Finance; Senior Gown, Secre-
tary of Justice; Senior DOLE. Secretary of
Public Works and Communications:
Senior Rodriguez. Secretary of Com
merce; Senior Zeyas, Secretary OF Public
Instruction.
. There are seven American warships
in sight off Habana this afternoon, and
rumor has 1t that the Spanish fleet is
making for an important part of the
United States.
SAN JUAN COMMANDMENT.
The Captain-General of Porto Rico has
cabled to Captain-General Blanco, saying
that although the bombardment OF San
Juan da Porto Rico took place at rifle
shot distance, not gun Of the forts was
and, he adds. the Spanish losses
were only eighteen men wounded. among
the troops composing the garrison, and
a few persons wounded among the civil
population Of the place.
The Captain-General Of Porto Rico
further reports that the United States
Indiana New York. Montgom-
cry, and Amphitrite were I'm sight OF
Porto Rico during Saturday last.