ON THE VERGE OF WAR

Gen. Valeriano Weyler.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, October 20, 1896.

ON THE VERGE OF WAR.

Spanish Guns Trained on an American Ship.

GENERAL WEYLER IN A RAGE.

Ordered Morro Castle to Sink the Vigilancia, but Was Openly Defied and

Weakened at the Last Moment—General Lee's Course.

   NEW ORLEANS, La., Oct. 20.—The Times Democrat's Key West special says:

   "If the Spanish authorities had taken Senor Angel Fernandez off the Ward line steamer Vigilancia while that vessel was in the Havana harbor last Friday, United States warships would have immediately been ordered to Havana to enforce a demand for reparation, and war between this country and Spain would have undoubtedly resulted. For three hours last Friday the United States and Spain were on the brink of war, and the threatening situation was only relieved when the Spanish authorities ignominiously backed down and allowed the Vigilancia to proceed to sea with Fernandez still on board.

   A letter received here from a correspondent in Havana, who is close to Consul General Lee, gives a dramatic account of the episode. According to the letter, when the Vigilancia put in to Havana the Spanish authorities demanded the surrender of Senor Angel Fernandez, a Mexican, on board the vessel. The Spaniards alleged that Fernandez was not a Mexican, but a subject of Spain.

   Captain John McIntosh of the Vigilancia refused to surrender Fernandez. Then the Spanish authorities told McIntosh that if the Vigilancia attempted to go to sea with Fernandez on board she would be sunk by the guns of Morro castle. Consul General Lee told him to take the Vigilancia to sea when he pleased.

   Captain McIntosh returned to the Vigilancia and Consul Lee informed Captain General Weyler that the vessel was going to sea, and that if any attempt was made to take off Fernandez, or that if the vessel was fired upon, Spain must take the consequences.  

   Captain General Weyler immediately summoned a cabinet council, and while this council was considering the matter the Vigilancia began to weigh anchor. The Spanish officials on board protested, but Captain McIntosh said: "Damn your objections; my ship has been cleared. My consul has told me to go to sea. I am going and I dare you to try to prevent me. Get off my ship." And with that the Yankee roughly shoved the Spaniards into the waiting boats, and the Vigilancia, flying the stars and stripes, started for the mouth of the harbor, which is commanded by the guns of Morro castle.  

   All was excitement in Havana and the quay and house-tops were lined with hundreds of persons. At Morro castle there were signs of great excitement. Slowly the Vigilancia entered the mouth of the harbor and then it was noticed that the guns of Morro Castle were trained on the ship.  

   It is said that General Weyler is furious over the departure of the vessel and General Lee's course. It is stated that General Weyler ordered the commander of Morro to sink the Vigilancia, but at the last moment he yielded to the entreaties of his cabinet and countermanded the order.

SERIOUS LOSS TO CUBANS.

Contraband Captured From the Dauntless Expedition of Great Value.

   HAVANA, Oct, 20.—The quantity and quality of the contraband of war captured by the Spaniards from the Dauntless expedition is much larger and more important than at first supposed. It is now stated that 1,054 rifles, 56 machetes, a large number of medicine chests and medicine bags, a magnificent saddle of Russian leather with silver mountings and massive silver stirrups, a silk banner, some important correspondence, a quantity of ammunition, some boxes and packages marked in a manner showing that the expedition left Jacksonville on Sept. 20, some labels of the Federico de la Torre club of Florida, and papers showing that expedition No. 3 had landed 43 filibusters in the river San Juan, where it is reported that 20 Cuban ladies are assisting the wounded.

   The flag of the Spanish gunboat Ardilla which with the Contramaestre took part in the capture, had nine bullet holes and there were 11 shots through the smokestack of that vessel. The Ardilla fired 350 shells and 2,500 rounds of rifle ammunition during the engagement. The Contramaestre fired 15 grenades and 1,100 rounds of rifle ammunition. The capture is said to be a serious loss to the insurgents.

   Admiral Garcia Navarra will send the insurgent flag captured and the flag of the gunboat Ardilla, together with some of the insurgent arms and some insurgent postage stamps, etc., to the queen regent.

