12
PAGES
'Jl' JIV ! -I'V
TWO CENTS.
SCRANTON. PA.. SATURDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 19. 1898.
TWO CENTS.
INVESTIGATING THE MAINE HORROR
-8
THE TALK AT
WASHINGTON
Department Kept Busy
Denying: Warlike
Rumors.
PRAISE FOR CAPT. SIGSBEE
Estimate of the Secretary of
the Navy.
No Decision Regarding the Kcqucsfs
ot Spnin lor Opportunity to Dx lim
ine tho Wreck oT the Miiinc--Ubn-crnl
Leo's Olliclnl Ileport--8200,
OOO Appropriated to Ilnlno the Slilp
in Ilnvanu Harbor--It urlnl of tho
Dead Victim.
Washington, Feb. 18. The feature of
the day at tho navy department was
the large manlier of rumors ot a war
like tendency that came to the atten
tion of tho olllclals as requiring at
tention and In every case contradicted.
So formidable has grown the Hat that
nt the close of ofllce hours 'Secretary
Long was Induced to make the follow
ing statement as the easiest manner of
disposing at one time of all these
stories:
"Really, no Information has been re
ceived since Captain Sigsbee's first dis
patch, adding anything to our knowl
edge of the disaster. All we know is
that the Maine blew up. There Is abun
dant room for speculation of all sorts,
but no conclusion can be arrived at
until an examination has been made
by the divers and more facts obtained.
It Is a simple fact to say that such a
thing might happen by design or It
might happen by accident. As yet
there Is no Indication of design. There
fore my Impression has been allowed,
nnd I rather think the general opinion
preponderates In the same direction,
that It. must have been accidental.
"At the cabinet meeting today tho
matter was not discussed, except as
any body of men talk about an event
of that kind, and most of that talk
referred to the terrible loss of life and
expressions of sympathy for the suf
ferers, "It certainly was a very kind thought
In the president to send flowers to the
families of Captain Slgsbee, of the ex
ecutive offlcer, Wnlnwright, and of the
lost seamen, whose residences are In
Washington.
"You may say absolutely that there
has been no secret cabinet meeting:
that nothing has taken place In tho
cabinet that the public has not been
informed about, that the whole policy
of this department has been to give
the public all the dispatches; that the
department has no more knowledge on
the subject of the cause of the disast
er, or even of tho circumstances at
tending it than have the public; and
that the report which was to the ef
fect that Captain Slgsbee had warned
the department that the Maine was In
danger from submarine mines or from
torpedoes. Is utterly without founda
tion: no such report ever having been
received from him or anybody else."
RUMORS DENIED.
The secretary also denied briefly and
comprehensively wild rumors that he
had requested the chief of police of
New York to guard the Viscaya and
that he had selected Constructor Bow
les to eo to Havana and raise the
Maine. The last work of the day for
him was to consult the representatives
ot the wrecking companies who prob
ably will have charge of this work and
endeavor to arrange for both of them
td work together, so as to secure the
use of each peculiar plant and to save
time.
The secretary, when asked what was
the department's estimate ot tho con
duct of Captain Slgsbee in the terrible
situation in which he had been placed,
replied:
"I think I express the feeling of the
president, as well as my own when I
say that Captain Sigsbeo has conduct
ed himself as an offlcer of our navy
should. He was the last to leave his
ship when she went down. His dis
patch to me was so complete that since
then I have thought of no question of
fact to ask him which is essential to
the situation and which he could
answer, which Is not covered by that
dispatch. Its tone, too. Is that of a
discreet and level-headed man who re
alized the Impression any word from
him at that time might have on the
public mind. Nothing Is harder than
for a naval officer to lose his ship, so
that I have great sympathy for him.
I await with confidence further re
ports." During the day the department was
In receipt of a number of telegrams
from different parts of the country
asking In behalf of relatives of tho
dead sailors that their remains be
brought back to the United States for
Interment. Among tiiem were queries
from friends of the two officers, Mer
rltt and Jenkins. The department for
warded these to Captain Slgsbee.whose
reply was that the officers bodies have
not been found; that ns to many others
identification Is not possible, and
throwing great doubt upon the prac
ticability of taking any of the remains
away from Havana,
SPAIN'S REQUEST.
