Newspaper Page Text
THE MORNING NEWS. )
ftat>l!shed 1850- - Incorporated 1888. >
J. H. ESTILL, President. )
MAINE’S LOSS ALL IN MYSTERY
C ol lIT OFIVQIinV HAS SAID CAUSE
WAS EXTFJISAL.
jji v \ Department Ilns Hail No Ad
mi tlie Subject—Tile Work of
11,,. Court I'll to the Present Time
probably Scarcely More Than Pre
liminary-Death Certltleates Or
dered Issued to tlie Families ot the
Beail Sailor*.
\\ oington, Feb. 28.—At the close of
.fljee hours a telegram came to the navy
Apartment from Admiral Sicard at Key
. t , in thp following terms:
‘K< y West, Feb. 28.—T0 the Secretary
of i Navy, Washington: Court of in
(jid v will commence session at Key West
I0 , v. They must resume session at Ha
vana to obtain evidence of divers after
further work upon the wreck.
(Signed.) Sicard.”
The important feature of this communi
ca;ion is the declaration that the court
nill return to Havana. It sets at rest ru
mors that have been afloat for some days
pa?:, that the court was not to return to
Havana for the reason that it has discov
ered the cause of the sinking of the Maine,
which jvas not an accident, and that con
a <;uently they had no further business in
Havana.
Ore important deduction to be drawn
from the message is that the report of the
cart of inquiry can scarcely be expected
for veral weeks to come. The court will
be occupied at Kt- West for some days
at 1-iit, in taking, the testimony of the
survivors there.
Then, upon the return to Havana, it is
expected, a good deal of time must elapse
before the divers can get through the mud
which now encompasses the lower part of
i wreck of therfclaine and examine the
bottom.
After this is done, the court must de
li:, rate in order to secure an agreement
upon their findings.
The prevalent belief at the navy depart
ment is that up to this moment the court
has no: even undertaken to compare notes
and t ndeavor to reach such an agreement.
A Cuban mail was received during the
day, and with the candor which has so
far characterized all his dealings with the j
public in this matter. Secretary Long caus
ed it to be given to the newspaper repor
ters as soon as h£ hact read it himself. It
was made up of one letter from Capt.
Sampson, dated at Havana, Feb. 23, and
although it is simply a statement of events
taut had already been reported by tele
graph. one fact is significant, viz., the
statement that the testimony of certain
civilian witnesses before the court would
he of no importance. His letter is as fol
lows:
Sir: The court has taken the testimony
of all tlie officers of tlie Maine still here.
To-morrow we will take such testimony
as the divers have accumulated. There
civ two citizens In the harbor who have
testified their willingness to testify, al
t:.eugh they have nothing important.
"After taking this evidence and that of
l • divers 1 propose to return to Key West
end take the evidence of the officers and
neat there. It may be necessary to re
turn here after further progress has been
made with the divers. ,
”W. T. Sampson,
‘‘Captain, U. S. N.”
The reports that came from Key West
fd .jut great activity and the observance
of unusual precautions among the few sol
diers quartered there were received with
am Lament at army headquarters. It was
raid no orders had gone from this city
to explain the bustle, but there was the
best reason to suspect that the command
ant warn simply brushing up the post and
putting his best foot forward against the
expected appearance there on his tour ot
insi'-ction of Gen. Merritt, the command
ing g. i .-ral of the department of the East.
Tic gunboat Wilmington sailed to-day
from La Guayra for Barbadoes, traveling
over the ground covered a few days be
for hy the Cincinnati and Castine. All
' f the boats are slowly cruising around in
the Caribbean and will bo so employed
Until April, when they will go south again.
Secr. tary Ixmg said at the close of or
t o hours that no orders had gone out to
s-uid another warship to Havana, reports
to the contrary, notwithstanding.
At the White House the utmost quiet
prevails. Many offers ha-vc come from or
ganizations and individuals of their service
>n case of a conflict. Some of the Congress
ional callers have stated to the President
i'-.it their states were ready to furnish full
quoins of men.
St cretaries Long and Alger and Repre-
Fl malive Dingley were among the Presi
ti' tit s visitors to-day, but it was stated
’bat they had nothing Important on ilie
Blaine affair to discuss with them.
-Mr. Dingley spoke strongly about re-
P°”ts that financial circles in New York
1 ■ boon sounded as to the readiness with
Vl : h funds could bo raised In case of rn
emergency.
• lr - Gage pronounced the statement un
qualifiedly false. No issue of bonds lias
® v- >' been considered, he said.
apt. Hawley, who is directly in charge
that branch of the navigation bureau
1 ting to the enlisted men in the navy,
' now directing the work of his office to
1 issuance of death certificates to the
! t'hbies of the dead sailors. The certifi
* 1 ure issued by the surgeon general
; "I 'he navigation bureau and arc thus
' ’lusive evidence upon the auditor’s of
1 treasury department, who are thereby
' Aged to pay over to tlie legal repre
itives of the heirs eft the deceased any
I cis of money that may be due them by
I'nlted States government on account
' 1( rued pay or retained deposits, in
II ease of the victims of the Maine dls
-1 the department is obliged In many
s to certify lo the death of the sail
'vithoul being able to secure evidence
‘ 'hat fact with the presence of a body.
