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ESTABLISHED 1884. N'KWY'S MESSAGE ON THS CIjIJHT S REPORT Will Transmit Io Spain lhe Finding, and Thinks That the Reply Will be Based on Justice and Friendship. BE DELIBERATE Is the Requst of the Execu tive to the Members of Congress. WITHOUT ANV RECOMMATION The Report Is Submitted to Con gress For Its Action—No Doubt as to Outside Explosion. Washington, March 28—The president today sen-t the following message to Con gress: To the Uongrtxs of the United States: For sum* time prior to the visit of the Maine to Havana harbor our consular rep resentatives poind, d out the advantages to flow from a visit of national ships to Ca ban watirs, in accustoming the people to the pn s. nee of our Hag as a symbol of good will and of our ships in fulfilment of the mission of protection to American in- even thought no immediate need therefor might exist. '.rcordingly tL , 24fb of January last at a conference with the Spanish minister in which the renewal of the visits of our war vessels to Spanish waters was dis cuss, d and accepted the Peninsular au thorities at Madrid and Havana were ad vised of the purpose of this government to resume friendly naval visits at the Cuban ports and that in that view the Maine would forthwith call at the port of Ha vana. Received in <■< «»<! Faith. The announcement was received by the Spanish government with an appreciation of the friedly charactre of the visit of the Maim and with the notification of an in tention Jo • turn the courtesy by sending Spanish slitps to the principal ports of the United States. Meanwhile the Maine entered 'the ]>ort of Havana on the 23th of January, her ar rival htipg n i.rkid with no special inci dent tu .- m - .11- exchange of the custom ary salt:;-> ’.nd ceremonial visits. ’llit Maine continued in 'the harbor of Hav na dnrir.g the three weeks following her arrival. No viable excitement attended her stay. On tbe contrary, a feeling of relief and eonf’d. ace followed the resumption of the kui'g interrupt- i friendly intercourse. So noticeable was this that the consul general strongly urged tbat the presence of our ships in Cuban waters be kept up. l'he Fifteenth. At forty minutes past 9 o’clock on the evening of the 15th February the Maine was d. stroyed by an explosion, by which the entire forward part of the ship was wreckt d. In .he catastrophe two of the officers and two hundred and sixty-four of her crew perished. Those who were not killed outright by the explosion being penned be tween the decks by the tangle of wreckage and drowned by the sinking of the hull. Prompt assistance rendered by the neighboring vessels, aid being especially given by the boats of the Spanish cruiser Alphor.su and the Ward line steamer City of Washington, which lay not far distant. The wounded were generously cared for by the authorities at the Havana hospi tals, being freely opened to them. Trib utes of grief and sympathy were offered from all official quarters on the island. Effect On the Country. The appalling calamity fell upon the people with crushing force and for a brief time intense excitement prevailed which in a community less just and self con trolled than ours might have led to hasty acts of blind resentment. This spirit, however, soon gave way to calmer processes of reason and to a re solve to investigate the facts and await material proof before forming any judg ment as to the cause, the responsibility and, if the facts warranted, the remedy due. This course necessarily recommended it self from the outset to the executive, for only in light of a dispassionately ascer tained verdict could it determine the na ture and the measure of his full duty in the matter. The usual process was followed as in all cases of casualty or disaster to national vessels in any marine state. Work of the Court A naval court of inquiry at once organ ized composed of officers well qualified by rank and practical experience to discharge the onerous duty imposed upon them. Aided by a strong force of wreckers and divers, the court proceeded to make a thorough investigation on the spot em ploying every available means for an im partial and exact determination of the ex plosions. It’s operations have been conducted with the utmost deliberation and judgment and, ■while independently pursued, no source of THE MACON NEWS. Information was neglected and the fullest opportunity was allowed for a simultan eous investigation by the Spanish author ities. The findings of the court of inquiry were reached, after twenty-three days of con tinuous labor on the 21st of March instant and having been approved on the 22d by the commander in chief of the United States naval force at the North Atlantic squadron, was transmitted to the execu tive. Purport of the Court. It herewith laid before Congress togeth er with the voluminous testimony taken before the court. The purport of the report is in brief as follows: “When the Maine arrived in Havana she was conducted by the regular govern ment pilot to buoy No. 4 to which she was moored in from five and one half to six fathoms of water. “The sta'te of discipline on board and the I condition of her magazines, boilers, coal i bunkers and storage compartments were I passed in review, with the conclusion that | excellent order prevailed and no indica ! tion of any cause for an internal expio- I sion existed in any quarter. “At 8 o’clock on 'the evening