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THE MORNING NEWS. )
established 1850. - Incorporated 18S8. -
" j. H. ESTILL. President. )
IS 1111
naval Court to Bogin 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
J 1 line disaster will begin its work at Ha
v a to-morrow.
This news came to the navy departrifcnt
this morning from Admiral Sicard at Key
VWst. He simply telegraphed as follows:
■ The court of Inquiry sail for Havana,
;i n. by lighthouse steamer Mangrove.
Marix arrived to-day."
This prqmpt action is undoubtedly due to
tlu- express direction from Secretary Long
sent yesterday to have the investigation
Venn at the earliest possible moment. The
t.. a: am was dated yesterday, so the
hoard should have arrived there before
nightfall and be ready to begin its work
to-morrow morning.
Hv an error incident to the haste with
v, hi. h the orders were gotten out, the first
accounts placed Lieut. Commander Seaton
Schrocdor on the board as the third mem
ber, while as a matter of fact Lieut. Com
mander Potter, the executive officer of
t:i.' flagship New York, holds that place.
The board undoubtedly would have start
ed previously but for the necessity of
. wailing the arrival, at Key West from
Washington of Lieut. Commander Marix,
a naval officer well skilled in matters ma
rine, 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 7 department until this morn
ing. His message goes to confirm the
press reports of the events of yesterday
in H avana harbor so far as they relate to
the ixploration of the wreck. It reads as
follows:
“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,
hut with little success. Will do better
to-morrow. Parts of the Maine, espec
ially the surperstrueture, and connections
are one confused mass of metal.”
Another brief telegram from Capt. Sigs
bee read:
“Havana, Feb. 19.—Bache,” (which
means the coast survey steamer), “has ar
rive! at Havana bringing on board all
wrecking apparatus sent from squadron.”
The statement relative to experienced
divers, it is explained at the navy depart
ment, is no reflection on the men engaged
now in the work, they being enlisted men
belonging to the navy. 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 is the exploration
of the ship’s bottom generally, the disen
tanglement of cables from the propeller
e aalts and sometimes the search for a lost
torpedo or anchor. Such work rarely
eirr.es them deeper than twenty-five feet
into the water and it is said that for op
-1 rations in deeper water, such as would
1 involved in examination of the Maine's
loti >m, their training has not fitted them.
I hey- are also lacking in that kind of
rhdi necessary to enable a diver to grope
;s way safely through the internal parts
ot a mighty ship like the Maine, and torn
ur.d dismembered as she Is, and this work
lfi highly dangerous. Creeping through
narrow iron-bound passages and groping
Pom the doors of the numerous water
'uht lunkheads which divide the hull into
1 uiy compartments, on slimy floors and
1:1 i 'feet darkness, requires the highest
'M'ert skill, and that is why Capt. Sigs
- with only his sailor divers at com
m ind, had not been able to do much so
f 1 towards unravelling the mystery of the
*’ 1 tie's untimely end.
II * s *o meet just this emergency that
>' l navy department Is making every ef
to hasten the beginning of the work
o: recovery of goods, and perhaps the
1 V'i:. a of the hull by professionals.
that end Capt. Lemley, the Judge
■ate general of the department, was
‘‘ ' ''i k to-day in,his office with represen
, '- of wrecking companies trying to
'' '• up contracts for the immediate
J - ration of the work. He has been at
l"’ 1 :< “k now two days and it has not
1 ' isy to dispose of. This is owing to
apparent disposition on the part of
, ) °ne of the concerns to drive a
' bargain, leaving the department in
'' ur ' ( as to the amount of money to be
for their services. But it is believed
u obstacles have now been sur
* ur.ted and that the contracts can be
p| 'ied to-morrow.
the purpose of Capt. Lemley to hur
• ' uo bk, and to that end he is ar
‘n-ing to have two of the companies
. .nijine their forces. They will be paid
'he scale of day's work, with a pro
-1 u for a bonus If they succeed in
" g the vessel, thus ensuring the re
y of as much of the valuable equlp
i Y, aR * s Possible, should it not be prac
’’ to float the Maine again.
