Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-01-23
HE BLEW UP THE MAINE
CUBAN SAYS HE SANK THE YES
Sci TO START A WAR.
Written Statement of the History Of
the Case Gained Through Fear
by Inquisitors.

W bt1eioteoio
Chadron, Neb., Jan. 16.-News has
reached here from Pine Ridge agency.
South Dakota, that a Spanish captain.
born in Cuba, VINO mas been working
on ranch near the agency. has con-
fessed that he was the author of the
blowing up Of the battieship Maine,
the incident which SO greatly inflamed
public indignation Immediately pre-
ceding the Spanish war, and was in
some measure the operative cause.
The story is well authenticated and
Captain Manuel De Silva Braza, as
the Cuban affirms his name to be, is
said to have confessed the whole
story, believing that the greater part
of the secret was out.
One day. about three weeks ago.
while In his cups. Pete" boosted OF
having been an officer in the Spanish
army. This raised suspicion, and
Yago. searching the mans papers.
found documents which showed that
he was at one time in a position Of
trust in Havana harbor. Yago and
Andre Mckinley charged the Cuban
with being a Spanish spy and with
having conspired against the United
States in the beginning of the war.
Pete" who had been drinking heav-
lily, broke down and made confes-
sion which was taken down In writ.
ing. The text of this confession has
not been given out. but its purport is
clearly set forth.
The right name of the stranger is
Manuel De Silva Braza and he was
at one time captain In the Spanish
army, having been educated in Spain
and being Of Spanish parentage. While
captain in the army he had been
sent to Cuba and given position of
trust in Havana. The confession states
that Braza. because of his Cuban birth
was forced to submit to the atrocities
Of Weyler and that he protested to the
Spanish authorities against his gen.
eral. The protest was intercepted and
he. together with two of the sergeants
of his company. was arrested, court
martialed. publicly disgraced and dis
charged from the Spanish army.
In revenge he sought to get Weyler
in trouble in connection with the
war. which then was thought to be
brewing between the United States
and Spain. The confession states that
at urSt ne tnOuBnt OF DlOWlnB up some
of the Spanish vessels since he knew
the location of all the mines in the
harbor. but thought that this would
not cause as mucn stir as though one
of the large American battleships
were blown Up. He AYERS that he
waited till a time when nearly all
the officers and crew of the Maine
should be on board.
He knew the batteries that con-
trolled the mines were closely guard
ed. but dressed in one OF his old cap
tain uniforms, with some old private's
clothes in a grip. he had no trouble in
passing the guards. In a short time
thereafter he touched the button that
sent the Name to the bottom.
Instantly he changed his clothes and
In the excitement escaped on board a
schooner as a sailor and made his
way to Matanzas; from there to San
Domingo and thence to New Orleans.
He was engaged by Texas ranchman
to drive some cattle across the coun-
try to Montana, where he shortly aft
err was employed by Ed Lennon. man
ager OF the Lake Tomb and Lennon
Cattle company. to drive a bunch OF
cattle from Montana to their range In
South Dakota, where he went to Va
go's ranch.