   The minister of the colonies is to take into consideration the plan of the board of trade for issuing another lot of silver bank bills, which step is considered necessary in order to maintain their compulsory circulation. This news is looked upon in certain circles as being likely to improve the financial situation.

William Jennings Bryan.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

The Would-Be Theatrical Agent.

   The most remarkable revelation of the present campaign is that made by the New York Tribune last Saturday in placing before the people the fact that William Jennings Bryan, the Popocratic [Popular and Democratic] nominee for president, had made application for a position as a theatrical press agent within a very few weeks of his nomination. The application, or rather the applications, for there were two of them, were made to William J. Block, the manager of the company playing "The Heart of Maryland." He was connected then, as he is now, with the management of the Herald Square Theatre in New York City, and with the attractions which make that house the starting point for their tours of the country.

   Mr. Bryan and Mr. Block, it appears, were old friends and classmates at the

Illinois State college in Jacksonville. They had not met in a long time, when

Mr. Block visited Lincoln, Neb., about a year ago as the manager of "Pudd'nhead Wilson," which was a play emanating from the Herald Square theatre. Mr. Bryan was the correspondent of the Omaha World, and he went to see the play, so that he could write about it for his paper. At the theatre he met his old friend Mr. Block, and they renewed their acquaintance.

   Mr. Bryan, in talking with the manager, remarked that he thought he ought to have been an actor. The notion of a theatrical career seems to have clung to him, for about the first of the year he wrote to Mr. Block, asking him whether he could find a position for him as press agent. Mr. Block and his associates seem not to have been in need of an agent at that time, for the letter was neglected. Later Mr. Bryan wrote again to the same effect. This was in June, only a short time before the Chicago convention. Mr. Bryan was at the time a member of the contesting delegation from his state, which was finally seated by the convention.

   Here, then, was Mr. Bryan between two strange alternatives. He had applied for the position of press agent for a traveling theatrical company, and in a short time he was to be nominated, as it proved, for the greatest office in his country or in the world. It has been hinted that the nomination of Mr. Bryan was not so much of an accident as it appeared—that it was intended by those who brought it about from the beginning. In this case was Mr. Bryan attempting to get a position as a press agent, in order that he might have some good employment to fall back upon in case he did not become president of the United States?

   It is said that the proposition of employing Mr. Bryan was actually entertained by Mr. Block and his associates, and that he would probably have been so-employed if his nomination for president had not taken him out of the field of competitors for the somewhat humbler position under the management of the Herald Square theatre.

   The proprietor of the Herald Square theater states that one of his lieutenants informed him some time ago that Mr. Bryan had applied for the office of press agent, but that when the matter was called to his attention there was no vacancy. He says further: "If Mr. Bryan succeeds to the presidency he will, of course, have no use for the theatrical business as a medium of financial gain. If he does not become president-elect on Nov. 3, that will be a different matter. Should he not be elected, I can state that he will find me willing to give him a good engagement, at a salary larger than he ever received heretofore in his newspaper career."

   Commenting on this remarkable revelation of Bryan's character and estimate of himself, the Tribune says:

   This is not the first that was ever heard of the theatrical tendencies of Mr. Bryan. If there was ever anything theatrical in the world it was his nomination. If there was ever a dismal attempt to be theatrical it was his notion of beginning the campaign with an acceptance of his nomination in the midst of what he was pleased to call "the enemy's country."

   Some pictures have been freely circulated lately of three smirking faces. They are faces that show the low comedian in every line of them. They are reproductions of three snap-shot photographs of Mr. Bryan. Everybody has seen them. His remark to Mr. Block that he ought to have been an actor was a wonderful flash of intelligence. He really ought. This is an important point of this story of the attempt to be a press agent. It is of a piece with everything else about Mr. Bryan. There is no disgrace in being a press agent, of course, or in any other honorable work that any one chooses to do for the support of himself and his family. But most press agents, to judge from the specimens that constantly confront the New York newspaper man, are not persons who are qualified to cut a brilliant figure as president of the United States, and few people will be ready to believe that a person who is qualified for that highest of stations would ever need to seek employment at the press agent trade. The fact that a man had tried his hand already at politics and law and newspaper work, and had been so marked a failure at them that he wished to change them all for the business of advertising a play, will go far in many minds to prove that the man is not qualified to guide a great nation.

