Newspaper Page Text
THE MORNING NEWS. )
stbllshed ISSO. - Incorporated I*B*. >
J. H. ESTILL, President. j
SPAIN NOT UNDER SUSPICION.
|E CRETAHY long s vys IT IS ELIM-
I\ V I ED PROM THE SITUATION.
j 1,,. statement Not Made l>y the See
rriary In His O'lfioinl Cmiaelty But
I, Merely nit Expression of His
Personal Opinion—The Assertion
t],u!e Just After n Meeting of the
Cahi net— No New Developments
Brought to Light nt the Meeting.
Washington, March I.—The main inter
the day in connection with the
M,, ,■ centered in a statement by Secre
urj - ixing, following the cabinet meeting,
in his personal opinion, any official
,mi ipation by the Spanish government
in the blowing up of the Maine was now
pr -Really eliminated from the situation.
This statement was not of a formal or of
j.-ial character, and was made by Mr.
Long as he walked away from the White
House.
As usual, the various cabinet officers
n re besieged with inquiries as to the
questions before the meeting, and in re
sponse to these importunities the secreta
ry rather casually summed up the situ
ai ion in a few words, stating that most
of the time had been given to the out
rages on colored postmasters in the South.
Naturally the Cuban situation had been
gone over, he said, but there were no act
in! developments, and he felt that public
ex dement over the subject had material
ly abated. Then he added the statement,
in the same personal way, that any par
-1,, ipation by the Spanish government In
the blowing up of the Maine was practic
ally eliminated, in his judgment.
This last remark was speedily given wide
circulation apart from the qualifying ref
erences which had accompanied it. It
immediately started much comment and
''..-mission, and when Mr. Long returned to
the navy department after lunch he found
that what he had Intended to convey was
bring given force of an official declaration
t.i.it Spain's responsibility for the disas
ter had been eliminated. In order to make
clear his meaning, as a personal expres
sion of opinion, Mr. Long dictated the fol
lowing statement:
"The main thing we talked about in the
cabinet were the outrages on postmasters,
one a white man in Georgia and one a col
ored man in South Carolina. In regard to
the Cuban question, I thought things were
growing quieter every day, and as far as
my judgment went, I was inclined to think
that any official participation on the part
of the Spanish government in the disaster
was now practically eliminated.'’
The foregoing covered all that Mr. Long
diclred to say on the subject, and this
much was given only to offset enlarged
txi.-ions of what he had said. Persons oc
t ‘l ying the closest relations with the sec
<v,a!'-v s,ld ’hat the opinion expressed was
su, h as any one might give with the facts
11 " at hand. It was not, In any sense, it
"i- explained, a conclusion drawn from
' evidence made public either from the
' ''ft of inquiry or any officer now con
t'n.d in the inquiry. 'Neither facts nor
intimations have come from such sources.
I' - said at the department, which would
as ’he basis for an opinion.
ie official declarations of Senor Du
'-'■ the Spanish charge d'affaires, that
™' n ? s or submarine defenses exist in
. "Thor of Havana, had come to the at
'; " f Secretary Long, and this state
, f,an ‘ "he authorized representative
hae I vanish Government was felt to
' e been givert its due weight in the opin
-I>y the secretary. It was
tion ■ tr°o! Jy * >erson3 bearing close rela
t -fi secretary that the language
•'in flu °®eial participation” on the
‘aid 'be Spanish government. This, he
<iuestinn had , no hearing on the
, v _. Spain's responsiblli
of* in ” e official participation
e l .ii, one thing; while the respon
i,l . , , ” Spain, in case the disaster prov
oth. '• ° f extern al origin, was quite an-
The secretary’s statement
'eted, it Is said, to exculpating
I 1 trtlcina'f 01 J ' lreCt ° mcial knowledge and
shown fi .” n the arfair - In case It was
n iUc o hat the act was du e to some fa
t„ , sc,me Person not connected with
ml.jij. ". ' rnrn ent, then the Spanish respon
be * tm ° pen - Mr -
tion / i sur Prised that so much atten
f.on, J been slven to hla Passing allu
,h ' s incident, the day brought
1 ii developments of importance re
(“i ~ 1 ’he Maine. No dispatches of any
. inl.,‘7 from Key West, where the court
i y 13 sitting, were given out during
f <<ml as ‘he rule of publicity is still
presumably nothing came from
'•‘.it. quarter.
ii • i essol movements announced dur
' ird ',. da . y *’ ere devoid of significance.
m.-nt ■ "^u- 1 out trPm *he navy depart
i . th ,s afternoon to put the iron
uiantonamah and Katahdln into
r. r a ’ S r ,° n ilarch 10 ' They are
v.'j ( •, e £" ea ffue Island navy yard,
or t.,._ 4 ey nave been laid up for a year
t- it i w, St ' sa * d at the department
i : >r . . r ' u J' pose “ of putting them into com
( ..i S mnlce berths for the surviv
i, V* ATa,n<s now at Key West, wait
t. ° r ‘PltJ'ry- which with
t ~ ,“bt will have finished with them by
1 Wantonamah is a formidable dou
monitor carrying four 10-Inch
t ■„ ° f 3 ’ 990 tons displacement,and
1 matf, 1 knots por hour - ln addition to
"t it. J u, ottery, she carries a good sec
h. i , "'ttefy of rapid tire guns, and
li nLl S aro cla d with 11-inch armor.
