Newspaper Page Text
THE ASHBORN ADVANCE.
II. I). SMITH. EDITOR.
Of the Board of
Inquiry.
BATTLESHIP WAS DESTROY¬
ED BY SUBMARINE MINE.
FULL TEXT OF THE DOCUMENT.
The Mine Explosion Caused the
Partial Explosion of Two
of the Ship’s Forward
Magazines.
Washington, March 28.—The fol¬
lowing is the full text of the report of
the court of inquiry, submitted to con¬
gress today:
United States Battleship Iowa,
Key West, Fla., March 21, 1898.—
After full and mature consideration of
all the testimony before it, the eourt
finds as follows:
1. That the United States battleship
Maine arrived in the harbor of Havana,
Cuba, on the 25th day of January,
eighteen hundred and ninety-eight,
and was taken to buoy No. I, in from
five and a half to six fathoms of water,
by llie regular government pilot.
The United States consul general at
Havana had notified the authorities at
that place the previous evening of the
intended arrival of the Maine.
2. The state of discipline on hoard
the Maine was excellent,and all orders
ami regulations in regard to the care
and safety of the ship were strictly
carried out.
All ammunitions was stowed in ac¬
cordance with prescribed instructions,
and proper care was taken with which
ammunition was handled.
Nothing was stowed in any one of
the magazines or shell rooms which
was not permitted to he stowed there.
The magazines and shell rooms
were always locked after having been
opened; and aftei the destruction of
the Maine the keys w ere found in their
proper place in the captain’s cabin,
everything having been reported se¬
cure that evening at 8 o’clock.
The temperature of the magazines
and shell rooms were taken daily and
reported. The only magazine which
had an undue amount of beat was the
after ten-inch magazine, and that did
not explode at the time the Maine was
destroyed.
The torpedo war heads were all
stowed in the Rfter part of the ship un¬
der the ward room, and neither caused
nor participated in the destruction of
the Maine.
The dry gun cotton primers and de¬
tonators were stowed in the cabin aft,
and remote from the scene of the ex¬
plosion.
Waste was carefully looked after on
hoard the Maine to obviate danger.
Special orders in regard to this had
been given by the commanding officer.
Varnishes, dryefs, alcohol and other
combustibles of this nature were stow¬
ed on or above the main deck, and could
not have had anything to do with the de-
si ruction of the Maine.
The medical stores were stowed aft
under the ward room and remote from
the scene of the explosion. No dan¬
gerous stores of any kind were stowed
below in any of the other storerooms.
The coal bunkers were inspected daily.
Of those bunkers adjacent to the for¬
ward magazines and shell rooms, four
were empty, namely: B 3, B 4, B 5,
B 6.
“A 15” had been in use that day
and ‘‘A 10” was full of new' river coal.
This coal bad been carefully inspected
before receiving it on board. The
bunker in which it was stowed was ac¬
cessible on three sides at all times and
the fourth side at this time on account
of bunkers “B 4” and “B 0” being
empty- This bunker, “A 16,” had
been inspected that day by the officer
on duty.
The fire alarms in the bunkers were
in working order, and there had never
been a ease of spontaneous combustion
of coal on board the Maine.
The two after boilers of the ship
were in use at the time of the disaster,
but for auxiliary purposes only, with
a comparatively low pressure of steam,
and being tended by a reliable watch.
These boilers could not have caused
the explosion of the ship. The four
forward boilers have since been found
V,T the divers and are iu a fair condi¬
tion- of the
On the night destruction of
the Maine everything had been re¬
ported secure for the night, at 6 p.m.,
hy reliable persons,through the proper
authorities to the Maine commanding officer.
At the time the was destroyed
the ship was quiet, and therefore least
ASH BURN. WORTH CO.. GA.. FRIDAY. APRIL I. ISilS.
liable to accident caused by
ments from those on board.
Destruction of the Maine mi.I the
ftioil.
3. ' The destruction of the Maine oc-
curved *9:40 p. m.,on the 15th dayof
February, 1898, in the harbor of Ha¬
vana, Cuba, she being at the time
moored to the same buoy to which she
had been taken upon her arrival.