[CORTLAND] VILLAGE TRUSTEES.

Traction Company Asks a Franchise on Elm-st. Other Matters.

   Mr. Ernest M. Hulbert appeared before the board of village trustees last night and requested the board to accept Hyatt-st. and Owen-ave. as public streets. The matter was referred to Trustee Wallace to examine and report to the board.

   Bills were audited as follows:

   Street commissioner's pay roll, $149.65

   Utica Fire Alarm Telegraph Co., apparatus, 7.00

   W. T. Linderman, feeding prisoners, 1.25

   W. T. Linderman, expense at Syracuse, .40

   F. A. Bickford, salary, 25.00

   John Garrity, hauling H. and L. truck, 10.00

   Police force, 126.00

   The board went into executive session. The Cortland and Homer Traction Co. presented a petition asking a franchise on Elm-st. between Church and Pendleton-sts., which was received and placed on file.

BREVITIES.

   —The regular meeting of Grover Post No. 98, G. A. R. occurs to-morrow night.

   —New advertisements to-day are— Chas. F. Brown, something warm, page 6; F. Daehler, puffs, puffs, puffs, page 4.

   —At the meeting of the board of education last night Miss Ada B. Weatherwax was elected permanent supply teacher for the year.

   —The S. Y. P. H. S. S. of the Solon church will give a block social at the home of Stephen Thorton on Tuesday, Oct. 27. All are cordially invited.

   —The brick pavement on Railroad-st. has been laid on the south side of the car tracks and between the rails as far as the St. Charles hotel. The north side of the street is being rolled and put in shape to receive the concrete.

   —To-morrow evening will be Ladies' night at the Tioughnioga club. Special pains are being taken to make the occasion attractive. For those who do not care to dance, the card room will be opened. Refreshments are to be furnished by the new caterer, Rood.

   —Officer W. P. Henry of McGrawville brought Ernest Hall of McGrawville to Cortland this morning and he was arraigned before Justice of the Peace E. C. Parker on the charge of intoxication. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four months in Onondaga penitentiary.

   —In police court yesterday the case of The People vs. Lowell Barnes, charged with skipping a board bill, was called and defendant discharged, the complainant not appearing. The case of The People against Abram Dennis was adjourned to Thursday morning at 10 o'clock.

   —Vesta lodge, I. O. O. F., at its meeting last night voted to give a dancing party its rooms Wednesday evening, Oct. 28. Daniels' orchestra will furnish music. Invitations can be procured from any member of the dance committee, consisting of H. L. de Clercq, Frank Hilligus and Wallace Goodell.

   —An article in regard to registration which was prepared for use last week and was in type and was overlooked at the proper time for its use got into the paper by mistake yesterday and was misleading, as it spoke of registration days still remaining. The days for registration are all over for this year.

   —Mr. and Mrs. F. M. McFall have received the joyful news that a second grandchild, a little granddaughter, was born to them yesterday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank K. McFall at Corning, N. Y. The young lady lacks two days of being a year younger than her older brother. Mother and daughter are doing well.

   —Rev. C. E. Hamilton preached at the First church and made a favorable impression. He is an earnest speaker and his sermon showed the results of care and thought. An informal reception will be given Mr. Hamilton and his family by the First church congregation to-morrow night in the church parlors, in connection with Church day.—Rochester Post Express.

   —The Cortland County Agricultural society is now ready to pay the premiums to prize winners at the fall fair. They can be obtained at the office of Secretary Mellon, where those entitled to them are requested to call.

The society advertised to pay the premiums pro rata if the receipts did not admit of paying them in full, but the society in ready to pay one hundred cents on the dollar and every exhibitor who was awarded a prize can secure his money.