, 14 assumed by the officials that a man
‘ '' mg to report perished In the catastro
phe.
'■'iers are reaching the navy depart
-1 ‘I from all parts of the country from
' ‘ and relatives of the victims, and It ap
>is that in numerous cases there are
1 "V claimants for the small sums of
•' "bey or property that belong to the dead
n. n.
It i an he stated authoritatively that the
' ay department has received nothing to
* '"cate 'he cause of the expios'on, and
•worla that it has beai advised It was
%\)t Jlofnino
by external agencies are without founda
tion.
Capt. Sigsbee has telegraphed that two
more bodies were recovered yesterday.
One was unrecognizable, but the other was
identified as that of J. W. Johnson. The
captain also announced the death in the
hospital at Havana of Holzer, who made
such a gallant struggle for life.
Commander Forsyth at Key West tele
graphed this morning that he had in exe
cution of the department's order secured
a plot of ground in the cemetery at Key
West, in which will be interred the re
mains of such of the victims' bodies as
are brought from Havana. Admiral Si
catd personally will look after the funeral
arrangements.
It is learned that the Spanish officials at
Havana have consented to the removal of
any bodies hereafter recovered, a formal
ity made necessary by the fact that the
Cuban law does not permit such removals
from fear of extending contagion.. It is
understood that the ltmains are not to
he permanently interred at Key West, and
this gives a great deal of satisfaction to
tlie nav.ii officials here, who have had
trouble in times past in maintaining graves
of sailors in proper condition, owing to
the intilteration of large quantities of wa
ter into the graves through the porous
and low lying coral strands. As the re
mains are enclosed in hermetically sealed
zinc cases, it is not believed that they will
suffer during their brief interment at Key
West.
The battleship Texas, which was at Gal
veston, returned to the.Tortugas yesterday
anti rejoined the squadron.
The Terror reported her arrival at Tomp
kinsville to-day.
The Castine lias arrived at Fort au
Prince in the West Indies.
Capt. Dickens, assistant chief of the
naval bureau, has gone to Norfolk. Con
trary to some reports that have been cir
culated, his visit has nothing to do with
war operations. He went to inspect tho
old training ship Essex. This vessel has
just returned from a long cruise with the
apprentices, and the naval regulations re
quire such art inspection upon the return
of a ship to this country. When this in
spection is finished the Essex is to go up
to New York for some overhauling.
Assistant Secretary Meikeljohn returned
to the city by the nightboat from Fort
Monroe. He declares that his visit to the
post has no war-like purpose, but that he
simply went for rest and recuperation.
Secretary Long went to the "White House
early to-night and remained in conference
some time. He returned io his hotel about
10 o’clock and immediately retired, leav
ing word that there was no news.
Lieut. H. H. Whittlesey of the bureau
of navigation, who has charge of all tele
grams received after department closing
hours, stated at a late hour to-night that
nothing had been received from Capt.
Sigsbee at Havana or the court of inquiry
at Key West.
COURT OF INQUIRY AT KEY AVEST.
Belief Tlint tlie Court Had Already
Made Up It* Mind Dispelled,
Key West, Feb. 2S.—The United States
court of inquiry, to inquire Into the loss
of the battleship Maine in the harbor of
Havana, Feb. 15, began its session here
this morning.
Those officers and civilians here who be
lieved the reports from Havana saying
that the court had already decided that
the loss of the Maine was due to treachery
have apparently changed their minds, for
to-day the universal question is, “what
has the court found out?” while yesterday
one heard all around, “when will war he
declared?”
Brought face to face with the court men
realize for the first time how unlikely it
will be for the court to allow any inkling
of its conclusions to be known out’of due
season.
An unusual bustle pervaded this little
town from an early morning hour. The
torpedo boat Cushing went over to the
New York and brought to shore Capts.
Samson and Chadwick and Lieut. Com
mander Porter. Lieut. Commander Marix,
the Judge Advocate, who is staying on the
island with Commandant Forsyth, was al
ready at the Federal building making pre
paration in the United States district court
for the sessions of the court of inquiry.
A small crowd gathered outside the gal
lery watching for developments.
Long before the officers were ready to go
to the court room, the enlisted men saved
from the ill-fated vessel were u;> and
waiting at their temporary home in the
barracks, not knowing whether any ot
them will be called, but all preparations
were made so that the court should not be
delayed in Its work.
Lieut. Blandin was before the court for
about an hour. The naval officers sat in
Judge Locke’s private chaml* rs. No ma
rines were on guard, but all the doors
were closed.
