Evening star., 1898-04-21
AWAITING THE FRAY
Fleet at Key West ALI Ready to Move
on Havana.
OFFICERS EXPECT BLANCO TO FIRE
Ugly Fracas Between Policeman
and a Negro Sergeant.
LATTER NOW UNDER ARREST

Special From Staf Correspondent.
KEY WEST. Fla, April 21.-The squadron
still lies off Key West awaiting orders.
There is &C nsiderable shifting of patrol
and picket boats and more than usual
activity. The monitors have not been NOV
ed out from the harbor. All the vessels
are fully coaled.
Naval commanders are not so confident
that if a peacea bic blockade is ordered
from Washington it can be carried out, pe-
cause of the prof. ability that, under Blan-
cos orders, the shore batteries will open
fire without waiting for summons to sur
render the city. In that case the fire would
necessarily be returned at once.
After the shore batteries are silenced the
squadron would not be able to land forces
to hold the city. and the inquiry Is repeated
about the cooperation Of the army and
transports for troops.
The reported plan Of sending food to Ma
tanzas under convoy of warships is said to
be practicable. The Detroit or Marble
head may be assigned for that duty. No
attempt. however would be made to enter
the harbor until 1t had bsen counter
mined.
Many officers think If the reports of the
Spanish fleet leaving Cape de Verde are cor
rect it means that the squadron here VIII
be divided and some of the ships sent to re-
inforce the squadron at Porto Rico. while
tie remainder invest Havana.
Soldiers Cause Trouble.
Company G, 25th Infantry, can bs spared
from a share in the advance on Cuba with
OF. detriment to the service. No race war
mas been started in Key West, and none is
likely, but the authorities in Washington
can hardly overlook the disclosures as to
the lack Of discipline which last night
events have demonstrated.
When announcement was made that COL
ored troops would be brought here a local
paper published hysterical article de-
rouncing the outrage" The people, how
ever, did not get excited. After the ar
rival of the two companies of colored
soldiers for most part also behaved well.
However, they liked to go around town dis
playing their weapons. The mayor of, the
city called the attention of Col. Daggett
to local ordinance forbidding the carry
ing of weapons, and the colonel directed
that soldiers should observe it, telling the
authorities to arrest any of them who fail
ed to do so
Brnndished Pistol.
Last night when Sergeant Williams of
Company G appeared On the street and told
policeman to take his pistol away If
he could. it vas coed fortune that TO one
was killed. hundred persons were sit
ting on the piazza of the hotel when Will
Jams tried to shoot the policeman. but the
ball went into the ground. The fact that
the policeman's revolver snapped several
times, but failed to go Off, alone saved the
negro's life.
After the soldier was disarmed and taken
to Jail no one anticipated further trouble.
But the laxity of discipline In Company G
was not taken into account. The sheriff
says there were at least twenty-five SOL
diers who came to the jail with their
weapons and demanded Williams release,
which was accorded them.
The people of the town knew nothing
Of what was going on until Williams had
been escorted back to the barracks in tri-
umph by his comrades.
Col. Dnggett Informed.
Col. Daggett and Capt. Wilson knew
nothing Of it until informed by newspaper
correspondents. Then an investigation was
made. and Williams was put in the guard
house along with Private Coles, who was
identified as the rngleader.
After the civil authorities are through
with him Williams will be tried by court
martial.
Up to this morning no other offenders
had been placed under arrest by their SUI
periors. though some may be identified
later. The most serious phase Of the oc-
currence is that twenty or twenty-five
members of company could leave their
barracks with their arms without being
challenged. 1t is a severe reflection on
discipline that was supposed to be MAIN
tained. Independent of the consequences Of
their forcible rescue of Williams
While the affair has excited the COM
munity, stories Of race war and a proba-
BILE outbreak are without basis. The peo-
pie will await the results Of civil and mil
itary procedures, and few hot-headed
youths who want to win notoriety for them
selves by precipitating trouble have al
ready been suppressed. PEPPER.
NO INTENTION OF REsIGNING.
An UnfOunded Rumor I'm Regard to
Secretary Long.
A rumor was In circulation this after