Newspaper Page Text
2 TIMES
WEEK
VOL. 48
*
■ HE ■
Naval Court to Begin Its
Inquiry at Once.
DIVERS’ WORK DIFFICULT.
Men Experienced in Deep Sea work
Needed.
BOILER MAY HAVE BURST.
Wreckage Seems to Support the
Theory.
Washington, Feb. 20.—The naval court
of inquiry appointed to Investigate the
Maine disaster will begin its work at Ha
vana to-mor.ow.
This news came to the navy department
this morning from Admiral Sicard at Key
West. He simply telegraphed as follows:
"The court of Inquiry sail for Havana,
2<)th, by lighthouse steamer Mangrove.
Marix arrived to-day.”
This prompt action is undoubtedly due to
the express direction from Secretary Long
sent yesterday to have the investigation
begun at the earliest possible moment. The
telegram was dated yesterday, so the
board should have arrived there Ixefore
nightfall and be ready to begin its work
to-morrow morning.
By an error Incident to the haste with
which the orders were gotten out, the first
accounts placed Lieut. Commander Seaton
Schroeder on the board as the third mem
ber, while as a mutter of fact Lieut. Com
mander Potter, the executive officer of
the flagship New York, holds that place.
The board undoubtedly would have start
ed previously but for the necessity 'of
the arrival, at Key West from
' Washington of Lieut* Commander Marix,
• a naval officer well skilled in matters ma
' rlne, who is to be Judge Advocate of the
. court.
, Capt. Sigsbee was heard from late last
! night, but the telegram was not delivered
at the navy department until this morn
ing, His message goes to confirm the
press reports of the events of yesterday
in Havana harbor so far as they relate to
the exploration of the wreck. Il reads us
follow*:
"Havana, Feb. 19.—Only most experienc
ed wrecking divers can do effective work
on the Maine. In the upper works I can
use service divers. Did some work to-day,
but with little success. Will do better
to-morrow. Parts of the Maine, espec
ially the aurperatructure, and connections
are one confused mass of metal."
Another brief telegram from Capt. Sigs
bee read:
"Havana, Feb. 19.—Bache,” (which
means the const survey steamer), "has ar
rived nt Havana bringing on board all
wrecking apparatus sent from squadron.”
The statement relative to experienced
divers, it la explained nt the navy depart
ment, Is no reflection on the men engaged
now In the work, they being enlisted men
belonging to the nnvy. It is the practice
on board men-of-war to assign a few men,
Always volunteers, on account of the haz
ardous nature of the work to duty as div
ers.
The scope of their work la the exploration
of the ship's bottom generally, the disen- ,
tanglement of cable* from the propeller
shafts and sometimes the search for a lost
torpedo or anchor. Such work rarely
carries them d*e|MT than twenty-live feet
Into the waler and It la said that for op
erations In deeper water, such ns would
l*e Involved In examination of the Maine's
bottom, their training hue not fitted them.
They are nlso lacking in that kind of
skill necessary to enable n diver to grope
hla way safely through the internal parts
of n mighty ship like the Maine, and torn
and dismembered ns she is, and this work
is highly dangerous. Creeping through
narrow iron-bound passages and groping
from the doors of the numerous water
tight bulkheads which divide the hull into
many compartments, on slimy floors and
In perfect darkness, requires the highest
expert skill, ami that Is why Capt. Sigs
bee, with only his sailor divers nt com
mand. hatl not been able to do much so
far towards unravelling the mystery of the
Maine's untimely end.
It is Io meet just this emergency that
the navy department is making every ef
fort to hasten the beginning of the work
of recovery of goods, and perhups the
raising of the hull by professionals.
To that end Capt. Lemley, the Judge
advocate general of the department, was
at work to-day in hl* office with represen
tative* of wrecking companies trying to
draw up contracts for the immediate
irowcutlon of the work. He hns been at
the task now two days and it has not
been easy to dispose of. This is owing to
an apparent disposition on the part of
at least one of the concern* to drive a
hart bargain, leaving the department in
the dark as to the amount of money to l«e
paid for their servlets. But it is believed
that the obstacles have now been sur
mounted and that the contracts can be
signed to-morrow.
It ls the Mflxar of Capt. Lem lev to hur
ry thia work, and to that end he Is ar
ranging to have two of the companies
combine their forces. They will t-o jut k)
on the scale of day's work, with a pro
vlslon for a bonus if they succeed in
raising the vessel, thus ensuring the re- I
covery of a* much of the valuable equip
ment as Is possible. should it not be prac-
Bcable to float the Maine again.