The officers of the Maine lounged around
the big court room until summoned to
give testimony. Those who were called as
witnesses before the luncheon recess at 1
o’clock, were Lieuts. Blandin, Hoods, J:,n
gen and Blow, and Cadets Bronson and
Boyd. No enlisted men w'ere examined
at the morning session.
The court of inquiry reconvened this af
ternoon at 2 o'clock. Lieut. Holman, who
testified at Havana, was again called.
Lieutenant of Marines Caflin gave his evi.
dence quickly and was followed by Boat
swain Larsen, Gunner Hill and Carpenter
Holmes. The two latter were on shore at
the time of the explosion, and could ted
little of value. At 3:10 o’clock the court
adjourned until to-morrow at 10 o'clock.
Judge Advocate Mrtrlx said: “The stem
ographers have all they can transcribe in
record form, and there is no use of our
working longer to-day.”
In reply lo a question as to what would
be done with a witness when no longer
of service to the court, he said no decision
has been reached on that point, but one
would be shortly.
Capt. Sampson seemed to be satisfied
with the day's work, hut said nothing
could be given out. Few knew more than
was known this morning.
An officer of Ihe Maine, however, who
had been examined during the day, talked
at length with the correspondent of the
Associated Press. "I can’t fell you,” he
said, “what line of questioning was adopt
ed, but the court will find, I believe, that
the Maine was blown up by design, though
I don’t think it will be able to ascertain
exactly how. The court’s finding will lie
based on negative rather than positive ev
idence. By this I mean that all the testi
mony heard so far has, by-the-by, upset
the theories of those who think the ex
plosion was of internal origin. This nega
tive evidence Is so strong and so general
that I see no possibility of tho court de
cking that the explosion was internal.
‘•The only alternative left to the court I?
(Continued on Fifth Page-),
SAVANNAH, GA., TUESDAY. MAKCH 1, 189S.
CHANGE IN SPAIN’S CORTES.
NEW PARLIAMENT IS TO MEET OX
APRIL SO.
Near Election Cannot Occur Until
Forty Days Alter tlie Dissolution
of the Olil Cortes—Senor Dubose
Confident tlie Liberal* AX ill lie
Able to Itctnin Their Control—
Other .Men in Public Life nt AAnsli
ington Not So Sure.
"Washington, Feb. 2S.—The state depart
ment to-day received the following from
Minister Woodford:
‘‘Decree dissolving Spanish Cories Feb.
25. New Cortes will meet April 25.”
The dissolution of the Cortes had been
expected, and it may be followed by impor
tant results.
The Sagasta ministry, now in power, is
Liberal.lts retention in power means much
at the present juncture, for it was on
the advent of the Sagasta regime that
Gen. Weyler was recalled, the reeoncen
trado decrees were annulled dpd the pres
ent plan of autonomy put in force. The
policy now being pursued by Gen. Blanco
in Cuba is an entire reversal of that un
der the conservative regime of Premier
Canovas and his successor, and it is felt
that the continuance of this policy is no
less at stake than the ministry itself In
Ihe outcome of the present elections.
Senor Dubose, the Spanish charge d’af
faires, has received official notification of
the dissolution of the Cortes, but he says
this was expected, as the work of the
present Cortes was concluded. Under the
laws of Spain forty days must expire be-
fore the election of the new Cortes occurs.
Mr. Dubose, who is himself a Liberal and
a warm supporter of the Sagasta ministry,
says there is no doubt the result will be
the return of a Liberal majority In the
Cortes, and the consequent continuance of
the present ministry. AU parties of late
have given loyal aid to the Liberal minis
try, and its policy toward Cuba, and the
present time is regarded by Mr. Dubose ns
auspicious for a calm campaign, which he
asserts, will continue the present author
ities in power. He says there i's no sig
nificance in the dissolution at this time.
In other quarters it is felt that the Con
servatives may take this opportunity to
regain the reins of government by making
a campaign against the Cuban policy of
the Sagasta regime. The Weyler element
i% a growing factor in Spanish affairs, and
it is expected that Ihe AVeylerites either
will cast their influence with the Conserv
atives, who sent Gen. vVeyler to Havana,
or else make their appearance as a dis
tinct political organization, representative
of the army and navy and the martial
spirit in general. To a considerable extent
the contest will be between the war ele
ment and peace element.
Elections will tie held, not only in Spain,
but also in Cuba and Porto Rico. How
ever, this should not he confounded with
the local elections of Cuba under the plan
of autonomy. The present election will be
confined entirely to the choice of dele
gates to the Imperial parliament, and will
not be a part of the autonomous plan fr
a local government of Cuba.