While no decision has yet been
reached formally upon the application
or tne spanisn government for author-
gatlon to examine the wreck of the
nine 10 ascertain the cause of the
IjloMon, the oiiicorH seem Inclined to
ard her request as one that could
United
Todas
not properly be refused, and It Is likely
that each government will make an ln'
vestlgatlon of this character concr
rently, V,
The miniature United States fla, ,n
tho model of tho battleship Maine, In
the main corridor of tho navy depart
ment, was lowered to half mast during
the day by direction of the secretary of
tho navy. The hnndsome model has
been a center of Interest for tho thronss
at tho department within recent days,
and tho several flags have continued
to fly nt tho mastheads In apparent
Irony of tho actual condition of tho
Maine. A movement was sturted today
to drape the model in mourning, after
the manner that the model of the Brit
ish ship Victory was draped at tho
World's Fair. Secretary Long did not
approve ol this, however, us It suggest
ed an ostentation not flttlntr the cir
cumstances. But he gave his assent
to lowering the miniature colors, and
accordingly the stars and stripes Hying
from the stern of the Mnlne's mtnlaturo
counterpart were lowered.
The only absentees from today's cab
inet meeting were Secretaries Sherman
and Alger. During tho meeting the
disaster to the Maine was tho principal
topic of discussion. Secretary Long
read a cablegram from Captain Slgsbee,
giving nn account of the funeral yes
terday of the nineteen victims of the
explosion, substantially as printed In
this morning's papera. It appears that
unusual and In some respects extraor
dinary evidences of respect and sym
pathy were shown by the Spanish au
thorities and people. Although the
president nnd the members of the cab
inet await with lntsrest the result, of
the Inquiry into the cause of the dis
aster, there remains scarcely a doubt
In their minds that It was an accident,
purely, and such as might happen at
any time. This view of tho matter,
however, will not influence the presi
dent to stop short of a most searching
Investigation Into all the facts, present
-and remote, that may have any possi
ble bearing upon the ease or throw up
on it a singly rny of light. Until facts
.are shown to the contrary, the presi
dent will assume that the explosion
came from within and was not the re
sult of treachery on the part of any
one. Tho president is receiving a large
number of congratulatory messages
commending him for the course he has
pursued In this matter as well as In
the case of the late Spanish minister,
do Lome."
GENERAL LEE'S REPORT.
General Lee was heard from In the
shnpe of the following cablegram this
afternoon:
Havana, Feb. 18, 1SDS.
Assistant Secretary of fatato, Wash
ington:. Orcat popular demonstration at fu
neral yesterday. Military, nuul, lire
men and civil organizations generally
represented. Bishop of Havana, Gen
eral Purrado, next In command to gov
ernor general, Autonomlstlc cabinet,
civil governor,, mayor and other prom
inent persons, walked in procession
part of route in accordance to cus
tom to testify sympathy. Forty bodies
burled. Many coming to surface water
since, but now difficult to recognize.
Will be burled with religious services
as collected. Lee.
Representatives of two wrecking
companies, the Merrltt Wrecking com
pany and the Boston Tow-boat com
pany, called at the navy department
today In response to the Invitation ex
tended by the department yesterday
to talk with the olllclals over the steps
to be taken toward raising the Maine,
or If that should be found impractic
able, to save the ordnance and such
other parts of the ship equipments as
may be of value. It was made appar
ent that at this distance It is not pos
sible to give an opinion as to the feasi
bility of raising the ship and It Is like
ly that a representative of the com
pany selected to undertake the work
will be dispatched Immediately to Ha
vana to make an Inspection. The pho
tographs which Captain Slgsbee yes
terday announced that he would for
ward may also be of use in enabling
the department experts to reach a con
clusion In this matter.
KIOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIMENTS.
