Newspaper Page Text
THE MORNING NEWS. )
r,tt>llsbed 18S0. - Incorporated 1888. >■
1 j. H. ESTILL, President. J
DIVERS working in debris.
j 0 viTAlll.t: DISCOVERIES MADE
ABOUT THE MAINE’S RUINS.
wrecking Force* Supplemented ly
X<> New Tugs, and the AA'ork AVill
Hastened—l n recovered Bodies
Thought to Have Been Blown to
ji jr Two Spanish Divers at
Work, Who Will Report to the
Spanish Hoard ol Inquiry—Capt.
iKhee gtill Believes Some Bodies
t\ill He Found in the Debris—Span.
is ), still Cheer the Vi Sony a.
Havana, March 2.—The city la quiet to
ia>. but the public and private greetings
10 ihe Spanish cruiser Vizcaya, which ar
i:vi(j here last night, have not lessened in
fervor.
Tfcf divers are working hard upon the
, k of the Maine. It is feared that many
cf (he dead were blown to pieces, which
foU l,l account for the failure to And their
bodies where expected.
The wrecking tug I. J. Merritt of the
jleirlU & Chapman Wrecking and Dredg
i: % company, commanded by Capt. D. A.
Wolcott, arrived here from New York this
porning, and later in the day moved a
Iwrce near the wreck and commenced
work.
Tred J. Sharp is here in charge of the
company. The Merritt is a powerful boat,
but another and bigger tug is expected
shortly. The Right Arm will probably
remain as long as she can be useful. The
wrecking company expects, from now on,
to keep four expert divers at work.
Two Spanish divers were at work about
the wreck to-day, and it is understood
they will report to the Spanish board ap
pointed to inquire into the cause of the
disaster. Capt. Peral is the president of
the Spanish board of inquiry.
No bodies have thus far been found to
day, and there are no prospects of any
being recovered before night.
Ii is reported that Capt. Sigsbee does not
expect to find any of the dead in the
zones of the explosion, but he still believes
bodies will be recovered from portions of
the wreck as the divers remove the debris.
The divers who are working steadily
forward, are encountering continual diffi
culties. The new tugs, additional men and
complete apparatus will hasten the work
of salvage.
The officers of the Vizcaya paid ceremo
nial visits this morning to Admiral Man
torela and Captain General Blanco.
Crowds of people view the cruiser
from the vantage ashore, and
■it- e who are permitted to do so go on
board.
The barge brought with the wrecking
tug 1. J. Merritt is proving of great value
in carrying away debris, and in the course
of a few days much of the wreck above
a:cr will be removed. No bodies were
found to-day and there was no salvage of
any value.
Senator Proctor and his party returned
to the city to-night, after spending the
d.iy at Matanzas, where they were shown
every attention by United States Consul
Brice.
Gen. Vidal Ducassl, second in command
of the insurgents of the province of Pinar
do! P.io, who was wounded in the head
■luring the recent engagement near Cande
laria with the Spanish under Col. Bilbas,
succumbed to his injuries and his body
was buried near Tacotacota, province of
Pinar del Rio.
Last night heavy explosions of dyna
mite were heard near by. The amount
"f damage has not been ascertained, but
it is believed the dynamite was a portion of
that deposited by Gen. Mayia Rodriguek.
<<>rilT OF INQUIRY VERY SILENT.
ho Information Presented to the
Court Yet Disclosed.
Key West, Fla., March 2.—The fact Is
becoming more evident, as the days pass,
that any information direct from members
of the United States court of inquiry into
the loss of the battleship Maine, and from
those appearing before it, is guarded with
unusual closeness. Practically no infor
inatiou presented to the court has been dis
elosed. The restrictions are so severe
that tlie communications between the nav
al men who have been before-the court,
ii ’>■ Len most guarded.
Naval officers at this station, who are
connected with the court, express the
guarded view that very’ little testimony
h - yet been heard tending to show that
'he explosion was the result of a conspira
cy. or as to the exact cause of the disas
ter. 9
Pen enlisted men were examined by the
1 ird this forenoon, as was also Com
mander Forsyth. ,It is understood he gave
t'vtimony regarding the coaling of the
h i uleship at the navy yard here.
1 apt. Hanlon of the steamer Mascotte,
which arrived from Havana to-night, says
1 't when the vessel left Havana there
" no signs of Impending riot or of an
a i-American demonstration. On the
contrary everything was normally quiet.
The court of inquiry convened shortly af
h r - o'clock and went out to the barracks,
w here all the survivors of the Maine were
mustered. The men were asked if they
h >d any charges or further statements to
make. Not a work came from the ranks,
and, after a whispered constTMation, the
work of the court of inquiry at Key West
cume to an end.
Judge Advocate Marix, In reply to an
Inquiry, said that so far as he knew the
court has no more work to do at Key
M.-st.