In the election of April 27, Cuba will se
lets its usual quota to the Spanish Cortes,
under the same system of suffrage that
has long prevailed. The new Cortes will
meet immediately after the election, prob
ably May 1. While no date has been fixed,
it is known in advance the new body must
assemble in order to pass the budget,
which, by law, must be completed by July
1. This will give brief time for complet
ing the extensive supply bills within the
time prescribed by Spanish law. With a
Liberal majority, however, this can be
readily accomplished. The possibilities of
delay lie in the fact that a Conservative
victory will not only change the parly
sentiment of the Cortes, but will precipi
tate another ministerial change, with its
consequent change of policies.
DIVERS’ WORK DIFFICULT,
Extrication of Some of tlie Corpse*
Almost Impossible.
Havana, Feb. 28.—Senator Proctor had
expected to pay his personal respects to
Capt. Gen. Blanco to-day in company
with Col. Parker and Consul General Lee,
but the captain general has been unusu
ally bqsy in getting ready for the outgo
ing mails and has fixed 1 o’clock to-mor
row afternoon for Secretary Proctor’s
call.
One body has been recovered to-day,
but it has not yet been Identified.
Capt. Sigsbee was much gratified at re
covering to-day in good condition his in
signia of the orddb of the Red Eagle (Prus
sia) and the gold medal presented to
him by the International Fisheries Expo
sition in London in 3<83.
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright, the
executive officer of the Maine, who was
almost worn out with Constant work on
the wreck, had a good rest yesterday and
says he feels now l.ke anew men.
Capt. Sigsbee reports that the work of
tlie divers to-day was slow and must nec
essarily continue slow, owing to the diffi
culty of making an impression upon the
mass of heavy debris. But they are do
ing the best they can.
Late to-day Capt. Magee of the tug
Right Arm received orders from the con
tractors to hire such lighters as are nec
essary to remove the debris from the
wreck. This will facilitate the work of
removing the dead and generally hasten
operations.
Secretary Proctor, who passed most of
the day in doors writing private letters
and reading, says his visit will be too
brief to make his observances of any in
terest to the public, and, therefore, he has
nothing to offer for publication.
Senator Proctor has not yet witnessed
the distribution of relief under the
auspices of the Red Cross Society of
the United States, but he will do so to.
morrow.
Miss Clara Barton’s latest additions lo
her staff are men who have been in the
Red Cross service for years and who have
seen duty In Armenia and elsewhere.
Capt. Sigsbee was on board Ihe United
Slates lighthouse tender Fern until 2
o’clock this afternoon. He waited for the
Spanish divers, but they did not appear.
Capt. Sigsbee thinks Spain has a moral
and international right to make au irnie-
pendent examination and he will give the
Spanish divers such facilities as are possi
ble.
Capt. Sigsbee hopes the survey steamer
Bache will return to the Torntgas 10-mor
row or the next day with all the Maine’s
wounded left here, and he also hopes, to
send on the Bache hereafter all the re
mains of the dead recovered la a condi
tion making It possible to place them in
coffins.
The difficulty experienced In recovering
tlie bodies is not understood by any but
the divers. The latter yesterday worked
for three hours trying to bring out one
body intact andt one of the divers had a
had fall and several got their air tubes
tangled. They could not extricate the re
mains.
The principal efforts of the divers are
now directed toward clearing the upper
wreckage, smokestacks, decks, guns,
hatches, bridges and cranes and gratings.
Then, and not.before, can all the dead
be removed.
Capt. Sigsbee continues to receive let
ters in great numbers. All the queries
about the men who lost their lives when
the Maine was blown up are answered as
soon as possible if there is anything to
be told.
One of the saddest letters received by
Capt. Sigsbee was from the brother of a
dead man, who wrote that when death was
claiming the victim his friends at home
were celebrating his birthday, and wishing
him many happy returns of the day.
Chaplain Chadwick has been commended
by Capt. Sigsbee as a mao. a priest and an
officer. He is always cheerful and is do
ing the most effective work possible.
ENGLAND WOULDN'T BACK SPAIN.
Evils of tlie Misssovomineiit of Cuba
Admitted.
London, March 1, 4 a. m.—The Dally
News, commenting editorially this morn
ing on the relations between the United
States and Spain says: “Spain can ex
pect no support, moral or otherwise, from
England against the United States. She
has ruined Cuba, as she has ruined or
lost every other colony, by the grossest
corruption, cruelty and 4 mal-administra
tion, and she must be left to settle the
account for its policy with those whom
it may concern without any aid or sym
pathy on our part.”
The Standard, in an editorial on the
same general topic, highly praises Presi
dent (McKinley’s statesmanlike modera
tion and recognizes that “it would be only
human nature that proof of Ihe Maine’s
having been blown tip from the outside
should endanger a dangerous war feeling
In America.”
Sir Edward James Reed, the eminent
naval expert, writes to the Times this
morning expressing the opinion that the
Maine could be refloated for a tithe of her
cost.
