The record-union., 1898-04-11

KEY WEST (Fla), April 10.-'Tell
the Olivette to get under way at once,
Captain Cowles. Signal the Bache that
the United States fleet is ready to clear
out Of Havana and please follow the
Bache out"
Those were the words of Consul-Gen-
eral Lee at 5:25 yesterday as he stood
on the poop of the Fern with group OF
correspondents around him.
1t was evident to all that General Lee
attended to be the last to leave, and a
7nurmur of applause went around in
support Of his intention. The Evelyn
had already passed Moro Castle when
Hhe Oliyette weighed anchor.
The Bache was close behind and the
Fern was the last of the line. The
Mharves and boats on both sides Of the
marrow entrance to the harbor were
crowded with Spaniards who jeered as
the boat passed out.
AS the Fern rounded to, heading for
the open sea, she passed near the Maine
wreck. The group on deck had been
laughing and talking, expressing their
satisfaction at leaving Havana. With
one accord each man doffed his hat in
salute to the brave dead, while silence
fell on ali for the space Of several min
ntes. General Lee, being on board the
Fern. made that boat target for re-
doubled Kisses, groans, cat-calls and
whistles from the crowds on shore.
Get out, Yankee swine" was about
1he mildest expression used. This
seemed to strike every one on board
as ludicrous. Vice Consul Springer who
had been in the island thirty years,
waved his hat to a particularly abusive
group saying: wait, wait my friends,
I'VE shall all be back soon"
There was one pretty incident. On
the Cabanas shore a British steamer
was unloading at her wharf. AS the
Fern passed the Union Jack was dipped,
while the English crew gave a hearty
cheer. 1t is needless to say that the
compliment was returned with a gusto.
Havana seemed dazed yesterday when
the people found that General Lee was
really going and that all the Ameri-
cans were going with him. Not to see
the United States flag floating from
Casa Nuevo struck most residents as
little less than a calamity. The corre-
Spondents were besieged with eager
questions as to the intentions of the
Americans, and when the fleet left it
was expected a bombardment was likely
TO commence. The Government officials
seemed as much at a loss as all the
rest A Spanish officer of high rank
besought a correspondent to tell him
if he had any news not made public and
affecting the future of the city.
The fact that Mr.. Golan, the British
Consul. called with General Lee on
Captain General Blanco also puzzled
many, some believing that this meant
that an English alliance had been set
tied The truth is the Havana news
papers have been under such close
surveillance for months, have been
made to publish so many untruths and
have printed so many tales of the
United States backing down at the de-
mand of Germany, Italy, Austria and
Russia, that the residents take no stock
whatever in anything published. Con-
seQuently when they saw the Americans
leaving despite the statements of the
papers that they had no intention of
going, the people believed a crisis at
hand. Under instructions from General
Lee, who went on board the Fern i'm
mediately after his farewell call on
Captain General Blanco the consular
people and the correspondents went
quietly on board in twos and threes.
the people stared curiously as the news
paper men, TO whose appearance all had
grown accustomed rode down to the
docks with their grips, canes and other
hand baggage, showing their intention
TO depart.
In fact, Havana was kinder than the
ocean outside. Everybody was sick,
some more so than others. Even the
naval men did not escape. From the
crowded decks of the Olivette hearty
cheers went up as the launch from the
Fern with the correspondents and con-
sular agent on board put ashore. Several
hundred people on the dock added their
shouts to this lusty welcome and for
some hours stayed gazing at the Fern,
on which General Lee could be seen
pacing the deck. At about II o'clock
General Lee came ashore and received
an answer from Washington to his re-
quest for orders, sent earlier. After a
brief reception. General Lee went on
board the Olivette which was kept
waiting, and sailed for Tampa at noon.
He viii go direct to Washington. Nine