Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-01-24
VOLU ME XLII.-NUMBER 10.
HE SANK THE MAINE.
THAT is WHAT is CLAIMED BY
lABORER ON A RANCH.

A Reputed Spanish Officer Now at Work on
Nebraskan Farm Makes Startling PROBES.
sion-he Declares He Sank the Battleship
Maine in Havana Harbor to Precipitate War
With the United States for Punishment Of
Weyler. Whom He Hated.
A Chadron (Neb.) dispatch of the
14th to Pine Ridge has caused more
excitement there than if the whole
Sioux nation had declared war against
its citizens.
1t seems almost incredible, but COM
ing from such reliable sources and the
fact that the story is feasible Causes
many to believe it.
Shortly after the battleship Maine
was destroyed in Havana harbor a
dark complexioned and well-educated
Spaniard put in his appearance on the
large stock ranch in Sioux county,
owned by Bob Yago. He told Mr..
Yago that he had been in Cuba about
the time the battleship was destroyed,
but further than that he was very ret
icent about his past life.
Mr.. Yago, owing to his intelligence
and wide acquaintance with Cuba and
hes people, became interested in the
Spaniard, and whenever opportunity
presented Yago quizzed in regard to
the subject, but the Spaniard would
discuss the matter only when in a
reminiscent mood. A few days ago
he told Mr.. Yago things that caused
him to watch the Spaniard closely,
and his reward was the discovery of
some papers which indicated that he
was at one time Spanish officer. Mr..
Yago confronted him with the fact
that he had been an officer in the
Spanish army at one time. This was
sufficient to cause the Spaniard to be-
lieve that Mr.. Yago knew all of his
past life and he made q confession
which is startling If true.
The confession is now in the hands
of Yago or Mr.. Mckinley. and they
refuse to give it up. It was learned,
however, that the Spaniard's correct
name is Manuel DeSilvia Braga, and
that he was a captain in the Spanish
army in Cuba. During Weyler's cam
paign he became angered with the
brutal treatment accorded prisoners
and he so expressed himself. Weyler
at once had him put under arrest, to.
ge:her with two sergeants of his com.
mand, and they were court-martailed
and discharged from the army.
The Spaniard brooded over the in
justice so much that he planned a
scheme to get even with Weyler. He
conceived the idea that the thing for
him to do was to in some way cause
war between America and Spain.
He was familiar with the harbor,
and knew all about the marine explo-
sives therein. He first thought he
would destroy the Spanish ships, but
he feared that this would not bring
about the desired result. While walk.
in in disguise one evening on the shore
he saw the beautiful battleship Maine
floating placidly on the water. He
saw in her the means by which he
might accomplish his cherished hope
by destroying Weyler's government on
the island and Weyler's downfall.
He planned to destroy the battle.
ship. His intention vas to do 80 when
nearly all of her officers and men
were ON shore, as he did not wish to
unnecessarily cause the loss of life.
He knew the batteries that controlled
the mines were closely guarded. but
he Was determined, and, dressed in his
old uniform, that of captain. with
some old clothes in q small grip, he
had no trouble in passing the guards.
In . short time thereafter he
touched the button that sent the
Maine TO the bottom of the har-
Dor. Instantly he changed his clothes,
and in the excitement escaped on
board a schooner as q sailor, and made
his way to Mantanzas, from there TO
San Domingo, thence to New Orleans.
He was engaged there by . Texas
ranchman to drive some cattle across
the country to Montana, where he
shortly afterward was employed by Ed.
Lennon, manager of the Lake Tombes
Lennon Cattle company, to drive
bunch of cattle from their Montana
ranch to their ranch in South Dakota.
From there he went to Mr.. Yago's
ranch.
An organization has been perfected
which will 60 TO Sioux county to inter-
view the county authorities with
view to securing their aid in making
official investigations OF the matter.
Love Made Him Go Round.