"Pander has not yet been definitely
"'it the remainder of her officers
t a follows: Lieut. Commander Wtl
t m'/"' ,‘V' offlcer ; Lieut. Underwood,
1 an • 1 ; l °u Uts - Uoffß ’ Gin and Ensign
! nr M! ch offl cers; Passed Assistant
I -Veaver and Chief Kngineer
A bCaiahdln, otherwise known as the
t ' ’ K “m. is a freak in navi architec
t ‘'"hough opinions are divided as
qualities, there is little doubt that
, ' *nce in any harbor would make an
anxious. She lies mostly under
■ r . " a turtle back of steel varying
I ' fr °m two and a half to six
ind the theory of her designers. Ad.
' wa " that ‘his armor plate
, not be struck directly by a shot from
v, , h y l ?* sel ’. ami that any such shot
6 harmlessly deflected by the slop-
ffhe iEafnmg
ing steel deck. In action, the conning
tower and smoke stack are about all of
the ship that would present a mark. The
former is made of steel eighteen inches
thick. The Katahdin is a ram pure and
simp.e, having in the way of weapons of
offense nothing except her sharp steel
beak and a few small rapid-fire guns to
keep off boarders or torpedo boats.
When she was designed her speed was
placed at a very high mark, but she did
not realize expectations owing to her pe
culiarly constructed under-water model.
Her personnel will be as follows: Captain
Commander Wilde, at present naval sec
retary of the lighthouse board; executivj
officer, Lieut. Lowe; navigator, Lieut. Cul
ver; chief engineer, Berg, and ensign,
Campbell. The two vessels have crews
respectively of 150 and 90 men.
It was just learned at the navy depart
ment to-day why the Maine was tied up to
a buoy in Havana harbor instead of an
choring, a fact that has been the base for
some of the theories as to tlie cause of t lf’
disaster. It is stated that not only is a
man-of-war at a buoy in much better
place for quick service than when achor
ed, but it appears that if a ship casts her
anchor in Havana harbor, so foul and pol
luted with yellow fever and other disease
germs is the mud that adheres to it when
It is hoisted, that the ship must go Into
quarantine upon her return to any Florida
port.
An indication that the court of inquiry
is either far from having reached any con
clusion or. else is with a view to
meeting future criticism, to collect all pos
sible evidence, whether it be deemed essen
tial or not, is the call to their
assistance of experts. It has already been
a matter of comment that with all the
ability comprised in this court of inquiry
it has one weak spot, namely, the lack of
practical experience of the construction of
a ship in its members. This is no part of
the duty of a line officer, and that no re
flection is carried by (he statement. To
remedy these shortcomings the court has
called upon the department to send a con
structor and carpenter to their aid, and in
compliance with the request Secretary
Long has directed Nval Constructor Hoo
ver and Carpenter Helm to report to the
court at Key West.
It is expected that they will go to Ha
vana when the court returns there, and
from their familiarity with the structure
of the Maine, on which both of these men
worked when she was built in the New
York navy yard, they will be of great as
sistance, not only in suggesting easy
methods of work for the divers, but also
in identifying portions of the wreck. The
latter consideration is one of the greatest
importance in view of the statements that
have come from Havana to the effect that
some of the ship’s bottom plates have been
found in the debris above water. It is
said at the department that if this is true
the fact will be of importance.
But, it is added, it would not be neces
sarily conclusive evidence as to the source
of the explosion, for it is conceivable that
as the deck was blown up it might easily
have pulled up with it some of the frames
and bottom plates, which are rigidly at
tached by rivets. Without doubt the two
experts will be much better qualified than
the line officers to identify any such pieces
of plate.
The only word received by the navy de
partment from Havana came late to-night
ln the following telegram from Capt. Slgs
bee: “Baehe leaves to-day for Tortugas
with all wounded men now here, five in all,
as follows: Mattison, Cahill, Allen, Web
er, and Mack. All able to walk except Mat
tison, whose jaw was broken. Bache takes
one unrecognized body. Will probably take
four wounded men from Tortugas to Kev
West. Bache will report to the flag-ship
Thursday before entering Key West. Can
not tell when more bodies may be expected
at Key West, but Bache should return
promptly."
CONGRESSMEN OFF FOR CUBA.
They Go to Mttkc mi 1 nofltrinl Inves
tigation of the Situation.