"hen this dispatch Is sent, early this
* 'cuing, the Mangrove la lying at her dock
with steum up, but It is said on good ait
'notify that the members of the court will
m>t leave until to-morrow. They are await
ing Insiructions through Rear Admiral
Sieard from Washington, as to whether
liiey shall return at once to Havana. Ap
parently the court has gained Utile In
formation during the Key West sessions,
which could help explain the explosion.
Mayor Maloney Issued a proclamation to
'ue citizens of Key West, asking them to
respect Admiral Sicard's wishes to have
the funeral of the Maine’s victims a prlv
,u ‘i function. He said, however, that when
all the heroes had finally been interred
■me public demonstration might be in
keeping.
Commafider McCalla has decided to re
oace the funeral detail to the smallest po
■ ''le number, and it Is probable that only
•| ruut twehty men will to-morrow pay the
mst honors to an unidentified body ex-
@he Jlcifranfl
pected early to-morrow morning on the
Bache.
SPANISH AUTHORITIES CHEERFUL.
Think Experts AVill Attribute the
Explosion to Internal Causes.
Madrid, March 2.—The Spanish govern
ment, on Monday, received a report from
the Spanish authorities at Havana, saying
that the explosion which wrecked the
Maine was due to internal causes, add
ing that it was believed that the United
States experts "will admit this without
teservation of any kind.”
GEN. MERRITT AT ATLANTA.
He Says the Gulf t oast Is Fairly
AVell Fortified.
Atlanta, Ga., March 2.—Gen. Wesley
Merritt of the United States Army, Lieut.
Strother, his aide, and MaJ. James B.
Quinn of the United States engineer serv
ice passed through Atlanta to-day on their
way to Washington. Gen. Merritt came
direct from Galveston.
"The Gulf coast Is fairly well fortified,”
said the General. “There is still some
work to be done, but on the whole I am
pleased with my annual inspection, and
think that in the event of a war we could
give a good account of ourselves.
Spain** Duty on Corn Reduced.
Madrid, March 2.—The Cabinet council
to-day decided to reduce the duty on com
to 6 pesetas per hectolitre as long as the
price exceeds 1214 pesetas.
Dynamite Shipped South.
Cincinnati, 0., March 2.—Two tons of
dynamite were shipped from here to-day to
Pensacola, Fla., The shipping firm de
clines to say whether it was shipped on
government account or to private dealers.
THE POPE’S CORONATION DAY,
Celebration of Its Twentieth Anni
versary at Home.
Rome, March 2.—The twentieth anni
versary of the coronation of the Pope,
Leo XIII, was celebrated to-day. His holi
ness, who waa in excellent health, re
ceived the congratulations of the high pre
lates in the throne room, replying in a
strong voice. He recalled the demonstra
tions upon the occasion of his sacerdotal
and pontifical anniversaries and protested
against the outrages aimed at this en
thusiasm, which had been allowed to be
committed, adding that it was painful that
the aspirations of the faithful towards
Rome, the sacerdotal metropolis and de
fully mlsreprf^eift^f^^ut^con^uiSf^hls
holiness, In order to console the papacy
for these outrages, God had increased the
love of the multitude for the papacy in
Rome and throughout the entire world.
GERMANY’S NAVY.
lindget Committee Fixes (lie Number
of Ship* to He Held In Readiness.
Berlin, March 2. —The budget committee
of th# Reichstag to-day adopted, in ac
cordance with the government proposals,
section 1, paragraph 1, of the naval bill,
fixing the number of ships to be held In
readiness for service as follows: A flag
ship, 18 batileships, 12 large cruisers, 30
small cruisers, 8 coast defense iron-clads,
and 13 gunboats, besides torpedo boats,
school ships and small gunboats.
The budget committee, with the concur
rence of the government, has accepted
the amendment of Dr. Lieber, the leader
of the Centrists, modifying the septennate
proposals.
A WOMAN HORSEWHIPS A NEGRO.
Punishment Made Complete by the
Aid of n Revolver.
Columbia, S. C., March 2.—Emma Ham
mons, a white woman, created a sensa
tion near the business center of town to
day. Going to a gunsmith, she had a re
volver loaded, then purchasing a heavy
whip, she sought and found Henry Will
iams, a negro, who had made insulting
remarks about her. The woman wore the
lash end of the whip, then the butt, and
threw the remaining steel rod in Will
iams’ face, who, now trembling before
the muzzle of of the revolver held in his
face, fell on his knees on the pavement
and begged forgiveness. The woman then
disappeared.
WIFE MURDERER EXECUTED.
He Confessed Ills Guilt and Approved
Ills Punts hment on the Gsllotvi.
West Point, Miss., March 2.—This after
noon Bass Calvert (colored) was hanged
here for the murder of his wife. He was
entirely self-possessed up to the last, and
made a speech to the crowd from the gal
lows, confessing his guilt and saying he
deserved his punishment. About 3,000 peo
ple, mostly colored, witnessed the execu
tion.