AN ENGLISH VIEW ON CUBA.
llcv. Dr. C. A. Perry Thinks the Unit
ed State* Should Restore Order.
London, Feb. 28.—Rev. Dr. Charles A.
Berry of the Queen’s Tree Church, al
Southampton, who visited the United
States in October last as chairman of the
Congregational Union of England in an
effort, it was said, to induce the United
States Senate to conflVm the arbitration
treaty, and also to advocate church union,
replying to an influential American,writes:
“My view, and I think it is generally
held by rational Englishmen, is that the
trouble in Cuba has gone on long enougn.
It is being fomented by men who flout
the authority of Spain, while protesting
against American interference. This state
o: things is kept, up for the sake of a num
ber of rotten interests. Spain i3 not so
much contumacious as powerless, and the
United States government is the only
power which can restore order and with
due regard to its own Monroe doctrine and
collateral obligations, the Washington ex
ecutive Is justified in insisting upon ordei,
even if it becomes necessary to superin
tend the management of affairs.”
SPAIN'S LATEST EMMISAHY.
Junta AVID Receive Him Only In
fuse lli> Offers Independence.
New York. Feb. 28.—Horatio Rubens,
counsel of the Cuban junta, said to-day of
the reported coming of Seftor Sataluna as
a peace emiSsaty of the Spanish govern
ment: “If he comes to offer the independ
ence of Cuba he will be listened to, but If
that is not his errand'he will not even be
received by the Cuban Junta.”
WORK AT WATERVLIET.
Tlie llusli the Greatest since Fort
Sumter Wo* Fired On.
Albany, N. Y., Feb. 28.—The activity at
the Watervllet Arsenal and Gun Foundry
continued to-day. Since the Maine disas
ter there has been a hush of anxious sus
pense about the place.
Ol<| residents in that vicinity who re
member the rush orders that were given
when Fort Sumter was fired on, state the
conditions now are the same as at that
time. Officers will not say anything.
It was learned at the gun factory to
day that twelve mortars have been boxed,
ond are ready for shipment as soon as cars
arrive to convey them to their destination,
“Sandy Hook." It is understood part or
the shipment will be made to-morrow
morning.
Twenty machinists whose names appear
on the eligible civil service list were noti
fied Saturday by the secretary of the lo
cal service board to report at the gun
shop to-morrow ready to eo to work. It
is the intention of the authorities to put
the men to work on parts of rifles which
are in a fair way to completion.
The master mechanic, Alfred Malcotn.
sen, an expert on the building of rifles of
large caliber, and who has superintended
the manufacture of rifles at the arsenal
for the past eight years, will leuve to-mor
tow ostensibly for Washington at the or
ders of the war department, but in real
ity for the fori* and coast defenses where
the guns which have been sent from the
Watervllet arsenal arc located. He will
make a thorough examination of the con
dition of the ordnance.
.Hpnln's New Minister Nails.
Gibraltar, Feb. 28.—Senor Lous Polo y
Bernabe, Spanish minister lo the United
States, sailed for Ki‘W York to-day, /
CONGRESS AND CARTER CASE.
MR. HULL CALLS FOR A CONGRES
SIONAL INVESTIGATION.
Mr. Com Object* to Any Action llcliifi"
Taken Until tlie Annoniieeiiient or
the Findfni; of the Court Martini.
Tlie Resolution Referred to tlie
Committee oil Military Affairs—
' Mr. Hull Expects to Bring Out Tes
timony Now Withheld.
Washington, Feb. 28.—There is more
trouble in store for Capt. O. M. Carter.
•As soon as (he court martial proceedings
are concluded, he will probably bo sub
jected to a Congressional investigation.
Representative Hull of lowa, chairman
of the military committee, to-day intro
duced in the House a resolution providing,
“that a committee Lh> appointed consist
ing of two senators and three members of
the House of Representatives to Investi
gate Ihe matter of the dis
bursement of money appropriat
ed for river and harbor Im
provements at Savannah, Ga., to ascer
tain whether any of such money has been
paltl out, and to whom, and who were the
beneficiaries.
The Investigating committee is author
ized to take testimony, administer oaths,
employ stenographer, messengers, and a
sergeant at arms. It is also instructed to
report Its findings to Congress. The com
mittee is not to interfere in any way with
any proceedings by any court martial that
may be- or may have been instituted.
Mr. Cox, of Tennessee, objected to the
resolution, and it was reported back to
the committee lo be reported in the usual
order.
Mr. Hull has evidently been heavily
charged with false information by the ene
mies of Capt. Carter, and he is disposed
to believe nil the allegations that have
been made against tin* officer.
Mr. Hull evidently realizes that the find
ings of the court martial may not sustain
the chargee brought against Capt. Carter,
and he Intends* to further harrass Capt.
Carter by putting him to the inconveni
ence, expense and mortification of an In
vestigation by a joint committee of Con
gress.