Washington, March I.—A party of Sena
tors and members of the House left Wash
ington this afternoon for a trip to Cuba.
They go by train to Fortress Monroe and
from there will take a private yacht for
Havana.
The party will consist of Senators Gal
linger, Thurston and Money, and Repre
sentatives Amos J. Cummings and Wil
liam Alder Smith, and their wives.
Senator Thurston said to-day that the
trip was undertaken for the purpose of
making a personal investigation Into
affairs in Cuba. "It is not,” he said, “in
any sense an official tour, but it will nat
urally give us a better opportunity for in
vestigation than we can possibly have
from this distance.”
He said the party would be absent about
ten days, which would allow several days
in Cuba.
SOUTH READY' TO FIGHT SPAIN.
Edward Uyle Indulges in Fiery
Talk at Washington.
Washington, March I.—Edward Lyles or
Savannah is here on business connected
with the treasury department. Referring to
the condition of affairs at Havana, he said
with some feeling: “Let the treacherous,
cowardly Spaniards harm one gray hair
in Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's head, and it will
tie impossible to restrain the Southern peo
ple. They love Gen. Lee and should any
injury be done to him they would break
down every barrier and invade Cuba with
a volunteer army which would sweep me
Spanish soldiery into the sea.
"This is not idle talk, but the truth. Our
young men are now boiling over with pa
triotism and are Impatient to avenge the
injury and insult already offered this
country.”
LEAGUE ISLAND’S WARSHIPS.
The Mlnntnnnninh Henily to Go Into
Commission limned lately.
Philadelphia, March I.—The work of pre
paring for sea the war vessels now at
League Island is progressing rapidly. A
naval officer stated to-day that the only
one to go Into commission Immediately is
the monitor Miantonomah and a large
number of men have been working on her
continuously.
At present she has only a skeleton crew
on board and a full complement of men is
expected to-morrow from Norfolk, New
York and Boston.
Work on the ram Katahd'n is also near
ly completed. She finished coaling to
day.
SAVANNAH, GA.. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, ISOS.
NAVAL BOARD TELLS NOTHING.
CAUSE OE THE EXPLOSION STILL A
SECRET IF KNOYVN. •
People AY’ho Asserted a Week Ago
That the A'essel Was Blown Up by
an External Agency Now Modify
the Conviction—Court Will Prolin
bly Finish Its Work at Ivey YVest
To-day—No Truth In the Heport
That Remnants of a Sub-Marine
Mine Have Been Found.
Key West, March I.—The second day's
session of the court of inquiry is over and
nothing new is known regarding the fate
of the Maine, at all events outside the
members of the court.
Some who confidently declared a week
ago that the court had already found that
the vessel was intentionally blown up,
have modified this conviction, and for the
most part admit that such reports must
have been based largely on speculation.
Even navy officers are apparently as
much in the dark as the civilians as to
what the court’s opinion is at the present
moment.
Excellent progress has been made in the
examinations and the court will probaly
finish its work here to-morrow, when its
members will be taken back to Havana
on the Mangrove.
Interest in the proceedings flagged some,
w-hat to-day owing to the utter futility of
all attempts to gratify the general curios
ity. The correspondent of the Associated
Press placed before one of the members
of the court the letter signed “Maquinista”
(machinist) giving alleged details of the
filling of the Maine’s torpedo holes with
dynamite cartridges and their subsequent
explosion by elec'tric wires. The member
of the court in question said that neither
the letter nor its developments had been
officially before the court.
The Cubans here are constantly receiv
ing mysterious missives from Havana
purporting to reveal the method by which
the Maine was sent to destruction, but as
there are as many suggestions or theories
as there are letters little reliance can be
placed upon any.
Most of the morning session of the
court was devoted to verifying testimony
previously given. Four engineer officers
and eight enlisted men of the Maine were
examined. The enginers examined were
Passed Assistant Engineer Morris. Assist
ant Engineer 'Bowers, Cadet (engineer di
vision) Washington and Crenshaw.
The afternoon session of the court be
gan at 2 o'clock and adjournment was
taken at about 4, until to-morrow morn
ing.
The whole number of enlisted men ex
amined during the day is ten.
Admiral Sieard has requested Dr. Ma
loney, the mayor of Key West, to prevent
a local demonstration when the funeral
of the Maine's dead occurs. He has asked
that in the event of a parade being form
ed by the residents, only American flags
shall be displayed.
Mayor Maloney has promised to carry
out Admiral Sicard's wishes as far as |>os
sible. but doubts whether the strong Cu
ban and anti-Spain sentiment can be sup
pressed.
All the funeral arrangements will be
under the direction of Commander Mc-
Calla of the Marblehead. As now plan
nl, small details of marines will be
landed from the vessels here, and at the
Tortugas, and the artillery at the bar
racks will join in paying the last honors.