FOUND HANGING FROM TREES.
An Indian Doctor nod Little Girl Ev
idently the Victims of Lynchers.
Morgantown, N. C., March 2.—An old
Indian doctor and a little girl, who kept
house for him, have been found hanging
from trees near their cabin at the head of
Irish creek. The two came here about a
vear ago, and spent most of their time in
hunting herbs. Threats had been made
against the old mam
TORPEDO BOAT TALBOT’S TRIAL.
The Test Successful, the Bout Mak
ing Twenty-Two Knots.
Bristol, R. 1., March 2.—The new United
States torpedo boat Talbot was to-day
given her first builder’s trial over the
.even-knot course. The trial was In every
way a success, and it was announced at
the close that the boat made the record
of twenty-two knots an hour.
Brazil's New Officers.
Rio Janeiro, March 2.—Scnor Campossa
les ha* been elected President and Senor
Rosalvo has been elected Vice President
or Brazil by a large majority. There was
no disorder.
SAVANNAH, GA., THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1808.
STILL STICK TO MINE STORY.
NAVAL OFFICERS AT HAVANA BE
LIEVE THAT THEORY CORRECT.
Opinions ns to Explosive Material
Differ, But Agree ns to the Exist-i
ence of Submarine Mines in the
Hiivatm Harbor—Explosion May
Have llesulteri From the Careless
ness of Spanish Officers in Charge
of the Destroyer—Americans Sur
prised nt the Participation of
Spnnish Divers in the Investiga
tion—Work Carried ou Under Diffi
culties.
Havana, via Key West, March 2.—With
out adding unnecessarily to the flood of
surmises, conjecture and prophecy con
cerning the finding of the court of inquiry,
it is fair to say that, as a matter of fact,
! most of the naval officers here and at
Key West incline to the opinion that the
court will find that the disaster to the
Maine was caused by the explosion of a
floating submarine mine under the forward
port #ide of the ship. Opinions differ as
to whether this mine was made of high
explosives, such as wet and dry gun cot
ton, or ordinary- powder. Opinions agree,
not only as to the existence of mines in
the harbor, !>ut also that this one was laid
purposely near the buoy where foreign
war vessels were directed to moor, and
was fired by- a flash from an electric bat
tery on shore.
It believed barely possible that the ex
plosion of the Maine was the result of
carelessness or ignorance of Spanish offi
cers in charge of Ihe mine station keys
when testing the circuit, but the latter
supposition is not felt to be probable. It is
further regarded as settled by the evi
dence before the court that the port side
of the hull forward was completly blown
to pieces, and that the only explosion on
the Maine, except of isolated cases of fix
ed ammunition was that of 2,000 pounds of
saluting powder, stored forward and of
which no trace can be found. These views
are fathered from officers who talk with
great secrecy and only upon the assurance
that their identity will never lye revealed.
The fact remains that only the members
of the court of Inquiry know all the tes
timony elicited and no one is authorized
to make public matter in advance of the
final judgment.
A good deal of surprise was expressed
by Americans here at learning that Span
ish divers were to be permitted to make an
examination of the wreck of the Maine,
especially as It was also said that Ameri
can naval officers would give such divers
'hll Jorrtlßlenf faetti'ieß and would throw
no obstacles in the way of thorough sub
marine inspection. It w-as not at first un
derstood, as it came to be later, that the
Spanish search was to be entirely inde
pendent and that, while it was being made
the American investigation would proceed
under Capt. Sigsbee’s supervision. As un
derstood here, the Spanish request made
Immediately after disaster for a joint inves
tigation was promptly refused at Wash
ington, and after a cabinet consultation
it was agreed that the Spaniards had a
moral and international right to discover
the cause of the wreck for themselves if
possible. Therefore, permission for an in
dependent examination was granted on
the ground, as understood here, that it
could not be refused to a friendly i>ower
in her own harbor. That t..e permission
was not accorded until after the court of
inquiry had finished Us work here and
gone to Key West is regarded as signifi
cant. It opens a wide field for specula
tion.
Some assert that the court now has no
objection to a Spanish inquiry for one of
two reasons: Either the court has suffi
cient evidence already of accidental or
maljce—evidence that cannot be contro
verted by the Spaniards, or after a dili
gent search, the mystery remains as deep
as ever, and the court does not think the
Spanish will reach a conclusion where the
Americans have failed.”
Of course all this refers principally to in
spection of parts of the ship other than
the hull. Until the guns, decks, engines
and debris of all kinds have been removed
and the mud has been/ pumped from the
hull, it cannot lye examined thoroughly by
any one. Some good authorities think it
will be necessary to build a cofferdam
around the wreck, piles being driven, etc.