In support of his resolution, Mr. Hull
says that ho expects to force certain per
sons who are alleged to have benefited
financially hy Capt. Carter’s methods, to
come before the committee, open their
books and give testimony which a milita
ry court could not exact from them. He
says he will not press his resolution until
the decision of the court martial is an
nounced. and therefore, the objection to
the passage of Ihe resolution to-day ly
Representative Cox of Tennessee, was in
accordance with a previous understanding
with the chairman of the military commit
tee.
CARTER’S FOES CORNERED.
Trust Company Officer* nt New York
W ill Not Testify.
New York, Feb. 28.-There will be only
a brief session of the Carter court martial
in the building on Whitehall street
to-morrow.
Col. Barr, the Judge Advocate, has not
succeeded in getting the consent of officers
or employes of the Union Trust Company,
where Capt. Carter’s personal accounts
and his accounts as attorney for R. F.
Westcott, were kept, to testify before the
court. It is said on the part of the prose
cution that Capt. B. D. Green has in
structed the officers of the Knickerbocker
Trust Company, where he deposited the
$570,000 received on the Savannah harbor
and Cumberland sound contracts of 1896,
not to testify.
It seems, therefore, that the prosecution
will not succeed in getting much, If any,
testimony out of these banks, for though
they may t>e appealed to in behalf of Ihe
honor of the army, irrespective of Capt.
Carter, they are not inclined to, nor will
they. It is said, give information as to
their dealing!) with their clients.
These witnesses may be summoned be
fore the court, but it remains to be seen
what will be gotten out of them. The only
witness yet summoned so far as Is known
is a member of the firm of Reed & Flagg,
brokers for Mr. Westcott, who looked af
ter some of Capt. Carter's transactions. He
is to appear on the stand Wednesday
morning.
In spite of the war talk, considerable in
terest in the case has developed here, and
Col. Barr has been kept busy all the morn
ing tailing newsp.trier men he could not
discuss the case and had nothing to say.
It Is inferred from what Capt. McClure
said that the prosecution is after the
Knickerbocker Trust Company, where
Capt. Green is said to have his account*,
but that little success in the line of prom
ised testimony has been secured, because
the officers of these banks know that the
court cannot ptfnish for contempt.
DISGUSTED WITH ALASKA.
Seventeen Deaths From Spinal Men
-1 nielli* in 21 Honrs.
Nanaimo, 11. C., Feb. 28.—The steamer
Oregon arrived here this morning from
Bkaguay and Dyea, Alaska,
She had a number of passengers who
are returning home disgusted with
Alaska.
Before the Oregon left Skaguay seven
teen deaths from cerebro spinal menen
gltls were reported In twenty-four hours.
Dr. O. B. Estees of Astoria, who was
a passenger on the Oregon, predicts that
the number of deaths will soon run into
the hundreds.
MORE PENSIONERS PHORAIILE.
Benefit* of an Act ot IMHI Likely to
Be Extended.
Washington, Feb. 28.—The Invalid pen
sion committee has agreed on and favor
ably reported the Gibson bill extending
the benefits of the act of June 27, 1890, to
men who served less than six months In
the Confederate army and who Joined the
Union army before Sept. 1, 1864, and did
not enliHt out of a prison In a Northern
state. The bill provoked animated discus
sion, but was finally agreed on by a vote
of $ to 4,
RIVER AM) IIAIUIOU UII.U
Tlio Administration Oi>|iiipil to
I'assing On* 'Upl* Session.
"Washington, Feb. 28.—Representative
Lester say* it seems to be pretty well
understood that there is to be no river
and harbor bill passed this session. The
administration holds that most of the
principal waterways are taken care of
sufficiently in the sundry civil bill, and
therefore in the interest of economy the
regular river and harbor bill would have
to go by the board, together with the long
straig of publlo building hills now tied
up in committee. It remains to lie seen
whether the House will tamely submit to
the sidetracking of this measure. Almost
every member of the House is directly or
Indirectly interested in river and harbor
improvements, and if there is any way by
which a test vote can be had on this
subject the indications are that Speaker
Heed and his committee on rules will be
thrown down.
At present the opt>ositlon to the speak
er's decree against rivers and harbors has
not taken form because there has lsen
no official report from the committee on
rivers and harltors. There has been so
much backing and filling on the subject
that up till to-day the friends of the riv
er and harltor appropriations could get no
definite information from either Speaker
Reed or Chairman Hooker. There is apt
to be a row before the subject is finally
disposed of.
Representative I,ester is expecting Mr.
Whitfield of HuwUinsville here to-morrow
to go before the river and harbor com
mittee and urge an appropriation of *50.000
for improving the Ocmulgee river. Sev
eral other delegations from the South are
also expected here within the next few
days on similar missions, and they will
hi' greatly disappointed If thev discover
upon their arrival that their hill Is dead
and burled.