There were two explosions of a dis¬
tinctly dilferent character, with a very
short hut distinct interval between
them, lifted and the forward part of the ship
was to a marked degree at the
time of the first explosion.
The first explosion was more in the
nature of a report, like that of a gun,
while the second explosion was more
open, prolonged, and of greater vol¬
ume. This second explosion was in the
opinion of the court, caused by the
partial explosion of two or more of the
forward magazines of the Maine.
4. The evidence hearing upon this,
being principally obtained from divers,
did not enable the court to form a defi¬
nite conclusion as to the condition of
the wreck, although it was established
that the after part of the ship w r ns prac¬
tically intact and sank in that condi¬
tion in n very few minutes after the
destruction of the forward part.
The following facts iu regard to
the forward part of the ship are, how¬
ever, established by the testimony:
That portion of the port side of the
protective deck, which extends from
about frame 30 to about 41 was blown
up, aft and oyer to the port. The main
deck from about frame 30 to about
rame 41 was blown up and slightly
starboard folding the forward part of
the middle superstructure over and on
top of the after part.
This was, in the opinion of the
court, caused by the partial explosion
of two or more of the forward maga¬
zines of the Maine.
5. At frame 17 the outer shell of the
ship from a point 11} feet from the
middle line of the ship and six feet
above the keel when iu its normal po¬
sition, has been forced up so as to be
now about four feet above the surface
of the water; therefore about 34 feet
above where it would he had it
sunk uninjured. The side bottom
plating is bent into a reverse iu the Y r
shape, the afterwing of which, about
15 feet broad and 32 feet in length
(from frame 17 to 25), is doubled back
upon itself against the continuation of
the plate extending forward.
At frame 18 the vertical keel is
broken in two, and the flat keel bent
into au angle synilar to the angle form¬
ed by the outside bottom plating. This
break is now about six feet below the
surface of the water, and about 30 feet
above its normal position.
In the opinion of the court this ef¬
fect could have been produced only by
the explosion of a mine situated under
the bottom of the ship at about frame
18, and somewhat on the port side of
the ship.
0. The court finds that the loss of
the Maine, on the occasion named,
was not in any respect due to fault or
negligence oil the part of any of the
officers or members of the crew of said
vessel.
The Maine Wrecked li.y Submarine Mine.
7. In the opinion of the court, the
Maine was destroyed by the explosion
of a submarine mine,which caused the
partial explosion of two or more of her
forward^ magazines.
8. The court lias been unable to ob¬
tain evidence fixing the responsibility
for the destruction of the Maine upon
any person or persons.
(Signed) W. T. Sampson,
Captain U. 8. N., President.
A. Mabix,
Lieutenaut/Jommahder U.S.N., Judge
Advocate.
The court, having finished the in¬
quiry it was ordered to make, adjourn¬
ed at 11 a.m. to await the action of the
convening authority.
(Signed) W. T. Sampson,
Captain U. S. N., President.
A. Mabix, Lieutenant Commander
U. S. N., Judge Advocate.
U. S. Flagship New Yokk, March
22, 1898.—Off Key West, Fla.—The
proceedings and findings of the court
of inquiry in the above case are ap¬
proved. Bear Admiral,
(Signed) M. Sicabd,
Commander in Chief of the United
States Naval Force on the North
Atlantic Station.
STILL BUYING PROJECTILES.
Bureau of Ordnance Award* Big Contract*
to Virginia Firm*.
The bureau of ordnance, Wednes¬
day, awarded contracts for supplying
about sixteen hundred cast iron pro¬
jectile for seacoast forfications. As
rapidly as completed they will be
shipped to the various places at which
they are needed. Two Virginia com¬
panies were gived the contracts--the
Petersburg Iron Works and the Trede-
dar compauy, of Richmond.
A DOUBLE MURDER.
John Watt*, of Cochran, Ga., Slay* Two
Men.
The entire town of Cochran, Ga.,
was thrown into a state of wild excite¬
ment Thursday over the report of a
double murder committed three miles
below the town by Mr. John Watts,
citizen and oldest son of Cochran’s
mayor, Mr. W. B. Watts.
