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Chronicle VOL. II. PRESIDENT REFUSES REQUEST TO ALLOW CO-OPERATION. WILL INVESTIGATE INDEPENDENTLY Americans Must Do the Work First; Af terward Spain May Make an Ex amination of Maine's Hull. President McKinley had a confer ence with Secretary Long of the navy department, and Assistant Secretary of State Day Saturday morning in re gard to the formal request of the Span ish government at Havana to be allow ed to co-operate with tho United States government in the investigation of the wreck of the Maine and its surround ings. The decision reached by the president and his advisers was that no objection will be made to tlie Spanish authorities making an investigation, but that the United States would make its own investigation and its own report. The president’s reply sent through Assistant Secretary Day means that this government will insist upon its rights to say for itself, on the testi mony of its own citizens, what caused the. great disaster which has brought two nations to the very brink of war— to say whether it shall mean war or peace. The president also decided that the United States would act independent' ly in regard to the court of inquiry and would conduct the report inde pendent of other authorities. Favorable Comment Produced. The president’s position has called forth favorable comment on all sides. Of course it is nothing more than ho should have done, nothing more than he is bound in honor to do. At first it was feared that because the harbor where the ship lies is Span ish grounds the president would be in clined to accede to the request of the Spau|sh officials. But it was so clearly shown to him that the control of the ship and every thing belonging to it .is under the ex tra territorial rights of the United States that the president was strength ed in his position against allowing tL i Spanish government to participate ifi the investigation. ATTRIBUTED TO SUBMARINE MINE Well Known Newspaper Correspondent Presents Proof of Foul Play. A cable \c from Sylvester Scovel to The New k Evening World under Saturday’s date from Havana, via Key W est, says: “The concensus of opinion of those who have studied the wreck closest is now that the explosion was caused by a submarine mine. The forward mag azine, it is now generally supposed, is intact, also the forward six-iuch mag azines. “This leaves only a few saluting charges and a few small caliber shells in the pilot house ivhich could possi bly have exploded aboard tho ship.” “At the same time the fearful dam age is too big for any but an extremely large torpedo. divers will “If it was a torpedo the find the torpedo fragments, hut if it were a submarine mine no traces would be found: “All the American officers are inter nally boiling. There is not one of them, from Captain Sigsbee down, who is not firmly convinced a government submarine mine did it. “The Spanish dailies are loudly clamoring ‘Accident, accident,’ when evsn now the fact is known that the whole middle deck, which was blown straight up, never had an ounce of ship’s powder under it, aud that was where the first blaze was seen.” THE WEEK IN CONGRESS. A Number of Important Measures To Be Considered In tlie Senate. A Washington dispatch says: The diplomatic and consular and the mili tary academy appropriation bills will be considered and passed by tbe sen ate during tlie coming week. There will be more or less debate in execu tive session of the Hawaiian annexa tion treaty and speeches will be made on the claim of Air. Corbett to a seat in the senate on the appointment of the governor of Oregon. NEW TRIAL DENIED In the Case of Sausagemaker I.uctgert Convicted of Wife Murder. A motion for a new trial was made at Chicago Saturday on behalf of Lnetgert, the sausage manufacturer, sentenced to life imprisonment for wife murder, The courtroom was crowded. Luetgert apparently was far from hopeful. His attorneys attacked the court, claiming that the jurors had been prejudiced by Judge Gary’s re marks. Counsel gave twenty-three other reasons of a technical nature why a new trial should be granted. Judge Gary, however, denied the motion and formally sentenced Lnet to life imprisonment. ABBEVILLE. GA.. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24. 1898. SPANISH CRUISER AT NEW YORK. (extraordinary Precaution* Taken lty Offl eluls For Her Protection* The Spanish armored cruiser Viscaya is in New York waters on a “friendly visit.” She dropped her big anchors live miles south of Sandy Hook light house at 5:30 p. m., Friday, after a thirteen day voyage from the Canary islands. When her officers and men learned Ihe startling news of the disaster to the American battleship Maine in Havana harbor and of the downfall of former Minister DeLorne, they broke into a wild uproar of talk. For u time all discipline on the great ship seemed to vanish to tho winds. Men rushed below to tell their com rades in the lower decks. Rear Admiral Bunce has given liual instructions to Lieutenant John A. Dougherty, who will have charge of the patrol tugs, six in number,to guard the Spanish cruiser during her stay-in the vicinity. board, while Each boat is to