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THE MORNING NEWS. )
Established IS3O. - Incorporated 188*. V
J. H. ESTILL, President. >
111 I 11.
Sigsbea Ssscribss the Vol
canic Roar.
HEROES ON EVERY BAND.
Discipline Perfect in the Jaws
of Death.
BELIEVED IT BOMBARDMENT
Lieut. Jenkins Dies While Rushing
to His Gun.
Havana, Feb. 19.—Capt. Sigsbee of the
battleship Maine, in an interview to-day
with the correspondent of the Associated
Press, described in detail the explosion
which destroyed the great ship.
"On the night of the explosion,” said
Capt. Sigsbee, “I had not retired. I was
writing letters. I find it impossible to de
scribe the sound or shock, but the im
pression remains of something awe-lnsptr-
Ing, terrifying, nerve-rending, vibrating,
ali-pervadlng. There is nothing in the
former experience of any one on board to
measure the explosion by.
"After the first great shock I cannot
myself recall how many sharper detona
tions I heard, not more than two or three,
I knew my ship was gone. In such a
structure as the Maine, the effects of such
an explosion are not for a moment in
doubt.
"I made my way through the passage in
the dark, groping from side to side, to the
hatchway, and thence to the poop, being
among the earliest to reach that spot. So
soon as I recognized the officers, I order
ed the high explosives to be flooded, and
then directed that the boats available to
be lowered to rescue the wounded or
drowning.
“Discipline, in a perfect measure, pre
vailed. There was no more confusion than
a call to general quarters would produce—
not as much.
"I soon saw, by the light of the flames,
that all my officers and crew left alive and
on board, surrounded me. I can not form
anv idea of the time, but it seemed five
minutes from the time I reached the poop
t > the time I left, the last man possible to
i' ich having been reached. It must have
l ien three-quarters of an hour or more,
however, from the amount of work done.
1 remember the officers and men worked
together lowering the boats, and that the
gig took seme time to lower. I did not
notice the rain of debri3 described by
Ueut. Blandin, or others who were on deck
at the time of the first explosion, but I
did observe the explosion of the field am
munition and wondered that more were not
hurt thereby.
ithout going beyond the limits of
what was proper in the harbor of a foreign
power, I always maintain precautions
against attack and the quarter watch was
ordered to have ammunition for the small
er guns ready to hand, so that in the im
probable event of an attack on the ship
It would have been found ready. It was
this ammunition which exploded as the
heat reached -it.”
Capt. Sigsbee and all the American of
-1“ . rs here are very anxious for news from
tin.- United States as to public opinion there.
Hie captoin has done all he can to calm
the excitement in the United States, and
t'> induce the public to wait for the result
of the official Investigation before form
lug an opinion as to the explosion.
Before the Olivette entered the harbor
this morning the passengers crowded to
lu r upper docks not to see the yallow forts
and long lines of walls manned by soldiers,
the beauties of palm crowned hills, or the
thousand sights new to many eyes. All in*
torest centered in the first view of tho
v-rock of the ill-fated battleship and the
tight was ghastly enough when reached,
to satisfy all who were desirous of wit
nessing horrors.
The wreck is the central figure of an
otherwise bright picture. The huge flame
if charred debris forward looks as if it
had been thrown ip from a subterranean
core house of fused cement, steel, wood
ui.d iron. Further aft, one military*' mast
protrudes at a slight angle from the per
-1 - ndlcular, while the poop on which gath
ered the band, offers a resting place for
the workmen or diver#.
(| f the predominant white which marks
our vessels not a vestige remains. In its
place is the blackness of desolation and
death.
U is known that Lieut. Jenkins, who Is
among the missing, was alive after the
explosion. A colored mess attendant, now
01 Key West, met Jenkins running for
w inl. He evidently thought, in the eon
-1 ‘sion, that the Maine had been fired on
and he was rushing to the forecastle,
'■ -re was located the six-inch gun, of
Wnich he was In charge.
I he United States flag is floating at half
•nast from the poop of the Maine to-day
and the divers, with six assistants, are
b ' work about the wreck under the di
rection of Capt. Sigsbee.
It appears that the preliminary work or
" e divpr3 will be directed towards sal
vage only. When the investigation into
'he cause of the disaster commences the
Spanish government, it Is said, will collab
orate.