It is said that the friends of the bill
on the committee believe It would be bet
ter to wait until the short session after
the congressional elections next fall, when
a complete and comprehensive bill can lie
reported, rather than attempt to pass an
inadequate bill at this session.
C ENTRAL AMERICA’S WAR CIA)i n.
t'nsla Itlcn and Menritgun Threaten
to Embroil All the Republics.
Washington, Feb. 2X.—The condition of
affairs between Nicaragua and Costa Rica
1r beginning to arouso serlotiß apprehen
sion In official circles, and It Is said to
threaten to Involve not only these two
countries In war, but also to draw all of
the Central American republics Into an
armed conflict.
The Diet of the Greater Republic, in
cluding Nicaragua, Honduras and Salva
dor, has submitted a demand on Costa
Rica for an explanation of the entrance
of an armed force of 6)10 men from Costa
Rica into Nicaragua. No reply has been
given so far as Is known lo officials here.
The Nicaraguan authorities assert that
the 600 armed men entering from Costa
Rica were not an unarmed force, hut
were noting with the knowledge of the
President of Costa Rica. If Costa .Rica
gives no explanation in response to the
demand, it is feared serious trouble will
follow.
The real controversy between Nicaragua
and Costa Rica Is over the territory ad
jacent to the Inter-oceanic canal. A recent
incident lias Intensified the feeling of the
Costa Ricans over the boundary mutter.
Tills was the arrest of Air. Rache, the
Costa Rican consul general to Nicaragua,
on the charge of being a rebel. He was
tried, convicted und sentenced to five
years' Imprisonment, hut subsequently
escaped. It Is not generally known that
Secretary Sherman Interfered successfully
In this matter, and that Nicaragua re
leased Mr. Baohe. Since then Nicaragua
has published the secret cipher dispatches
alleged to have passed between Mr. Baohe
and the Nicaraguan - rebel* in Salvador,
and these, Nicaragua claims, fully estab
lish a, charge that Costa Rica’s official
was working to overthrow President Ze
laya'B government.
Ml lIDERED WITH A HAT PIN.
Mysterious Dentil nt Chicago or n
Drummer From Purls.
Chicago, 111.. Feb. 28.—1 tls almost a cer
tainty that Bartholomew Brandt Bradner,
the Parisian drummer who is dead at the
Palmer House, was murdered with a wo
man’s hat pin. The autopsy showed not
only concussion of the brain, but a small
puncture which began near the corner of
the left eye and extended far Into the In
terior of the skull. H was not of greater
diameter than the lead of a pencil. Four
detectives have been detailed on the case.
Bradner entered the hotel at a late hour,
bleeding profusely and fell to the floor.
Jealousy on the part of a woman is now
believed to be the cause of the assault
which resulted In the death of Bradner,
Before delirium made his conversation In
coherent, he told his nurse that he had
had trouble with a woman In St. Louis,
but when questioned further he refused
to say anything connecting the quarrel
and his injuries. Bradner, on the night
he was Injured, said that he thought he
had been drugged, and this taken In con
nection with a peculiar Injury under the
left eye, the result of a stab with a sharp
slender blade, probably the ornamental
pin worn in a woman's hair, has led to tho
theory that Bradner’s injuries resulted
from a premeditated attack actuated by a
desire for revenge.
Thus far, the detectives at work on tho
case have been unable to obtain any defi
nite elues of those sup|x>sed to be con
nected with Bradner’* death.
IDAHO'S SILVER REPUBLICANS.
Recently Issued Manifesto In Favor
of Fusion Indorsed.
Boise, Ida., Feb. 28.—A conference of
Sliver Republicans from all sections of
the state was held here to-day. After a
discussion, resolutions were passed Indors
ing the recent manifesto issued by the
national party chairman recommending
fusion.
Hreail Riots In Turkey.
Constantinople, Feb. 28.—Serious bread
riots have taken place at Gallinopoli,
where a mob has attempted to burn the
government offices. The police made thir
ky-ilx arrests.
f DAILY. *lO A YEAR.
1 6 CENTS A COPY.
( WEEKLY 2-TLMKS-A-WKKK *1 A Till!
KING GEORGE’S CLOSE CALL
ONE OF THE MEN WHO SHOT AU
HIM SIR RENDERS.
He Is n Minor Employe In the Mayor’g
Oflier nt Athens, nnd Was Former
ly n Non-Commissioned Officer In
the Army—Delongs to II floss of?
Douhtfnl Repute—Plan Was to KHIi
t'onclinian and Horses First anil
Then Dlspnteh the King With Re
volvers.
Athens, Feb. 28.—One of the men who at
tempted the life of the King of Greece or*
Saturday has been arrested. His name 19
Karditza, and he is a minor employe id
tho (Mayor’s office here. He refuse* td
give the name of his accomplice.