Great difficulty la expected in recover
ing the big ten-Inch turrvnt guns, each
worth IkKOA’, ow.ng not only to their own
weight, fifty tons a piece without ear-
w e c Hi n ft ttre.
< THE MORNING NEWS. 1
< iCstablishea 1850. - -Incorporated 1888. >
I J. H.
riages, but to the enormous turrets, en
closing them with 100 tons of steel. It is
doubtful if the tops of these turrets can
be removed, as was first supposed, by
cutting off the bolt heads that fix them to
the sides, as these large bolts are prob
ably counter-sunk and the heads below
the surface of the metal, while the con
fined space within the turrets would make
it very difficult to operate there on the
inside ends under water. It is hoped that
it may be feasible to raise the turrets
entire with the guns If lifting apparatus
of sufficient power can be applied.
The newspaper reproductions of photo
graphs taken of the wreck were studied
with much Interest by the naval officers
here to-day. Great surprise was express
ed at the extent of the wreck, and the vast
mass of steel and iron heaped in the for
ward part of the ship was a particular ob
ject of attention. The experts who had
first ventured the theory of a bursting
boiler as the cause of the destruction, claim
to find strong re-inforcemcnt in the pic
tures for that belief. The great mass of
metal appears to be thrown up over the
boiler space, and not over the forward
magazine, while the forcing apart of the
forward body of the hull, they say, might
have been accomplished by the enormous
expansive power of the high pressure steam
carried in these boilers with their shells,
more than an inch thick. As to what
caused a boiler to explode; whether a dis
guised bomb in the coal, low water or
faulty construction, they do not now un
dertake to say.
Secretary Long said this afternoon, af
ter looking over his telegraphic and mail
correspondence, that it contained nothing
of importance beyond the dispatches above
given. The Secretary referred with satis
faction to the dispatch stating that the
court of inquiry would assemble at .Ha
vana to-morrow. The plan had been for
the court to meet first at Key West, and
after doing such work as was possible
there, to proceed to Havana. But Mr.
Long thought It was desirable to have the
court proceed at once to Havana, where
the inquiry could begin on the actual scene
of disaster, and where personal inspection
would aid in an intelligent judgment. On
this account, the Secretary sent orders
yesterday for the court to proceed direct
to Havana, and the response of Admiral
Sicard is in accordance with these orders.
When Mr. Long’s attention was called
to reports that he had taken official cog
nizance of Capt. Sobral’s criticisms of 'he
American navy, the secretary said that he
had called the attention of the state de
partment to the subject, with a view of
having an inquiry made by that branch.
The particular expression to which /he
secretary had directed the attention of the
state department was the following, at
tributed to Capt. Sobral: “It was the re
sult of an explosion inside of the ship,
which took place in one of the forward
magazines. The fact of the matter is that
the discipline and the waten observed on
the ship were very lax. This, as one Eng
lish newspaper the other day declared, is
the case on American warships generally.
This sort of thing has occurred on previ
ous occasions on American war vessels."
The secretary said that he had not called
attention to the other features of Capt.
Sobral’s alleged Interview, In which he re
fers to the possibilities of war, and to the
information he had gained while naval at
tache of the Spanish legation.
As a whole, Mr. Long does not treat
the Sobral matter as profoundly serious.
(Assistant Secretary Day would not dis
cuss (he Sobral matter. It is understood,
however, that the state department does
not attach deep significance to the report
ed remarks of Capt. Sobral, owing to his
minor position..
It has developed (hat Capt. Sobral**
services as naval attache at Washington
were officially terminated by Siwiin about
four weeks ago, and it is said he at pres
ent occupies the position merely of a pri
vate citizen.
Mr. Dubose received no advices of im
portance from Havana to-day. Ho ex
pressed his satisfaction with the plans
by which the divers were operating, and
said there was no justification for talk
about friction. Perfect harmony existed
he sukl, and on both sides, so far ns he
could see. there was every disposition to
give the amplest facilities for investiga
tion.
Mr. Duboac feels that the assembling of
the court of Inquiry n> Havana to-morrow
is quite desirable, owing to the rapid rate
Ht which the hull of the Maine is sinking
in the soft bottom of the harbor.
NIGSIIEE HASN T TALKED.
The Captain Cables That lie Ilan Wot
Hxpresaed an Opinion.
Washington, Feb. 20.—Capt. Sigsbee to
day sent two telegrams to the navy de
partment on the subject of interviews with
him. The first merely said: "I have con
sistently refrained from expressing r.r.y
opinion on the Maine disaster."