1 ’r. Maas said at the hospital to-day.
that ail of the eight patients from the
• 1 one under his care are doing very well,
Und that in even the worst cases there has
1 "n some Improvement.
Frank Fisher, who was saved by the
• ’banish steamer Colon, died on that vos
fc 1 ' yesterday.
i ive bodies were discovered in the har-
fpje Jttofmng
bor today near the wreck, but only one,
that of Tenniss, was recognizable.
Consul General Lee will reward the
Fireman Ugarte, who at the risk of his
own life, made a gallant rescue of a drown
ing sailor. Ugarte, who was badly burned
about the head, persevered until he suc
ceeded in saving tha drowning man. He
will be decorated by his battalion chief,
and the municipality of Havana.
Capt. Sigsbee said to-day to the Asso
ciated Press correspondent that the men
at work under the water about the Maine
are expert divers, but that the work re
quires time and patience. Most of the
day was spent in getting the divers ac
customed to the work and nothing of im
portance was found. A careful search will
be made for the Maine's logbook, which
will be of great service to the court of in
quiry. It is yet too soon to form any Just
opinion as to what the divers will be able
to recover from the wreck.
The day has been a tranquil one in Ha
vana. Rear Admiral Manterola returned
the visit of Gen. Lee, consul general, and
Capt. ISigsbee this afternoon.
VISIT OF THE VIZCAYA.
All on Board Express Regret at the
Maine's Loss.
New York, Feb. 19.—A reporter of the
Associated Press boarded the Spanish crui
ser Vizcaya this morning at 8:45 o’clock
to-day, in company with Commander So
bral, naval attache of the Spanish, legation
at Washington, Vice Consul Marianna Fa
bregas Setelo, Don Manuel de Suarez, sec
retary of the Spanish consulate, and a
detective detailed by Chief of Police Mc-
Cullagh,
As Commander Sobral was not In uni
form, the marines were not lined up to re
ceive the visitors, and the formal welcome
was replaced by the exchange of hospita
ble greetings In true Castilian style.
Capt. Antonio Eulalie shook hands cor
dially with his visitors. Everybody on
board knew of the Maine’s fate, and from
the youngest apprentice to the senior of
ficer, all the Spaniards were eager to ex
press their sorrow.
An officer long in the Spanish navy said:
“The loss of so many brave men and so
fine a ship is an appalling catastrophe.
The American navy and people have our
sincere sympathy.” \
The idea that the Maine was destroyed
by treachery was scorned. Not an officer
on board would for a moment entertain
any solution of the disaster except that it
was caused through accident.
"Such things have happened,” an officer
would say. "It is terrible, but it is part
of the lot of tlie battleship. In peace her
dangc-r is often times as-great as in war.”
No one could be found on board who
evinced the slightest anxiety as to the
safety of the Vizcaya while in Now York
horror. Expressions cn the subject of the
extraordinary precautions taken for Iheir
protection were guarded.
Tho trip of the Vizcaya from Las Pal
mas to New York was not without inci
dent. Between the Bermudas and Cape
Hatteras she ran into a series of minor
cyclones, which ended in a hurricane.
Capt. Eulalie, speaking of his boat's be
havior, said: “She Is. a magnificent sea
boat, and, despite thirty-four hours' bat
tling of heavy seas, no accident occur
red, nor was a man injured.”
This hurricane explains the tardiness of
the Vizcaya’s arrival here. The trip
across, however, was taken leisurely and
no attempt was made to test the remark
able coal capacity of the cruiser. Her
bankers hold coal enough to eqable her to
steam for twenty consecutive/days at the
rate of twenty-one miles an hour, an
accomplishment possessed by but few
warships.
The hull of the Vizcaya is graceful. Her
lines are easy, terminating forward in one
of the most vicious looking rams ever
seen in these waters. Her free board is
low, leaving little as a target. The guns
in the fore and aft turrels have an effect
ive range of ten miles. On the upper or
main battery, two fore and two aft, a
direct fore and aft fire is provided.
The guns adjoining these have a midway
range between fore and aft and broadside
fire. There is the usual main deck broad
side rapid firing battery. The lower deck
has a somewhat similar arrangement, in
cluding Nordenfelts and other modern en
gines of destruction. The marines and sail
ors are fine specimens and the order which
prevailed on board to-day was excellent.