Watts’ victims were Mr. Joe Parks,
8 cotton speculator, and a negro named
John Picker.
M’KINLEY’S
Reviews Report
of the Court.
IS READ IN THE CONGRESS.
A Concise Statement of the Views of
This Government Given By 0«r
Chief Executive.
Washington, March 28.—The pres¬
ident today sent the following message
to congress:
To the Congress of the United
States:
For some time prior to the visit of
the Maine to Havana harbor our con¬
sular representatives pointed out the
advantages to flow from the visit of
national ships to the Cuban waters, iu
accustoming the people to the pres¬ good
ence of our Hag as the symbol of
will and of onr ships in the fulfillment
of the mission of protection to Ameri¬
can interests, even though no imme¬
diate need therefor might exist.
Maine’s Visit Friendly.
Accordingly, on the 24th of January,
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister, iu which the renewal of
visits of our war vessels to Spanish
waters xvns discussed and accepted,
the peninsular authorities at Madrid
vuxxl Havana were advised of the pur¬
pose of this government to resume
friendly naval visits at Cuban ports,
and that in that view the Maine would
forthwith call at the port of Havana.
This announcement was received by
the Spanish government with appreci¬
ation of the friendly character of the
visit of the Maine and xvitli notification
of intention to return tho courtesy by
sending Spanish ships to the principal
ports of the United States. Meanwhile
the Maine entered the port of Havana
on the 25th of January, her arrival
being marked with no special incident
besides the exchange of customary sa¬
lutes at ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued iu the harbor
of Havana during the three weeks fol¬
lowing her arrival. No appreciable ex¬
citement attended her stay. On the
contrary, a feeling of relief and confi¬
dence followed the resumption of tho
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
So noticeable was this immediate effect
oil her visit that tho consul-general
strongly urged that the presence of
ships in Cuban waters should be kept
up by retaining the Maine at Havana,
or in the event of her recall, by send¬
ing another vessel there to take her
place.
Destroyed Hy FJxplosiou.
At 40 minutes past 9 in the evening
of 15th of February the Maine was de¬
stroyed by an explosion, by which the
entire forward part of the ship xvas
utterly wrecked. In this catastrophe
txvo officers and txvo hundred and
sixty-four of her crexv perished, tliosfe
of her crexv who xvere not killed out¬
right by her explosion being penned
between decks by the tangle of xvreek-
age and drowned by the immediate
sinking of the hull.
Prompt assistance was rendered by
the neighboring vessels anchored in
the harbor, aid being especially given
by the boats of the Spanish cruiser
Alphonso Nil and the Ward line
steamer City of Washington, which
lay not far distant. The wounded
were generously cared for by the au¬
thorities of Havana, the hospitals be¬
ing freely opened to them, while the
earliest recovered bodies of the dead
xvere interred by the municipality in a
public cemetery in the city. Trib¬
utes of grief and sympathy xvere of¬
fered from all official quarters of the
island.
The appalling calamity fell upon
the people of this country xvitli crush¬
ing force, and for a brief time an in¬
tense excitement prevailed, which, in
a community less just and self-con¬
trolled than ours, might have led to
hasty acts of blind resentment, This
spirit, however, soon gave xvivy to the
calmer processes of reason and to the
resolve to investigate the facts and
await material proof before forming a
judgment as to the cause, the respon¬
sibility, and if the facts warranted,tbe
remedy due. This course necessarily
recommended itself from the outset to
the executive, for only in the light of
a dispassionately ascertained certainty
could it determine the nature and
measure of its full duty iu the matter.
Tlift Court of Inquiry.
The usual procedure was followed,
as in all cases of casualty or disaster
to national vessels of any maritime
state. A naval court of inquiry was at
once organized, composed of officers
well qualified by rank and practical
experience to discharge the onerous
duty imposed upon them. Aided by
a strong force of wreckers aud divers,
the court proceeded to make a thor¬
ough investigation ou tlie spot,employ¬
ing every available means for the im¬
partial and exact determination of the
causes of the explosion.
Its operations have been conducted
with the utmost deliberation and judg¬
ment, and while independently pur¬
sued, no source of information was
neglected and the fullest, opportunity
was allowed for a simultaneous inves¬
tigation by the Spanish government.
