The Portland daily press., 1898-01-14
SPANISH MINISTER'S INFORMA-
TION.

Washington, January 49, The Spanish
minister, Senior Dupuy de LONE. received
a dispatch from Secretary General Con-
today. at Havana. 1t said: "Your excel
lency can affirm that the tl,mult of yes
terday has had SO little Importance that
not a shot was fired, and there ia no
knowledge that any body was wounded or
hurt. The agitation was confined to one
quarter OF the city,
This followed closely on another official
despatch from the same authority, filed at
Havana about nine O'Clock this morning.
1t said: Complete quiet reigns. The
city has recovered it's normal condition. .
The Spanish minister has been kept
constantly advised of every development
within the last twenty -four hours at Ha-
vana, and he summoned up his adyices
this afternoon by saying they show the
uprising to have been riot, pure and
simple, that order has been completely re-
stored and that the authorities have an
ample force to afford every projections;
that the tumult was confined to Spanish
and Cuban residents, and that no indig
nifty was put upon any American interest
or citizens, public or private.
The official advices began arriving
about midnight last night. 1t began
when a few army officers mobbed the Re-
concentrate newspaper, that Epaper be-
ing so lukewarm Ltoward autonomy that
it was suspected of having insurgent
tendencies. Later, rs the people were
leaving the shops at the close of the days
work, and the streets were filled with
home-goers the demonstration was begun
I,1, <aa1r thn stnl irl,, -
of the La Discussion and the Diario de la
Marina.
The dispatches state that a small
group raised a cry against autonomy,
some few gave vivas for Gen. Weyler,
while some scattered shouts we're directed
against Gen. Blanco.
During this excitement, United States
the Spanish authorities. Twenty five
Spanish soldiers were despatched TO the
United States consulate, and another
guard of twenty-five 80 the residence of
Gen. Lee. They acted as an emergency
guard and no occasion arose for their
services to be brought into actual requisi |
tion. Throughout the disturbance 1t Is
said at the legation, there WAS not shout
against the United States nor a hand |
raised against an American citizen.
Meanwhile as has been said, the navy |
deGartInent is fully prepared for all emer- |
gencies, and although the officials repeat |
their statements that no orders have been |
sent to the ships in Florida waters to go |
to Havana they have prudently shaped |
their programme SO as to have q ship |
ready at any moment that she might ba |
needed by Consul General Lee. 1t is said |
at the department that in case at any |
time it should be determined to send O |
ship to Havana the choice would fall on |
the Marblehead rather than the Maine |
The reason for this choice probably is |
that the former is swift cruiser and |
could CROSS the straits to Cuba in much |
less time than the Maine. During the |
day telegram came to the department.
from the commander of the Essex an
nouncing that he had sailed from st. |
Thomas for Port Royal. so the fleet of !
American ships in West Indian waters
has thus another accession, the Essex
though a training ship being still SER
viceable. especially for landing parties.
The disquieting stories that have appeared
relative to special cabinet meetings and
important conferences at the White House
to forward war preparations have no
in fact, and are emphatically
denied by everybody.