of Febru ary 15th everything had been reported se cure and all was quiet. “At forty minutes past 9 o’clock the vessel was suddenly destroyed. There were two distinct explosions, with a brief interval between them. The first lifted i the forward part of the ship perceptibly; j the second, which was more open, prolong- I ed and of greater volume, was attributed i by the court to the partial explosion of two or more of the forward magazinese. The evidence of the divers established;- | the fact that the after part of the ship ■ was practically intact and sank in that I condition a very few minutes after the I explosion in the forward part of the ves- I sei. Evidence of Divers “The evidence of the finding of the court is as follows: “At frame 17 in the outer shell of the ship, 'from a point eleven and a half feet i from the middle line of the ship, and six I feet above the keel when in normal condi i tion, had been forced up so as to be now I four feet above .the surface of the water; j therefore, about thirty-four 'feet above I where it would be had the ship sunk unin- I jured. The outside bottom plating is bent , into a reversed V shape. The after wing, I which is about fifteen feet broad and thir j ty-'two feet in length, ('from frame 17 to i 25,,) is doubled back upon itself against I a continuation of the same plating ex . tending forward. At frame 18 the verti cal keel is broken in two and the flat keel I is bent into an angle similar to angle ’ formed by the outside bottom plates. “The break now is about six feet below j the surface of the water and about thirty feet above the normal position. Finding in Detail. “In the opinion of the court, this effect I could have been produced only by an ex i plosion of a mine situated under the bot tom of the ship at about frame 18 and j somewhat on the port side of the ship. The conclusion of the court are: The loss of the Maine was not due in. any respect to the negligence on the part of any of the officers or members of her crew. “That the ship was destroyed by the ex- I plosion of two or more of her forward magazines and. that no evidence has been obtained showing the responsibility of the destruction of the Maine is upon any per son or persons. Will Send to Spain. T have directed that the finding of 'the I court of inquiry and the views of this . government thereon be communicated to : the government of her majesty the Queen I and 1 do not permit myself to doubt that the sense of justice of the Spanish nation will dictate a course of action suggested by honor and the friendly relations of the two governments. “It will be the duty of the executive to advise congress of the result and in the meantime deliberate consideration is in voked. (Signe-d) “William McKinley. “Executive Mansion. March 28.’’ SCENE IN THE HOUSE. Most Remarkable That Has Been Known in a Quarter of a Century. M ashington. March 2S.—Except on the occasion of the-inauguration of a presi- I dent, no such crowds as surged through the corridors and stormed the galleries for admission have been seen at the capi tal in a quarter of a centurv. Fifteen minutes before the house con vened the floor was cleared. The diplo matic and executive galleries were shortly afterward opened, and before the gavel fell at noon not a seat was vacant. At noon the speaker ascended the ros trum and called the house to order. Amid an impressive silence the blind chaplain delivered a solemn prayer. Secretary Pruden soon appeared with the message, and amid an impressive silence it was heard. The reading was followed by hearty applause. Without debate the message was referred to the committee on foreign affairs. The death of Representative Simpkins was announced, and the house adjourned All the ladies should see the hats at Miss Green’s Wednesday and Thursday. MACON NEWS MONDAY MARCH 28 1808. SPAIN IS READY 10 00 ANYTH ING To Avoid War—Note Was Sent This Morning Through Minister Woodford. ML! CABINET MEETING At Which His Dispatches Were Con sidered-Nothing is Given Out, However, on This Subject. Washington, March 28. —A special cab inet meeting, called at 10:30 o’clock this morning, was devoted to the reading of the president’s message sent to congress at noon. Several minor changes were made in the wording of the message, and after it had been dispatched to the capitol some time was spent in the consideration of the late messages from Woodford. Although the details of these dispatches were not made public, it is known they are reassuring in character, and give ba sis for the belief that the present strained relations may yet be satisfactorily re lieved. Although reticent as to the details, a member of the cabinet said today that the conditions are much more hopeful than they were three days ago. It is undoubted ly true that Spain is willing to make im portant concessions to the United States, and is willing to go even so far as to agree to withdraw her troops from Cuba on con ditions which, if not satisfactory to this government, are more libcial and concil iatory than anything hitherto received, and clearly indicate their purpose to avoid a war, even if to attain the end she is compelled to make sacrifices never before considered. Notwithstanding these hopeful signs the negotiations have not passed the danger line, nor is it believed this government will accept any compromise that does not involve the prompt cessation of hostilities, even if the question