The tinding of the court of inquiry
was reached after 28 days of continu¬
ous labor, on the 21st of March, in¬
stant. and having been approved on
the 22d by the commander-in-chief of
the United States naval force oil the
North Atlantic station,was transmitted
to the executive.
It is herewith liv'd before the con¬
gress, together with the voluminous
testimony taken before the court,
Its purpose is, in brief, as follows:
NY lieu the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by the regular gov¬
ernment pilot to buoy No. 4, to which
she was moored in from five and one-
half to six fathoms of water.
The state of discipline on hoard and
the condition of her magazines, boil-
eys, coal hankers and storage compart¬
ments are passed in review, with the
conclusion that, excellent order pre¬
vailed and tliut no indication of any
cause for an internal explosion existed
in any quarter.
VompI Suddenly Destroyed.
At 8 o’clock on the evening of Feb¬
ruary 15th everything .had been re¬
ported secure and all was quiet.
At 40 minutes past, !) o’clock the
vessel was suddenly destroyed.
There were two distinct explosions,
with a brief interval between them.
The first lifted the forward part of
the ship very perceptibly; the second,
which was more open, prolonged and
of greeter volume, is attributed by the
court to the partial explosion of two
or more of the forward magazines.
The evidence of the divers estab¬
lishes that the after part of the ship
was practically intact and sank in that
condition a very few minutes after the
explosion. The forward part was com¬
pletely demolished.
Upon the evidence of the concurrent
external cause the finding of the court
is as follows:
“At frame 18 the outer shell of the
ship, from a point eleven and oue-half
feet, from the middle line of the ship
and six feet above the keel when in its
normal position, had been forced up
so as to be now about four feet, above
the surface of the water, therefore,
about 34 feet above where it would he
had the ship sunk uninjured.
The outside bottom plating is bent
into a reverse V shape, the after wing
of which, about 15 feet broad and 32
feet in length (from frame 17 to frame
25), is doubled hack up in itself against
the continuation of the same plating
extending forward.
At frame 18 the vertical keel is brok¬
en in two and the Hat keel is bent in¬
to an angle similar to the angle form¬
ed by the outside bottom plates. The
break is now about six feet below the
surface of the water and -about 30 feet
above its normal position.
In the opinion of the court, this
effect could have been produced only
by the explosion of a mine situated
under the bottom of the ship at about
frame 18 and somewhat on the port
side of the ship.
Court’* (|<jri(!luHiouM.
The concluaioiiH of the court are;
The loss of the Maine xvas not duo
to negligence on the part of any of tho
officers or members of her crew,.
That the ship was - destroyed hy the
explosion of a submarine mine, which
caused the partial explosion of txvo
or more of her forward magazines,and
that no evidence has been obtainable
shoxving the responsibily of* the de¬
struction of the Maine upon any, per-
sou or persons. • .
I have directed that the finding of
the court of inquiry and the views of
this government tlieron be communi¬
cated to the government of her majes¬
ty, the queenf and Ido not permit my.
self to doubt that the sense of justice
of the Spanish nation will dictate a
course of action suggested by honor
and the friendly relations of the two
governments.
It will he duty of the executive to
advise the congress of the result, and
in the meantime deliberate considera¬
tion is invoked. •
William McKinley.
Executive Mansion, March 28, 1898.
In neither senate or house was there
any debate on reference of president’s
message and other documents to com¬
mittees having charge of our Cuban
relations.
GEORGIA DISPENSARIES LEGAL.
State Supreme Court Vanneu On Validity of
Yveglftlative Act.
Georgia’s local dispensary laws pass¬
ed by the legislature for various coun-
ties in the state were declared valid
and doustitutional by tbe supreme
court in an able decision rendered
Thursday morning. decided
The particular cases attack made were
those brought about by an
on the dispensary Jaws passed in 1897,
for the benefit of Terrell and Early
counties, but the decision is of great
importance to the people of tbe state.
SUNDAY SERMONS.