Later in the day he wired: "No news
paper divers have been used on wreck of
Maine. One man engaged by me was sub
sequently bought up by a newspaper I
declined his services. Subsequently. on his
being unconditionally released. I might
have used him, in charge of an officer, in
recovering bodies, but decided not to do
so. Any interviews with me, if printed,
nre untrue."
The navy department to-night received
the following telegram from Capt. Sigs
bee :
"Following is the condition of our
wounded in Havana hospitals:
"Api'twntice Koehler, shght improvement
condition still grave.
•’Alien, slightly improved, condition
grave.
"Heffron, Shea, Mattison, favorable.
"Loftus, convalescent.
"Cahill, improved, but grave.
"Mack. Waters and Weber, favorable.”
The report on the same subject from
Capt. Forsyth at Key West says; "Ma.ne
survivors ail in good condition this morn
ing. Surgeon reports wounded doing
well."
The following telegram was received by
Secretary Long to-day from New York:
"When I arrived at New York. 1 heard of
the Maine disaster. We feel very deep sor
row and send our conikxlenves for the dead
•nd their families. (Signet!) Eulale, Cap
tain Si'anlsh Cruisst* Vlxcaya."
The published statement that Senator
Proctor of Vermont, who is now on his
way to Florida, was going to the interior
of Culmi as a special agent of President
McKinley to report on the condition* m
the island, was denied to-night at the
I White House.
«pniu look« for Improved Relation*.
London, Feb. XL—The Madrid corre
spondent of the Standard says: "The
government is now convinced that the
Maine dieaster. instead of estranging. v. ill
tend to improve the relations between
Spain and the United State*.**
SAVANNAH. MONDAY. FEBRUARY 21, 189<
MANNING COAST DEFENSES.
Gen, Miles' Recent Order Not Due to
the Nlaiue’s Disaster,
Washington, Feb. 20.—Referring to Gen.
Miles’ recent order to Gen. Merritt, com
manding the department of the east, to
immediately detail men and officers to all
coast defense points where modern guns
are mounted, it was said at the war de
partment to-day that while the order was
issued as reported it was nothing more
than following out the plan of the war de
partment formulated several years ago
when the present system of coast defense
was Inaugurated. The order calls for at
least twenty men and the necessary of
ficers to take charge of such coast de
fense emplacements as have been complet
ed and turned over to the war department.
These defense points are planned and con
structed by the engineers corps, and the
guns furnished by the ordnance depart
ment. As soon as completed they are
turned over to the war department and
men are at once detailed to care for the
expensive works and ordnance. It is said
that a detail of twenty men so far from
being an effective fighting force is barely
sufficient to care for the property. There
have been a number of the coast defense
works completed recently, and the order
detailing men to care for them is merely
a routine matter. In addition to detailing
the men a special board is now in session
in Washington preparing plans for perma
nent quarters at the various new posts
and work will be begun on these as soon
as practicable.
The men who are stationed at these new
points will be drilled in the use of the
new guns, and will form the nucleus ,of
a permanent heavy artillery force, which
will be augmented from time to time. It
is for this service that the war depart
ment has asked of Congress two additional
artillery regiments, and the officials ex
press great hope that their request will be
speedily complied with, as there are at
present not enough men to effectively man
the many new works which in the devel
opment of the modern coast defense sys
tem are being rapidly completed and
turned over to the department.
CLAIM FOR INDEMNITY.
Spain Responsible If She Didn’t Take
Proper Precautions.
New York. Feb. 21, 4 a. m.—The Herald
this morning says: "Frederic R. Cou
dert, formerly counsel for the United
States before the Bering Sea Commis
sion, and a well known authority upon
international law, was interviewed re
garding the matter of an indemnity if it
can be shown that the Spanish authorities
at Havana failed to take proper precau
tions to insure the safety of the Ameri
can warship Maine.
"Spain should pay indemnity for the
loss of the Maine," Mr. Coudert said,
"provided the accident is found to be due
to the negligence of Spanish officials. The
vessel went to Havana on a friendly visit
and was entitled to full protection. It
was proper that extraordinary precautions
should be taken to insure her safety.
"It whs well known that there were in
dividuals belonging to the Spanish nation
who had ill feelings toward the United
States. If any danger was known to ex
ist in Havana harbor, it was to be expect
ed that Spain should inform the captain
of the Maine of the fact and use every
means to prevent any accident to the ves
sel.
"If on the other hand a man with a bas
ket of dynamite should have come aboard
the Maine and blown up the vessel, the
fault plainly would have been with the of
ficers of the vessel. It is their duty to
keep th® strictest watch over everybody
who comes on board.
