Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-01
WAR EVENTS OF 1893.
Thrilling Incidents Of a Truly
Historical Year.
SPANISH AMERICAN DRAMA.
Review Of The Situation Prior 10 The
Outbreak Of HOStilltleS.
VISIT OF THE MAINE TO HABANA.
blowing Up OF the ship--Lee Leaves
Habana-war Resolutions Adopt
ed by COngress-Dewey's Victory,
and ther Matters Of Interest.

Although 1898 will take its place among
the memorable years OF this era by rea-
son Of the importsut occurrences the
world over. the interest Of American
readers Is centered in tae great drama OF
the Spanish war, which spread Itself over
,hc whole span of twNve calendar
months.
JANUARY.
The closing events Of 1897 IN the Span
ish-Ameriean situation all indicated tho
pacihcation OF cuba and the rxnoval or
the strait between the United SAtes and
spain. The elevation Of sagastasto tho
office Of Prime Minister was rouowsd by
the recall Of Weyler and the appolntsent
Of Blanco as Captain and Goyerhpr-
General Of Cuba The feeling Of Fe
Spanish populace in Cuba was very In
ter against the Americans on accounM
Of the tone OF President McKinley's mes-
sage which reflected severely upon wey-
lers administration. and took n favorable
, view Of Blanco's plans Of reform.
In view Of the demonstrations IN Ha-
bana. the Atlantic squadron was placed
I'm readiness. and early IN January ren-
dezvoused of Key West. Captain Sles-
bee. OF the Maine, was in constant COM
munlcation with Consul-GeneraI Fitz-
hugh Lee at Habana. On the night OF
January 2ith, I'm Consequence OF com
munication received from General Lee.
Captain sigsbee was ordered 10 proceed
at once to Habana on friendly visit.
Tie reached the harbor OF Habana on
the 9th, and was received with the Gus
tomary ceremonies OF a vessel visiting a
foreign port
On the last Sunday in January Captain
sigsbee, General Lee. and other United
States officers accompanied sopA-of tho
Spanish officials TO a bull-hght outside
the city, and on their return the famous
circular ending with the frantic appeals.
death TO the Amerlconsw Death TO
autonomy Tong live spalnr Long
live Weylerr' was thrust into Captain
sigsbee's hand. He read II, but attached
no importance 70 1t whatever.
FEBRUARY.
Early in February Captain sIssbee
made a special effort to entertain thA
Spanish people on board the Maine. but
without success. The Captain and hls
officers visited tho city frequently. and
to all appearances Habana was as or
DERBY as any city IN the most peaceful
times. The political air however. was
not clear. on the 9Th of FEBRUARY the
famous, or rather infamous, Dc LONE
letter was made public. In this letter.
Senor De LONE, the Spanish Minister 10
the United States referred contemptu-
ously 20 President " Xlnley. senor De
LONE confessed that ne had written II.
and resigned. on the lith Of the month
Senior Polo Bernabe took the portfolio
as Spanish Minister In place OF De LONE.
On the next night the battleship Maine
was blown up at her moOrings I'm the
harbOr OF II8bdna, and 2iG OF the officers
and crew lost their lives In consequence.
The conclusion was reached at once by
Americans that the destruction OF the
Maine was duo 10 Spanish treachery.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian aspect OF
the situation In Cuba. which all along had
kept alive the sympathics Of the American
people with the struggling insurgents. had
not been lost sight OF. on the 4 OF Feb
Iuary the House and Senate both voted.
without dissenting voice, resolutions
calling upon the Secretary OF State for
fun information regarding the condition
Of the rec0ncentrados IN Cuba and the
progress OF autonomy. II was well known
that the Department Of sgato was IN pos,
session OF Information supplied ty the
United States consuls IN Cuba Of fhs
most narrowing description respecting the
widespread distress throughout the ISLAND
Two days later the House passed Tho
f0rtifcations appropriation bin. ana ia
the last week OF the month passed a bin
providing for an increase OF the regular
army by two additional regiments 9t ar
tlllery.
MARCH.
The De Lone incident having hecn
wholly ignored BY tho Spanish Govern
mcnt. and tae destruction az tho Maine
being held automatically. az least, as an
accident these two events aid not servo
10 tighten the tension between the gov
egnment az Madrid and thar az Washing
ton. Other occurrences. however. did add
materially 20 the strain
Early IN March fhe Sp0nlaris objected
10 the transport Of supplies Cor the stary-
ing reconcenUados Ia government war
CONCLUDED on NINTH PACED