That any important testimony before the
court has found its way to the public is
very unlikely. Some of the witnesses have
told certain correspondents of alleged testi
mony, but in every case Investigation has
showed their stories to be wildly improb
able and controverted by known facts or
else absolutely irrelevant. Some of the
correspondents have tried to extract In
formation from members of the court or
from naval witnesses by putting what were
deemed by the questioners clever hypo
thetical interrogatories. But the
questioners were not experts In naval
chitecture and the questioned were. So
the result was unsatisfactory. Probably
the court knew before it left Havana for
Key West whether the ten-inch maga
zine on the starboard forward did or did
not explode, but the members nor divers
gave no sign. Doubtless even the contrac
tors for the removal of the inner debris
and the raising of the hull do not fully ap
preciate the difficulties to be encountered.
Certainly the tug Right Arm has been of
little value thus far, her captain not hav
ing sufficient authority until Monday to
employ the necessary help or to hire the
needed lighters.
While criticising the naval divers for
their slowness, it must be remembered
that the case Is grim, dangerous and diffi
cult work. In muddy, foul water, through
a mass of riven steel, bent iron, shattered
grains and ladders, over upturned hatches,
heaped up coal, scattered ammunition,
guns, chests, machinery and electric wires,
they must make or cut their way.
They must exercise great care lest their
air tubes bo severed by sharp projections.
Already many have had bad falls in Die
uncertain light and difficult passages.
Nothing need be retract.-.., however,
from the former statement that all ihe
haste possible is greatly to be desired. The
huge weight of the wreck Gauged it to sink
dally deeper into the soft mud of the har
bor, making the task of raising the vessel
more herculanean.
While no outsider is allowed on the
wreck, the patrol lines are not so rigid as
formerly, and the boats of visitors are
allowed to sail close to the upheaved mass
of debris.
The question is frequently asked: “Are
Americans in danger in Havana?” The
only truthful answers are given by a well-
informed, resident or American, official
or layman, is “We think we don’t know.”
Of course Spanish officials who will talk
on the subject deprecate all Idea of dan
ger, but they are as much in the dark as
the resident.
A well informed Cuban of high social
position, and on good terms with the gov
ernment, said to-night to the corresiond
enl of the Associated Press: “Of course
In the low dives and saloons there are
constant boasts by irresponsible persons
as to what they intend to do to Ameri
cans, but these people are only dangerous
in case riotous demonstrations come
from other quarters, sueh, for in
stance, as the volunteers. In the
ten years war the volunteers shoi many
innocent people and were controlled with
difficulty; but It seems probable that dis
satisfaction is more likely to l>e manifest
ed later against the autonomists or against
Gen. Blanco and his staff th in against the
Americans, since the impression is dally
stronger thut only a short time will elapse
before Cuba will lx- annexed, or under the
protection of the United Stales.”
There are no signs of a demonstration
against the Americans, and stories to the
contrary thus Tar are without foundation.
Still, Havana is no place just now for
those without the calls of business or duly.
The season is inclement and the variations
of temperature and sudden and violent,
causing much sickness, especially the
griD. j
All Idea of censorship is so foreign to
the American mind that an American can
scarcely appreciate the difficulty of send
ing news from Havana. The Spaniards
seem equally unable to understand why
censorship Is not exercised in the United
States. Ono experience will serve as an
illustration of others of daily occurrence.
A correspondent prepared an early bulle
tin for cabling, giving such routine ihcts
as could be gathered before eight in the
morning in a city where the official busi
ness of the day begins at 10 o’clock or lat
er. Sickness happened to deprive him of
his interpreter, and he tried to get the dis
patch “stamped” by the censor In the
original English. The regular censor
happened to be ill and Commandant Nore
na was acting In his place. Norena, who
does not know a word of English, declined
to give his approval until the dispatch wns
shown him in Spanish. The correspondent
hunted someone up whom, he could trust
and finally secured a apn nlsh version. No-*
rena scrutinized It carefully, crossed out
sentences perfectly harmless, hut which
appeared to him to contain a double mean
ing, and after emasculating the dispatch
stamped the Spanish version.
The correspondent took the English and
Spanish copies to the cable offices, where
they were compared by the officers, who
are responsible for their perfect agreement.
The dispatch finally approved, ns butcher
ed, was then sent. Time consumed, two
hours and forty minutes.
PUBLICITY OF ALL INFORMATION.
Secretary Alger Declares That All
New* Is Given to tlie Public.
Washington, March 2.—The Washington
Tost will to-morrow print the following
interview with Secretary of War Alger:
“The statement of Secretary Long that
Spain’s official participation in the disaster
to the Maine had been practically eliminat
ed w-as merely an expression of personal
opinion on his part. It Is an Injustice to
him, as w-ell as to the administration, to
give an official significance to his expres
sion when ho was particular at the time, to
emphasize the fact (hat he was speaking'
slmpiy as an individual. In the absence of
official facts— and I can repeat what has
been said heretofore, that the public is
equally as well informed as the govern
ment—no member of the administration
can, of course, make an official declaration
touching Spain’s responsibility, moral
or otherwise. There is not an iota of in
formation as to the cause or origin of the
explosion upon which the government can
at this time form a conclusion or base a
decision. The verdict of the court of in
quiry on that point must be patiently
awaited.”