The munlopal councils throughout thd
country are addressing messages of sym
pathy lo the King and thousands of con
gratulatory telegrams are arriving at tha
palace. The royal family is aaid to ha
greatly touched at the expressions of loy
alty.
Karditza, who Is 35 years of age, wa*
formerly a non-commissioned officer In tho
army. He t- longs to u class of doubtful
repute, locully designated as the Koutza
vantis.
The authorities obtained information that
Karditza was hiding in a house of ill re
pute. which they caused to lie surrounded
by police, but in the meanwhile Kardttzai
had gone to the public prosecutor’s office
and surrendered himself, declaring his In
nocence. (‘losely pressed, however, ltd
confessed to he one of the King’s assail
nuts. He did not express any regret and
declared that If the gun had not trembled
In the hands of his accomplice the King
would have been killed. Karditza refused
lo furnish any further Information.
According to the Astay it was decided
nt a secret meetlufr of a certain club held
outside the city to assassinate the King
because he had accepted the proposition
for International financial control of tha
revenues, In order to arrange the watf
loun. Tills decision, It further appears,
was recorded on the minutes of tha club,
a copy of which was Hent to the King,
who paid no attention to the threat.
Later Knrditza said the plan was to shoot
the King’s coachman and the horses, and
then to dispatch the King with pistols,
which he and his companion were car
rying.
King George has Identified a photograptl
of Karditza as that of one of his assail
ants. His majesty has received a mes
sage of congratulation from President
McKinley.
Two friends of Karditza hnve been ar
rested on suspicion of being his accom
plices. He has become greatly depressed.
King George has received a very affect
ing telegram of congratulation from Mme,
Carnot.
The municipal court has decided to erect
a memorial chapel near the scene of th*
attempt.
Ult OTHER 8-IN-LAW IN BATTLE.
One Shot Through Hie Head nnd that
Ollier Mtnlihcil In the Neck.
Ikiulsvllle, Ky., Feb. 28.—An old grudge
between Walter Minor and Merritt Cooley,
lioth of whom formerly lived In Louis
ville, was settled last Saturday near tha
border line between Marlon and Nelson
counties. The men became Involved in a*
quarrel, and Cooley stabbed Minor In tha
neck and Minor shot Cooley through tha
bruin. From the last report* Cooley watt
dying.
Minor Is a half-brother of J. 8. Minor,
vice president of the Bryant & Stratton
Business College, who Is now en route to
Venezuela to arrange for the construc
tion of a big distillery. Cooley Is of i*
wealthy Marlon county family.
A few years ago Minor married Cooley’fl
sister, and since lived near Gravel Switch,
Ky. It Is said the men often quarreled,
and that a grudge hod existed between
Chem for some time.
Both, as contractors, have been con
structing a big tobacco warehouse neap
Gravel Switch. The men were on thela
way home from the warehouse late Sat
urday afternoon.
Cooley broke the silence by saying*
"Minor, I am going to kill you right now.
I have been Intending to end our little
difficulty for some time, and there migh*
as well Ik- a settlement of It here.”
Cooley then drew his knife and began
to whittle on a stick which he carried in
Ills hand. Ha suddenly darted toward
Minor and stabbed him In the neck.
Minor quickly drew his revolver and
fired at close range, the bullet entering
Cooley's head and crashing through tlu*
skull and into the brain. Both men fell
unconscious to the ground, and were found
some time later by neighbors. They wero
removed to their homes and physicians
were summoned.
Minor will recover. *
The last report from Gravel Switch wad
that Cooley was dying.
I'ERIERA PROTESTING INNOCENCE,
He Denie* All Complicity In Presi
dent Nome*’ Assassination.
Rio do Janeiro, Feb. 28.—" Vice President
Perlera has Issued a long address strong
ly protesting that he Is Innocent of com-)
pllcity In the attempt made to assasslnata
President Moraes last year. Ife refuses to
appear in court, Invoking parliamentary
Immunity. The general eMtions will taka
place to-morrow.
In his address he attacks President Mo
raes, to whom he attributes the agitation*
and misfortunes of the republic. He con
demns the state of siege and adds that
all the laws of Congress voted under tha
siege are Invalid.
HAITI SETTLES WITH ITALY.
Vessel anil Cargo Valued at fIHO.OtHJ
Had Reen Seised.
Kingston, Jamaica, Feb. 28.—The Italian
claim has been settled by Haytl paying
the full amount demanded.
The French government Is now pressing
a claim for damages for violation of tha
treaty rights of French citizens.
The long pending claim of Italy against
Haytl, Just settled, was the case of an
Italian merchant at Port de Paix, whose
vessel and curgo, worth *BO,OOO, were, It
Is alleged, illegally seized and sold by tho
Haytien government.
Itash for the Klondike,
Seattle, Wash., Feb. 28.—Tho steamers
Humboldt, Excelsior and No.vo have buii
-1 -.d for Alaska with. 750 passengers^