Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-12-31

Weyler's OAcers, He Believes,
Blew Up the Maine.
OFTEN xRBAosD ~ AssAssIss.

Do1DsY Consul . Havana Received
Twenty - Thirty Letters . Day
TAseateaiAg Hin With All Kinas
q Deaths-nas stsPy Of the nsscus
s1 0snsral Funston In the Cuban
Capital.
'.TAe United States and Cuba" was
~ subject Of an address that was de-
nvered by General Fitz-Hugh Lee BE-
fore TIE Patria club of New York In
the Hotel Savoy the other evening,
says the New York Times. The gener-
al talked of Cuba from his four years
knowledge Of the country first as con-
sol general at Havana, then as an off,
Ger In the invading army. He told the
stories Of his services in Cuba and re-
lated bow he saved General Funston
from death there and helped carry him
through subterranean passage lead
ing from his Office to the river front
and then to a steamship bound for this
city. He said in part:
prior to the war with Spain. when
was consul general in Cuba, there We're
repeated attempts to assassinate me-
Wherever l went I had to sit with my
back to the wall and my hand on my
six shooter. l received twenty and thir
ty letters a day in which | was threat
ened with all manner of deaths. Some
threatened to waylay and strangle me;
sthers to string NE up to the nearest
lamppost, and still others to tie me to
q horses tail and drag me around the
streets Of Havana.
give Spa nish women called at my
office one afternoon and handed me 9
letter from some Spanish officers in
which they threatened to come to my
once, tie me hand and foot, put me
aboard the Maine and drive me out Of
the harbor. l received reports that even
the Cubans wanted to kill me because
they believed that by so doing war
with the United States would surely re.
suit.
when some of these reports were
current, man came into my Office one
day with the purpose, as thought Of
killing me. He moved toward me inch
by inch, and just as he came within
reach had him covered with my gun.
I asked him what he wanted, and to
my surprise he said in English: 4 have
just come from General Gomez's camp,
suffering from wound in the thigh. I
want to leave Cuba. l want to go back
to the United States I asked him
where he came from, and he said in the
drawliest kind of a way, From Kan.
saS' That man was General Frederick
r. Funston. So you see had much to
do with the later capture of Aguinal'
do
General Lee then related the Incl.
dents that followed the blowing up Of
the battleship Maine and told OF Gener.
al Blanco's actions.
II want to say here and for all time. ~
he continued. that General Blanco and
his officers had no more to do with the
blowing up of the Maine than had the
people of New York city. 1t is my lie
lief that some of the young officers left
In the arsenal by General Weylcr blew
up the Maine. 1t was they, am sure.
who planted the mine that sent the
Maine to its destruction.
"In view of our great business enter.
prises throughout the world and our
growing industries we should increase
the navy to protect these interests. Who
even supposes that this great country
will fold it's arms and allow European
countries to possess the trade Of the
east do not give proper consideration
to the history of nations fighting for
trade In view Of recent events we may
be in deep water before we know it.
perhaps inside Of year. You know
what I mean. think it is best under
the circumstances that we have the
right kind OF men at the head of our
government"