The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-07
Tow MAINE WAS BLOWN UP
WEYLER BOUGHT THE DYNAMITE
IN NENaYOnk.

caused II 10 he Placed i'm Fatal Mine.
spain OmcialIy GuiItIess-Names
of NHiscreants INnOwn-Why the Gu
hmm Junta Did Not Make InfOrmn-
tiou PubIic-Fitzhugh Lee Knew
the True story.
From the Philadelphia Press.
New York. Jan. Ain 1891 the Cubans
established in this city a newspaper called
.Patria." intending to make it the repre-
sentative organ Of the revolutionists. II
was ably edited, was the official mouth
piece of the Cuban junta, and was finan-
c,ally successful But the reason for its
existence is now ended, and the paper,
with the publication on Jan. 8, issued its
valedictory
If the editors and those American citi-
zens who We're in hearty and active SYM
pathy with the Cuban junta felt free, as
they may some day feel free, to write the
history of the past eight years of which
this newspaper was a part, they would be
able TO publish a volume matching in
thrilling interest. romantic reports, stories
of intrigue and contemplating any pub
llcation which reveals secret history or
the struggles of any of those who at
tempted to secure freedom for themselves
and their country
In the Office OF 'Pauia' was told last
winter the story as the Cubans had inyesti-
gated il. and as they believed to be true,
OF the destruction of the Maine and the
assassination of the American seamen who
were on board of her.
In the editorial rooms of this newspaper
were discussed at that time questions of
vital importance relating 10 the eXpediency
OF publishing or not publishing the infor-
nation which the Cubans believed they
had obtained, and there, too, were dis
oussed the various steps taken TO put the
administration at Washington informally
and confidentiaIy in possession of the in
formation which the junta and the editors
of 'Patria" believed to be accurate.
1t was announced to-day that one of the
newspapers published in Havana purposes
either to-day or tomorrow to tell what is
believed to be the true story of the plot
ting and the contamination of the plot
ting for the destruction of the Maine. and
it is probable that the time selected foI
this publication was purposely made coin
1t may be possible to report some incl
dents, which, whatever the nature of the
story published in Havana, may be, would
probably be omitted from that report, not
by choice nor for expediency, but because
the facts were not known in Havana.
The Policy of the Cubans.
On the morning of the day that the re-
port came of the destruction of the Maine
the Cuban junta in this city received from
their friends in Cuba authoritative con
firmation of the news and also an init
nation that the report was being spread
through Havana that the Cubans them
selves were responsible for this crime. Tha
report created the greatest anxiety an,
CONSERVATION among the memoirs of tn,
junta.
They Immediately summoned som,
American citizens who were in close asso
citation with them that there might be dis
cussion as to the best course to take. AL
the members of the junta with one excep
ton were prepared to issue statement
denying Indignantly all responsibility 70
the tragedy and repudating the posslbilit,
that such method of warfare could eve
have been suggested to a people who wer
fighting for their liberty.
Had these statements, some of whic
had been prepared, been published the
would certainly have led to The charg
IN Havana that the members of tn
Cuban junta were protesting too much.
One of the wisest and subtlest of a
those who have devoted time ana none
TO the cause of Cuban independence ad
vised strongly against making any pul
lie statement and he urged his friend
TO permit him TO prepare an intervie,
and cause its publication in the nam
of the junta in New York city The in
terview was prepared and was made pul
lie with the intention of Immediately ca
bling IL TO Blanco in Havana
IL stated that the Cuban iunta wer
thoroughly well satisfied both from e,
perience and by reason of informatio
received from Havana that the destru,
tion of the Maine was caused by an az
cidental explosion or a spontaneous con
bustion which reached the magazines.
II stated that desperately as the Cubar
were fighting for liberty, they neverth
less were of Spanish blood and would r,
sent as an imputation upon their race an
accusation that either Spaniards or c.
bans could have purposely comprised IL
destruction Of the Maine.
CircumventiOn of BIanco.
Furthermore, the interview stated In,
the Cuban junta knew from its ow
experience that spontaneous combustLo
could produce an accident of that kin,
since two of the vessels which We're ser
to Cuba since the revolution began we,
destroyed in that manner
When this interview was read il cause
the utmost amazement on the part ,
most of the junta. They knew or or,
fessed to know that the Two yesee
which We're destroyed were blown u
through. the agency Of spies represen