“The destruction of the Maine, by acci
dent or by the act of irresponsible indi
viduals, would not justify a declaration
of war. Carnot, for instance, was assassi
nated by an Italian, yet France did not
blame Italy. Italian subjects were killed
by a mob several years ago at New Or
leans. Italy was justified in demanding
an indemnity, which she received, because
the men when slain were in charge of of
ficer* of the law, who should have made
every effort to prevent their prisoners from
being killed. But it did not result in war."
QUEEN BIDS BERNABF. FAREWELL.
Minister Woodford to Deliver McKln.
ley's MessHMe of Thank*.
Madrid. Feb. 20.—T0-day the Queen Re
gent gave n farewell audience to Senor
Polo y Bernabe, the new minister to the
United States.
To-morrow she will receive United
States Minister Woodford, who will pre
sent President MoKinley'a message of
thanks for Spain's expression of sympa
thy with the United States in the misfor
tune that befell the Maine.
REQUIEM AT BERLIN.
Mrninrlnl for Hie Maine tetlnis at
the liner lean < hnreh.
Berlin. Feb. 90.—United States Ambassa
dor White and the American colony in
Berhn were present at the American
Church at a requiem service for the vic
tims of the Maine. A commetnorative dis
course was delivered by the Rev. Mr
Dickie.
HEARD EXPLOSIONS IT HAVANA.
I’SMeagm on the Olivette Confirm
the Story.
Tamp*. Fla., Feb. 20.—Officers and pas
sengers arriving on the Olivette to-night
say that the report is true that was sent
out from Key West last night in regard to
their hearing explosions shortly after leav
ing Havana harbor Saturday afternoon.
There were two explosions nl>out one min
ute apart. The impression prevailed on the
ship that the Maine had been completely
destroyed to keep the real cause of the
first explosion from being known.
WORK ON THE MONITORS.
Operation" (on:laued Tbronßhouf
Sunday.
Norfolk. Va„ Feb. 20.—Workmen at the
Norfolk navy yard have been engaged rli
uay on the repairs on the monitors Terror
and Puritan. A draft of men for the lat
ter vessel arrived this morning. One cf
their number d»ed en route. Naval offi
cers do not discuss rumors of trouble.
fflOFMffl.
Cruiser at Anchor Off Staten
Island.
SALUTES AND IS SALUTED.
Puts Flag at Half-mast for the
Maine's Dead,
CORDON GUARDS CRUISER.
Marines and Police on > Duty on
Tugs.
New York, Feb. 20.—The Spanish cruiser
Vizcaya, in command of Capt. Eulale,
came through The Narrows this afternoon
and anchored off Tompkinsville, Staten Is
land, where she is closely guarded by navy
yard tugs and police patrol boats:
The Vizcaya has been lying outside of
the bar since Friday night, and was una
ble to come into the harbor, owing to the
dense fog and rain storm which have pre
vailed for over forty-eight hours.
The Spanish cruiser has been expected
to arrive here since last Monday, and the
unfortunate catastrophe by which so many
American sailors and marines lost their
lives in Havana harbor last Tuesday night,
aroused more than the ordinary interest in
the arrival of the visitor.
The feeling which prevails among a
great many people in this vicinity that the
American battleship was destroyed delib
erately by enemies of the United States,
prompted the naval authorities to guard;
against any possible harm being done to
the visiting Spaniard at the hands of fa
natics.
Rear Admiral Bunce, commandant of the
New York navy yard, received orders from
Washington last week to establish a care
ful and well-appointed patrol to guard
against any such emergency. The com
mandant immediately put himself in com
munication with Chief of Police McCul
lagh and appointed Lieut. John A. Dough
erty of the navy to take charge of the pro
tective patrol. Chief McCullagh respond
ed immediately and informed Rear Ad
miral Bunce that he had instructed Capt.
Smith of the harbor police to hold himself
in readiness and supply the desired num
ber of patrolmen to assist in guarding the
visiting vessel. The navy yard tugboats
Nina and Narkeeta were immediately
placed at the disposal of Lieut. Dougherty.
Lieut. W. C. Neville of the Marine Corps
received instructions to take command of
thirty-eight men. This body will relieve
each other in four-hour watches during
the entire stay of the Spanish cruiser.
By special permission a representative
of the Associated Press was allowed to
go aboard the Nina, on which tug Lieut.
Dougherty established his headquarters.
