Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1898 — CAUGHT IN CHICAGO. [ARTICLE]

CAUGHT IN CHICAGO.

Man Who Placed Mine* In Havana Harbor Tells a Story—He Was Employed by Weyler. Chicago, April 15. —The 'Times-Her-ald says: Charles A. Crandall, alias Emanuel Escadaro, who, acting under the personal orders of Capt. Gen. Weyler; planted the mines and torpedoes in the harbor of Havana, has been run to earth in Chicago. Thursday night he was in the custody of three United States secret service agents, who are taking him to Washington, where he is expected to give information to prove beyond any possible doubt

that the Maine was blown up by a mine and her 266 officers and crew murdered designedly by agencies known to the Spanish officials. Ever since the Maine was blown up Crandall, or Escadaro, has been dodging. He was run down by a Cuban spy, who dogged him from Nashville to Highwood, where he was located by the secret service agents early Thursday evening. At first he tried to evade the agents, but when they assured him he would be protected he volunteered to accompany them. Crandall’s statements are substantiated by letters in his possession from Weyler’s officer* and from Weyler himself. Ilis story is in substance as follows: Crandall says he is an American, and □nee served In the navy under Capt. Sampson. As a torpedo expert he was engaged by one Emil Castillo, at Lima, to mine the harbor of Havana. He began this work early in the spring of 1896, finishing it about a year later. He worked at night, and was assisted by five Italian laborers and two Spanish boatmen. In all 17 mines and ten torpedoes were placed. “Early last July,” continued Crandall, Gen. Weyler ordered me to place an additional mine near buoy No. 4, which made a complete chain of mines about the harbor, from side to side, from the mouth of the harbor to the last anchorage. When iny work was done and his chief of artillery and ordnance had approved of the plans, he handed me my passport to Key West, and assured me that I would receive pay until the first mine or torpedo was used. I remained in Havana until February 10, when I went to Key West, where 1 stayed until Maroh 8, on which date I received my last Spanish gold from Havana. “After the Maine was blown up I kept In hiding with a colored family near Fort Taylor, or the barracks, and as soon as I received word to skip out 1 left as a stowaway on the first steamer for Miami. “The Maine was anchored at the Identical buoy at which Gen. Weyler ordered me to place'the additional mine, officially known a* buoy No. 4. These mines were anchored by cable and chain. There were two sets, that could be fired Independently; that Is, those at the mouth of the harbor and the others In the interior c.iC.c. "From Miami 1 went to Nashville, where I received the following letter from Havana, dated March 1. 1898; ” 'Destroy all evidence. Go to New York. Ticket for London awaits you there. DIAZ.' " “This was from Weyler’s most trusted adjutant and spy, who executes all of the edict* Issued by Weyler from Spain. I did not go to New York, but wont to St. Louis, and from there came to Chicago.