The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-08-05
WITH CHAIN GUARDS.
Bianco Has Blocked the way Into Havana
Harbor.


Harbor.
Another story from the city of Ha-
vana, brought out by Jose Boclino
Bianco. who arrived at Key West on
an auxiliary cruiser which had been
doing blockade duty in front of that
city.
Blanco, who is a bright, intelligent
youth, is sailor, and the son of pi-
lot For a long time he was employed
by the Cuban junta and landed most
of the flibustering expeditions on the
north coast of Cuba. He has recently
been a boatman in Havana harbor, at
the same time constantly watching an
opportunity TO make his escape from
his Spanish employers.
According to the young mans stcRY
the long sought opportunity to leave
Havana came last Monday morning,
when at six o'clock he put off from the
beach alone in a small rowboat. He
appears not to have been detected I'M
til he was well off shore, when several
shots from the land batteries were
fired after him. Being such a small
mark on the water none of the shots
took effect, and redoubling his efforts
with the oars and assisted by the strong
current, he soon got beyond the range
of the Spanish guns.
Making for one of our patrolling YES
sells he was soon picked up by the Ban
croft, whose officers had witnessed his
flight and, Fastening to his assistance,
soon had him on deck. He was trans
ferred from the Bancroft to a cruiser,
which landed him at Key West.
HAVANA'S NEW DEFENCES.
Blanco tells an interesting story of
the conditions existing in and around
Havana. Being a seafaring man, and
apparently a keen observer, his re-
port of the preparations which have
been made by General Blanco along
the Cuban coast to repel any attack
by the American fleet. is as interest
ing as it is important.
He says any attempt by American
vessels to enter the harbor would be
useless, for the reason that heavy
chains extend under the water across
the entrance from MORO Castle to
La Punta These are firmly fastened
on either shore, being controlled from
the MORO fortifcations. A line of tor
pedoes has also been placed across the
mouth of Havana harbor. The same,
to the harbors of Cabanas, Mariel, Ba-
hia Honda and other places along the
northern coast of Havana and Pinar
del Rio provinces.
Masked batteries mounting heavy
guns have been placed in several SEEM
ingly unimportant ports along the
coast, against the dangers of which
young Blanco particularly warns COM
In the event of invasion he believes
Bahai Honda, WHICH is about fifty
miles west of Havana, would offer the
least resistance. 1t is but slightly for
titled. It has an excellent harbor and
the country hack of it is favorable for
a march against Havana from the
rear.
Blanco adds that there are several
naval vessels bottled in Havana Har-
Dor, notably the Marquiz Ensenada,
Condo de Venedito, Nueva Espana and
call, together with the Pinzon, the
two others whose names he cannot re-
gunboats Flecha, Aguila, Filipinas and
Magallanes Those whose condition
and machinery permit are kept con-
stantly under steam for an emergency
The former warship Alfonso XII, is
now being used as a hospital ship. The
merchant steamers Josefita, Maria
Herrera and Adela are also bottled up
in the harbor.
MAY RUN THE BLOCKADE.
Blanco states positively that the
large Spanish merchant steamers Mon
tevideo and Santo Domingo ran out Of
Havana and evaded the blockade sew
eral weeks ago. Both had guns mount
ed on their decks before leaving the
harbor.
When asked about the conditions ex-
listing in the city he said that but
slight changes were noticeable. The
places of public amusement were open
notwithstanding the fact that the at
tendance is reduced. Public hacks, ON
nibuses and street cars are still run
ming to the suburbs of Serro and Jesus
del Monte, although the hacks are few
in number, while cars and omnibuses
run less frequently than formerly.
Ferryboats, when he left We're max
ing regular trips across Havana har-
Dor to Regla and Guanapacoa, and
trains arrived from the interior with
passengers as usual Certain lines of
provisions were scarce and the prices
of others beyond the reach of the
masses, entailing great suffering on the
poor
Lard is dollar pound, rice forty
cents pound, dried beef thirty cents,
corn meal twenty-five cents. Owing to
the scarcity of wheat -four bread is
sold for fifty cents loaf. All other
commodities command equally high
prices.
Our Agent In Spain.
The London Daily News's Gibraltar
correspondent forwards an interesting
story by mail concerning Captain Fer
nandez of the Second Texas Rangers.