have on on watch, four murines, and one non commissioned officer of marines, a roundsman and four policemen of the metropolitan force. patrol While on duty tho boats will the waters carefully iu the vicinity of the visiting Spaniard, and no boat or person will be allowed to approach the Viscaya without the sanction of the commanding officer of that vessel. At night it is intended to keep tiie Viscaya brilliantly illuminated with electric lights, and the watch boats will be also well lighted so that there can be no possible means of approach ing the vessel without detection. ALL FAVOR (1001) ROADS. People of Alabama Have Been Spurred Up by Anniston Convention. The good roads convention at An niston, Ala., has, at least, served one good purpose. It has directed the at tention of the people of Alabama to fact that they are far behind the march of progress iu the matter of good roads, and it has set them to talking about the best meaus to remedy the existing difficulty. It was a noticeable fact that the words of county commissioners of at least three-fourths of the counties in the state were represented at the meet ing. These boards have in charge the public roads of their respective coun ties. These commissioners went to Anniston for instruction and informa tion; while there they swapped expe riences. They took dots as to the best methods of drainage, etc. They found that lands in the coun ties having good systems of roads were worth twice as much as the lands in the muddy counties. Alany of them were heard to say that they proposed to return to their homes and insist on the building of good roads at almost any cost. The convention resolved to demand some good roads legislation from the next general assembly and appointed a committee to consider the formula tion of a code of good roads laws. It is evident that the impiovement of the public highways will he a popular issue in the next state campaign. HANCOCK SAID “NIT.” President of Atlantic amt North Carolina Railway Refused to Resign. A Raleigh, N. C., dispatch says: President Robert Hancock, of the Atlantic and North Carolina railway, went to see Governor Russell Friday and urged the latter not to take up the matter of his removal from office until Alay, on the ground that it might prej udice his interest iu the ten-thousand dollar damage suit against him by the mother of the girl he is alleged to have enticed to her downfall. The governor said he would not de lay. He asked Hancock if he would resign. Hancock said, “No.” The governor then said that the de lay until February 22d in taking action was to give Hancock an opportunity to resign. Hancock said, “I swear I will never resign.” ' Then said the governor, “I will dis miss you.” Hancock repented his words, “I will never resign, ” and added that the courts will have to oust him. The governor at once called the board of internal improvements together and ousted him as director. To be president one lias to he a di rector. The directors will oust him aud end the matter. CARTER’S PRIVATE LETTERS Are Iti'ounlit Out In Evidence at the Coxirtmartlal. A Savannah dispatch says: The fea ture in tbe Carter couvttnarttal Friday was the introduction in evidence of u number of personal letters written by Captain Carter to Captain Green, a member of tbe Atlantic Contracting company. All were written prior to 1890. One referred to a certain marble quarry, another was about a patent pneumatic jack for stowing cotton which Carter seemed to want Green and J. F. Gayuor to go into. An account shewing that in 1886 Captain Carter borrowed $1,600 from Green was also read. THE FUNERAL PROCESSION WAS LAllUE AND VERY IMPRESSIVE. CITIZENS TURNED OUT EN MASSE To Show Respect to the American Head. All Civil and Military OftlciaU Took Part. The interment of the martyrs of tho Maine took placo nt Havana Thursday afternoou. The flags on tho public buildings were at half-mast and mauy of the houses were draped in mourning. All classes were represented in the throngs that filled the streets along which tho funeral procession passed to the cemetery. The funeral cortege started from tho principal entrance of the city hall on Weyler street. lined The population that the route gave every indication of the profound est respect. General Blanco witnessed the pass ing of the funeral procession from the balcony of the palace. The entire ceremony was a most impressive de monstration of sympathy. Very elaborate preparations were made for the interment of the dead. In the morning twenty-two bodies were carried to the city hall, where they rested in coffius covered with beautiful crowns of silk ribbons, with appropriate inscriptions. The crown from the city council boro the inscrip tion: “The people of Havana to the vic tims of the Alaine.” There was a handsome crown of silk ribbons in tlie Spanish national colors with the inscription: “The navy department at Havana to the victims of the Maine.” All the civil, military and state offi cials and thousands of the citizens of Havana followed the remains to tho cemetery and took part in the exer cises. Wounded Doing Well. The correspondent of the Associated Press visited tlie hospitals of San Am