One suggestion that came today to
tho department may also be availed of,
namely, to photograph the ship under
water. If thjs can be done, a matter ot
some doubt, considering the condition
of the wnter In Havana harbor, the
result from the picture may be of con
siderable value not only to the wreck
ers, but also to tho court of Inquiry.
A wrecking vessel Is now lying at Key
West. She Is held subject to tho de
partment's decision- in this matter.
With a complete diving outfit, experi
enced men and a big crane capable of
lifting liOO tons, this .craft could bo
easily able to hoist the Maine and tur
rets and she could bo gotten to the
scene of the wreck Inside of a day.
The telegraphic reports from Key
West and Havana are slacking off,
doubtless because there Is nothing new
to communicate at present. One mes
sage that reached the navy department
this afternoon from Key West was sent
by Commander Forsythe, In charge of
the naval station there, who has been
Indefatigable In his attentions to the
survivors of the disaster and In tho
execution of the relief measures or
dered by the naval department. This
commander reported briefly that all of
tho wounded at Key West are doing
well and that Foley (who yesterday
wns supposed to be dying) Is now out
of danger.
RESULTS OF THE DISASTER.
The navy department has complied
the following summary showing the
total results of the Maine disaster from
all available official information up to
the close of the department tonight:
Total officers and men on board Maine,
355.
Total officers, 2C.
Total men, 323,
Total officers saved. 21.
Totul men saved, 76.
Total officers lost, 2.
States Divers to
-Court of Inquiry Ordered.
7.otat men lost, 210.
Total officers Injured, none.
,' Total men Injured, G".
Doubtful (men), 7.
Tho seven men appearing as doubtful
probably represent that number or less,
whoso lives have been saved, but who
cannot be Identified nt present on account
of errors In tho transmission of telegrams.
Tho 57 appearing as Injured arc In
cluded In tho 7C appearing as saved.
Two men reported ns having died In
hospital aro Included In tho total oC 216
appearing above as having been lost.
IDENTIFICATION DIFFICULT.
Late In the day Captain Slgsbee tele
graphed as follows:
"So far one hundred and twenty-live
men have been burled. Identification
very difficult. Will wire names of
Identified Inter. In regard to tele
gram (of Inquiry) of today, cannot fur
nish further Information. Names read:
A. Hallen, William Anderson, A.
Johnston, Henry Williams, who was
cabin cook, nnd James Morlnlere. Sen
tennis" names wired by mistake."
The answer ns to names was due to
the navy department's doubts as to
Initials, etc.
Ah to the list of unidentified lost
wns added during the day, Albert Wil
son, seaman, next of kin, Anna M.
Wilson, 17 Bond street, Chicago.
Senor du Hose, charge d'affaires of
Spain, upon command of the queen
regent, called In person on the presi
dent today.
The call was attended with those
formalities usual when the representa
tive of a foreign government sees the
president.
Mr. du Bosc said: "I have been es
pecially Instructed by the minister of
foreign affairs to convey to you, Mr.
President, tho assurances of the sym
pathy of her majesty, the queen re
gent, of Spain, at the terrible misfor
tune which has befallen an American
ship and her crew In Spanish waters."
The president replied: "I beg you,
Mr. du Bosc, to convey to her ma
jesty my sincere appreciation of her
kind expressions of sympathy on the
occasion of this great loss to the
American people."
DIVERS EXPECTED.
They Will Probahly Begin Work
on the Wreck Today.
Havana, Feb. 19. (3 a. in.) At 8
o'clock last evening 135 bodies had
been recovered. Thd bishop of Havana,
telephoned Chaplain Chadwiclc a li
cence to hear the confession of our poir
sailors. None has complained. On the
contrary, all have expressed them
selves as satisfied with the assistance
offered them In the circumstances.
Captain Slgsbee has expressed him
self as grateful for the offer of help
from divers, but prefers to await the
arrival of the United States navy div
ers so as to avoid friction. With Lieu
tenant Commander Wainwright, Lieu
tenant Holman and Chief Engineer
Howill, Captain Slgsbee went on board
the wreck this morning.
The big cat that was a pet of the
Maine's crew and was found yesterday
on the wreck so much frightened that
it apparently had not moved from its
h'Iding place Is now on board the Fern.