Beyond this Secretary Alger would not
be quoted, but he authorized the Post to
state that most positively no official in
formation was being withheld from the
public; that the administration was ad
hering strictly to the publicity adopted by
Secretary Ixing, with the approval of the
President, at the start, to give the fullest
possible publicity to the facts coming offi
cially to the department bearing upon the
loss of the Maine end the 250 brave sea
men.
ROBBERS SHOW FIGHT.
Slierl IT Cook’s Weapon AVn* the
Surer, nnd He Conquered.
Welch, W. Va., March 2.—Two unknown
men held up George Ray at Northfork
Junction last night, and knocked him
down, and beat his head to a pulp wilh
a piece of railroad iron. It is thought rob
bery was their purpose. Ray cannot re
cover, and has been unconscious since the
occurrence. He cannot describe his assail
ants.
To-day Joseph Cadle, Dave Reid and
Tom Cadle have been arrested on the
charge of attempting to rob Jackson Soles
bury on Barker’s ridge, near here. When
an attempt was made to apprehend the
trio Tom Cadle resisted arrest, pulling
his revolver from his pocket, leveling it
nt SherifT Cook, and snapped the trigger,
but it failed to discharge. Cook drew his
pistol and shot Cadle through the right
wrist, knocking the weapon out of his
hand. The three young men are of good
families. Their preliminary examination
will be held to-morrow.
MAKING READY FOB WAR.
I‘enee Envoy* Unsuccessful AA’lth
t *ta Rica and Nicaragua.
Colon, Colombia, March 2.—The arrivals
from Limon, Costa Rica, to-day. report
that preparations for war with Nicaragua
are rapidly advancing. Men are enlist
ing and troops have already been ordered
to the frontier.
The mission of the Guatemala peace en
voys to the two governments have thus
far been unsuccessful.
THE AUSTRALIA’S NARROW ESCAPE
The llrltlsli Cruiser Saved From aa
Explosion by Prompt Flooding.
■Portsmouth, March 2.—The British first
class armored cruiser Australia, twelve
guns, 5,600 tons, coast guardshlp in South
ampton waters, had a narrow escape to
day. Two seamen were playing with a
fuse In the sheil room, when they set fire
to some stores. The flames were extin
guished by the prompt flooding of the
apartment.
RELIEF FOR RECONCENTRADOS.
THE MONTGOMERY AND NASHVILLE
TO TRANSPORT SUPPLIES.
Donations From the Charitable Peo
ple of the United States—Order*
DispnleUed to Admiral Sienrd to
Pat the Ship* In Readiness—The
Montgomery to Land nt Matnnaan
and the Nashville nt Sagua la
Grande—Neither to \ isit Hnxaun.
Relations Between the Navy lie
partment and House Nnvnl Com
mittee Declared Harmonious.
Washington, March 2.—The decision of
the navy department to send two ships io
Cuba with supplies for the suffering reeon
eentrados caused some commotion in offi
cial circles to-day until the real purpose
of the visit of the ships came out. The
cruiser Montgomery and the gunboat
Nashville were selected for the purpose and
orders sent ttj Admiral Sicard to put them
In shape for the required service. It is
explained at the navy department that this
action was taken at the Instance of the
Cuban Relief Association, organized
through the efforts of the state deport
ment for the relief of the destitute non
combatants in Cuba, It was reported to
the department that great distress prevails
among the people in Ihe vicinity of Buffua
la Grande and Mantanzas on the north
coast of the island ami that considerable
difficulty Is experienced In sending supplies
there because of the Infrequent visits of
the merchant ships. On this account, and
because of immediate demand for supplies
at points indicated, the officers of the as
sociation requested the Secretary of the
Navy to authorize the use of one or more
of the warships at Key West In the trans
portation there of food supplies contribut
ed by the charitable people of the United
States in response to the appeals of Presi
dent McKinley and Secretary Sherman.
Secretary Long conferred with the Pres
ident on the subject, and decided to com
ply with Ihe request. The Montgomery
and the Nashville were selected as most
suitable for the service, and the necessary
orders were dispatched to Admiral Sic
ard. The Montgomery will go to Matanzas
and the Nashville to Sagua la Grande
with the understanding that they will re
main in those ports only long enough to
deliver the supplies to the agents of the
association for distribution, where they
will do the most good.
Although the mission assigned to the
warships will take them both within a
short distance of Havana, estimated at
from two to four hoars, It is stated that
neither vessel will visit the Cffban capital.
