The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-26
Much Curiosity, but No Excitement,
Into Cuba's Chief Port.
OFFICIAL CALLS EXCHANGED
AND ARRANGEMENT MADE FOR EN-
PERTAINING CAPTAIN SIGSBEE.
Madrid Editors Not PIeased-RumOr
structed to Visit Our Ports.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The battle ship
Maine is in Havana harbor. The torpedo
boat Dupont, which left Key West at 6
o'clock last evening with the Names sail
ing orders, hailed the Maine at Dry Tor
tugas and delivered the orders for the bat
tie ship to proceed to Havana at once. The
Dupont then returned to Key West. She
reports that the Maine was about to sail
when she left. Two dispatches were re-
ceived at the State Department this after
neon. One from Consul General Lee said
that the Maine had arrived at II o'clock,
and that all was quiet in Havana. The
other was from Captain Slgsbee and merely
said Maine arrived A second telegram
from Consul General Lee received at the
State Department to-day came at o'clock,
and was carried by Assistant Secretary Day
over to the White House for the informa
ton of the President. III this telegram
General Lee said that the Maine had been
received with every courtesy. The COM
manders of the, German and Spanish ships
of war in the harbor had called on, the COM
mander of the Maine, who had returned
their calls, the Spanish forts had fired sa-
lutes and all the ceremonies called for by
naval etiquette had been observed. In adj
dition, the consul general stated that every
thing was tranquil in Havana
The Cabinet met at the usual hour to-
day, but gave only a brief time to the sub
ject of the Cuban situation and that was
confined closely to expressions of satisfac-
ton at the manner in which the American
press and people had received the news of
the administrations action in sending the
Maine to Havana. There was no news at
Havana when the Cabinet met. Two cable
grams came from Consul General Lee last
night, but they were not of particular sig
nificance. 1t was said they were both in
answer to questions put previously by the
State Department and it is presumed one
at least had reference to the reported pres
ence of German ships in Havana harbor.
The other reported that he was able to feed
the two thousand persons now in the city.
1t was stated positively that in neither ca
blegram was there any request for war
ship or reference to the Names move
ments. The consul general. however, had
been advised of the governments intentions
and is expected to report the Names ar
rival to the State Department.
THE NAMES ORDERS.
A message came to the Navy Department
this morning from Admiral Sicard. He
wired that he had received and executed
Secretary Longs order respecting the
Maine, and that she would sail at once.
The order was received by the admiral
about 10 o'clock last night while off Tor
tugas harbor, and the answer came back to
Key West on the torpedo boat Dupont,
which carried over the order. The orders
issued to the Maine to be followed on her
arrival off Havana were laid down at the
Navy Department as follows: Being day
light (for no craft is permitted to enter the
harbor during darkness), at the entrance to
the harbor the Maine will begin to fire a sa-
lutte of twenty-one guns. AS soon as the
last gun has been fired the guns MORO
Castle will begin return salute of the
same number of guns. Then as there is
Spanish admiral in the harbor, salute
must be fired by the Maine in his honor.
This will be fifteen guns if he be a vice
admiral and thirteen guns if a rear admiral.
This salute will be returned in kind, and
probably the Spanish admiral will send
staff officer aboard the Maine to greet Cap
tain Sigsbee This call must be returned,
and then there may be visitation from
port officials, health officers and others
Meanwhile, presumng that Consul General
Lee has not appeared, Captain Sigsbee will
send one of his officers ashore to the
United States consulate with message to
ing his order and intimating that he would
be pleased to receive the consul general
aboard or to call on him ashore, at his pleas
ure. These calls having been exchanged,
the next thing in order will be a reception
to the acting captain general for it is re-
ported that Captain General Blanco has
gone eastward from Havana as far as Bat
anabamo. With this call the ceremonies
will conclude so far as custom prescribes,
though there may be some entertainment
extended to the Names officers by officials
in Havana. 1t is likely that the ships
crew will be kept closely aboard ship. In
this way the probabilities of an unfriendly
encounter between a convivial party of
sailors and rowdies will be reduced. More
over, the confinement is believed to be
necessary as a means of preserving the
ships company from the danger of con-
tracing yellow fever, which, it is under
stood. is now in evidence in Havana.
A BASELESS RUMOR.
The department officials have heard moth
ing officially of any trouble or misunder-
standing between Consul General Lee and
Secretary General Congosto as was ru-
mored at Havana to-day, and they attach
little importance to the rumors to that eff
feet. 1t is suggested that the basis may be
the report current several days ago that
DR.. Congosto had expressed displeasure be-
cause General Lee had declined to state of
ficially that he had not predicted failure
for the autonomy PLAN
1t is said at the Navy Department that
as matters stand there is no call for further
instructions at present to Captain Sigsbee,
who is permitted to use his own disc, elton
in dealing with the events of the day. al
though he has been enjoned to consult free
ly with Consul General Lee and was also
minutely instructed before he arrived at
Havana as to the wishes of the secretary of
the navy.
The Spanish minister, Senior Dupuy de
LONE, had little to add to-day to the Cuban
status. He expressed much satisfaction
with the present condition of affairs, all
his advices indicating quiet at Havana and
a hopeful outlook. The minister received
a long letter"frem Secretary General Con-
gosto reviewing recent events. DR.. Con-
gosto wrote that the sentiment for the re-
establishment of peace IS growing very
strong and practically universal, as every
one wants the opportunity TO work, which
will come with a restoration OF peace and
the renewal of the many branches of in
dustry. Referring to the recent riots, DIR.
Congosto states that they were made up
n vi R induced nv "A