The captain's dog, Peggy, wus also
saved.
The United States navy divers are
expected tomorrow.
Havana still mourns with the Ameri
can people. Since the funeral cere
monies of yesterday the city has re
moved the outward signs of grief; but
the work of succoring the living nnd
caring for the dead proceeds tenderly
and unremittingly.' Every care Is
shown :he survivors.
Captain General Blanco and the of-,
flclals continue to co-operate with Cap-'
tain Slgsbee and Consul General Lee.
The messages received from Spain and
the United States showing that the
action of the Havana authorities is ap
preciated, give satisfaction to the of
ficers, who aro making further efforts
to ameliorate the condition of the sur
vivors. There Is sincere regret that circum
stances make It Impossible to meet the
wishes of friends who desire that the
remains ot their loved ones shall be
sent home for burial: but In cases
where the' officers of the Maine deem
It practicable, the necessary facilities
will be afforded. The feeling of the
community Is that social functions
would be out of place at a time of such
mourning, and these will be suspend
ed for the present.
Statements from Madrid and Wash
ington published here to the effect that
many people in the United States be
lieve the explosion was accident coin
cides with tho opinion held by the
Spanish officials; and the excitement
which followed the disaster has sub
sided into quiet waiting.
COURT OF INQUIRY.
Sittings Will Probably He Held
at Key West.
Key West, Fla., Feb. IS. Rear Ad
miral Slcard Is preparing a precept,
or advance ordtr, for assembling the
court of Inquiry here Into the loss of
the Maine. The wurshlps Iowa, Indi
ana and Massach'ust tts aro expected
tonight or tomorrow morning. These
officers and those of the cruiser New
44-0-f00440fO000040-f-fO-f4-
The Tribune's tele?ninhir. npw; k fmm thr tn 2
.. ,.. . - .,
five hours fresher than that of any Philadelphia or New
York paper circulated in its field. Those papers go to
press at midnight; The Tribune receives news up to 3
a. m. and sometimes later. All the news in TheTrihunp
while it is new.
v
OOO-f 04 OO - fOO - fO - fO -
Tori: will probably compose a majority
of tho court. The court may proceed
later to Havana. A room In the federal
court here will most likely be secured
for the sittings.
As regards the story that one of the
crew of the Maine saw a small object
emitting smoke approaching the war
ship, just before tho explosion, th'o
correspondent of tho Associated Press
has Interviewed tho man In the hos
pital who was said to have circulated
the report and has had from him an
absolute dental. Lieutenant Blandln,
officer of the deck nt tho time of tho
explosion, and Lieutenant Hood, who
was with' him, both positively deny
that such a stcry could have any foun
dation, unless It was the smoke ot
the City of Washington that misled
some one.
Mull matter for tho Maine via Tampa
or Miami will be stopped here and sort
ed. The part directed to those who are
dead will be returned to Washington,
and that Intended for those ot the
Maine's crow who are In Havana will
be forwarded th'ere'.
SEARCHINGJFOR BODIES
No One Allowed to Approach the
Wreck of the Maine.
Havana, Feb. IS. The men search
In for bodies have also recovered a
number of sad relics of the Maine, in
cluding a medical chest, enlistment rec
ords, a gold watch and chain marked
"F. T. Bartlett, Waltham, 331,134" and
Ave portraits.
Approach to the Maine is now pro
hibited inside a distance of 100 met
res, excepting In the case of boats of
the United States navy, or boats hav
ing a special permit. This action Is
taken as a precautionary measure
against any accident occurring during
the Inspection by the American divers,
nnd to prevent any interference with
the work ordered by Captain Slgsbee.
Neither General Lee nor Captain
Slgsbee has so far asked permission to
inspect the work In conneotlon with
the wreck of tho Maine.
Captain General Blanco and Bishop
Santnnder have visited Consul General
Lee.
General Lee is receiving many tele
grams from mayors iuid other, officials
expressing sympathy at the loss of tho
Maine, and the foreign consuls have
either called personally or have sent
written expressions of their condolence.