To remove the impression that had got
ten abroad, to the effect that the relations
between ,the navy department and the
House naval committee were not harmo
nious, Secretary Long this afternoon made
a short statement on the subject. He said:
“Congressman Boutelle has been misun
derstood. The congressman, who is one of
the most patriotic men In the world, is
always ready to do everything that can
be done for the navy. In his annual re
port the secretary recommended that 1,500
men be added to the enlisted force on ac
count of the increase in the number of
ships. The naval committee, of which Mr.
Boutelle Is chairman, has alreudy decided
to grant this increase in the regular naval
a;.propnation bill. Meantime, if there
should be any immediate necessity lor
more men. the same committee and Mr.
Boutelle as Us chairman, are ready to
make provision to that effect at once.”
A cablegram cume from Oen. Lee dur
ing Ihe day to the state department, but
it made no reference to the Maine affair,
being devoted vo the periodical slatem- nt
of the amount of tobacco that is being
shipped from Cuba to United States ports,
thus giving evidence of the actual removal
of the ex|>ort prohibition decree. The tele
gram was as follows: “Filler lobaocw, Feb.
26, 72 bales, Tampa; 22 Key West, 581 Chi
cago, 10 Milwaukee; 28th, 284 New York.”
A commander for the monitor Minanton-
omah, which was ordered into commission
yesterday, was selected in the person of
Capt. Mortimer Johnson, jpho is at present
on waiting orders. Secretary Long said
the Miantonomah, with the ram Katah
din, will remain in the Delaware for the
present at least. With the commissioning
of these two vessels there remains only the
cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis on the
Atlantic coast available for immediate
service In case the department should de
cide to commission more ships. The At
lanta, at New York, could be ready for
use In three or four months, and Ihe Chi
cago In six months In case emergency or
ders for their repair were issued. There
are a number of good ships on the Pa
cific coast, however, whose repair Is un
der way, such ns the Charleston, the Phil
adelphia, the Yorktown and others, and
the payrolls of the construction bureau at
the Mare Island navy yard has now
amounted to the large total of 106,090 per
month for wages alone.
The navigation bureau are still busy
with the preparation of the death certifi
cates for the families of the victim* of
the Maine disaster. Capt. Hawley, who
has the matter Immediately In charge,
says that owing to necessary formalities,
these certificates cannot be Issued before
March 15, and this answer is returned to
numerous letters daily received at the de
partment.
■lt Is said In the navigation bureau, that
there is a pressing need of able machin
ists for the navy, caused by the heretofore
unnoted fact, that every one of the ma
chinists OQ the Maine lost their lives in
the explosion. Moreover, all the firemen
but one was killed. The bureau has in
vited enlistments from men who have had
naval service before in the engine rooms,
and, It Is said that a number of these* men
are now enjoying the three months period
of time between enlistments, during which
they may come again into naval sendee
without loss of service record, it Is hoped
that some of them will come forward to
fill the places made vacant by the Maine
disaster.
■Sir Julian Pauncefotc came to the state
department to-day bearing one of the for
mal expressions of deep condolence and
sympathy with the government over Ihe
loss of the Maine thfK have come now
from every one of the British colonies.
This latest message w-as as follows:
“Washington, Feb. 21. 1898.—Sir: At the
request of Sir Alfred Maloney. Governor
of the Windward Islands, I have the honor
io convey the heartfelt sympathy of that
colony with the government and people
of tho United States in the loss sustained
through the explosion on board the Maine.
I have the honor, etc.,
"Julian Pauncefote."
There is no unusual stir of activity
about tho bureaus of the quartermaster
general or tho commissary general of the
army, where more than anywhere else the
preparations for a warlike emergency
would be apparent. The officers of these
bureaus say no accumulation of additional
supplies is taking place, and that no" eon
tracts for extra supplies are In contem
plation. In the ordnance bureau the plac
ing of a large order for projectiles Is Jhe
result of talks between Secretary Alger,
Senator Hawley of the Senate committee
on military affairs, arid representatives of
the llouso military committee. It was
made clear to the secretary that it was a
certainty appropriations would be forth
coming, and It was deemed the part of
wisdom to make the contract now, as the
supplies would not be In hand for tome
months.
Although the navy department had no re
ports from Havana or Key West, a dis
patch announcing the departure of the
cruiser Brooklyn from Santa Lucia for l,a
Gtiayra had some indirect significance in
further removing one of the larger vessels
of the navy from what has thus far been
the common center of naval activity ut
Key West. The Brooklyn will make a
short stop at La Gtiayra and will then
proceed further southward.
MiBHAL SAII.S FOR SPAIN.
Many of the Spanish Colony Hid Illin
farewell.
New York, March I.—Lieutenant Com
mander Sobral. former naval allHChe of
the Spanish legation In Washington, sail
ed to-day on the steamer La Hretagne, of
the French line, for Havre.
Many members of I lie Spanish colony in
New r Vork were at the pier to bid him
farewell.