brosio and the Alfonso XIII during the day and met Aliss Clara Barton and John EUvell, of the Rod Cross Society. Tho scene was heart-break ing. Borne of the men, however, are already much better. sent Captain General Blanco has to tlie Spanish charge d’affaires at Wash ington a cable message on behalf of the colonial government requesting him to tender to President AIcKinley the condolences of the cabinet upon the terrible disaster that destroyed the United States warship Alaine, request ing him, moreover, to “tender our pro found sympathy to tlie American gov ernment aud.assurances of how deeply we regret that this port should bo the witness of such a tremendous accident to the American navy.” The following cablegram from Cap tain Sigsbee, dated nt Havana, was received Thursday evening by the secretary of the navy: “Twenty-seven will he buried this afternoon, twenty-five found in the harbor and two died iu hospital. “The following only can lie recog nized: “Dierking, drummer; J. S. Graham, AV. S. Tinsman, landsmen; Brown, sergeant of marines; Nero, chief ma chinist; Keys, ordinary seaman; O. Sheridan, Gaffney, Cosgrove, Seary, firemen; Golpine, marine; Ivaiica, coal passer; J. Smith, seaman.” GOVERNMENT FOR ALASKA. Plan. For Organization of tlie Territory Under AVuy. A Washington dispatch says: Sena tor Carter, from the senate committee ou public lands,has reported favorably the house bill granting right of way to railroads and extending the homestead laws in Alaska, with amendments by the senate committee. The amendments of the senate limit to forty acres the amountof land to Vie taken unless the land is distinctly ag ricultural, the object Leing to prevent a monopoly by any individual of valu able sites. No homestead title shall limit or abridge tlie free navigation of tlie waters of tlie territory. Purchase of land for canneries or trading pur poses are limited to forty acres. MAY VET BE WAR. Excitement Over Blowing Up of the Maine Grows More Intense. While official Washington is extend ing to the Alaine disaster that sus pension of judgment for which Cap tain Sigsbee has asked in his official declaration, the situation becomes more aud more intense. Nine-tenths of those in authority who expressed an opion on the quiet have come to the positive belief that it is only a question of a very short time before Spanish responsibility for the horror that has shocked the world is made manifest, und tho conviction is supplemented by another-—that tho end of all is sure to be war. SENATOR MASON DEMANDS AN JM MEDIATE INVESTIGATION. fl SENSATIONAL DEBATE ENSUES. Much Warm Talk Indulged In Republi cans Reply to Their Colleague From Illinois. A Washington special says: Iu the senate Friday Mr. Mason offered a resolution for an investigation of the Maine disaster providing for a private committee to make an investigation. Air. Hale asked that the matter he not pushed. Air. Alason, iu reply, said that it was' evident that facts in regard to Cuba were being concealed from the people of the country and from cou gress. Air. Alason said that the policy of the government was delay, and noth ing was stopping the murder of people in Cuba. The DeLorne letter had not stopped the murders. The Afaine disaster had not stopped them. It was time for the senate to act. Air. Alason said he did not want tho facts regarding the Maine locked up in the executive depart ments. Air. Alason said we had waited while the diplomats have deceived us. They had sat at our table and misrepresent ed the situation. Air. Mason said that while the diplomats delayed 250 of our brave seamen were iying in the harbor at Havana. Air. Alason said the American peo ple were tired of investigating behind closed doors, that with 250 seamen ly ing at the bottom of Havana harbor the people of the United States want ed to know whether she was blown up by her enemies or from spontaneous combustion. Air. Alason said that if it was found that the disaster was the result of an accident the people would be better satisfied if a committee of congress should find it so aud no barm would be done. Mr. Alason, referring to the DeLorne letter, said he thought every one would commend the president for the manner in which he handled a matter which was in part so personal to himself. Mr. Alason said that those who are so anxious to go slow iu the matter of the matter of the Alaine were defenders of DeLorne and had praised his wise statesmanship. president said Air. Alason said the iu his message that one reason why he had hesitated to interfere was because of tlie promise of autonomy, and yet, at the same time the Spaniards were denouncing the government. Air. Ala son said there should be American divers for the Alaine so that the truth could be told. He would not act upon an investigation committee, he said, because he wonld not sit at a table with a Spaniard unless he had a sti letto in his pocket. This caused a titter iu the senate. Senator Wolcott created a sensation in replying to Air. Alason. Air. Wol cott said the senator from Illinois had said the people were losing confidence in one of the great departments of the government, a statement that could not go