The consul general said today that
he had not heard of any eight-inch
hole being found In the bottom of tho
ship, and that the United States court
of naval Inquiry would have charge of
all questions affecting the loss of the
Maine.
The Mangrove sails this evening for
Key West with Edward Mattson, B.
R. Wllber, J. C. White, Daniel Oronln.
John Coffey, J. II. Blover, Alfred
Hemes, James Rowe, Charles Pllkey
and William McGulness. Two more of
tho wounded sailors died this morning.
Up to the hour nt which this dispatch
Is scntt 2.30 i, m 130 bodies have been
recovered. Each Is plnccd In a coffin
and carried to the Colon cemetery,
where Chaplain Chadwlck, of the
Maine, conducts funeral services simi
lar to those of yesterday ceremony.
On the night of the disaster Captain
Slgsbee requested Admiral Manterola
to station boats around the wreck, so
as to prevent any one from approach
ing it without official leave. As a re
sult only those with special permits
are allowed to get near the wreck.
Captain Slgsbee himself, going In the
early morning to the scene of the dis
aster, was warned off, not being recog
nized, and was obliged to return and
get a formal permit from the naval
authorities.
NEWSPAPER DIVERS EXCLUDED.
Admiral Manterola refuses to allow
the divers sent here by American news
papers to make any Investigation near
the wreck, at least until Captain Slgs
bee shall have finished his official In
vestigation. This morning Lieutenant
Commander Wainwright, Lieutenant
Holman and Chief Engineer Howell
went with divers to search for tho
bodies of Lieutenant Jenkins and tho
engineer Merrltt, but the guards would
not allow them to make the search and
they returned to tho consulate and
lodged a formal complaint with Consul
General Lee. However, the agreement
reached between Captain Slgsbee and
General Blanco was that the American
commander Is to be allowert to use any
divers, even the divers sent here by
the American newspapers, in his offic
ial investigation. Captain Sigsbeo and
tho commander of the Fern, accom
panied by General Lee, visited the cap
tain general this morning and had a
conference, at which It was decided
that the American press divers should
not be allowed to go inside the wreck,
though any diver appointed by Captain
Slgsbee Is to have full liberty of move
ment. The government has wired to
AVnshlngton requesting permission for
Spanish official divers to examine the
wreck outside and Inside.
Captain W. T, Simpson, of the United
States battleship Iowa, nnd chief of the
board of Inquiry, Is expected here.
A revolting Incident of tho day haB
been the presence of vultures wheeling
In the nlr above the wreck.
The Mangrove will probably carry to
Key West this evening eight wounded
from tho military hospital.
. , v ,, lfcJ num vtnv.. ivy t
Y
o
fOiOtO - fOrfO'fO'fOf OO -f Of
Be on the Scene
MAINE'S SALVAGE.
Congress Appropriates $'200,000
for the Work.
Washington, Feb. 18. Soon after tho
senate met today .Mr. Halo (Maine)
obtained tho floor nnd Introduced the
following Joint resolution:
"That the secretary of tho nnvy be
nnd he Is hereby authorized to engage
tho services of a wrecking company or
companies having proper facilities for
the prompt and efficient performance
of submarine work, for the purpose
of recovering the remains of officers
and men lost on the United States
steamer Maine, nnd of saving the ves
sel, or such parts thereof and so much
of her stores, guns, material, equip
ment, fittings and appurtenances as
may be practicable, and for this pur
pose the sum of $200,000, or so much
thereof as may be necessary Is hereby
appropriated and made Immediately
available."
The resolution was passed by the
senate without objection, being amend
ed so as to authorize the secretary
to direct that the remains of officers
and sailors, bo brought to tho United
States for Interment.