Intcivsling addresses by Her. Geo. II.
llepwortli ami Bwlglil L. Moody.
llrv. Crorge U. Ilepworth'* Sermon In
the New York Herald U Untitled
“Nothing Is Small”—An Address hy
Kvangellst I). I,. Moody on Itible Texts.
The New York Herald publishes the com¬
plete result of Us recent competition for
prize sermons printed in Its columns. The
llrst prize was awarded by the Herald it¬
self. and the second, third mid fourth
prizes were decided by the votes of Us
readers. Tlio successful competitors were
as follows:
First prize, $1000, to the Kov. Ulehard (1.
gational Woodbrldgo, pastor of the Central Congre¬
ject, Church, Middloboro, Mass. Sub¬
“The Power of Ceutleuess.”
Second prize, $000, to the Kov. W. H,
Perkins, pastor of St. Paul's Unlversallst
C'liuruli, Mcridan. Conn. Subject, "Burden
Bearing." Third
prize, $.‘100, to the Kov. John J>.
Long, pastor of the Presbyterian Church,
Babylon, Life.” L. I. Subject, “The Good Side of
Fourth prize, $200, to the Bov. Edwin P.
Parker, pastor of the Second Church, Hart¬
ford, Conn. Subject, “Law of Kindness.”
l>r. Ilepworth on “Nothing Is Small.
Text: “Thou bast been faithful over a
few things, i will make thee ruler over
many things; enter thou Into tho joy of thy
Lord.”—Matthew xxv., 21.
I know of; no part of Scripture which
gives me more good cheer than this. It
contains the kindest and most encouraging
statement of fact that ever fell from tho
lips ot Christ. 1 oftentimes wonder xvliat
circumstance suggested this subject—what
impelled Him to put a gentle hand on Our
shoulder, as though to say, “Be not trou¬
bled.” To do things well is to do God’s
work in God’s way. Nothing is trivial that
is worth doing at all.
It is true that not all can be great In the
sight of men, but every man may belong to
heaven’s nobility. There are men in the
humblest walks of life who will wear cov¬
eted crowns In tho hereafter because they
did When their simple duty in a simple other fashion.
xve get into the world we
.shall be profoundly surprised to find that
the Lord's standard of value is very differ¬
ent from that to which we have been ac¬
customed. We regard social position,
wealth, intellectual culture as of prime im¬
portance and rather imagine that the Lord
will hesitate to condemn any one with these
three enviable possessions. But It is clear
that we and He do not agree, for with Him
a pure heart and a sweet, nil placid and gentle
life are worth more than else besides.
Not even God con make either your
heart pure or your life sweet without your
nssistnnoe.. Nor can you mako a pure
heart orn sweet life without His assistance.
These desirable results must come from a
close association of God with man and of
man with God. When your weakness,
moved by a divine ambition, is commingled
with His omnipotence, then and then only
can the Ideal soul bo produced. Ho can
make wealth, He can give you tbe genius
which will make you famous, but it is ab¬
solutely holy necessary for you and Him tiling to work-
in partnership before the which
heaven prizes most can be attained.
When xve step across the border we shall
find that many of our earthly ideas of
value are either mistakes or prejudices,
and that lives are acceptable and profit¬
able only in proportion to their spiritual
symmetry and beauty. Tho more a man
does for ottiers, therefore, tho more lie
does for himself, and if lie cares only for
himself, to the neglect of others, he will
imve to go into tlu* primary class In heaven
and learn ivhut true religion means.
Someone said to me recently in despair¬
ing tones, "My life amounts to so little, I
live the humdrum (lays in a humdrum way,
and If I should drop out of existence it
xvrmld make no difference to anyone.” If
that xvere true it would bo very sad. But
this man was to my mind one of the
world’s heroes. I know ids environment,
and knew what lie had done xvltti It, how
much lie had made out of it. Yes, he was
a manual laborer, and ids hands xx-ero
grimy with toll. lie wins saint iu over¬
alls. lie was the guardian angel of un
aged mother xvlio thought herself in
heaven long before she went there because
the son was so like Providence. He
strained every nerve to give Ids boys an
education that they might be fitted to do
better work than ho had done.
You say “All this is a matter of course.”
Then I add, and God’s blessing Is a matter
of course.