unchallenged. Air. Ala son sought to interrupt Mr. Wolcott, hut the latter peremptorily declined to he interrupted aud insisted that the words be read. SECRETARY LONG CENSURED. MhcIi Resentment Felt Toward Him Be cause of His Attitude. A Washington special says: Resent ment is now felt toward Secretary Long that he should, without substan tial proof, insist upon giving out the theory that tlie disaster to the Alaine was the result of an accident. Iu the whole course of reasoning the assumption is that the Maine wns blown up by a torpedo. Congress men, nave 1 rfficers and other men in the government do not hesitate to ex press this belief, while tlie adminis tration, for fear of offending tbe Span ish, persists in giving out the contrary theory. The administration asks for a sus pension of judgement, while the sec retary of the navy forestalls that 8118 - pension by posting his opinion. TO DISMANTLE MAINE. Tlie Merritt Wrecking Company Mecure. Contract tor the Work, The Alerritt Wrecking company has been directed to send vessels to Ha vana for the purpose of performing the preliminary work of saving property pertaining to the Maine. Several telegiams were received by Secretary Long from other wrecking companies desiring to contract for raising the sunken battleship. It is believed generally by the naval offi cers in Washington that the proposi tion to raise the Alaine is quite feasi ble, unless the damage to her hull shall prove to be very exteuseve. MISS FRANCES WILLARl) DEAD. rresident of the W, C. T. IJ. raries Away Suddenly In New York. Miss Frances E. Willard, president of the Womau’s Christian Temperance Union, died shortly after midnight Friday night at the Hotel Empire in New York city. Miss Willard lias been ill for about three weeks with profound anemia, which was the direct cause of her death. Frances Elizabeth Willard was born in Churcbville, N. Y., September 28, 1839. She was graduated at North western Female college, Evanston, Ill., in 1859, becamo professor of nat ural science there in 1862 and was principal of Genessee Wesleyan semi navy in 1866-67. The following two years she spent in foreign travel, giv ing a part of the time to study in Paris and contributing to periodicals. Tn 1871-71 sho was professor of esthetics in Northwestern university and dean of the women’s college, where sho de veloped her system of self-government, which had been adopted by other ed ucators. Miss Willard left her profession in 1874 to identify herself with tho Wo mau’s Christian Temperance Union, serving as corresponding secretary of tho national organization until 1879, and since that date as president. As secretary she organized the home pro tection movement and sent an appeal from nearly 200,000 persons to the legislature of Illinois asking for the temperance ballot for women, At the death of her brother, Oliver A. Willard, she succeeded him as editor of Tho Chicago Evening Post. In 1880 she accepted the leadership of tli e White Cross movement in her own unions which had been establish ed through her influence in twelve states for the protection of women. In 1888 she was made president of the American branch of the Interna tional Council of Women and of tho World’s Christian Temperance Union, sho had founded live years before, and she was repeatedly re-elected. Resides many pamphlets and contri butions to magazines and the press, Miss Willard has published several volumes relating to temperance and other reforms. ANOTHER DISASTER AT HEA. Fifty VRHNoiiffli'N of a Tramp Steamer are Drowned. A special from Juneau, Alaska, drted February 12th, confirms the news of the loss of the steamer Clara Nevada. The cause of tho disaster was doubtless the explosion of her boilers. Of the fifty people on board none are believed to have been saved. The wreck was discovered by Customs In spector Marquam, at Juneau, who or dered the Bustler to the scene in Lynn canal, where a burning vessel had beeu seen. Wreckage bearing the name of the ill-fated vessel was found, but thero was nothing to show the identity of any of the passengers. The Clara Nevada was a tramp steamer, and as she was plying be tween United States ports she did not file her passenger list with the customs house officers. It was thought she carried about twenty passengers, of whom two or three were women. Several were hound for Juneau and the bulauce for Seat tie. BUTCHER YVEYLER TALKS. Ho Given His Views In Kegurd to Maine Disaster. Lieutenant General Weyler, who arrived at Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, expressed the opinion in the course of an interview that the disaster which had befallen the United States war ship Alaine in Havana harbor was “due to the indolence of her crew.” He announced his intention to ask the government’s stand permission to go to Havana and as a candidate fer tile chamber of deputies for the Havana district. HARBOR FULL OF TORPEDOES. Significant Letter Written By a Gunnel On tlie Maine. A special to tlie Detroit News from Bay City, Alieli., states that, u letter was received in that city Thursday Elmer Afeilstrup, gunner on board the battleship Alaine, dated February 11, in which Meilstrup wrote that lie