This boat, as well as the Narkeeta. was in
readiness to go down the bay and meet
the Vizcaya from the moment tjiat the
latter was sighted off the Jersey coast last
Friday, but it was not until 2 o’clock this
afternoon that the weather conditions per
mitted the naval guards to proceed down
the bay. About that hour word was re
ceived at the navy yard that the Spaniard
was on her way over the bar, and the ma
rines were immediately ordered to board
the Nina.
Lieut. Aaron Ward, representing Ad
miral Bunce, lost no time in boarding the
commandant's steam barge \ T ndine and
the three vessels left the navy yard at
ten minutes to 3 o'clock. There was a
nasty northeast wind blowing at the time,
which was accompanied by a continuous
downpour of rain and a light fog. The
tug Nina led the way and as she rounded
the battery, a large crowd had assembled
in the vicinity of Pier A, where the little
vessel was to take the harbor police
aboard. As soon as the Nina got along
side the pier Capt. and Lieut.
Dougherty exchanged greetings as well as
official documents. Two roundsmen and
eight patrolmen were immediately put
aboard and the tug once more turned her
nose In the direction of Staten Island.
Just then through the thick fog could
be heard the booming of cannon, which
was the salute given by the Vizcaya Ms
she came through the Narrows. This sa
lute was answered from the guns at Cas
tle William on Governor’s Island. As the
Nina neared the Staten Island shore, the
Spanish cruiser loomed up out of the mist
and Lieut. Neville ordered the marines to
stand at attention and salute the vis
as the tug passed on her starboard side.
The police officers on board also stood at
attention and saluted the visitor, and the
salute was answered by the officers and
I men who were grouped on the Vizcaya’s
deck. The Spaniard was still under way
at the time with Pilot Gillespie on the
bridge.
At 3:35 o'clock the big vessel reached
her anchorage ground and dropped her
mud hook. As soon as she was anchored
several boats in the vicinity made toward
; her, but they were quickly warned off by
j the naval vessels and backed away to a
respectful distance.
The Undine, with Lieut. Ward aboard,
then made its way alongside and that offi
cer, cressed In full uniform, ascended the
gangway, which was lowered on the port
side. As soon as he reached the deck l.e
was greeted by the Spanish commander,
to whom he tendered in the name of Ad
miral Bunce, the courtesies of the post
which is a usual formality whenever a for
eign war vessel arrives in American wa
ters.-
Lieut. Ward remained on board about a
quarter of an hour, and as he descended
the gangway on his return to the Undine,
the royal Spanish ensign was put at half
mast. This was the first sign that the
spectators afloat and ashore were given
that the visiting craft was aware of the
disaster in Havana harbor. Capt. Eulale
ordered the flag at half-mast as a token
of regret for the death of the American
sailors.
Meantime, the marines, who were to
take up the first watch, were taken from
the Nina to the Narkeeta, as were also
four policejnen and a roundsman.
A rowboat, containing three men, two of
whom were rowing, and the third sitting
in the stern, came out from Tompkinsville
and headed directly for the Vizcaya. The
Nina intercepted the little craft, and, in
response to inquiries, the man in the stern
said that he had a telegraphic dispatch
for the commander of the cruiser. .When
this information was transferred to Capt.
Eulale, the latter told Lieut. Dougherty
to let the boat come alongside, and also
said that he would see any newspaper le
porters who wished to come aboard. As
soon as this was made known to the
press boats, which were hovering around,
half a hundred newspaper men accepted
the invitation, and in less than ten min
utes were all aboard plying questions to
the commander and officers of the cruiser.
While all this was going on, the crowd
on shore became larger and the keenest
interest was taken in every movement of
the different vessels. Lieut. Dougherty
will remain in the vicinity of the cruiser
while she remains in port, and will direct
every detal regarding the protective watch.
From 4 o’clock this afternoon until mid
night to-night the Nina and Narkeeta pa
trol led the waters in the neighborhood of
the big vessel. They were relieved at
midnight by the tugs Daniel S. Lamont
and Scout, in command of Capts. Thomas
A. Key and T. P. Coffey. These boats are
provided by the supervisor of the port.
They took on the police and marine guards
and will remain on watch until 8 o’clock
to-morrow morning. At that hour four
police launches, manned by policemen and
marines will go on duty and stand by until
4 o’clock to-morrow afternoon, when the
naval tugs will take up the same positions
which they assumed this afternoon.
These are the plans so far as arranged
by Lieut. Dougherty, and they are not
likely to be changed. All mentioned will
remain off Tompkinsville until the Viz
caya leaves her anchorage and points out
to sea. In case the cruiser comes through
the upper bay and anchors in the North
river, the patrol boats and tugs will ac
company her and the same arrangements
will maintain.
