The herald., 1898-02-21
AFFAIRS AT HAVANA
Wreck Speculations-Suffering of the
Reconcentradoes

| HAVANA Feb. 20.-L!eutenant Com
mander Barnett of the survey boat Bache
| said to a correspondent OF the ASSOCIATED
| Press today: You want the facts. can
| tell you there are ninety-five chances out
| of a hundred that the investigation will
show that the forward magazine of the
Maine did not blow up first, if it exploded
| at all, and that it was not the cause or the
| terrific consequences that followed. The
| condition of the wreck when first studied
and a later careful scrutiny make this an
almost absolute certainty"
Chaplain Chadwick has received consid-
cradle sums of money with letters and 9TH
er personal property. from the bodies tax
en- from the wreck. In one case the initials
can be seen on the coat lining and may
serve to identify the body of the wearer,
but the harbor water is so filthy that the
marks are nearly illegible.
1t is apparent that efficient work is not
possible with the divers and apparatus at
hand and the arrival of the experts from
the United States is anXiously awaited.
Father Power of the Jesuits arrived yes
terday from Tampa and Immediately visit
ed the Names wounded in the hospital.
Some friction, it is reported. has oc-
CURED between Consul General Lee and
the other United States consuls in the ISL
and over the distribution of funds and sup
plies sent from the United States for the
TGCOHCeHlTduOS. ne complaint is Hldue
that though food and money have been
coming for several weeks, nothing has
been distributed outside of Havana prov
nce. Consul Barker of Sagua la Grande
and Consul Bryce of Matanzas, who came
here to learn the particulars of the Maine
explosion. left, it is said, without calling
on the consul general. The reason given
was that they felt they had not been treat
ed fairly by the consul general. Each
pynrpteI aid his district from "a
American supplies, but received none. The
statement is made that it is their intention
to appeal directly to the American state
department and to ask that food be con-
signed to them instead of the Havana
consulate.
The incident has caused some comment
among Americans here, who regret it,
Consul Bryce says he is sick at the sights
forced on him during the last two years.
He has reported the facts of the case TO
Washington and believes his district en-
titled to share Immediately in the aid
offered. Both consuls say this distress
must grow daily and that death will keep
pace with it unless relief is afforded.
Consul General Lee, when these matters
were brought to his attention, replied that
there was not the slightest intention to
neglect the reconcentrados in the eastern
provinces. He has deputed much OF the
work of distribution to Miss Clara Barton,
who has the confidence of all parties and
who is almost constantly at work in con-
junction with the special agent of the con-
sui general.
Today divers recovered the cipher book,
the log book of the Maine and many offic-
ial and private papers.
Neither Spanish nor Cuban divers will
be employed.
Senior Jose Congosto, the secretary gen.
eral, is said to have asserted in private
interview that the government expected TO
be able 10 buy up several members of the
New York junta." 1t is generally believed,
however, that the statement was made to
quiet discomfort here, arising from the mil
itary failures of Gen. Blanco and Gen.
Pando in the east.
Sonora Isabella, Rubia, owner of many
tobacco estates in the eastern part of the
state, and an active insurgent, has been
captured by the Spanish in the province of
Pinar del Rio, and is now in the hospital.
AT the time of the Maceo ncursion she in
duced half the province to join the insur-
gent cause. She accompanied one of the
original Maceo expeditions to Cuba then
left the island and after a time returned
with an expedition from Key West.
Rumors have reached here of the land
ing of an important expedition near the
river Mariana, this province, but as yet
the name of the vessel and that of the lead
er of the party are undiSclOSed