of the future govern ment of Culba is left to further negotia tions. NOTE WAS SENT Through Minister Woodford This Morning to Soanish Government. Washington, March 28. —The United 'States has presented through Minister Woodford at Madrid a carefully prepared note dealing with the distressing condition of affaiis in Cuba, and making it clear that this government cannot much longer with hold such definite action as will bring the present struggle and the suffering it is oc casionin to a close. The Spanish answer has been made, and is probably in the hands of the authorities here, but the con tents are not known. SAGASTA DENIES IT. Madrid, March 28 —Premier Saga-'a de clares tha the Spanish government has not sent a note to the government of the United States on the subject of the relief of the Cubans. SCHLEY TOOK COMMAND Os the Flying Squadron Amid Great Cheering. Fort Monroe, Va., March 28.—Commo dore Schley took command of the flying squadron this morning amid great cheers. THE INSURGENT’S FLEET. Will Be Commanded By Horace Elmers from Cramp's Yard. Washington, March 28 —Commander Horace Elmers has been detached from Cramp’s navy yard and ordered to com mand “The Mosquito Fleet” to be formed of all the small craft that can carry guns. The Cincinnati and Castino have arrived at Key West. GUNS FOR SAVANNAH. Orders Have Been Issued for Two Rapid Fires. Washington, March 28 —Senator Bacon has received from Chief of Enginners Wil son, of the army department, a letter con taining assurances that four rapid-fire guns will be sent to Savannah as soon as they arrive from England. Two of these are to be erected on Tybee Island and two are to be placed at some location yet to be determined upon for defense of the Wil mington and Warsaw rivers. General ilson informs Senator Bacon that a small strip of land must be secured upon which to erect a rapid-fire battery on Wilmington river. Senator Bacon al ready has in his possession a letter from a real estate firm in Savannah offering Beach Hammock, for this purpose. This will be laid before the war department to morrow. The chief of engineers says in his letter to senator Bacon that for the lack of guns the secretary of war will not be able to do anything for Brunswick harbor, but the senators and Congressman Brantley hope yet to overcome this obstacle in some way and secure guns for Brunswick. It was only after hard work that the four guns were secured for Savannah, as they had all been allotted to other places. Thomas J. Pirkle, one of the most prom inent business men of Cumming, is here on his way home from New York. SPOT COTTON. New York, March 28 —Spot cotton open ed quiet. Middling uplands 61-16. Middling gulf 5-16. LIBERAL GUT FROM SOUTHERN Gives One Thousand Dollars to the Y. M. C. A. Build ing Fund. WILE SWELL THE FUND To Gratifying Proporfons—Secre tary Stacy Received Letter This Morning. Secretary C. I. Stacy, of the Young Men’s Christian Association, received a letter from President Samuel Spencer, of the Southern railway, saying that he would give one thousand dollars to the Y. M. C. A. building fund. This is the most liberal donation that hajs yet been made to the fund, and the di rectors appreciate it deeply, especially as it comes from a source where there can be but little personal benefit. Seme time ago the directors of the asso ciation wrote to the management of all the roads running into Macon, and asked them if they would not contribute to the building fund. The Georgia Southern and Florida was the 'first to respond, the road giving SSOO. Up to the time the Southern railway's contribution had been received none of the other roads had been heard from. The liberality cf the road swells the fund to about half the amount that is need ed, and .the directors feel that it will not be a hard matter to raise the balance of the money that is needed for the building. A WORD OF ADVICE To Those Coming to Alaska or the Klondike Goid Fields. One thing should be impressed upon every miner, prospector or trader coming to Alaska, to the Klondike, or the Yukon country, and that is the necessity for pro viding an adequate and proper food sup ply. Whether procured in the states, in the Dominion, or an the supply stores- here or further on, this must be his primary concern. Upon the manner in which the miner has observed or neglected this pre caution more than upon any other one thing will his success or failure depend. These supplies must be healthful and should be concentrated, but the most care ful attention in the selection of foods that will keep unimpaired indefinitely under all the conditions which they will have to encounter is imperative. For instance, as bread raised with baking poder must be relied upon for the chief part of every meal, imagine the helplessness of a miner with a can of spoiled baking powder. Buy only the very best flour; it is the cheapest in the end. Experience has shown the Royal Baking Powder to be the most re liable and the trading companies now uni formly supply this brand, as others will not keep in this climate. Be sure that the bacon is sweet, sound and thoroughly cured. These are the absolute necessities upon which all must place a chief reli ance, and can under no circumstances be neglected. They may. of course, be sup plemented by as many comforts --- deli cacies as the prospector may be able to pack or desire to pay for.