New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-03
MENDEz CAPOTE HERE.
THE CUBAN cE-PREsIDENT TALKS OF
THE INsURGENT ARMY.
STRONG IN THE SANTIAGO PRovINcE-sENoI
MENDEz's NARROW ESCAPE FROM CAPT
IRE pY THE sPANIARDs

Cuban republic arrived In this city from Philadel-
phia at noon yesterday He was accompanied by
his secretary Manuel Despaine. and his ad1utant
A. Herrare. The party went at once to the offices
of the Cuban Delegation. at No IS New-st.. where
they were met by T. Estrada Palma and other
prominent Cubans Senior Mendez for that is his
correct name. although he is more generally known
here as Capote remained in conference for several
hours with Senor Palma and Horatio s. Rubens
before he generally greeted the Cubans who had
gathered TO welcome him here. After the confer
ence he received the newspaper reporters In the
office Of Mr. Rubens
sehor Mendez is about forty years old, small OF
stature and dark Of complexion He was. prior 10
the beginning Of the Cuban revolution prominent
lawyer OF Havana and considered a man OF
wealth When the Cubans rose in arms against
Spain he Immediately gave up his practice and
went into the field. He fought in the ranks during
the early part of the war. In November last ne
was elected vice-president OF the republic
NOT PUBLIC MISSION
Senior Mendez while understanding English fairly
we'll preferred to answer the questions put TO MIN
through an interpreter and accordingly MI Ru-
bens acted for him, transating the questions ana
answers The first question asked Senior Mendez
WAS what his mission was TO the United States.
Instead Of answering that question direct he said
through Mr.. Rubens
1T desire TO thank the American newspapers az
whole for the stand they have taken on the CUBAN
nunefiOn | also desire 10 tndNk tne hIlcIINh"
people and the American Government Ny mission
here is not a public one All public acts between
the United States and the Cuban republic are car
ried on through Senior Palma who 10 our delegate
here My mission If strictly one between the Gu
ban government and Sehor Palma and is not for
the public All communications between our gov
eminent and President Mckinney VIII go 'hto"s"
senor Palma"
sehor Mendez declined TO go further into the de-
tails Of his visit here than above quoted, but 1t Is
understood that his mission has entirely to do win
instructions 10 Senior Palma as 10 the policy 10 be
pursued by the Cubans when Spain is driven from
tho island II is possible. II not probable. that
Senior Mendez will go TO Washington before ne
returns TO Cuba He will remain in the United
States only long enough to transact the business
for which he came and then Will return direct 10
Cuhs When asked how long II would take him 70
transact this business he replied that ne ala not
know
In rseard n m. condition Of the Cuban army he
said
IN the eastern department which embraces tho
nrovinces OF Santiago and Puerto Principe We
have twelve thousand well-armed soldiers. under
Calixto Garcia This force does not include tnose
who have recently joined the ranks. When ief'
Cuba there were about thrty-hve hundred OF our
men around the citv OF Santiago and the others
in the command OF Garcia could be concentrated
there in a short time. General Garcia now mas
his headquarters al Bayamo with tho other oe-
partments Of army am not so famllar out
should say that have altogether force OF
thirty thousand men. who are armed with ELMER
Remington or Mauser rifles There are many others
who are only half armed and equipped Recently
twenty thousand people have Joined the army who
need arms.
FLEEING FROM THE CITIES.
The people are fleeing from the cities since the
blockade. Take city that am well acquainted
with-that OF Puerto Principe AT least ten thou
sand men, women and children have fed from
there into the country. 1ney feared that they
would starve II they remained in the town, and so
came 70 our government for aid and assistance
While fear OF starvation was the principal reason
that drove them out OF the city. they also reared
that in case the spanards had an opportunity they
would massacre the Cubans. The temporary head.
quarters OF the Cuban government are now 81
Sebsstopol in the Province OF Puerto Principe
What DO you think ot ne chances OF a.ea
senior Mendes HIS answer was: You had better
ASK s ,Sa csS Sn tae saPs OF hm
The Wee president was not anxious 10 talk Of
possible He said that he had not seen General
Gomez for some time The Cuban government had
also the several ces
Sehor Palma. giving full particulars OF the war
arst American officer 10 enter cuba did not com
municate directly with the Cuban government eu,
Of his arrival Senior Mendez declined to talk abou.
me plans arranged between General Garcia and
A told in yesterdays lribunA s.hor Mena De
bad nnrroS escape from eSHs cap.orr reoS ths
United states He. with his two companlons, ieft
the southern coast 81 Cuba In an open boat "a feet
N length and feet beam on the night o. May !,
party reached Falmouth Jamaica. on the 18th, and
'her went to Montejo Bay. and from there 70
Kingston from which POT the parry ,o sasa on ans
Mavsi of the eastern end OF Cuba. on the night
81 the 18th the steamer vas wrecked by striking
on n reef The only thing that saved the steamer
erom sinking was that II was wedged In between
Two rocks The wreck occurred about six miles
from the lighthouse AT Cape Maysi.
NEAR TO CAPTURE BY THE SPANISH
Al the lighthouse was a Spanish ii-utensns with
rf,v regular soldiers and Afty guerillas. Some Of
the crew went UP the lighthouse after the party
Ind landed and asked for assistance from tho
Standards Lieutenant. Ricardo Hernandez. In COM
mand OF the Spanish soldiers. came down 70 where
the shipwrecked people were with eighteen SOL
ders Senior Mendez and his party remained In the
were present az he was afraid he would be recog-
nized All the passengers on the steamer knew
who he was and what prize he would be y capt
cret with the exception OF three who several times
almost betrayed him TO the Spanish Lieutenant
The three who acted thus people who knew
him well when he was in Havana The remainder
Of the passengers did their best 10 quiet the three
who persisted In frequently using his name ana
were around The trio who thus came near placing
him In Cabahas prison instead OF allowing MIN "a
come here. were Japanese children. ranging In ages
from seven TO ten years They were children OF a
japanese merchant Of Havana who had known
Senior Mendez we'll The situation became so dan
oerous that Senior Mendez had arranged 10 put on
IN a small boat and not wait 10 be picked up by q
nsssinR shin when the Kong Erode "a me- along ard
took the party 10 Philadelphia
GETTING THE BALLOONS READY.