Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-31
HABANA Is QUIET.
Prominent Hen Seem TO Think Peace Is
Assured.
NO THOUGHT OF DANGER.
No Provision Against Blockade or iOr
Naval Coal Supply.
GEN. LEE CHEERFUL As SUNLIGHT.
IT n a L.
GEN. LEE CHEERFUL As SUNLIGHT.
He Treats Lightly Sundry Warnings OF
Alleged Plots Against His Lille.
RUMORED AMERICAN INTRIGUE.
An Alleged Conspiracy to Blow
Up the Maine Wreck with Dyna-
mite, and the Vixcaya or the
Oquendo.

OquendO.
HABANA via KEY WEST, FLA,
March S0-Sunday and Monday were
days of decided anxiety in the political
and business circles OF Habana, but yes
terday and to-day there has been a much
more comfortable feeling. Without be-
ing able to give any good reason for
their belief, many prominent men seem
satisfied that peace is assured. The word
"armlstice" is repeated from lip to lip,
as If there was some magic in IT 10 solve
the whole problem of Cuban strife.
Those, however, who know General
Maxine Gomez. General Calixto Garcia,
Senior Bortolome Masso, and the other
insurgent leaders best say that all reckon
without their host who believe these men
will agree to an armistice, even if urged
to do so by the United States, unless
it is plainly understood that the truce
is to be followed by a recognition of
"Cuba Lbre." 1t is argued that Gene
raj Gomez, after holding out all through
the dry season, will decline to a general
truce through the rainy months, in which
the insurgents would have the advant-
age
on all sides IT is regarded as almost
certain that If war does come II VIII
not come until all possible plans of ac-
commodating difficulties fail. A Spaniard
of high influence, while talking recently
with COnsul-General Lee, said: THE Sa-
gasta Ministry will not be compelled to
chi IN characterization SaU1Gfl
could quiet Spain by proclaiming: We
have made Cuba an ash-pile, desert.
II is no longer worth any outlay of blood
or treasure. 1t is only fit for negroes
and mixed bloods. Let 1t go. But
very few take such view of the situa-
tion, although ignorant Spaniards might
be deceived by such declaration.
Meanwhile, it seems as if the Spanish
military and naval powers are either
convinced that there is no danger Of ac-
tive hostilities, or are utterly careless Of
the grave consequences that the future
may hold. There are no visible prepara-
tions to provision Habana in case of a
blockade, nor is there any notable in
crease in the coal supply for naval uses
In the opinion of Americans here, one Of
the gravest dangers lies in the fact that
the ignorant classes of the city are not
i'm any way advised as to the chances of
war or siege. They believe Habana i'm
pregnable and the fleet of Spain all
conquering. If rudely awakened to other
views, they might become dangerous and
foster internal disorders.
GENERAL LEE CHEERFUL
Consul-General Lee continues as cheer
full as sunlight, despite the fact that he
was warned last Sunday and Monday OF
five distinct plots against his life. or
course he does not give credence TO such
stories, and he is carefully guarded by
the government, but continued warnings
Of this kind are not a pleasant mental
diet
The last story was that he would be
poisoned by a bribed employee of his no.
tel To this General Lee replied by ask
ing the newspaper correspondents who
sit near him at meal-time, in case he is
suddenly taken i'll, first to shoot his walt
er and then to run for a stomach-pump.
Since the reports of the two courts Of
inquiry, the American and the Spanish,
have been sent in, the newspapers, clubs,
and cafes have been alive with all sorts
of old and new theories. The exploded
scandal about the drunken dinner on the
City Of Washington, and the other about
carelessness and lack of discipline on the
Maine, are revived day by day.
In the course of a dinner which the cor
respondent Of the Associated Press had
with Captain Peral, who presided over
the Spanish naval court of inquiry, the
officer earnestly denied all such stories.
paying Captain Sigsbee. his officers, ana
men a high compliment upon the effici-
ency of the discipline on board the Maine
RUMOR OF AMERICAN PLOT.
Among the Spaniards OF the lower
classes it is rumored that there is a plot
on foot to blow up the Maine wreck with
dynamite, and to blow up the Vizcaya or
the Almirante Oquendo.
Recently the story gained circulation
that three Americans had been arrested
during the night for trying to blow up
the wreck, and Mad been sent to Cabanas
fortress The only foundation for this
was that the Associated Press corre-
spondent, with a companion. visited the
Fern after dark. for the purpose of read
ing a bulletin to the officers, and had his
boat chased repeatedly, as is usual, by
the marine sentnals.
MAINE COURT REPORT.
1t is now known here that Captain
Chadwick was the last of the members
of the court of inquiry to make up his
mind that the evidence pointed TO an ex-
ternal explosion. Captain Sampson, Lieu
tenant-oCmmander Potter. and Judge
Advocate Mark were earlier convinced
AS soon as Captain Chadwick was salts
fled by the study OF the wreck, the plans
of its submarine condition. and the tes-
timony offered, Captain Sampson said,
'"There Is no use waiting here any long
err" and the Mangrove sailed for Key
West four hours after their minds were
made up. The decision to go was taken
so suddenly that there was no chance to
secure the battleship Iowa for the court
as IT had been thought would be done.
WARNING TO NEWSPAPER-MEN.
DIR. Joseph Congosto. the secretary-gen-
eral, has countersigned The orders Gene
raj Blanco made on Monday, that the
moment hostilities are declared between
Spain and the United States all Ameri-
can correspondents are TO be expelled
from Cuba. The orders are not dated.
and can be forced at any time.