The resolution was prepared at the
navy department and Introduced at
the request of Secretary Long, who
in forwarding It to Mr. Hnle also sent
a letter explaining the purpose. He
says In this letter that "It Is deemed
proper and Important that steps
should bo taken Immediately to re
cover the remains of the officers and
men lost on the occasion of this most
disastrous catastrophe, to raise, the
vessel, or to save such parts of her as
possible." ,
To this the secretary adds: "The
meagre Information received respect
ing the nature and extent of the In
jury sustained by the hull of the Maine
renders it difficult to determine at this
time whether there is reason to hope
that the vessel herself may be raised;
but It seems probable, as she lies with
in the protection of a harbor and Is not
wholly submerged, that much vnluable
property may hi! recovered If the neces
sary action Is taken without delay.
The vessel, with her stores, guns ma
terial, equipment, fittings and nppurt
cnances, cost approximately $3,000,000.
As nn illustration of the value of sin
gle Items which mny have escaped
serious injury, It may be said that the
ten-inch guns, of which the" Maine oar
rled four, were worth, with their
mounts, $-iS,r00 each. Aside from the
duty resting ttpon the government to
recover and bring to this country for
burial, If this may be done, the bodies
of the officers and men who lost their
lives In this disaster. It Is believed that
much valuable property may yet be
saved from the vessel. In any event
It is of the utmost Importance that
whatever Is to be done In this matter
should be entered upon without delay.
"The sinking of the Maine will be
made the subject of Immediate and ex
haustive inquiry and congress will be
fully advised of the results of such
Investigation."
Mr. Lone states that, in fixing the
sum asked for, the department Is at
this time unable to estimate the neces
sary expense with any degree of accu
racy, but he says he has conferred with
the 'bureau of construction and repair,
and that In case of the appropriation
requested, only so much of It as will be
found necessary will be expended In
the work. The secretary Incloses the
following table showing tho cost of a
number of Items In the ordinary outfit
of the vessel: Main battery and equip
ments, $183,937; main battery, miscel
laneous, 0,38O; secondary battery and
equipments, $20,7S4; small arms and
equipments, $S,742; ammunition, $123,
010; ammunition, secondary battery
and small arms, $30,512; magazine and
small room equipments, $1,159; stores,
tools, etc.. $1,837; torpedo outfit, $22,
310; permanent fittings, main battery,
$84,670; permanent, secondary battery,
$1,259; purmnnent rlttlngi, torpedo, S17,
877; permanent fittings, miscellaneous,
$163: total. $502,152.
Immediately after the reading of the
Journal nt noon, Mr. Boutelle (Rep.,
Me) chairman of tho naval committee,
asked unanimous consent for the con
sideration of the resolution prepared
by the navy department, and which
passed tho senate.
"It Is unnecessary to say," said Mr.
Boutelle, at the conclusion of the read
ing of the letter, "that the work of sal
vage should begin at once, and that the
arrangements with tho wrecking com
panies which have tho necessary out
fits should not be delayed. I deem It
proper to call nttentlon to tho fact that
Secretary Long, recognizing that con
gress was In session, lias come hero for
authority to do this work Instead of
straining any authotlty he might, pos
sess independently."
After some discussion the resolution
wab adopted unanimously.
LEE RETURNS THANKS.
Acknowledged the Courtesies Ex
tended at Havana,
Washington, Feb. 19. 2 a. m. The
navy department last night received
the following message from Captain
Slgsbee at Havana:
"With General Lee and Cowles to
day visited Captain General Blanco
and other chiefs ot civil and military
branches of government, and returned
thanks ior great demonstration of sym
pathy yesterday and for their con
tinued care for the dead and for other
good offices now being exercised in our
behalf, Received additional assur
ances of sympathy and desire to help,
Spanish authorities feel situation acute
ly. I have promised to maintain offic
ial character of all work done on wreck
of the Maine. No friction anywhere."
The reference to the official character
of tho work Is interpreted at the. navy
department to mean that no divers
hired by newsixipers will bo allowed to
Investigate the wreck. As to tho pub
lished "statement that Spain Intends
to claim a joint Interest In .the work
of tho court of Inquiry, tho depart
ment says that under tho harbor regu
lations of any civilized port tho local
jjuthorltles arc bound tn make an of
ficial Investigation of any wreck oc
curring in their Jurisdiction, irrespect
ive ot tho nationality of the vessel or
any investigation by another govern
ment in case It Is a craft owned by a
foreign power. As the matter is un
derstood here, this is the only right
Spain claims In the case and it is eon
coded to bo entirely fair. This state
ment of the case was confirmed at tho
Spanish legation. A message was re
ceived this afternoon that the coast
survey F.teamer Bache with divers and
apparatus aboard, had sailed from
Havana.