—From the Alaska Mining Journal. BIG MAJORITY Given to Sagasta at the Election for the Cortez. Madrid. March 28 —The election’s for the popular branch of the cortes have passed off, on the whole quietly. The indications art that the government of Senor Sagasta will have an enormous majority, estimated at 300 of the 432 seats in the congress. Disorders are apprehended at Bilboa, where the polling caused great excitement. The military judge of Bilboa issued a warrant for the arrest of three socialist municipal councilors. One of them was taken into custody, but the other two es caped. The elections in the capital were without especial incident. The elected deputies include five liberals, one independent and two conservatives. Despite great precautions at Biboa there was much disorder. A body of 100 miners tried to commit acts of violence. It is re ported that a socilaist has beaten a con servative candidate there. All the O'ther provinces are reported calm. Mr. Patenotre. the French ambassador, had a conference with Senor Gullon, the foreign minister, today, to which much importance is attached. FOR ATTEMPT TO MURDER. Alonzo Johnson Was Bound Over This Morn ing. Alonzo Johnson was arraigned before Recorder Freeman this morning for re sisting Officers Bryan and Calloway, who attempted to arrest him for an as sault. Saturday night Johnson became involved in a difficulty with a negro hackman at Henry Hammond’s place on Fourth street, and it is charged that he drew a dirk, and attempted to stab his antagonist. He was arrested and resisted the officers. The re corder fined him $25 for resisting officers, and bound him over to the superior court for assault with in tent to murder. Ladies, don’t forget to attend the mil linery opening of Burke & Campbell, Agents, next Tuesday and Wednesday. FULL REPORT OF COURT SMT J TOJONGRESS Responsibility is Laid on Ho One in Particular But the Of ficers and Men cl the Warship Maine Are Released From Sil Blame, SPAIN PROTESTED, A Cypher Message Was Sent By Consul General Lee at Spain's Request- ashiagton March 28. —The testimony taken by the court of inquiry was also sub mitted with the findings. It makes one hundred thousand words, and the immense document will be printed for the benefit of the members of congress. Among the great mass, the testimony of Consul General Lee is interesting. He ap peared before the court on March 8. His testimony related to the official formalities heralding the Maine’s arrival. On January 24th he received a message from the state department stating that he had been sent to Havana on a friendly vis it to resume the regular status of naval relations between the two countries, and was ordered to make arrangements for the interchange cf official courtesies. After a call at. the palace, he sent the state department a cipher message saying: “The authorities seem to think the United -States has an ultericr purpose in sending the ship. They say it will obstruct autonomy, and produce excitement, and most probably a demonstration. They ask that it be not dene till they can get instructions from Madrid. They say that if it is for friendly purposes as claimed the delay is unimportant.” It was too late, nc-wever. The Maine had already sailed. She arrived th° next day, and Lee reported her arrival to the slate department. Lieutenant Commander Wainwright tes tified that the regulations with regard to paints and inflammables, and all other precautions, were. strictly carried out on board the ship. Every possible care was taken to avoid an accident. All visitors were scrutinized before being allowed to come on board the ship. Nobody was al lowed unaccompanied. Special “lookouts” were required at night. No unauthorized boats were al lo'Atd to approach tine ship. He was in the captain’s office at the time of the explosion. He examined the wreek at daylight on the following morning. He took bis gig with Lieut. Hood and a few men, and at tempted to board the wreck. He was warned off by an armed boat’s crew of Spaniards, and then pulled around the wreck. TWO INQUESTS. Accidental Killing and a Sudden Death On Sunday Morning. The coroner held two inquests yesterday. Saturday night brought out a barroom killing and yesterday morning a negro died on the doorstep of the residence of Dr. James T. Ross. The first case arose out of a fuss in what is known as the Big Bonanza Saloon on Poplar street. The place is a somewhat favorite resort of the negroes, and is es pecially crowded with them on Saturday nights. About 9 o’clock on Saturday night Na than Andeison and Jim Bolden went up to the bar and Bart Henley, the barkeeper, a white man, says that Anderson ordered a drink for Bolden. This is denied by Anderson, who says that he did not order the drink and tbat Bolden was not invited by him. At any rate Bolden did take a drink of whisky, ana when Anderson of fered a two dollar bill and asked for the change, Henley gave it to him less the fifteen cents for the drink which Bolden took. Anderson wanted the full change and Anderson and the bartender quarrel ed. Henley grabbed a pistol from behind the counter an 1 struck Anderson over the head with the gun. One of the chambers cf the fit.ol went off aal the ball struck Charley Carr, another nog/o standing close by. It was a fatal wound and Carr died at the hospital yesterday morning. The coroner c jury found aver tic; in which they stated that the killing was an un avoii'ide accio'nt. Ht.nle. and Anderton