' "at difficulty Is expected in recover-
l,lfr t(M '" lnch turrent guns, each
’ *IO,OOO, owing not only to their own
eight, miy urns u pieoe without car-
§Qhe Ulorfning lfcto£.
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-inforeement 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 tiffs 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 iccount, 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 the
secretary had directed the attention of the
state department was the following, at
tributed to Capt. Sobrat: “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 watch observed cn
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.
Asa whole, Mr. Long docs rot treat
the Sobral matter as profoundly serious.
Assistant Secretary Day would not dis
cuss the 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 that Capt. Sobral’s
services as naval attache at Washington
were officially terminated by Spain 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. He 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 said, and on both sides, so far as he
could see, there was every disposition to
give the amplest facilities for investiga
tion.
Mr. Dubose feels that the assembling of
the court of inquiry at Havana to-morrow
is quite desirable, owing to the rapid rate
at which the hull of the Maine is sinking
in the soft bottom of the harbor.
SIGVREE HASN T TALKED.
The Captain Cable* Thnt He lln* Set
Expressed 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 any
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,
are untrue."
The navy depariment to-iffght received
the following telegram from Capt. Sigs
bee:
“Following is the condition of our
wounded in Havana hospitals:
“Apprentice Koebler, slight improvement,
condition still grave.
•'Allen, slightly improved, con lltion
grave.
“Hcffron, Shea, Mattison, favorable.
“Lofius, convalescent.
"Cahill, improved, but grave.
“Mack. Waters and Weber, favorable.”
The report on the same subject from
Capt. Forsyth at Key West says: “Maine
survivors all 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, I heard of
the Maine disaster. We feel very deep sor
row and send our condolences for the dead
and their families. (Signed) Euiale, Cap
tain Spanish Cruiser Vizcaya.”
The published statement that Senator
Proctor of Vermont, who is now on his
way to Florida, was going to the interior
of Cuba as a special agent of President
McKinley to report on the conditions in
the island, was denied to-night at the
White House.
•Kpnln looks for Improved Relations.
London, Feb. 21.—The Madrid corre
spondent of the Standard says: “The
government Is now convinced that the
Maine disaster, instead of estranging, v. ill
tend to Improve the relations between
Spain and the United States.”
SAVANNAH. GA„ MONDAY. FEBRUARY 21, 1898.
MANNING COAST DEFENSES.
Gen. Miles' Recent Order Not Due to
the Maine'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 ns 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 far 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 Precaution*.'
New York, Feb. 21, 4 q. m.—The Herald
this morning says: “Frederic R. Cou
dort, 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 was well known that there were in
dividuals belonging to the Spanish nation
who had ill feelings toward the United
States. If any dinger 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 preTent 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 the strictest watch over everybody
who comes on board.
“The destruction of the Maine, by acci
dent or by the ad 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 slam were in charge of of
ficers 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 BERNABK FAREWELL.
Minister Woodford to Deliver McKin
ley's Message of Thanks.
Madrid, Feb. 20.—T0-day the Queen Re
gent gave a 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 McKinley's message of
thanks for Spain's expression of synfna
thy with the United States in the misfor
tune that befell the Maine.
REQUIEM AT BERLIN.
Memorinl for the Maine Victims nt
the American Church.
Berlin, Feb. 20.—United States Ambassa
dor White and the American colony in
Berlin were present at the American
Church at a requiem service for the vic
tims of the Maine. A commemorative dis
course was delivered by the Rev. Mr.
Dickie.
HEARD EXPLOSIONS AT HAVANA.
l’liaaeiiKera on the Olivette Confirm
the Story.
Tampa, Fla., Feb. 20.—Officers and pas
sengers arriving on tho Olivette to-ntght
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 about 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.