CLASH AMONG THE CONSULS.
Kicking Over Relief Supplies Being
Confined to Havana.
Havana, Feb. 20.—Some friction, it is re
ported, has occurred between Consul Gen
eral Lee and the other United Stales
i consuls in the island over the distribution
of funds and supplies sent from the Unit
ed Slates for the reconcentrados. The
complaint is made that, though food and
money have been coming for several
weeks, nothing has been distributed out
side Havana province.
Consul Barker of Sagua la
Consul Brice of Matanzas, who came
here to learn the particulars of the Maine
explosion, left, it is said, without calling
on the consul general. The reason given
was that they felt they had not been
treated fairly by the counsel general.
Each expected aid for his district from
the American supplies, but received none.
The statement is made that it is their in
tention to appeal directly to the Ameri
can state department, and to ask that
food be consigned to them instead of to the
Havana consulate.
The incident has caused some comment
among Americans here, who regret it. Con
sul Brice says he is sick at the sights
forced on him during the last two years.
He has reported the facts of the case to
AV ashington and believes his district enti
tled to share immediately in the aid of
fered.
Consul Barker says that a few days ago
he found a man dead of want in the mar
ket place of Sagua LaGrande. The minis
ter took up a collection, appealing to ail
classes, but so great is the general im
poverishment that it yielded only $2.50.
Both consuls say that this distress must
grow daily and that death will keep pace
with it unless relief is afforded.
Consul General Lee, when these mat
ters were brought to his attention, replied
that there was not the slightest intention
to neglect the reconcentrados in the east
ern provinces, but he pointed out that Ha
vana, being the largest city, was conse
quently more in need of such succor.
He asserted that he had written the
consuls that everything possible would be
done for sufferers in their localities as
soon as supplies are available, but the re
lief thus far has been nowhere near com
mensurate with the necessity. He has
deputed much of the work of distribution
to Miss Clara Barton, who has the confi
dence of all parties, and who is almost
constantly at work in conjunction with
the special agent of the consul general.
FAIR CUBAN REBEL A PRISONER.
Accompanied Maceo on One of ilia
First Expeditions.
Havana, Feb. 20, via Key West.—Senor
Congosto. the secretary-general, is said to
have asserted in a private interview that
the government expected to be able to “buy
up’’ several members of the New York
junta. It is generally believed, however,
that the statement was made in order to
quiet discontent here arising from the mil
itary failures of Gen. Bianco and Gen.
Pando in the east.
Senora Isabelle Rubio, owner of many
tobacco estates in the eastern part of the
island, and an active insurgent, has been
captured by the Spanish in the province of
Pinar del Rio. and Is now in the hospital.
At the time of the Maceo incursion she
induced half the province to join the in
surgent cause. She accompanied one of
the original Maceo expeditions to Cuba,
then left the island, and after a time re
turned with an expedition from Key West.
Rumors have reached here of the landing
of an important expedition near the River
Numero. this province, but as yet the
name of the vessel and the leader of the
party is undisclosed.
Hold I p nt Macon.
Macon. Ga., Feb. 21. 3 a. m.—About 1
o’clock this morning John Grace was he’d
up by two men on Third street, and robbed
of s*»). He was on his way home and was
seized while passing the mouth of an alley.
The robbers escaped with policemen in hot
pursuit.
Sam Jones Would Make n Hot Raec.
Quitman. Ga., Feb. 3).—The announce
ment of Rev. Sam Jones for Governor
caused considerable talk here, and it is
the general remark that he would make
a warm race. However, his announce
tnent te generally believed to be a joke.
I DAILY, $lO A YEAR. 1
7 5 CENTS A COPY. L
( WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK $1 A YEAR J
WOUNDED AT KEY WEST.
Names of the Men and Nature of
Their Injuries.
Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 2X>.— A special to
the Times-Union and Citizen from Key
West, Fla., says:
“The following are the wounded in-the
Marine Hospital here:
“G. J. Dressier of New York city, frac
tured jaw, fractured knee cap, wound in
breast and back.
“George Fox, Grand Rapids, Mich., cut
on head, right arm burnt, foot and hand
cut.
“Robert Hutchison, colored, New York,
arms and face badly burned.
“Frank G. Thompson, Austin, 111., dis
located ankle, arm cut, bruise on side.
“Carl Christenson, Sweden, right arm
and leg bruised and burned, arms .and
head bruised and badly shaken up.
“William H. Thompson, New York
back hurt, side bruised and both hands
burned.
“George Worth, Brooklyn, bruised on
leg and neck.
