Show PLANS LAID BY THE CUBANS Formed a Conspiracy to Blow Up a Warship I WERE ALSO AFTER GOLD VESSEL SUPPOSED T a tRY AVERY A-VERY LARGE AMOUNT Revolutionists Have Long Seen ilie Necessity for Seizing ami Holding 1 Prominent Seaport Town jiuil Are Laying Their Plans with That End in View Kow the Spanish View I NEW YORK April 29The Herald this morning says The Spanish authorities here and in Washington have recently discovered a conspiracy formed by Cubans to blow up a Spanish warship and at the same time intercept a peninsula mail steamer and rob her of a large quantity quant-ity of gold intended for the govern ment troops on the island The plot included further the capture cap-ture of the seaport town of Nuvilaa and contemplated certain demonstrations demonstra-tions along the northern sections of the eastern Cuban provinces in order to precipitate a rush of troops from the west and EFFECT A WEAKENING of the military trocha across Pinar del Rio While the disclosure of the conspiracy CI spiracy may not discourage the Cuban leaders i will require an entire en-tire change of tactics to free Antonio Maceo from the uncertain position he occupies in the extreme west of Cuba and in Spanish circles it is looked upon in the light cZ a blow to the Cuban I cause The plot originated and was perfected in this city with the assistance assist-ance of the insurgent leaders in Cuba the first blow was to be struck a month hence The revolutionary congress con-gress has felt for some time the fel tm necessity neces-sity of seizing and holding a seaport I town and has made several attempts to get possession of small towns on the coat of Cuba Finally the congress con-gress decided that Nuevitas on the northern coast of Puerto Principe province pro-vince was the most available point I is situated at the head of the harbor har-bor of Nuevitas which can be entered I I only through a long winding and narrow nar-row channel The harbor is well I I sheltered from the sea and affords an I excellent anchorage The town is I NOT STRONGLY GARRISONED The coast line peninsula mail steamer steam-er stops at Nuevitas at regular intervals inter-vals and when there are supplies onboard on-board the boat is escorted by a Spanish cruiser After long survey the Cubans devised a plan by which a formidable demonstration could be made at Nuevitas in order to force General Weyler to send strong bodies of troops to the eastern end cf Cuba It was decided that it would be possible possi-ble to blow up a Spanish vessel as she passed through the narrow channel to Nuevitas harbor and that the wreck would so completely block the entrance that no other vessel could pass in to displace dis-place the rebels after they had captured cap-tured the place The insurgent president presi-dent entTusted the carrying out of the plot to one of the members of the Cuban revolutionary party in this city The latter called to his aid an ad vcinturous young American who begin to perfect all the details I was not long afterward that the Spanish and American detectives WERE ON THE TRAIL of the Cuban plotters Negotiations were enteretd into by the Cuban agents for the purchase of a Cape Ann schooner schoon-er and a New England skipper was employed to navigate her A small steam tender was purchased which was to be carried on board the schon er The entire outfit ha been estimated estimat-ed to cost not more than 8000 Those engaged in the scheme were promised in the event of success 109000and one half of any prize money found onboard on-board the mail steamer to be trapped and seized The schooner the Spanish authorities learned with her crew was to sail from this port as a fisherman She would carry sn addition to thirty days provisions for four men besides I the crew the steam tender coal several sev-eral small kegs to be converted into submarine torpedoes an electric battery bat-tery and about 2000 pounds of dynamite I dyna-mite THE PROGRAMME I was to launch the steam tender at night when near the Cuban coast and to work back and forth between the spot and the schooner under cover of darkness using no ship lights The men who were to do the wrecking of the Spanish cruiser the dynamite and other material were to be landed and concealed on a plantation near the coast close to the trance of the harbor From this plantation the Cubans could reach the channel and lay torpedoes at the only point where I a war ship could pass in less than two hours time tme Information received by the Spanish Authorities indicates that as soon 3 I Nuevitas should fall and the cruiser reported destroyed strategic movements move-ments were to be made around Puerto Principe Santa Clara Giubara Cardenas and other eastern points A reporter saw the Spanish consul general yesterday He claimed that the Spanish authorities had received INFORMATION OF THE PLOT He said guardedly We hear occasionally of some of I these murderous and anarchistic plots Some time ago we learned of a plot to blow up the Infanta Isabella off Key II West We know enough about this conspiracy against a Spanish vessel in Nuavitas harbor to prevent its accomplishment ac-complishment ill it ever is attempted The Washington office may know more than I do I hardly believe that the Cubans could blow up the Alphon so XI though I understand it is this vessel they hope to attack because that vessel could not enter Nuevitas harbor under any circumstances as she draws too much water Nevertheless I believe be-lieve the Cuban insurgents are desperate desper-ate enough t undertake any heinous affair for their cause is already threatened with disaster Yes you nay say hat we know all about the contemplated plot against Nuevitas and have taken proper precautions pre-cautions against its being carried out |