Operations (onilnnnl Throughout
Sunday.
Norfolk, Va., Feb. 20.—Workmen at the
Norfolk navy yard have been engaged ell
day on the repairs on the monitors Terror
and Puritan. A draft of men for the lat
ter vessel arrived this morning. One of
their number died en route. Naval offl
kcers do not discuss rumors of trouble.
81 Mi!
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 IVost, 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 aellon
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 time
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 imee the deck of an American man
of-war; but if business is meant, it
would take a strong force to keep them
from hurrying to the front, wounded
though they are, to take ft hand in what
they look upon as a personal vengeance.
“We were warned not to go to Havana,”
one said to-day, “being told that danger
awaited us there. When we got there
we were again told, and it was current ru
mor, that the harbor bottom was honey
combed with min 5".’ Wo 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 bail
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. There
were two sharp and distinct reports. The
first was like a peal of thunder close at
hand—a sound as of ripping parchment—
a quick report, followed by a tremendous
and 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 shot away. Both, have
searchlights, but none was turned upon
us to help the work of rescue, and lie
cause of the darkness many bravo men
who could have been rescued went down
to Davy Jones.”
SI RE SIIE WAS BLOWN UP.
Robert P. Porter on the Administra
tion's Cuban Polled.
Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 20.—The Inquirer
will to-morrow print under Washington
date a lengthy dispatch from Robert P.
Porter, 'ex-superintendent of census, giv
ing what he believes to be the policy of the
administration regarding Cuba. Mr. Por
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 see
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 It will be
difficult to fasten guilt upon the Spanish
authorities.”
He concludes that the situation Is criti
cal, and that the coming week may bring
about a crisis.
NOT WRECKED lIY THE MAGAZINE.
Explosion Iliul Its Origin In gome
Other Source.
Havana, Feb. 29.—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 thnt
the forward magazine of the Maine did
not blow up first, If 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.”
Chaplain Chadwick 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,
XVOI NDKD AT KEY WEST.
Names of the Men nn<l Nature of
Their Injuries.
JaiHsonville, Fla., Feb. 20.—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 elty (
back hurt, side bruised and both Stands
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 Lars ecu, Philadelphia, was in
the hospital when the explosion took
place, lie 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 [tain 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 Moriniero, Newtonvillc, 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, nrd
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 or.d
hands.
“Westmore Harris, Charles City, Va.,
uninjured.
“Peter Larsen, Norway, uninjured.
“A. Willis, Ksyport, N. Y., uninjured.
“John Turpin, Long Branch, uninjured.
“D. J. Topfin, New York city, uninjured.
“Harry McCann, Brooklyn, has a strain
ed back. He was thrown overboard by
the shock on the quarter deck, and swam
back 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 liiorden, a well-known 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 utn
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 was 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 Start*
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 eourt 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.
K. Chadwick and Lieutenant Commin li-r
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 SITCIDE.
Self Destruction Possibly line lo Hi*
Wife’* 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 la said found that hts wife had left the
city. Mrs. Vincent ts reputed to be wealthy.
Schaeffer to Piny Ives.
Chicago, 111., Feb. 20.—Jake Schaeffer,
champion bllliardlst 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 000-point
game, 18-inch balk, for the billiard cham
pionship of the world. The game will be
flayed in Central Music liall, April 2.
CI,ASH AMOMi THE CONSULS.
Kicking Over Relief Supplies firing
Confined to llimi mi.
Havana, Fob, 20.— Some friction, it is re
ported, has occurred between Consul Gen
eral Lee and the other I'nlted Stales
consuls in the Island over the distribution
of funds and supplies sent from the Unit
ed Slates for the reeoneentratios. The
complaint Is made that, though food and
moiH>y have been coming for several
Weeks, nothing has been distributed out
side Havana province.
Consul Barker of Sagua la Grande, and
Consul Brice of Malanias, who came
here to learn the particulars of the Maine
explosion, left, it is said, without ealling
on the consul general. The reason given
was that they felt they had not been
treated fairly by the counsel general.
