The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-05
HEAVY FIGHTING.

Manila, May 4, noon.-General Mac
Arthur is now assaulting the town or
San Tomas, about five miles northwest
of Calumpit. The Americans are fight
ing for the bridge, and the rebels are
burning the town.
MATAAFA ACCEPTS AN ARMS
TICE.
Apia, Samoan Islands, April q, via
Auckland, n. T., May 3.-Mataafa, the
rebel chieftain, has accepted an armis
tice.
Washington, May 3.-Officials at the
German embassy say that up to the
close of office hours today no recent
information had been received of events
in Samoa.
Evidently nothing of an important
nature was expected for some time, as
Ambassador Won Hollenben has left
the city for a visit of several days to
New York.
Fuller reports of affairs leading up
to the armistice are awaited with much
interest, and the hope is confidently
expressed that the Mataafa element
has decided to submit and await the
decision Of the joint commission now
on it's way there. Germany, it was
stated, was anxious that there should
be an end to the hostilitieS.
AFFAIRS IN HAVANA.
Havana, May 3.-The most recent re-
ports regarding the health of Havana's
population show a great and cOntinu-
ing Improvement, with a death rate
only tWO-thirdS Of that officially re-
corded for the corresponding period of
last year. Not a single case Of yellow
fever is known to exist.
The health of the American troops
throughout the island is exceptionally
good.
The Havana Herald publishes a SEN
sational article today charging the
grossest corruption in the management
of the city Jail. 1t asserts that the
prison officials take money from priS-
oners and then place them at liberty
under a pledge to return if they are
ever asked for. AS many accused per-
sons are never brought to trial at all,
and as it often happens that the judges
have no notion as to who is supposed
to be locked up, the jailors find it an
easy matter to speculate in this fash
ion.
On the COnStancia plantation, near
Cienfuegos, Santa Clara province, ban
diets have burned 1000, 900 arrobas OF
sugar cane (the arroba is a Spanish
weight Of twenty-five pounds, contain
ing each 16 Ounces)
During the month of April Havana
exported to New York 7,771 tercios of
tobacco bailed and 1S,4O2,71 cigars.
THE CHIEF LADY OF THE LAND.
The future of Cuba will probably be
largely influenced by a woman, and
one who holds a salon which is visited
by the best known men, not only of
Havana, but of the entire island. Gen.
eral Maximo Gomez is a constant Wis
itor and a welcome guest of this lady,
and dimes with her from three to five
times a week. Madame Cespedes, the
lady in question, is the widow of the
first president of Cuba in the ten years
war. She is q brilliant and witty Wo-
man who lived many years in Paris 1t
is considered in Havana to be a great
honor to be on Madame Cespedes' Wis
iting list. Decisions reached at
Madame Cespedes' salon are far more
effective than any DEGREES passed by
the recently defunct Cuban assembly
1t is believed by persons who are in
position to know, that full under
standing has been reached by Madame
Cespedes and General Gomez regard
ing Cuba's future and the first real
president OF the proposed republic, for
all former presidents have had office
without power. At one time General
Gomez was seriously considered for
the presidency, but after the action of
the assembly in assailing his course,
- "dS SoHoiueieu tHdl MS canuluacy
would probably meet with strong oppo-
sition. The result of consultations at
Madame Cespedes salon is, it is assert
ed, that the first president of Cuba
shall be Carlos Cespedes, son of the
war president.
The party of General Gomez believe
that it is none too early to begin a
movement in behalf of Carlos Cespe-
des, as they expect that American oc-
cupation of the island will end before
next summer and probably by April.
1900
Carlos Cespedes was a colonel dur
ing the war with Spain on the staff of
General Garcia and possesses a good
record as soldier. He is we'll educat-
ed and speaks the English, French and
Spanish languages with equal f1uency.
He IS about 40 years of age and un-
married.