Tliut was a narrow life? No; it xvas as
widens Goil’b love could make It, and as
noble ns an archangel’s.
He who does the little duties of life with
a large lieart makes himself great In soul.
You can better afford to stand before God
In honest rags than in tbe purple and lino
linen ■The of dishonesty.
important question to he answered
Is not, Wno are you? but What are you?
Yoxxr pocketbook does not weigh as
much as your moral principle iu the scales
of God.
worthless It is rank’heresy if to doing say that your life well. Is
you are your work
Heaved is full of princes xvlio found it
hard to pay the rent of their earthly
houses.
Never allow yourself to say, and espe¬
cially to feel, that the workyou place are doing
is insignificant or tho you xvlll fill is
of no importance. To do that is to make
an uncalled for criticism on the Lord, for
you hereby declare that the duty lie bus
set vou to do Is not worfli dolrxr. If thero
Is a mistake anywhere it is iu your opinion
of the value of things and riot in His judg¬
ment as to wlint Ho needs to have done.
You have no right to hold any such opinion,
and if you do It is because your ideas are
based No oil false how principles. humble sphere, fill
matter your
it full by pouring xour best and noblest
qualities of character into it. A pool of
water is a thing of beauty when the moon
shines on it, and the smallest soul that ever
breathed is a miracle when the spirit of God
Is reflected therein.
It requires many hands to make a watch.
If one of the hands which fashions one of
the cogs of one of the wheels does its work
badly the watch will to never keep good time.
If tbe whole Is be perfect every part
must be perfect.
Ho it is in the universe. You do not know,
but God knows that unless you take pains
to make your cog of the wheel with fidelity
be you may do a damage which cannot easily
Little repaired.
things done well make a great
soul, and small duties are always great
duties in the eyes of the angels.
Gkohok H. Heewoutu.
ADDRESS BY MOODY.
Th« Famous Evangelist Speak* In New
York on the Value of Klble Text*.
“I believe iu my heart that the bestthlng
on this earth is the Gospel of tho Son of
Ood. I said last night that tho keynote of
this mission is the Buying of flhrlst, ‘The
Hon of Man is come to seek and to save thut
which was lost.’ follow'It. To-night I will take an¬
other text to Aud I want you to
remember that the object of the sermon is
VOL. VI. NO. :>L
to drive home the text. I would rather
have one text ot the lilnle than all the ser¬
mons In the world. There are enough of
them nreaelied in New Voile every week to
save the city ten times over. In John i.,
lit), tire the llrst words recorded hy the
evangelist as having been spoken to him by
Jesus Christ. They are, ‘What seek ye?’
It may Imve been sixty years after JoMn
heard those words that he wrote them
down, bill they hint mudo such un impres¬
sion on title that lie remembered tbe time
and the place. With another who after¬
ward became a disciple he had gone to look *
at Christ, and asked Him the question,
‘Where dwellest Thou?’ ‘Cattle and see,’
answered the Saviour, and the two disci¬
ples went, and never left Him.
“It is very evident that these two men
found more in Christ than did a good many
others of tlielr time. And do you know
that there are a good many in Now York
the same way. It is recorded in the gos¬
pels that many of those who followed the
Saviour left Him, and there are many who
follow jHlm to-day who say they
are disap | minted. Why? I think
I ean tell you. Wiien the crowds
followed Christ iu the Holy band they did
so from various motives. Some of them
wanted to see Him perform miracles. They
wanted to see the devils east out and the
lopers cured, and so they were always say¬
ing to Him, “Master, show Us a sign.”
Others thought He was going to found an
earthly ofllco kingdom, lie and wanted to get into
when founded it. Others thought
that they might entaugje Him into saying
somotniMg aguinst the Mosaic or Uomnn
laws which would lead to His condemna¬
tion and death. Others followed just from
morbid curiosity to see the crowd and
hear something new. Others lie Himself
accused of being after the Mslios and the
loaves. They did not care about His mes¬
sage.
“All these people soon got tired of fol¬
lowing Christ; hut I can vouch for one
thing—that no man for eighteen hundred
years who inis followed Jesus Christ for
what He Is has ever been disappointed,
lie is all that you make Him to lie. Some
make a little Saviour, because they think
little of Him.