Kaeh expected aid for his district from
the American supplies, but received none.
The stntenw nt is made that It is their In
tention to appeal directly to the Ameri
can state department, and to ask that
food be consigned 10 them instead of to the
Havana consulate.
The incident hus caused some comment
among Americans here, who regret it. Con
sul Brice says he is sick at the eights
forced on him during the last two years.
He has reported the fuels of the case to
Washington and believes his district enti
tled to share immediately in the aid of
fered.
Consul Barker says that a few days ago
ho found a man dead of want in the mar
ket place of Sagua LaGrande. The minis
ter took up a collection, appealing to all
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 Bee, when these mat
ters were brought to his attention, replied
that there was not the slightest Intention
to neglect the roconcentrados in the east
ern provinces, but he pointed out that Ha
vana, being the largest city, was conse
quently mote 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 ns 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 conll
dence of all parties, and who Is almost
constantly at work In conjunction with
the special agent of the consul general.
FAIR CI'IJAX REBEL A PHINil.Xgn.
Accompanied Macro on One of Ills
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, R fs ftnerally believed, however,
‘that the statement was made in order to
quiet discontent here arising from the mil
itary failures of Gen. Blanco and Gen.
Fundo In the east.
Senora 'lsabella 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
Plnar del Rio, and is now in the hospital.
At the time of the Maeeo Incursion she
Induced half the province to Join tho In
surgent cause. She accompanied ono of
iho original Maeeo expeditions to Cuba,
then left tho island, and after a time re
turned with an expedition from Key West.
Rumors have reached here of tho landing
of an important expedition near the Rlvpr
Numero, this province, but as yet the
name of the vessel and the leader of the
party Is undisclosed.
WAYLAID AND MURDERED.
Physician of Louisiana Assnßsl on led
on Ills Wny Home.
Alexandria, Ba., Feb. 20,—Dr. R. M.
Blount, aged 40 years, a 1 merchant and
practicing physician nt Holloway’s Prairie,
In this parish, was waylaid arid murdered
last night at 10:30, about 200 yards from
his house as he, his wife, and eight chil
dren and several other persons were re
turning from a meeting of a singing class
at a neighbor's house about 400 yards from
his home.
The murderer had selected a spot In tho
road that was covered with water, and the
persons crossing had to walk single file
over some polos, and then to the side ol
the road was a patch of underbrush,
where the assassin had secreted himself.
When Dr. Blount passid he almost touched
him with the muzzle of his shotgun, emp
tying two loads of buckshot In Ills left
side, from the effects of which he died al
most instantly.
The assassin could not bo recognized, but
he was seen to mount his horse near at
hand and. ride off In a slow walk.
ROPE FOR A ItAVJSHER.
Lynching lire in Alnbnnin Kept Se
cret for u Week.
Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 20.—A lynching,
which occurred In Cherokee county sever
al days ago has Just come to light. Two
w-eeks ago,John Kellogg,a negro farm la
borers Backed Miss Mary Roberts,aged 15,
while on her way to s 'hool, near Blache.
She screamed and fought, so that her as
sailant lied before accomplishing his pur
pose. A posse searched for Kellogg with
the avowed Intention of lynching him, and
at the end of the week, the search was
abandoned, and It was supposed the negro
had escaped.
Last night the family of Miss Roberts
received an anonymous note saying that
the negro would not trouble her further.
To-day a body half devoured by buzzards
was found hanging In a swamp near the
scene of the attempted assault. It Is sup
posed to he that of Kellogg. Indications
are that he was lynched a week or more
ago.
BELLICOSE WORK BY THE BOERS.
The Fort nt Johannesburg ll.lng
Thoroughly Armed,
London, Feb. 21.—The Cape Town cor
respondent of the Dally Mail says: "The
Transvaal government Is mounting guns at
Johannesburg and conveying Maxims,
shells, ritles and cartridges to that point
In sn offensive and ostentatious manner.