The sailors.are a hardy lot. The comple
ment of the Vizcaya consists of 15 officers,
eight naval cadets, 420 blue jackets and
marines, making a total of 443.
RETURN OF THE MANGROVE.
Steamer tlrlns* Uncle Ten of the
Wounded Survivor*.
Key West, Fla., Feb. 19.—The light house
steamer Mangrove arrived here this morn
ing from Havana with the following
wounded from the Maine: Edward Matt
son. B. R. Wilber, J. C. White, Daniel
Cronin, John Coffee, J. H. Bloomer, Alfred
Hernis, J. A. Rowe, Charles Pitcher and
William McGuire. , .
Out of twenty-six in the hospital, five
have died. Eleven seriously wounded re
main in Havana.
The Mangrove also brought two life
boats and other effects frhm the wreck.
The cordiiion of the injured at the Ma
rine Hospital, and the barracks is slightly
Improved. The men who arrived on the
Mangrove to-day are suffering mostly
from severe burns, but they are doing
nicely. . ..
The battleship lowa came up from the
fleet to-day. She had on board the com.
manders of the Massachusetts and In
diana who will be members of the com
mittee to inquire Into the disaster to the
Maine.
Rear Admiral Sicard came ashore from
tho New York.
JUNTA TO STOP AGITATION.
Satisfied McKinley Will Eventuully
Free Cuba.
Cleveland, 0., Feb. 19. Senor de Aran
go, the head of the Cuban junta, in this
city, ip in favor of stopping the agitation
of the Cuban question. He says also that
the junta in New York Is in favor of the
same policy, as all the Cubans are satis
fied that President McKinley Is pursuing
a policy which will eventually bring about
the freedom of Cuba.
Senor de Arango has received no recent
communication from the New York Jun
ta, but he aald he was advised some time
since to abandon-the agitation. ,
SAVANNAH. GA.. SUNDAY*. FEBRUARY' 20. ISOS.
if MSI Ml
Naval Experts Favor Doing
So If Possible.
COMBUSTION IN THE COAL.
Flagship New York Once Had a
Narrow Escape.
SINKING OF BIG SHIPS.
None in the British Navy Ever
Abandoned.
Washington, Feb. 19.—-Since the
spontaneous combustion theory has
come so prominently to the front
as the cause of the disaster the officials
have been looking over the records to
find a parallel case, as near as may be.
The flagship New York was discovered
on fire March 9, 1896. Smoke was issuing
from her main magazine. This was clear
ed of powder safely and it was found that
the woodwork had been charred deeply.
The cause was not at first perceptible,
but it was soon discovered that an ad
joining coal bunker was burning. When
the bunker was opened the coal on top
was not hot, but as the men dug down
into the mass it was found tef be red hot
inside. There was no manifestation of
heat on the top of the bunker, nor on any
save the one side next the magazine. The
belief of the naval officers is that the con
structors made a considerable air space
between the bunkers and magazine. In
designing the new battleship now on the
stocks the lesson was kept in mind and
everything possible was done to Isolate
the coal bunkers from the magazines.
Secretary Long has given orders that
at the expiration of this day there need
be observed no longer the order to all
ships and commands to display the na
tional colors at half mast.
There is no abatement of talk of the ex
pediency of raising the Maine. Chief Con
structor Hlchborn Is one of the most
earnest advocates of the resurrection of
the ship, both from sentimental and prac
tical considerations. He points out that
the ship lies in a land-locked harbor, easy
for the wreckers to operate in and that if
she can be rebuilt at a cost of $1,000,000
the government will save $4,000,000, the
first cost of such a battleship, with all of
her equipment. Great Britain, he said,
never abandoned a ship if there was the
least chance to save her, and has not yet
even abandoned the hope of raising the
111-fated Victoria, sunk in collision with
the Camperdown off the coast of Syria
several years ago.