“What seek ye, you that are here to-night?
Come, lei! me. I could go through the
crowd and ilud just the same motives
actuating you as those who followed the
Lord in Palestine, There are some men
back there who ciuno to see the crowd.
Another has come because his wife lias
been nagging at him for tho last three
weeks, and he promised to come. An¬
other man is here because ho has nowhere
else to go. lie says that If he had a good
comfortable home you would not find him
here. Another one comes to hear the
singing. I'm glad he wanted to hear
something, anyway. Although some of
you have come with low motives, thank
God you have come at all, and you may
change your mind before you’re through,
I’m glad to have a chance at you, x what-
ever your motives for being here may be.
“Here is another text I want to read:
‘.Seek ye ilrst the Kingdom of Cod and His
righteousness, and all these things shall bo
added unto you.’ Bo many people think
that they will attend to temporal tilings
llrst, and after they have made a comforta¬
ble fortune and settled down thov will at¬
tend to eternal tilings. Cod says, ’No.
You must llrst seek the Kingdom of Cod.’
I think if tills were really done you would
never come to want.
"I have boon besought on nil sides to
preach sermons on capital and labor and
similar subjects. My friends, I believe as
long as you start right and follow that text
you will turn out right in the end. I be¬
lieve ho many don't get on because tho
Kingdom of Cod comes last, not llrst, with
them. You eiin’t tell what may happen be¬
fore the morning. Christ would not even
allow a man who followed Him to bury ills
dead father before ho had obtained the
Kingdom of Cod. I believe there are thou¬
sands and tens of thousands of young peo¬
ple who have written on the flyleaves of
their lilbloH by some loving fattier or
mother the text I have quoted, from Mat¬
thew vi., !)!).
“If Moses should suddenly appear hero
what do you suppose would be Hie ilrst
words he would say to you? If you asked
him to come to the platform and take my
place he would say: ‘The choice Is be¬
tween life and death, Choose life.’ If
Hezokiah were to come hero wluit would he
say? I think tie would ask you. ‘How
long halt ye between two he opinions?’ would If
Solomon should appear say,
‘Whatever tbv hand llndetli to do, do It
wltii thy might.’ Huppose that little tent-
maker, Paul of Tarsus, were here, lie would
shout, ‘Now is the accepted time, now is
the day of salvation.’ Audit JfSus Christ
were to appear among us He would say,
‘Weekye first tho kingdom of Cod and His
righteousness and all these things shall be
lidded unto you. > >»
FLAMES IN JERSEY CITY.
DumiiKe the Feiiueylvanla Railroad Depot
to Extent of #1100,000.
The Pennsylvania railroad depot in
Jersey City xvas damaged hy fire early
Monday morning to the extent of
$100,000. Much United States mail
matter was destroyed. Train and fer¬
ry traffic was seriously impeded. All
of the frame portions of the depot
xvitli the niied covering approach to
the slip# and the wnitingroom aud
restaurant xvere destroyed.
SIGH BEK LEAVES HAVANA.
He la presented Flower* Hy Conanl Leo
and Newspaper Men.
Captain Sigsbee and otiier officers
of the Maine left Havana Saturday,
bound north. Before embarking Cap¬
tain Sigsbee was presented a largo
flower ship by Consul General Lee and
the newspaper men in Havana. The
captain was much affected.
While the Olivette steamed out of
the harbor Captain Sigsbee looked
sadly on the gaunt wreckage of what
was a little over a month ago his ship.
Nine bodies recovered from the
wreck of the Maine, including that of
Lieutenant Jenkins, were sent to Key
West on board the Olivette.
FAVORABLE TO SAGASTA.
Flection For Popnlar Branch of !»panl»h
Cortex Held.
A Madrid special says: The elec¬
tions for the popular branch of the
cortes have passed off, on the whole
quietly. that the
The indications are govern¬
ment of Henor Sagasta will have an
enormous majority, estimated at 300
of the 432 seats in the congress.
Disorders are apprehended at Biboa,
where the polling caused great exoite-
ment.