During the last week eight railway truck
loads of war material were paraded
through the streets of Johannesburg und
carried under escort of an artillery de
tachment to the fort on the hill outside of
the town."
f DAILY. $lO A YEAR.
J 5 CENTS A COPY.
(WEEKLY 2-TIMEB-A-WKKK $1 A TEAM
111 I 111
Cruiser at Anchor Off Staten
Island.
SALUTES AND IS SALUTED.
Puls Hag at Half-mast for tho
Maine's Dead.
CORDON GUARDS CRUISER.
Marines and Police on Duty on
Tugs.
New York, Feb. 20.—The Spanish cruises
Vizcaya, In command of Capt. Eulale,
came through The Narrows this afternoon
and anchored off Tompktnaville, Staten Is
land, where she is closely guarded by
yard tugs and police patrol boats:
The Vizcaya has been lying outside of
the bar since Friday night, and was una
ble to corne Into the harbor, owing to thd
dense fog and rain storm which have pre
vailed for over foriy-eight hours.
The Spanish cruiser has been expected
to arrive here Bince last Monday, and th
unfortunate catastrophe by which so many)
American sailors and marines lost their
lives in Havana harlwr last Tuesday night,
aroused more than the ordinary Interest in
the arrival of the visitor.
The feeling which prevails among n
groat many people In this vicinity that tha
American battleship was destroyed delib
erately by enemies of the United States,
prompted tho naval authorities to guard
against any possible harm being done to
the visiting Spaniard at the hands of fa
natics.
Rear Admiral Bunco, commandant of tho
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.
rnnnlcatlon 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 Dunce that he had Instructed Capt.
Smith of the harbor police to hold him self
In readiness and supply the desired num
ber of patrolmen to assist In guarding thei
visiting vessel. The navy yard tugboata
Nina and Narkeeta were immediately!
placed at the disposal of Lieut. Dougherty.
Lieut. W. C. Neville of the Marine Corpa
received instructions to take command of
thirty-eight men. This body will relievo
each other In four-hour watches during
the entire stay of the Spanish cruiser.
By special permission a representattvai
of the Associated Press was allowed t<j
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 meea
tho Vlzcnya from the moment that tha
latter was sighted oft the Jersey coast lasc
Friday, but It was not until 2 o'clock thij
afternoon that the weather conditions per
muted 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 Bailee, lost no time in boarding tha
commandant’s steam barge Undine and
tho three vessels left the navy yard as
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 ns she rounded
the battery, a large crowd had assembled
In the vicinity of Pier A, where the little
vessel war do take the harbor po!lea
aboard. As soon as the Nina got along
side the pier Capt. Smith and Lieut.
Dougherty exchanged greetings as well as
official documents. Two roundsmen and
eight patrolmen were Immediately pud
aboard and the tug once more turned heß
nose in the direction of Staten Island.
Just then through the thick fog could
be heard the booming of cannon, whichi
was the salute given by the Vizcaya am
she came through the Narrows. This sa
lute was answered from the guns at Cas
tle William on Governor’s Island. As tha
Nina neared the Staten Island shore, tha
Spanish cruiser loomed up out of the mis#
and Lieut. Neville ordered the marines to
stand at attention and salute the visile
as the tug passed on her starboard side.
The police officers on hoard also stood at
attention and saluted the visitor, and the
salute was answered by the officers ami
men who were grouped on the Vizcaya's
deck. The Spaniard was still under way!
at the time with Pilot Gillespie on tha
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
the naval vessels and backed away to a
respectful distance.
The Undine, with Lieut. Ward aboard,
then made tts way alongside and that offi
cer, dressed in full uniform, ascended tha
gangway, which was lowered on the port
side. As soon as he reached the deck ha
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 halt
• (Continued ou Sixth Fage.Jj
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