In anticipation of Lieutenant Command
er Sobral’s departure, the Junta Pntrlotlca
Kspanol sent a cablegram to the minister
of the navy In Madrid as follows: “The
Junta Patrlodca Kspanol of the United
States regrets tho departure of Lieutenant
Commander Sobral. His patriotic and
valuable services are highly appreciated
by the Spanish colony.”
To-day a member of the Spanish junta
handed to Lieut. Sobral the reply of the
minister of the navy. It read us follows:
“I have to thank you fop your tele
gram regarding Lieutenant Commander
Sobral. whose return to Spain has been
ordered, that he may render hts service.”
Just before boarding La. Bre
tagne, Lieutenant Commander So
bral said to a representative
of the Associated Press, that he has born
misunderstood. ”1 have no remorse," he
said. “My conscience la clear. I sail con
tented.”
REPORT LACKS VERIFICATION.
No Assnrmiee Thut Spain Has lloualif
Three Chilian Warships.
London, March 2.—lt is impossible to
verify the report I hat Spain has raised the
necessary funds for the purchase of Hire*
Chilian warships, which are said to have
I sen on the market for Home time. The
Spanish government naturally will not
admit that It has ever lacked the funds to'
purchase necessary ships and nothing Is
known here officially or it) shipbuilding
circles. The Armstrongs, who are build
ing the three battleships, have heard noth
ing of the rejiort.
TRIAL OF SHERIFF MARTIN,
The Cross Examination of the De
fendant lies u med.
Wllkesbarre, Pa., March 2.—The cross
examination of Sheriff Martin was resum
ed when court met this morning.
The main jxdnt established wns that the
witness denied making the remurk after
the shooting, that he had merely taken a
hand “in the matter as plain James Mar
tin, und not as the sheriff of Luzerne coun
ty." *
Samuel Price, a contractor anil commis
sion merchant of liazejton, who was one
of the deputies, corroborated Sheriff Mar
tin’s testimony. He told of the disorderly
conduct of the strikers and said that one
of them iiad lired a pistol at him on the
fatal morning A moment later, the shoot
ing commenced. He heard no order given
to fire.
LAric Pardee Platt of Hazelton, manager
of the Pardee department, store, gave a
clear and detailed description of the whole
affair. lie' was one of the deputies and
told how the property owners In Hazelton
and vicinity appointed special watchmen
to guard their properties at night from
the riotous mob of strikers, and how they
purchased ICO St<rlngtleld rifles and breech
loading shotguns for these watchmen.
These were the arms that were afterward
given to the deputies. The witness saw
fhe sheriff halt the strikers at Lattimer
on Sept. 10 and advise them to disperse,
Tho sheriff was knocked to his knees and
pummelled by the strikers, some of whom
flourished revolvers and knives and tried
to kill him. The witness left the deputies,
rushed to the sheriff's rescue and tried to
stop the strikers, but his gun would not
work. The rest of the strikers rushed to
ward the deputies. While the witness
tried to rescue the sheriff he heard a shot
and then came the volley. There was no
shooting after the volley and the strik
ers scattered. The witness did not shoot
a nil does not know who gave the order to
fire.
A. M. Hess, a civil engineer of Hazel
ton. who commanded Company A of the
deputies, corroborated Platt.
Mt ROBBER SHOT HV A MOH.
Ilnil Killed Ills Man and Placed His
Hoily on n Huilrond Track.
Memphis, Tenn., March 2.—Fred Moore,
the murderer of Tom Anderson, was
taken from the county Jail at Senatobla,
Miss., at 2:20 o'clock this morning and
shot to death by a mob of fifty persons.
Anderson and Moore had quarreled about
some trivial mutter. Moore followed his
man and shot him five timed, afterward
placing the body on the railroad track to
hide the crime.
There wore several witnesses, however,
and soon Moore was behind the bars. The
lynching caused little excitement.
The Inter-Ocean’s Prayer Denied.
Chicago, March 2.—The application of
the Inter-Ocean for on injunction to re
strain the Associated Press from cutting
off Us news Fervlce to that paper, was de
nied by Judge Waterman to-4ay.
f DAILY. 110 A YKAB.
J 6 CENTS A COPY.
( WEEKLY 2-TIME3-A-WEKK $1 A YSAIf
CARVALHO ON CHIROGRAPHY.
THE EXPERT PRONOUNCES SEVER.
AL SIUNATt It EH EOHUERIES.
A New Line of Evidence Introdnceit
in the t arter Court-Martial—M. A,
Connolly Alleged to Have Signed
a Number of Documents for Oth
er Pnrlles—Evidence Introduced!
Shows a Hnthcr Complicated State
of Affairs—Prospects Still Slim of
Securing the Testimony Wanted
From Hank Officials.
New York, March 2.—C01. Barr, tho
Judge Advocate, branched out upon a news
line to-day, Jntroducing some expert tea.
Ilmony on handwriting, which would h&va
Interested Savannah audiences.