SOBRAl'S THEORY.
Thinks the Disaster at Havana
Was Due to Negligence.
New York, Feb. IS. The Herald to
morrow will say:
Lieutenant J. G. Sobral, nuval at
tache of the SpaniBh legation at Wash
ington, was In this city yesterday ac
tively co-operating with tho authori
ties In preparations for insuring tho
safety of the Spanish battleship Vis
caya during her stay In this port.
Lieutenant Sobral was asked for his
opinion as to the cause of the explo
sion on the Maine. His reply was:
"I know the cause of the explosion,
but I cannot divulge It."
He was pressed for further Informa
tion on this point, and he flnnlly re
plied: "It was the result of an explosion
Inside the ship, which took place In
one of the forwarjl magazines. The
fact of the matter Is that tho disci
pline and the watch observed on the
ship were very lax. This, as one Eng
lish newspaper the other day declared,
Is the case on American warshliV
generally. These sort of things have
occurred on previous occasions on
American war vessels."
When Lieutenant Sobral was spoken
to about the possibility of serious
trouble over the Maine affair, he said:
"I do not think there will be war
between the United States and Spain,
but If such an unfortunate condition
should arise I should, of course, be In
a position to bo of much aid to my
government as a result of the infor
mation which has come to my knowl
edge as naval attache at the Spanish
legation. In the case of hostilities I
might, perhaps, command a ship."
PRAISE FROM ENGLAND
Fine Conduct of the Maine's Offi
cers Recognized.
London, Feb. IS. In spite of the
cable despatches which have been
received In this city from America
giving the various theories concern
ing the disaster to the Maine, experts
have ventured nothing like definite
opinions as to the cause of the explo
sion. They merely offer conjectures re
servedly, based on the confused and
contradictory telegrams. These conjec
tures deal mainly with the theory of
spontaneous combustion and the action
of chemical paint on high explosives.
All of them admit that the affair is
still wrapped In mystery.
The navy generally warmly praises
the conduct of the officers of the Maine
which Is held to be worthy of the best
Anglo-Saxon traditions. Official sym
pathy has been exceptionally wide,
quick and genuine.
Tho community Is unusually Im
pressed by the disaster on account of
tho Interest here in naval affairs and
tho lurking possibility of a similar ex
plosion on any of the English Iron
clads. The memory of the Victoria
disaster Is fresh In the public mind.
TO REPLACE THE MAINE
Washington, Feb. IS. A bill appropriat
ing $1,000,000 to provide a battleship to
replace tho Malno was Introduced In tho
house this afternoon by Mr. Foote, of
New York.
THE NEWS THIS MOKMN'U.
Weather Indications Today:
Rain; Colder; Northerly Winds.
1 General Investigating tho Maine Hor
ror. Spanish Battleship Viscaya Arrives at
New York.
S General Senutor Mason's Sensational
Speech.
Progress of the Martin Trial.
3 Iocal Flagrant Violations of Election
Laws Charged Against Eighteenth
Ward Officers.
One Woman's Views.
4 Editorial.
Comment of the l'ress.
5 Local Social and Personal.
Religious News of the Week.
G Local Argument for a New Tilul In
thn Van Horn Murder Case.
Institutes of Local Farmers.
Homo for the Friendless Concert.
7 Local-QoROlin's Death in Y. M. C. A.
Ruins.
Doings In Argument Court.
8 Local West Side and Suburban.
9 Lackawanna County News.
10 Foreign Delusions About Americans.
11 Sunday-School Lesson for Tomorrow.
Modern Ubps for Compressed Air.
12 Neighboring County New? y
Dun's Ilevlow of Trade.
The Markets.
THE VISCAYA
AT NEW YORK
The Big Spanish War
Ship Outside the
Bar.