The services will probably beheld Thurs
day. The interment will take place in th£
city cemetery.
The general situation here remains the
same. The fleet has not moved, though
there are signs of activity which give rise
to the rumor that an important naval step
is contemplated. Admiral Sieard, when
questioned on this point this afternoon,
merely reiterated his remark of yesterday:
“There Is no movement to-day. The ships
have steam up always, and they can go
anywhere.”
The tugboat Merritt passed here at sun
set with a large scow in tow apd other
wrecking apparatus. She is bound for
Havana.
The report that remnants of a submarine
mine, alleged to have been raised by the
United States naval divers at Havana
with the electrical wires in which they
had been entangled, were brought here
Sunday by the Mangrove, and are now in
the warehouse of the lighthouse depart
ment, is denied in high official quarters.
A high naval officer said to-day: "Per
haps the court of inquiry may return to
Havana on board the cruiser Marblehead
or on board the Nashville, instead of the
coast survey boat Bache. The Marble
head would be especially suitable. She
has a remarkably strong electric light
plant.”
DOINGS OF THE DIY ERS.
The Steerngre Hatch Found Partly
Clear of AVreekage.
Havana, March I.—The divers on the
Right Arm got to work this morning ln
earnest. Copt. Everest, chief of the divers,
was in charge, and the water being lower
than usual, it was seen that the steerage
hatch was partly clear, though blocked to
some extent by one of the smoke stacks.
The divers succeeded In entering the after
torpedo compartment, where they hoped
to find the bodies of IJeuts. Jenkins and
Merritt, as well as the remains of the
crew of the battleship. The officers men
tioned were last seen in the after torpedo
compartment. Up to this morning the
divers feared Cos enter it, there being great
danger that the life lines of air hose might
catch In the wrecking about the smoke
stack.
The Spanish officers directing the divers
of the government of Spain called for
Capt. Sigsbee on board the lighthouse
tender Fern and were given all the infor
mation they needed.
The steamer Bache has been ordered to
leave for the Dry Tortugas with five
American wounded, all that are now left
here, and one body.
This morning a collision occurred be
tween a party of guerillas and several em
ployes of the street cleaning department,
near Trillo Park. Five policemen Inter
fered to preserve order, and meeting with
resistance used their revolvers. Four of
the combatants were shot and three police
men wounded, one seriously. Three ar
rests were made. The affair, however,
was only an ordinary street brawl.
Senator Proctor, with his friend. Col.
Parker, and Consul General Lee, made a
call of courtesy by. appointment to-day on
Captain General Blanco. Secretary Jose
Congosto accompanied the party and acted
as interpreter. Gen. Blanco received bis
visitors with great cordiality and a pleas
ant talk on general matters ensued.
The Spanish cruiser Vizcaya arrived off
Moro Castle nt 6 o’clock this evening, after
a good voyage from New York. She was
met by crowds of steam launches and gaily
decorated yachts with bands, and as she
steamed to her moorings enthusiastic wel
comes were shouted from all the public
wharves, whk’h were lined with thousands
of people. The streets and plazas were
gay with bunting, rockets were discharg
ed, and there was continuous cheering
from all the boats.
The Mayor of Havana, Marquis de Es
taban, as director of the festivities, was
the first to board the vessel, going-out on
Gen. Blanco’s yacht.
The officers of the Vizcaya will call first
upon Admiral Martterolaja, and then on
the captain general.
The Allimante Oquendo is expected from
the Canaries at an early day, and she also
will be given a popular welcome.
The divers are much disappointed at not
recovering any bodies to-day, but hope
to be more fortunate to-morrow. The
Spanish divers, to whom Capt. Sigsbee
has furnished plans of the Maine, will be
gin their work to-morrow morning.
The Bache left this evening for Tortu
gas with the wounded.
PEACE KEUAHDED AS ASSURED.
Sponiah-Ainerlenn Relations Looked
Upon ax Promising,
London. March I.—The Globo of Madrid,
dated Feb. 26, just received here, discuss
ing the political situation says: "Nothing
could be more promising than the politi
cal relations between the two countries.
Senor Sagasta, the cabinet ministers and
Gen. Woodford all make such explicit
peaceful statements that peace may be
regarded as assured. This Is all the more
satisfactory since the late events all point
ed to a different Issue.”
IE LOME HANGED IN EFFIGY'.
Police Called Out to Disperse a Mob
a rirroy,
Troy, N. Y., March I.—Spain’s former
minister to the United States, Senor Du
puy de Lome, was hanged in effigy in this
city to-day, and the police had to be call
ed upon to disperse a crowd of about 1,000
people, who had assembled to hurl epi
thets at the object of their scorn. Pla
cards on the efligv wore thus Inscribed:
"Hang De Lome, V. H. R.” "Sucker De
Lome, V. H. R. Club."
MORHO GIVE WAY TO MONUMENT.