Commander Francis W. Dickens, the
acting chief of bureau of navigation, and
Secretary Long’s right hand man* in the
present emergency, said: “The Maine
must be taken to an American port if
there is enough of her bones holding to
gether to warrant removal, and in all lik6-
I lihood that will be done. If the explosion
waß more disastrous than is now thought
to he the case, if the hull Is so wrecked as
to be beyond repair, then as much of the
material as can be raided will be brought
Thorne and placed In A new Maine. It is
to he remembered that great advances
have been made in shipbuilding since the
Maine has been designed, and a finer ship
to bear her name could be built to-day,
but it would take time, and if any consid
erable portion of the ship is good, with
a modernized battery and big Improve
ments in rebuilding the destroyed portions,
a magnificent vessel can l>e quickly secur
ed."
thief Engineer Melville has decided
views In favor of the proposition to rebuild
the Maine. “Even suppose she cost $1,000,-
000,” said he, “anew ship equal to the
Maine would cast nearly $5,000,000. The re
pairs could be made and the ship put in
service again In a year at the farthest. To
build anew ship like her would take at
least three years. With regard to the
probability of raising the vessel, It is to
be remarked that larger vessels have been
raised which were exposed to the waves,
while the Maine Is in a perfectly quiet har
bor. The British armor clad Howe of over
10,000 tons was raised off Ferrol, Spain, In
the open ocean, and H. M. S. Sultan of
over 9,W0 tons, was raised and saved, after
she sank in the Comyn Channel.”
Orders have been Issued for the enlist
ment of 300 men for the navy to fill the
vacancies caused by the destruction of the
battleship Maine, and to complete the le
gal quota. The men will be sent to receiv
ing ships, from where they will be sent to
ships in commission wherever needed.
Commander-in-chief Street of the Union
Veterans has offered to the President the
services of 10,000 of the Union forces of the
country. They could be ready for action in
forty-eight hours.
There was a good deal of talk among the
officials of the need of speedy relief meas
ures for the berfefit of the families of the
victims of the explosions. Under the
treasury rules the allotment of portions
of pay to their families made by the men
who perished In the wreck must s|op at
once. It is not doubted that Congress
will do as it did In the case of the Sa
moan disaster, provide for a year’s pay
to the families of the sailors who died at
their posts. The difficulty, however. Is
that such a measure cannot be passe*] at
once, and meantime some of the families
of the dead sailors will be In great dis
tress. The subject has been taken up
by Secretary Long, who has called a
meeting for Monday to Initiate the move
ment.
It happens by the rare, chance of an
unexpected change of paymasters recent-
ly, very little of the savings of tho Maine’s
sailors went down in the vessel. About
two weeks ago Paymaster Littlefield of
the Maine was relieved by Paymaster
Ray. The former came to Washington
and has settled the accounts of the ship
up to the time he left. The record shows
that the paymaster had on hand in his
safe only about $3,C00 in cash, probably
gold, and a check for $6,000, which, of
course, Is safe enough, without his in
dorsement, against loss.
The contract for the work of saving por
tions of the Maine, and if possible raising
her, Was not closed to-day, although rep
resentatives of the wrecking concerns were
In conference with navy department offi
cials throughout the day. Capt. Lemley,
who will frame the contract, said that
progress had been made toward under
standing thg general plan of operation,
but a final agreement had not been reach
ed.
NOBLE HEARTED BRITONS.
President Aeknowlnlgei Their Mes
sage of Condolenee.
Washington, Feb. 19.—Acting Secretary
Day has sent the following telegram to
Secretary White of the United States em
bassy at London:
“The President Is deeply touched at her
majesty's sympathetic message conveyed
through the ambassador here, and charges
you to express through the proper channel
grateful appreciation in the name of the
government and people of the United
States.
“The touching message of the Prince and
Princess of Wales has been laid before the
President, who charges you, In the name
of the American people, no less than in
his own, to express the grateful apprecia
tion of this tribute of their royal high
nesses to this nation in Its hour of grief.
“Please convey to the Lord Mayor of
London the President's deep appreciation
of his message expressing the sympathy
of the citizens of London in the terrible
bereavement that has afflicted the Ameri
can people. In their name the President
returns grateful thanks.
“The President directs that you convey
to his royal highness, the Duke of Con
naught, the deep appreciation of his sym
pathy and condolence by reason of the
appalling disaster that has befallen this
government and people in the loss of *ho
Maine and her crew.”
Condolences continue to reach the Pres
ident from prominent persons over the
world.
LESS ANXIETY AT MADRID.