would not he surprised ii they should be blown up any day, that the ship was surrounded with torpedoes and could not leave the har bor without consent and direction of tlie Spanish authorities. ILLINOIS STANDS READY. Governor Sends Message to Legislature Which Whs Applauded. Governor Tanner, of Illinois called on the legislature Thursday to author ize him to tender to tho president of the United States tho “moral and ma terial support” of Illinois, to “pre vent or punish any attempt at hostile invasion of otir country.” This aud he did in a message to the senate house. In the senate the message came as a profound suprise. While it was being read by the governor’s pri vata secretary, there was the deepest silence in the senate, and at its conclu sion there was a burst of applause from both sides. NO. 6. MANY BELIEVE THE MAINE EX PLOSION WAS NO “ACCIDENT.” NML MEN EXPRESS OPINIONS. Public Opinion Seem# to lie Crygtalizlng In the Belief That Wrecking of the Warship Wan By Duslffn. A Washington special of Wednesday says: It means a heavy indemnity or war with Spain, for there seems now no good reason to doubt that the ter rible tragedy that has cast a gloom over the nation was caused by Span isli treachery. Despite the strong efforts of those in authority to create a contrary im pression, the opinion that the Maine was wrecked by a Spanish torpedo, at first advanced with reluctance, has grown until it has become a convic tion. The best thought in the navy department now indorses this idea, and the construction which experts in these affairs put upon Captain Sigs bee’s cablegram seems to bear it out fully. All of the official utterances Lave been to the contrary. It Las been given out in a semi-official way that the president believes the wreck was duo to accident, and the officials of the navy department have been kept busy trying to put up a plausible story ou that line. At first the public was inclined to take that view of it. But since these first statements there have been others, from tho men whose views are valued most nt the navy department, which have thrown a dif ferent light on the situation; and in consequence of the belief that some Spaniard is responsible for the most terrible disaster that bus ever over taken this navy, or any other iu time of peace, the feeling in Washington is running high. Nobody believes that tho act was committed by authority of the Spanish government. But almost everybody now believes that the Maine was sent to the bottom by some Spaniard in consequence of the bitter anti American policy in Madrid and Ha vana, and that it was some man or men who had means of securing the deadly weapons which are made for harbor defense. Elaborate explanations are being made as to the manner of the “acci dent” that happened to the battle ship. Some of these are plausible, and are adhered to by those whose every breath is for peace at any cost. But under tho analysis of such men as Chief Navy Constructor Hicbhoru and other men high in knowledge of the affairs of our navy, these explanations vanish into thin air. It is the opinion of Commodore Hichborn that the “accident” that sent the Maine to the bottom was a torpedo, and that the investigation of the divers when they get to work will demonstrate his idea to be tho correct one. Torpedo Did tl»e Work. As to the theory of spontaneous combustion, Commodore Hichborn takes no stock in that. He says tlie character of the powder and other am munition arid the precautions taken to protect them all combine to render such an occurrence out of ihe ques tion. All lie lias said for the public is that he feels convinced the divers will find that the indentations will turn inward—-which iu reality tells the whole story of his views, as that would mean that a torpedo had done the work. Out of deference to the opinion which Secretary Long expressed for publication, most of the officials of the departments have felt it incumbent upon them to give out nothing that did not seem to bear out the accident theory. Nevertheless, the secretary is quoted as having expressed to a close friend his opinion that ft torpedo did tjio work, and tho other officials are talking more freely. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt is one of those who has all along adhered to the idea that there was no spontaneous combustion about it, but that a Span ish torpedo did the damage. Tho correspondent of the Associated Press says he has conversed with sev eral of the wounded sailors and under stands from them that the explosion took place while they were asleep so that they can give no particulars as to the cause. SIGSBEE WAS WARNED. Mr®. Sigsbee Ha® au Anonymous Letter Which Creates Great Excitement. A Washington special says: Mrs. Sigsbeo lias given out a circular sent to her by Captain Sigsbee over two weeks ago on which was written the words: “Look out for your ship. We will blow your whole rotten navy to pieces if you send it here.” Then follows a vast amount of abuse against the yankees. Airs. Sigsbee says she cannot givo out the contents of the letter in which this circular was enclosed, but she has felt vague fears ever since Captain Sigsbee sent it to her.