were Shoffiy aPei 2 o’clo?: yest'rlaz morn ing Tom lose' ?. negro d r jyuai 'or R C. Wilder’s Sons, died at the residence of Dr. Ross on College street. The man came to the house and aroused the doctor from his bed. He said that he was suffering from a pain in the heart, and the doc tor seeing that the man was suffering, went to his laboratory to get some medi cine. When he returned the unfortunate man was lying on the step and was breathing his last. An ambulance was called and the body was removed to the city ball. The coroner’s jury yesterday found by its verdict that the man came to his death from causes unknown to the jury. There is little doubt, however, that the man died from heart disease. At the recorder’s court this morning Hendley was bound over in the sum of S3OO for involuntary manslaughter, to appear at the superior court. Nash Anderson was released. IN THE SENATE. Message and Report Read Amid Silence and Promptly Referred. Washington, March 28 —The Senate was crowded todaj' when it was called to order. In the diplomatic gallery were Abner Mc- Kinley and Mrs. Sigsbee. The president’s message and report of the court of inquiry were read amid impressive silence and re ferred to the committee on foreign rela- , tions. PRICE TWO Ct*TS SUBMARINE MINE Bent the Bottom Plates of the Vessel Into a “V ” Shape. M PLACED 111 POSITION I By the Regular Pilot of the Spanish Government-No Possibility of an Explosion From the Inside. Washington, March 28.—Following is the report of the court of inquiry: I United States lowa, Key West, .March 21- After a full and mature consideration , with all the tesitmony before it, the court finds as follows: That the battleship Maine arrived in the ■ /harbor of Havana on the 25th of Jau l uary and was taken to bouy No. 4. of | five and a halrf to six fathoms of water by | the regular government pilot. The consul general at Havana had noti- ■ fled the authorities the previous evening of the intended arrival of the Maine. | The state of discipline on board the Maine was excellent and all orders and regulations with regard to the care of the ' ship were strictly carried out. -Ammunition Carefully Stowed. All .ammunition was stored in accord i ance with the prescribed instructions and proper care was taken where the ammuni- ■ tion iwas handled. Nothing was stored in ' any one of the magazinese or shell rooms ; which was not permitted to be stowed | there. The magazines and shell rooms are ( always locked after they have been en ! tered, and after the destruction the keys | were found in their proper places. The temperature of the shell rooms and . magazines were taken daily and reported. I Tne only magazine which had any undue j amount of heat, was the after ten inch magazine, and that did not explode at the time the Maine was destroyed. The torpedo war heads were all stowed in the after part of the ship under the ward room, and neither caused nor pre ( cipi-tated the destruction. The dry gun cotton primers and deto j naters were stewed in a cabin aft, remote I from the explosion. The waste was carefully looked after i on board the (Maine to obviate the danger. ! Special orders with regard to this had been given by the commanding officer. Fveryrhmg Was Aft. The varnishes, dryers, alcohol and other combustibles, stowed on the Maine could I not have had anything to do with the de struction. The coal bunkers were inspected daily. Os those bunkers adjacent to the forward magazines and shell rooms, four were ' -empty, namely B 3, B 4, B 5 , B 6. A I 15 had been in use that day, and A 16 was full of new river coal. This coal had been carefully inspected before receiving. The bunker in w’hich it was stored was pack ed on three sides at all times and the , fourth side at the time on account of bunkers B 4 and ‘B 6 being empty. This bunk, A 16 had been inspected that , day. The fire alarms in the bunkers were in working order and there had never been cause for a spontaneous combustion of coal on the Maine. Boilers Oidn’t Burst. The two after boilers of the ship were in use at the time of the disaster, but for auxiliary purposes only, with a compara tively low’ pressure of steam, and being tended by a reliable watch. These boilers could not have caused the explosion. The four forward boilers have been (found by the divers and are in a fair con dition. On the night of the destruction of the Maine everything was reported secure for the night at 8 p. m. by reliable penons to the commanding officer. At the time the Maine was destroyed the ship was quiet, and, therefore, the least liable to accident caused by the movements of those on board. ** ' n Nature of Explosion. When the destruction of the Maine oc curred there were two explosions of dis tinctly different character with a very short but distinct interval between each, and the forward part of the ship w’as lifted to a marked degree at the time of the first explosion. The first explosion was In the nature of a report, like that of a gun, while the sec ond explosion was more open, prolonge-d and of greater volume. The second ex plosion in the opinion of he court was caused by the partial explosion of two or more of the forward magazines of the ship. The evidence bearing upon this being principally obtained from the divers, did not enable the court to form a definite conclusion as to the condition of the wreck, although it w-as established that (Continued on 4th page.)