Gov. Bash noil Favors War if There
YVns Treachery.
Springfield, 0., March I.—At a mass
meeting here to-nlglfi to raise funds for a
monument to the victims of the Maine, a
letter was read from Gov. Bushnell in
which he said that if it ia proved that
Spanish treachery destroyed the Maine, he
was in favor of building a monument on
the ruins of Morro Castle.
SQUADRON AT HONG KONG.
American Ships Ready to Operate
Against Manilla.
London, March 2.—A special dispatch
from Shanghai says: "The United States
squadron Is concentrated at Hong Kong
with a view of active operations against
Manilla, Philippine Islands, in Ihe event
of an outbreak between the United States
and Spain. The squadron, which f.s power
full, includes the cruisers Olympia, Bos
ton, Raleigh, Concord and Petrel.”
Torpedo Boat Winslow Afloat.
Norfolk, Va., March I.—The torpedo
boat Winslow came out of the dry dock
at the navy yard to-day, and will sail
to-morrow morning presumably for Key
West.
More Money for IVnr.
Washington, March I.—The House com
mittee on naval affairs this afternoon
agreed on iteihs of $1,000,000 for the purpose
of smokeless power, and $60,000 for arming
and equipping tho naval militia.
ENGLAND'S ATT IT l DE IN cftlNA.
Legitimate Competitors Not to Be
Regarded YVitli Jealousy.
London, March 2.—Sir Ellis Mead Bart
lett, in the House of Commons, to-day
having brought up the Chinese question
and the advance of Russia, Mr. Curzon,
after some debate, said that British inter
ests in China were "paramount, but not
exclusive."
The British nation, he continued, would
not be Justified in regarding legitimate
competitors with jealousy, but ought rath,
or to “use all efforts to keep in an age of
competition what was won in an age of
monojx>ly.”
Great Britain's policy was to prevent the
disruption and to op;>o8e the alienation of
Chinese territory, and it was not likely
that Great Rritain would regard with sat
isfaction ihe attempts of others in the di
rection of such disruption and alienation.
Great Britain, he declared, had taken
her stand upon the treaty of Tlen-Tsln
which empowered her to oppose the imJ
position of special tariffs by other powers
at Chinese ports; and no British govern
ment would ever consent to an abandon
ment or curtailment of treaty rights.
The matter was then dropped and the
House adjourned.
ESTERHAKY MAY FIGHT I'ICQUAHT,
Challenge to u Duel Reported to
Hare llren Kent.
Paris, March I.—lt is rumored that Maj.
Comte Ferdinand Walsln Esterhazy has
challenged Col. Picquart to a duel, as a
result of the latter's evidence in the recent
trial of M. Zola, and of his repeated at
tempts to convict Comte Esterhazy of the
crime for which Dreyfus is now undergo
ing Imprisonment. The rumor is as yet
unconfirmed.
France to Occupy Hainan.
London. March 2.—A dispatch to the
Dally Mail from Singapore says a Saigon
newspaper asserts that the French gun
boat Lion will proceed to Hainan on
March 10, taking troop* for occupation.
SPAIN’S LACK OF SUCCESS.
NO TIME LIMIT FOR ENDING THE
WAR FIXED IIY' THIS COUNTRY’.
Story That a Limit Fixed by the
United Slates Expired Yesterday u
I.le Out of the YYliole Cloth—No
Limit Ever Fixed and No Negotia
tions in Progress for un Extension.
Recent Negotiations Confined to
the Commercial Treaties.
Washington, March I.—Concerning the
published report that the limitation of
time suggested by the United Stales to
Spain for the pacification of Cuba expired
to-day, March 1, and that the Spanish
government was now earnestly negotiat
ing at Washington to secure a two months'
extensioK of time, an official, whoso po
sition makes him completely familiar with
all such negotiations, said: “The report Is
absolutely false in every particular. No
time limit expires to-day or at any other
specified time, and for that reason there
are no negotiations in progress or con
templated for a two months’ extension or
for any other extension. The report is
an invention throughout.”
Recent negotiations between the United
States and Spain have been confined to
the promised commercial arrangements Be
tween this country and Sint in, and also be
tween this country and Cuba. These ne
gotiations were carried well along by Min
ister Woodford, and Senor Polo y Bernabc,
the new minister from Spain. The latter
sailed from Gibraltar yesterday, and it Is
understood he has with him the draft of
the new arrangement with Spain.
There will be two distinct conventions,
one between the United States and Spain
concerning thedr commercial exchanges,
and the other relating exclusively to tilt?
trade between Cuba and the United States.