Government Advices from Washing
ton Reassuring.
New York, Feb. 19.—A special dispatch
to the YVorld from Madrid says: "Less
anxiety Is felt here since the government
caused the newspaper* *e.<f4W‘rh tho re
assuring semi-official statement of the for
eign office, and Premier Sagasta, that
they continue to receive from the Spanish
legation in Washington and officials in Cu
ba, Information showing that most of the
American official departments art becom
ing more convinced that the catastrophe
to the Maine was accidental.
“The exchange of courtesies between the
two governments Is considered to point In
the same direction.
“The precaution taken on the arrival of
the Y’izcaya at New York give satisfac
tion. The Vizcaya and her sister ship, the
Almirante Oquendo, now on the way
across, will stay only a short time in New
Y'ork. Both are ordered to go to Havana.
The American government, it Is reported,
does not intend to send any more vessels
to Cuban waters.
“Spain’s new minister to Washington,
Senor Polo y Bernabe will start early next
week for America, going by way of Eng
land with a view to meeting Senor de Lome
to confer with him on questions pending
between the United States and Spain.
“His instructions are to devote special
care and attention to the treaty.”
QUEEN REGENT’S CONDOLENCE,
President Instructs Woodford to Ac
knowledge It.
Washington, Feb. 19.—Expressions of
condolence still continue to flow In at the
state department from sympathetic for
eign nations. Notable among them was
one that came to hand last evening from
the Queen Regent of Spain as follows:
“Madrid, Feb. 18, 1898.—President McKin
ley, Washington.—Her Majesty, the Queen,
has Just sent one of the gentlemen of the
royal household to express through me to
your excellency her profound sorrow and
sympathy in the sad accident which has
befallen the United States steamer Maine
at Havana- (Signed) “Woodford."
President McKinley this afternoon for
warded the following reply to the condo
lences of the Queen Regent of Spain:
“Executive Mansion, Washington, Feb.
19, 1898.—Woodford, Minister, Madrid.—
Convey tn appropriate manner my sincere
appreciation of Her Majesty's message of
condolence and sympathy as conveyed In
your telegram Just received. William Mc-
Kinley.”
RUSHING WORK AT NORFOLK.
Monitors anal Torpedo Roots Being
Poshed to Completion.
Norfolk, Va., Feb. 19.—Orders have been
received at the, navy yard to keep a force
working on tfle monitors Puritan and Ter
ror and the torpedo boats Foote and Wins
low at work to-night and all day to-mor
row. The vessels wjll be ready for duty
Wednesday.
The Terror was this morning ordered to
go to Hqpipton roads. Over 50 extra men
were taken on the yard this morning.
TWO EXPLOSIONS~AT IIAVANA-
Pnssengcr Honrs Thom on n Steamer
Two Mile* Out.
Key West, Fla., Feb. 19.—A passenger on
the steamer Olivette, which arrived here
to-night, reports that shortly after the
vessel’s departure from Havana, when she
was abottt eight miles off shore, two ter
rific reports were heard. Tho sounds re
sembled the discharge of heavy cannon or
a large explosion.
Another Expedition Landed.
Havana, Feb. 19. via Key West.—lt Is re
ported that an American expedition has
landed at Baracoa, near Mariano, in the
province of Havana.
■8 SI Ml
Recovery of Bodies Tlieir
First Work.
SPAIN'S WORK SEPARATE.
Request for a Joint Investigation
Refused.
SHIP EXTRA-TERRITORIAL.
Spain to Put No Straw in Sigs
bee's Way.
Washington, Feb. 19.—The request of the
Spanish government for permission to ex
amine the wreck of the Maine, reached
the department last night through the fol
lowing message from Consul General Lee:
"Havana, Feb. 18.—Assistant Secretary
Day, Washington: Capt. Sigsbee begins
to-morrow with divers sent him from tho
United States to recover all bodies still left
in wreck of Maine, as well as personal
effects of officers and men, and whatever
also can be obtained that way. After that
is completed, the Spanish government
would like to unite with ours tn having
bottom of ship and harbor In vicinity
Jointly examined.
(Signed.) Lee."