“Patrick Foley, Mount Vernon, N. Y„
cut on nose, eyes and mouth. He is the
most seriously hurt and is in great pain.
“Martin Larseen, Philadelphia, was in
the hospital when the explosion took
place, he has had continued fever, but is
now convalescing.
“The Marine Hospital men are the most
seriously hurt, but none are in danger of
dying. They are cheerful and keeping up
good spirits.
“The following men are at the United
States barracks. The wounded at the hos
pital could not be seen, but the command
ant stated that none were dangerously
hurt, but some are suffering pain from
their wounds. Among those seen were
William McNair of Pittsburg, who is
slightly injured:
George David, Island Malta, slightly in
jured in back and hip.
“Louis Moriniere, Newtonville, Mass.,
uninjured.
“M. Lannahan, Louisville, Ky., unin
jured.
“Thomas Melville, Brooklyn, uninjured.
He was on watch on the quarter deck, and
felt a shock, followed by an explosion, ai d
was thrown eight feet in the air and forty
feet from the ship into the water. He
swam back to the Maine and climbed
aboard again. He then saved the lives of
men floating in the water.
“Edward McKay of Boston is uninjured.
He was on duty on the poop deck, only
heard the explosion, and was thrown from
port to starboard side, and saved his rifle
and ammunition.
M. Mohen, uninjured.
K. Kushida, Japan, uninjured.
“F. Awo, Japan, slight scar in head and
hands.
“Westmore Harris, Charles City, Va.,
uninjured.
“Peter Larsen, Norway,- uninjured.
“A. Willis, Keyport, N. Y., uninjured.
“John Turpin, Long Branch, uninjured.
“D. J. Tcpfln, New York city, uninjured.
"HMry McGann, Brooklyn, has a strain
ed back. He was thrown overboard by
the shock on the quarter deck, and swam
bock to the ship and attempted to get
the whaleboat out with the help of Mel
ville, comrade. Many of the men on the
quarter deck who had lost their presence
of mind were thrown overboard by Mc-
Cann and Melville, who afterwards suc
ceeded in manning the whaleboat, which
sunk from the suction of the ship going
down. They then were rescued by the gig,
and were afterwards complimented by the
navigator and officers for bravery.
“Martin Riorden. a, well-know n diver of
Key West, serving on the Maine, was sav
ed. He has been called to Havana by
Consul General Lee and Capt. Slgsb?e to
complete the investigation and dive under
the ship to ascertain the true cause of the
disaster, which will be evidence in the in
vestigation.
“M. Melville, Brooklyn, uninjured.
“Oscar Anderson of Sweden, slightly cut.
“The remainder of the men at the bar
racks and at the hospital could not be seen
nor their condition ascertained.
“The hair-breadth escapes told by the
survivors are almost miracles. Men who
were between decks fought for their lives
like demons to reach the decks. The
wounded, who could not get out, met their
deaths bravely.
“As the water rushed into the ship the
cries of the wounded men could be heard
calling for aid. In a few minutes their
doom was sealed.
“No searchlight was thrown on the ter
rible scene. It is not known why not, but
a gentleman in the city who was in Ha
vana at the time says that fifteen minutes
after the explosion he wms looking toward'
the wreck and waiting for a searchlight
to be thrown on the ship, but none ap
peared and the work of rescuing had to
be done in the dark.”
COURT OF INQUIRY SAILS.
Lighthouse Tender Mangrove Starts
For Havana.
Key West, Fla., Feb. 20.—The light
house tender Mangrove left for Havana
at 4 o'clock this afternoon. She carries
the members of the court of inquiry into
the Maine disaster, Lieutenant Command
er Adolph Marix, executive officer of the
receiving ship Vermont, Judge Advocate;
Capt. William L. Sampson, commanding
the battleship lowa, president; Capt. F.
E. Chadwick and Lieutenant Commander
W. P. Peter of the New York and Lieu
tenant Commander Schroeder of the Mas
sachusetts.
The Mangrove will stop at the Tortugas
to take on board Capt. Henry C. Taylor
of the Indiana. She carries also air
pumps, electric lamps for the divers and
other diving apparatus.
COMPOSER A SUICIDE.
Self Destruction Fowslbly Due to His
Wife’s Departure.
Chicago. 111., Feb. 20.—L. O. Vincent,
widely known in the South and West as a
composer and producer of cantatas and
amateur operas, died to-day at the Chi
cago hospital. It is thought Vincent ended
his life by swallowing a dose of morphine.
He returned recently from the South, and
it is said found that his wife had left the
city. Mrs. Vincent is reputed to be wealthy.