Under the autonomous plant granted to
Cuba, the Spanish government has given
the Cubans the right to frame their own
tariff arrangements with the United
States, subject to the approval of the im
perial government. Under this authori
ty the autonomous cabinet has named a
commissioner to come to Washington and
conclude the agreement. He is expected
about the time that the new Spanish min
ister arrives, so that the negotiation of
both agreements will proceed together. As
the United (States cannot deal directly with
Cuba, owing to their colonial status, the
.agreement nominally will be between the
'United States and Spain, allhough the
terms will be made by the Cuban autono
mists and their commissioner. It will be
under the reciprocity clause of the Dingley
tariff act, which permits a 20 percent, re
duction of duty in exchange for conces
sions to the United States. The reduc
tions affecting Cuba would be mainly those
on raw sugar, while the equivalent reduc
tions for the United States would be main
ly on flour, breadstuffs, manufactured
goods and machinery.
SPAIN’S DUTIES ON GRAIN.
Deduction Iteporfed Derided On—
Looking for New Warships.
Madrid, March I.—The premier, Senor
Sagasta, Is quoted, in an interview, as
saying that he expects very satisfactory
news from Cuba before April.
In the course of the same Interview
Senor Sagasta said: "In view of the In
crease in the price of grain in Spain, the
government has decided to reduce the im
port duties.”
Greater anxiety is visible here In regard
to the -verdict of the United States naval
court of inquiry into the loss of the bat
tleship Maine than was apparent a week
ago. The constant rumors of possible hos
tilities are harassing and weakening the
government, and they are also trying the
patience of the public.
Admiral Berraejo, Ihe minister of ma
rine, is actively seeking the best means
to procure additional warships.
The government, it is said, is consider
ing the advisability of entirely abolishing
the import duty on grain.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE OCMI I.GEE.
.Mr. Whitfield Appears Before the
House Committee on Rivers.
Washington, March I.—James J. Whit
field of llawktnsville appeared before the
House committee on rivers and harbors
this morning and made a strong argument
in favor of Congressman Lewis’ bill for an
appropriation of $50,000 for the Ocmuigee
rjver.
Mr. Whitfield is president of a steamboat
Company and is a prominent merchant of
Ilfwkinsville. He made an interesting
presentation of the facts concerning the
traffic on the river and ijs possible devel
opment, and undoubtedly impressed the
committee with the Importance of the
work. There seems but little chance of
a river and harbor bill at this session, but
when one is brought in, the Ocmulgee ap
propriation stands a good chance.
ONTARIO AT THE I'OLM,
The Liberal* Probably Befouled for
the First Time In Z."> Yean.
Toronto, March 3.—General elections for
the Ontario legislature took place
throughout the province to-day, and re
sulted In a virtual, if not actual defeat for
the Liberal government, which has held
power for more than twenty-five years.
The probabilities favor a slight Conser
vative majority. Two Liberal ministers
have been defeated, John Dryden, minis
ter of agriculture, and J. M. Gibson, com
missioner of crown lands.
The timber iiolicy of the administration,
which is alleged to have favored Michigan
lumbermen at the expense of Canadians,
had much to do with Premier Hardy’s de
feat.
I,okt Sixteen of Her Crew.
Adelaide, South Australia, March I.—The
French bark President Felix Faure has ar
rived and reports that during a gale on
Feb. 2 her second mate and fifteen sailors
were swept overboard.
McCoy to Flabt ( hujnnkl.
Hot Springs, Ark., March I.~Kid Mc-
Coy to-day accepted Joe Choynski's
standing challenge, and has wired him to
that effect, the meeting to take place in
Hot Spiings, April 2u.
COI HT MARTIAL INI A CORNER.
Col. Iliirr to < nil Wllnrum lit*
Knows Will Refuse to Testify.
New York, March I.—Col. Barr’s an
nouncement to the court martial this
morning, that he had met with aerioutj
ol)stocics in getting witnesses here to tes
tify, was what had been expected. These
are the banking ottleers of the Union
Trust Company, ttie Knickerbock Trust
Company, and one other similar institu
tion, in spite of whose refusal he Is going
to put them on the stand to-morrow and
next day, and have their refusal go on the
record.
Col. Barr charged broadly before the
court to-day, that in the case of one
banking institution, counsel other than
its own had instructed its officers not to
testify. This bank, it is understood has
consented to give any testimony as to ac
counts it may have had with Capt. Car
ter, but will refuse to give any informa
tion as to those of any others of its
clients. There is no doubt that the ac
counts of Capt. It. D. Green, and Col.
John !■'. Gaynor, are what the Judge Ad
vocate is after, hut ti is apparent from
his own statement to the court that ho is
going to meet with refusals on all sides
when he calls for this testimony.
Col. Barr's threat made in Savannah,
to Invoke Congress or the civil courts in
cose witnesses persisted in their refusal
to testify, seems (o have taken shape In
the congressional resolution calling for
an Investigation of (he Carter mat
ter, oud the expenditure of money
for tho Savannah harbor improvements;
and In his brief address to the court this
morning, Col. Barr practically expressed
confidence that the resolution would pass,
and that this testimony he desires will
come out in that way.