The following Is the answer sent:
“Washington, Feb. 19.—Lee, Consul Gen
eral, Havana:—The government of the
United States has already begun an inves
tigation as to the causes of the disaster
of the Maine, through officers of the navy,
specially appointed for that purpose, which
will proceed independently. This govern
ment will afford every facility It can to
the Spanish authorities iri whatever Inves
tigation they see fit to make upon their
part. "Day, Assistant Secretary.”
The apparent difficulty attending the
sending down of divers to the Maine was
relieved, If not entirely removed, by a
statement to-day by Senor Dubose, charge
d'affaires of the Spanish legation, that a
complete and harmonious understanding
between Capt. Sigsbee and the authorities
at Havana had been reached on the matJ
ter of divers, and that the Spanish author
ities viewed the Maine as extra territorial,
that Is a part of the sovereign territory of
the United States, the same as a United
Slates legation situated in foreign territo
ry. With the Maine holding its status as
extra territorial, all doubt as to the work
on the wreck Is removed. The waters of
Havana harbor are, of course, Spanish ter
ritory and some confusion had been arous
ed by tho Idea that this jurisdiction over
the waters attached also to the wreck In
its present helpless condition at the bot
tom of the bay.
It appears, however, that there Is no
disposition to extend this Jurisdiction to
the ship, and that the Spanish authorities
freely assent to the Maine’s being regard
ed as extra territorial, and under the im
mediate direction of Capt. Sigsbee as the
representative of tho United States. Ac
cording to the view taken by the Spanish
authorities there can be no trouble at
tending the work of the divers. Capt.
Sigsbee will be recognized as the one to
direct operations and to send down the
government divers for such inspection as
he sees proper to make.
Mr. Dubose feels assured, however, that
Capt. Sigsbee will extend equal facilities
to the Spanish divers, so that the Inspec
tions may proceed together.
As to what divers Capt. Sigsbee will
employ the feeling among Spanish officials
here is that this will be wholly a matter
of discretion with Capt. Sigsbee, as the one
in charge of a piece of property having the
attributes of American soil. But at the
same time the feeling is expressed that
this discretion will lead to choice of au
thorized divers of the navy department,
rather than those representing newspa
pers.
Until the Investigation Is made the wild
est speculation will be Indulged In by sen
sationalists, and already (he wildest kind
of reports are In circulation, which are
calculated to inflame the public mind.
Chief Naval Constructor Hichborn, who
says that the Maine was destroyed by
treachery rather than by an accident, soys
to-day that he Is very much afraid the
real cause of the disaster may not be re
vealed By the investigation. He says it Is
going to be very difficult to convince the
American people that it was an accident,
and it will be equally difficult to locate
the cause of the calamity, even after the
vessel is examined and raised. Ho s.'iys.
there may be some tell-tale marks left to
give a clew, but It is probable that the
world may never know positively what
caused the explosion.
The view taken by the Spanish author
ities, that the wreck of the Maine Is ex
tra territorial and a part of the sovereign
soil of ,the United (States promises to es
tablish an Important precedent in inter
national laws. A case somewhat resem
bling that of the Maine is mentioned In
Hall’s International law. In that case
the United States frigate Constitution
went ashore In 1879 at Swageo, on the
Welsh coast, while bringing from the Paris
Exposition some of the government ex.
hlbit. Locul wreckers got her off and then
libelled her for pay. The United States
government Instated that the warship was
extra-territorial, and not under the local
Jurisdiction. The British government
sustained this view.
The application of this doctrine to tho
wreck of the Maine Is felt to be important
not only in its influence In giving Capt.
Sigsbee control of all wrecking operations,
but also In giving to the work the char
acter of a transaction on American terri
tory.
Secretary Ix>ng wired Admiral Slcard to
day, afler his consultation with Presi
dent McKinley, telling him briefly what
answer had been returned to Gen. Lee's
application in behalf of the Spanish gov
ernment for permission to examine the
Maine. He also Instructed the admiral
to press forward us rapidly ns poeslide
tho work of survey upon the Maine's hull
and to have the court of inquiry to proceed
to Havana as soon as possible.
It Is scarcely expected at the depart
ment that any Information of value as
to the eattse of the explosion will bo avail
able until the court has begun the formal
inquiry. The divers now t work In the
wreck are understood to bo employed In
securing dead bodies and In the removing
of the ship's papers and small articles of
value, so that it Is unlikely that they will
give attention to the bottom of the hull,
burled as it probably is, deep In mud.