Schaeffer to Play Ives.
Chicago, Hl.. Feb. 31—Jake Schaeffer,
champion bllliardist of the world, and
“Napoleon” Frank C. Ives had a lengthy
conference in this city to-day, and decided
to settle their differences by a ®O-po!nt
game, 18-lnch balk, for the billiard cham
pionship of the world. The game will be
played in Central Music Hall, April 2.
MONDAYS
A ND —■?
THURSDAYS
•• I •
h m i ■■
Sailors of the Ship Sure a
Foe Blew Her Up.
HARBOR HONEY - COMBED.
Craw Warned That the Water Was
Full of Mines,
PLANS OF THE PRESIDENT.
Ex-Superintendent Porter Tells a
Sensational Story,
Key West, Fla., Feb. 20,-Sailors of the!
battleship Maine, suffering from wounds
in the Key West hospital, are smarting
over the delay of the government in pun
ishing what they term “a Spanish out
rage.”
In their minds there is no doubt as to
the cause of the explosion and they ex
plain the delay in taking summary action
by saying that the President is morally]
certain that there was no accident, and,
wishing to deceive the Spaniards with a
feeling of security, is using the short timo
to make the necessary preparations to en
force his ultimatum. If no action is tak
en, they say, not a man among them will
again pace the deck of an American man
of-war; but if business is meant, id
would take a strong force to keep them
from hurrying to the front, wounded
though they are, to take a hand in whaU
they look upon as a personal vengeance.
“We were warned not to go to Havana,” 1
one said to-day, “being told that danger
awaited us there. When we got there
we were again told, *tnd it was burrent ru
mor, that the harbor bottom was honey
combed with mines. We first chose our
anchorage and rested there for several
hours, but the harbor master compelled
us to weigh and proceed to a spot marked
by a buoy. We were reviled on the streets
of Havana, sneered at until our blood boil
ed, and found out for our own safety]
! that it was necessary for us to make our
visits to the city in force. No man dared
to go it alone. There was no knowing]
what would happen to him.
“The explosion itself is the best evidence
that It was a mine or torpedo. Thera
were two sharp and distinct reports. Tha
first was like a peal of thunder close at
hand—a sound as of ripping parchment—
a quick report, followed by a tremendous
nnd awful roar, and then darkness and
chaos, made more horrible by the screams
of dying men, the fierce shouts of those
fighting for egress, and the moans of
those who were hemmed in to die by fire
or by drowning. The Spanish warship
was lying close at hand, and Morro castle
was not a pistol shqt away. Both have
searchlights, but none .was turned upon
us to help the work of rescue, and be
cause of the darkness many brave nun
who could have been rescued went <lowti
to Davy Jones.”
SI IIE SHE WAS BLOWN I P.
Robert I’. Porter on the Adminlstruw
lion's Cui an Policy.
Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 20.—The Inquirer
will to-morrow print under Washington
date a lengthy dispatch from Robert I’.
Porter, ex-superintendent of census, giv
ing what he believes to be the policy of the
administration regarding Cuba. Mr. Pot
ter thinks that Spain shall be asked to al
low the Cubans to purchase their liberty
by the issuance of Cuban bonds, this gov
ernment to assume the responsibility of
collecting the customs duties and thus sea
that the revenues of the government are
applied to the payment of the Interest on
the bonds.
Concerning the Maine disaster, Mr Por
ter says there Is little doubt that she was
biown up from without, “but ft will be
difficult to fasten guilt upon the Spanish
authorities.”
He concludes that the situation is criti
cal. and that the coming week may brln'»
about a crisis. d
NOT WRECKED BY THE MAGAZINE,
Explosion Had Its Origin in Some
Other Source.
Havana, Feb. 20.—Lieut. Commander
Barnett of the survey boat Bache. said to
a correspondent of the Associated Press
to-day:
“You want the facts. I can tell you
there are ninety-five chances out of a hun
dred that the investigation will show that
the forward magazine of the Maine d*d
not blow up first, it it exploded at all, and
that was not the cause of the terrific’con
sequences that followed. The condition of
the wreck, when first studied and a later
careful scrutiny, make this an. almost ab
solute certainty.”
of the Maine has
recovered considerable sums of money
with letters and other personal property’
from the bodies taken from the wreck.’
Chaplain Chadwick is one of the hardest
working officers, and upon him have de
volved some of the most responsible duties
of the situation.
To-day divers recovered the cipher code
book, the log of the Maine and many of
ficial and private papers. .
The wounded are doing well. Probably
four or more will be taken to Key West to
morrow by the Bache.
NO. 15.