"It will have to come out sooner or la
ter," he said, referring to the testimony,
which lie expected to get here, and the
means of bringing It out, which he referred
to, was eongrssional action.
There is a strong belief nmong Capt.
Carter’s friends that the prosecution Is
responsible for tHo congressional resolu
tion, and that it is the result of the re
fusal on the part of throe of the Savannah
witnesses to answer the questions put
them. Copt. Carter’s attorneys are entire
ly In the dark as to what to look for here,
though there is a definite Idea that the
Judge Advocate Is after the bank accounts
of the members of the Atlantic Contract
ing Company, as well as those of Capt.
Carter, and, perhaps, also, If he can lay
hold of them, of the affairs of the Kmplre
Construction Company, J. F. 1..
NEW TRANSPORTATION COMPANY.
It Will Operate llanccs All Along I lie
Atlantic Coast.
New York, March I.—The Tribune to.
morrow will say: “The Atlantic Trans
portation Company, recently organized
under the laws of the state of New Jer
sey to earry on a .water transport busi
ness, has just eslablishcd headquarters In
this city.
“Capital to the" amount of $.1,000, (100 has
already been paid in, It is said. The com
pany has already obtained Iwenty-two
large sea-going barges and six others are
nearing completion at Bath, Me. They
will operate nil along the Atlantic const,
but principally between this cliy and New
port News.
“In addition to large towing and gen
eral transportation business, which the
company proposes to operate. It will es
tablish and conduct a number of coaling
stations in the Southern waters and the
West Indies. It iH understood that the
company has received a contract from the
Chesaiieake and Ohio Railroad Company
for the transportation of 2,000,W0 tons of
coal per yiar for a period of five years.
"The company will confine Itself solely
to the transportation of freight.”
ANOTHER AH REST AT ATHENS,
KardKzn’s Accomplice Tells the
Story of Tlielr Plot.
Athens, March 3.—The accomplice of
Kardltza. a Macedonian workman named
Glorgil, has been arrested.
Giorgil has made a confession. He de
clares be acted at the instigation of Kar
dltza, the latter representing that to kill
the King would be an act of great courage
and glorify them both.
Giorglt's courage oozed out at the last
moment and he was unable to hit the
horses, upon which everything depended.
A bomb was found near the scene of at
tack. It contained 100 drachma of dyna
mite. Kardltza, when examined, admitted
that he Intended to throw the bomb Into
the King’s carriage.
The general result of the Inquiry thus
far appears to indicate the existence of a
secret conspiracy.
BRYAN AT TtIdiLOOSA.
lie (’onlines Ills IteninrkH to the
Money question.
Tuscaloosa, Ala., March I.—Hon. W. .1.
Bryan spoke hero to-night. 11 e confined
his remarks entirely to the money ques
tion along lines before put forth by him.
He said tho standard of values in this
country had been changed without the
knowledge or consent of anybody. It was
not discussed. No party made an issue
of It, the newspapers did not discuss the
proposition, and neither did Congress. Aft
er the change was adopted it was twenty
three years before any |>arty would father
It. Even in 1892, the Republican party de
clared that the American people by tradi
tion and Interest favored bimetallism.
RliSO-TI'RKISH AVAR HUMORS.
The Cmr Reported Harking Bulgaria
Against the Multan.
London, March 2.—The Constantinople
correspondent of the Bally Mall says:
"Bulgaria’s attitude concerning the Med
iterranean troubles is causing anxiety at
the Ylkliz Kiosk. It Is believed at the
palace that Russia Is backing Bulgaria
and rumors of impending war with Russia
and Bulgaria are In circulation. An ex
traordinary ministerial council was hastily
summoned to-day (Tuesday).”
Alleged l.yneher Acquitted.
Dtuiboro, Ind., March li-Justice Craig,
at Cross pialne. this morning acquitted
tlcz Hughes, who was charged in an af
fidavit, tilth by Gov. Mount, with com
plicity in the Yc rmlU lynetting.
f DAILY, *lO A YFIAR.
} 5 CENTS A COPY.
(WEEKLY 2-TIMKB-A- WJEtCK *1 A YRAH
SHERIFF TELLS HIS STORY.
STRIKERS AHH Al I.TED HIM WHEN
* HE TOLD THEM TO STOP.
One of Them llail Knocked Him trt
Ills Knees When the Shooting;
t oninienced—Sheriff Trlrd to Shoo!
lo Self Defense Hut His Revolves
Failed to Explode— Had Warned
Ills Deputies to Shoot Only In Self
Dc fense.