The officials here intimate that the dis
covery of pieces of torpedo Is not to be
taken in itself as evidence of an outside
attack upon the vessel, for It Is fully ex
pected that of the torpedoes on the Maine
some were more or less ruptured and scat
tered by the explosion which destroyed the
ship.
GUARDING THE GUNS.
Extraordinary Precautions Doing
Token on llie Slope.
San Francisco, Feb. 19.—The Call says!
"It Is definitely known that the depart
ment at Washington has wined Gen. Shat
ter to use the utmost vigilance In guard
ing the guns of this harbor. The tele
gram from Washington to Gen. Shatter Is
elaborate and gives Instructions In detail
tegardlng the desired preparations. In
obedience to orders the guards at Fort
Point, Lime Point, and at Portnr and the
dynamite batteries have been doubled.
The regular force of patrol guards has
been largely increased."
FORT LEAVENWORTH'S TROOPS.
The Men Reported Inspected In
Henvy Marching Order.
Fort Leavenworth, Kttn., Feb. 19.—1n ac
cordance with orders received from Wash
ington the troops of the garrison here
were Inspected to-day In heavy marching
order, and It Is slated the articles of war
were read. The heavy marching Inspec
tion Is unusual for this time of the year.
It is remembered that a similar Inspection
was ordered Just prior to the moving of
the troops to Chicago during the memora
ble railroad strike.
IOUMUP PACKING UP.
Garrison at Junction City Rendy to
Take the Field.
Junction City. Ark., Fetx 19.—The fact
that the troops at Fort Riley were busy
all day yesterday preparing their equip
ment and packing personal effects and
all furloughs lo officers and men are re
fused, pending further orders has given
rise to the report that orders have been
received to be in readiness to move on
short notice.
WARSHIP OFF SANDY HOOK.
Vessel Believed to Delong to the
United States Navy.
Washington, Feb. 19.-At 30 o'clock to
night the observer at Sandy Hook report
ed that a warship was passing there,
bound in, and that it appeared to him to
be an American vessel. Ten minutes later
he retried that the warship hud anchored
In tho bay.
New York, Feb. 19.—The warship is an
chored about a half mile offshore, between
the point of the hook and the government
dock. The observer says that she stands
high out of the water, and Is well lighted
up. She looks like a cruiser.
The Sandy Hook observer says that the
weather Is so thick he can see very little,
but, from her general appearance, he
thinks she Is the Brooklyn.
New York, Feb. 20, 2:30 a. m.—The cable
steamer Mackay-Bennett Is anchored in
♦he bay off Sandy Hook. It Is probable
that she Is the vessel which was believed
to have been an American cruiser.
CHALLENGE TO LEW WALLACE.
Soldier In MeCH-llnn'* Army Heady
to Defend His Commander.
Lebanon, Ind., Feb. 19.—George E. Oaks
of Indianapolis ha* written a challenge to
Gen. Lew Wallace to mortal combat on
the field of honor.
At the banquet here on Lincoln’s birth
day, Gen. Lew Wallace in a speech told
of a personal Interview with Lincoln when
Gen. McClellan had been forced back by
Gen. Lee to Harrison’s Landing on the
James river. Lincoln was sad and when
Gen. Wallace inquired what was the mat
ter Lincoln said: “I must go to Harri
son's landing to tell McClellan to not sur
render that army.”
Gen. Wallace said half an hour later
Lincoln was In a boat bound for HLaaff
son's Landing.
"That is the first time I eyer related
this fact,” he added.
George E. Oaks, who was a private sol
dier In the First Michigan Infantry, un
der McClellan, denounces the story as a
fabrication and champions the cause of
his dead commander.
||IG STORM AT NEW ORLEANS.
Trees Uprooted and Sheds and
Chimneys Demolished.
New Orleans, Feb. 19.—A severe storm of
rain, lightning and wind struck New Or
leans to-day.
The gale was so heavy that in the city
trees and sheds were knocked down.
Chimneys toppled over, trees were up
rooted and fences laid low.
One man was seriously Injured by light
ning.
Telegraph and telephone wires were crip
pled In many quarters.
Forty thousand dollars la a rough esti
mate of the loss.
f DAILY. JlO A YEAR.