Heretofore none of Cupt. Carter'* orig
inal checks have gone In evidence, but to
day Col. Barr got eleven of the original*
before the court from ex-Bub-Treasurer C.
N. Jordan for the purpose of having in evi
deuce the signatures In the indorsements.
These, with a large number of proposals,
contracts, bills, etc., which hava
been put in evidence, wera
submitted to David N. Carvalho,the hand
writing expert, last Friday, and he ap
peared In court with twenty photographic!
copies of these documents for the purpose
of showing a comparison of the hand
writings. The bid of the Savannah
Dredging Company for dredging on the
big contract of 1892 was compared with
that of P. Sanford Roes, who got the
work. It will be remembered President
Jacob Raulsen and Mr. McCauley said the
fluvannah Dredging Company bid was
prepared In their office by one of ths
clerks, and Col. Barr endeavored to show
that prices In the two bids were written
by the same person. Mr. Carvalho, afteA
chemical tests, said the ink In which tha
price was put in was the same in both.
He would not say the words were written
by the same person.
The other feature of tho day was the
study In handwriting Mr. CarValho furn
ished from M. A. Connally's writing. The
witness said tho signatures of Edward H.
Gaynor on the fifteen bills for Savannah
harbor and Cumberland sound work for
189(1, the signatures of Anson M. Bangs
on similar bills for Cumberland sound In
1894, and those of William T. Gaynor, as
a witness to several papers, were all for
geries and Imitations of the genuine slg
natuses, and that they were all written
by M. A. Connolly. In every instance,
however, except one, the signatures on the
receipts for the money were genuine,, tho
exception being a signature of Anson M.
Bangs, which, he said, was written by Mr.
Connolly. Each member of the court was
furnished with a set of photographic cop
ies of the papers for comparison during
the toutlme-.iv. The defense will cross-ex
amine the altness to-morrow. They say
they do not consider that this evidence
hurts Cupt. Carter, because they said ho
had not been connected with these mat
ters.
Bo far ns can be learned, the prosecu
tion is no nearer securing the testimony
of the bunk officials, which the court came
here for. than was the case a day or two
ago. The spread l hat is being given to the
evidence has made them more reluctant
than ever to testify, though they will have
to go on the stand and refuse.
When the sessions of the court will end
here Is still a matter of uncertainty. The
officers of the court are subservient to
the calls of duty; nevertheless, they have
no objection to remaining for some days in
New York. If. however, after two or
three days of sitings they find that the
Judge Advocate has failed to secure the
evidence desired here. It is probable they
will adjourn to meet in Savannah next
week.
The officers and others Interested in the
court martial are not quartered together,
but are all In different parts of the city.
Gen. Dlls Is at the Genlac, Majors Wood
ruff and Patton are at home on Gover
nor’s Island, Maj. Tlernon is at the Neth
erlands, and the other members of tha
court are scattered over the city. Col.
Barr und Capt. McClure, his assistant,
are at the old Astor House. "We wanted
to get Just as near the armory building as
possible,” Col. Barr said. Capt. Gillette
is at the Army and Navy Club. Capt.
Carter, Mr. Blair and Mr. Charlton are at
the Aibermarle, though their headquarter*
during the day are. In the office of Mr.
Hosts In the Equitable building, 'way
down town.
The prosecution Is under the Impression
that those Interested In the defense hava
posted the officers of the Union Trust
Company and Knickerbocker Trust
Company upon the subject of testifying
before a court martial, and that this is
the reason for their refusal. The defense,
of course, asserts that this is not the
case. People not interested in the case
one way or another say these corporations
never testify or give any Information re
garding their business transactions wltti
clients unless absolutely compelled
to do so. New Yorkers say that should
these concerns divulge business affairs
except where forced to do so, they might
as well close their doors.
Capt. carter and his friends hftve not de
nied, so far as known, that he spent, with
in the last few years several times tho
amount of his salary. That question has
not yet come before the court, but It Is
presumed that thut Is the point, or one of
the points, upon which the testimony of
the banking officials was desired.
There has already been some mention of
the exjuenses Capt. Carter is under In tho
ease, it being reported that It Is something
like SIOO or S6OO a day. It is said this trip
to New York will cost him something like
$5,060 more than would have been the case
had the court remained in Savannah.
It appears, however, that the prosecu
tion expects to develop some important
testimony in the cose here, and there la
no doubt every effort will be made to get
at what Is desired. The court, as has been
stated, can compel the attendance of a
witness though It cannot compel him to
testify. Col. Barr will give no Informa
tion in advance of his actions before the
court. There la no Idea, however, that
he expects to summon any member of tho
Atlantic Contracting Company. J. K. l.
New York, March 2.—The court martial
convoked to try Capt. O. M. Carter of tho
Corpo of Engineers, United States Arifiy,
on charges of conspiracy, embezzlement
(Continued on Fifth Page.)