Wllkeabarre, Pa., March I.—Sheriff Mar*
tin testified In his own defense at this af
temoon's session of court. He told of hi#
actions on bd pt. 4, "when he was called
from Atlantic City,” up to the day of thq
shooting. He described the dispersing of
numerous bodies of strikers during thag
period. Getting down to tho time of tha
shooting, he said: “Friday morning 1
readied l'rlfton, and found nil my depu
lies there. We went to Lumberyard, at
■ central point. At 1 o’clock in the after,
noon I got a message that the striker#
were marching through Cranberry, bound
for Luttlmer. I hurried off with the Ila
zelton deputies to Intercept the men a|
West Hazelton. While going there I re*
peated my instructions to the deputle#
about keeping cool and avoiding troubl#
If possible. i
"Tho mob swore at us when we ap
proached, cursed mo and would not budg#
when i told them to do so. I read myt
proclamation and walked through them,
asking them to go home. One young mat*
swore at me violently and said they would
go to I.attlnter in spite of mo. I arreated
liim. One man picked up a stone, bug
dropped It when I pointed my revolver al
him.
“I told the crowd of spectators to g
homo as the strikers were desperate and
there might be trouble. Finally the strlk,
era left tho road and started off ovefi
some. lots. Boon I heard they were going
to I,attimer, and I hurried off with
deputies to intercept them.
“I told them again to keep cool, and
not to shoot unless their lives or mints
were in danger. After lining them upi
alongside the road, I told them I would
go out to meet the strikers and try once!
mote to disperse them. A deputy asked
if he could not go with me. ‘No,’ I said,
'l’ll go alone.' I thought one man waa
enough to die at once. I felt somehow
there war going to be trouble. 1 met tha
strikers about fifty yards from the depu
ties and asked them where they were
going.
" ’To stop the luttlmer breaker,” a lo*
of them cried.
"I told them they must not go and tried
to read my proclamation to them, but
they crowded around me, swearing al ma
and hustling m to one side. One man
tried to grab mo and I then attempted to
get hold of him, but the crowd Jumped on
me and pounded me about the body. (
dropped my pats-r and pulled my revolver,
one of the men tried to snatch the revolv
er from me, but failed. Then he strueW
me on awful blow In the face and knock
ed me to my knees. J tried to shoot him,
but my revolver would not explode. Then
the shooting commenced, it lasted about a
half minute.
"In the crowd I raw three men armed
with revolvers and one with a knife. Tha
latter made a stab at me, but missed. Tw<|
men were shot Just I* hind me to the left,
I was In the direct line of lire.”
The cross-examintllon conducted by Mr,
Scarlet lasted for two hours and will bd
resumed to-morrow. While many minor de,
tails were brought out, nothing was ad
duced to affect the main story.
A number of witnesses examined befor#
Sheriff Martin told of disorderly actions bR
the strikers.
NO RELIEF FOR THE KLONDIKE. |
Government Decides to Abandon It#
Ex pi-dlllon.
Washington, March 3.—The war depart
ment has decided to abandon the expedi
tion for the relief of the miners in tha
Klondike country, because the conclusion
has been reached that no necessity exists
for It. Secretary Alger has written a let
ter to Senator Hawley, chairman of th#
Senato committee on military affairs, ex
plaining the department's position, and
asking that Congress take action by Join#
resolution authorizing the department to
dispose of the su|*plies purchases! for tha
e*ls-dltlon, including the reindeer, whirl*
have Jus arrived from Norway, and to
abandon the project entirely.
New York, March 3.—The special trait*
over the Pennsylvania Railroad carrying
the reindeer and attendants which word
intended for the government relief expe
dition left Jersey City to-nlghffor Seattle.
The train consisted of three transit sleep
ing ears, two cooking and eating cars, teri
box ears loaded with provisions for tha
deer and 2<; stock cars. The train moved
In two sections. There were 133 person#
in the party, Including the government of
ficers In charge, the guides for the several
expeditions into the Yukon country and
the Norwegian, Finn and Lapland attend
ants and their families. Five hundred and
twenty-nine reindeer In good condition af
ter the twenty-four hours rest on land,
filled the stock cars comfortably. Each
car contained from 20 to 30 deer and wl
carpeted with six inches of sawdust and
moss.
CHINA’S NEW LOAN.
The Anglo-German Contracts Signed
at 4/, Per Cent.
Pekin, March I.—The Anglo-German loan
contracts were signed yesterday. The in
terest was fixed at 414 per cent., redeem
able in forty-fivo years. The contract
price is 83. The final Kiao Chou treaty 1#
not yot signed.
liuteiifle Taken to Prison.
New York, March I.—Edward J. Rat-
CiiiTe, tho actor, was taken to-day ta
Blackwell’s Bland penitentiary, where ho
will serve a sentence of six months’ im
prisonmi lit for nn assault upon his wife,
Alice DeLscey Hatchffe.
French Gunhont Hunk.
Sydney, Now South Wales, March l.—Ai
terrific hurricane devastated New Cale
donia, doing great damage lo shipping. It
also sunk a French gun boat near ihq
-Loyalty Uluitds,