J 5 CENTS A COPY.
I WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK *1 A YEAH
MIKE IIHII HE
Forward Magazine Believed
to Be Intact.
SPAIN STILL SUSPECTED.
American Officers at Havana in*
ternaiiy Boiling.
COULD FIND NO CLUE.
Mine Would Leave No Trace for
Divers to Discover.
*
New York, Feb. 19.—<A cable from Syl
vester Scovel to the Evening World, tn
der to-day's date from Havana to-day,
via Key West, says:
"The consensus of opinion of those who
hove studied the wreck closest Is that tho
explosion waa caused by a sub-marine
mine.
"The forward magazine. It ts now gen
erally supposed, la intact, also the forward
slx-tnch magazines.
“This leaves only a few saluting charges
and a few small caliber shells In the pilot
house which could possibly have exploded
aboard the ship.
"At the same time the fearful damagd
Is too big for any but an extremely large
torpedo. If It was a torpedo, the divers
will find the torpedo fragments, but If It
were a sub-marine mine, no traces would
be found.
"All the American officers are Internally
boiling. There Is not one of them, from
Capt. Sigsbee down, who Is not firmly con
vinced a government sub-marine mine did
It.
"The Spanish dallies are loudly clamor
ing 'Accident, Accident,’ when even now
the fact Is known that the whole middle
deck, which was Mown straight up, never
had an ounce of ship's powder under It,
and that was where the first flame was
seen.”
FORT SHERIDAN’S FIGHTERS.
Infantry and Cavalry Ready to Taka
the Field.
Chicago, Feb. 39.—Since Friday morning,
Fort Sheridan, where the Fourth Infantry
and the First Cavalry are stationed, has
been in a state of the utmost activity. Sol
diers have been polishing their weapons,
arranging mess kits, grooming horses and
preparing generally to march at a mo
ment's notice.
Col. Robert H. Hall, In command of tho
fort, yesterday received one telegram
among the many messages delivered to him
dully, which caused him to take action. Ha
at once ordered that general preparations
for a possible Immediate summons be
made.
Accordingly every man of the TOO soldiers
at the fort bualed himself arranging hid
army belongings.
Every man has been supplied with am
munition sufficient for 100 rounds of shots.
This la In both the cavalry and Infantry.
Orders were Issued to turn defective
rifles Into the ordnance department, and!
others will be furnished.
To-day final preparations, In compliance
with the orders, were completed, and
those stationed at the fort were In readi
ness to receive orders of any character.
GETTING HEADY FOR WAIL
Eight-Inch Convertible Illfle Gnu tal
He gent to Mobile.
Boston, Feb. 39.—The Evening Herald
says? "Rush orders have been received
at Fort Warren, directing the commander.
Col. Woodruff, to send a detachment of
one corporal and eight men to Fort Wirr
throp, where they will get eight-inch con
verted rlfie guns to the dock In readiness
for shipment. The guns are to go to Mo
bile, Ala., where carriages from New
York have been sent to mount the rifles
on.
"It was learned to-day that the orders
received some time ago from the depart
ment at Washington bearing upon th
equipment and efflcleacy of the men Era
being carried out at the navy yard, and
that every marine remaining there has
been Inspected, his equipment Increased
to that of active service, and extra drill
Is being held daily.
“The apprentices on the Wabash, as well
as the regular seamen and marines, are
being given practice at the guns and with
the cutlass."
EXPLOSION INTERNAL.
No Fish Killed and No Upheavnl of
Water to Uphold Torpedo Theory,
Madrid, Feb. 19.—A dispatch received
from Rear Admiral Manterola, the naval
commander at Havana, says proof exists
that no dead flsh came to the surface aft
er the explosion that wrecked the Maine,
and that when the disaster occurred thero
was not the slightest upheaval of the wa
ter. such as would inevitably follow a ma
rine explosion.
Court to Meet nt Key AVest.
Tampa, Fla., Feb. 19.—1n answer to a
request from the deputy cleric
of tho court at Key West to-night Judge
Lock of the United States Court for this
district wired permission for the court of
Inquiry In the case of tho Maine to meet
In the United States Court room in Key
West. The coprt will meet Monday
morning and begin examination of wit
nesses regarding tho disaster.