TO ENTER BAY TODAY
Preparations for Her Formal
Reception.
Flcot ot Government and I'ollco lri
trol IlonU Will Moot the tlig Ship
nt Sunrlse--No Olio Snvo News
paper Men Will Ho Allowed to Ac
compnny tho l'lcet--Lleut. Dough
erty Will Ilnro Entire Charge of tho
I'ollco I'ntrol nnd Will Koprcsout
Admiral lltince oi the lirooklvu
Navv Yard.
New York. Feb. IS. The Spanish
cruiser Viscaya arrived at this port at
C.B0 o'clock this afternoon and anchored
outside the bar.
It was stated tonight that she frill
come up the bay early tomorrow morn
ing. In passing up she will be saluted
by forts Hamilton and Wadsworth and
return the formality. Then she will
steam to a point oft Tompklnsvllle,
where she will drop anchor. This, It
Is said, was considered the best place
for tho boat to anchor, ns she will be
freer from the encroachments ot small
boats there than elsewhere.
Captain T. Smith was Informed by
Admiral Hunce at 8 o'clock tonight
that the Spaniard had anchored oft ""
Sandy Hook and that at sunrise to
morrow tho fleet of government and
police patrol boats would steam down
tho bay to escort her to her anchor
age. Applications for leave to accompany
the fleet down the bay on the patrol
have boon refused nil persons except
newspaper men. Two Plnlcerton detec
tive, who claimed they had come from
the Spanish consulute, one of whom
spoke Spanish fluently, presented let
ters of Introduction to Captain Smith
and asked permission to go down with,
the fleet. They were referred to Chief
McCullach, who afterwards telephoned
that he had given them permission to
go down. The men said they had busi
ness with persons aboard the Viscaya,
but neither they nor any one at the
office of Consul Daldesano would say
what their mission was.
THE PATHOL.
near Admiral Bunco has given ilnal
Instructions to Lieutenant John A.
Dougherty, who will have charge of the
patrol tugs, six In number, to guard
the Viscaya during her stay In this
vicinity. Lieutenant Dougherty will
make his headquarters on the navy
yard tugJs'Inn, and tho other tug from
the navy yard, the Narkeota, will also
do duty, but will be used principally
as a dispatch boat, carrying messages
between the navy yard and the guard
boats.
As soon ns the Vlscaydrops anchor
In tho upper bay or in the North river.
Lieutenant Dougherty In full uniform
and representing Rear Admiral Hunce,
commandant of the navv yard, New
York, will board the cruiser and con
ey th'e utual courtesies extended for
eign vpssoIs of war entering an Ameri
can port, and will also explain what
the patrol is there for.
Lieutenant Dougherty has had the
fires banked in his boat for tonight,
and early In the mornlm; will take her
to pier A, North river, fur tho police
escort.
Lieutenant Neville, of ths Marine
corps, will bo In charge of the thlity
Blx marines who will be quartered on
board tho 'N'lnn.
At night It Is Intended to keep Vis
caya brilliantly Illuminated with elec
tric lights, ard the watch boats will be
also well llcbted, so that there can be
no possible means of approaching the v
Viscaya without detection.
Consul O.neral of Spain J3aldeiniut
has written to near Admiral Hunce
nsUing him to appoint tho hour and
day on which the commander of the
Viscaya shall call upon tho roar admir
al. Senor Hnldesano, continuing, &ays:
"I take this opportunity to show you,
Mr. Admiral, my deep sympathy on the
terrible nceident which hnppomvj. to
your fine and ill-fated Malno in tho
port of Havana."
Colonel It. V Hughes. 1'. S. A . in
spector general, was reen at the tinny
building In this city today and denied
that the officers in this city had been
Instructed from Washington to make
any special arrangement for tho speedy
mobilization of the regulars lit this
vicinity.
When the Vlscaya's officers and men
learned the startling news of the dis
aster to the American battleship Malno
in Havana harbor and of the downfall
of former Minister de Lome, they broke
into a wild uproar of talk. For a
couple of minutes nil discipline on tho
great warship seemed to vanish to the
winds.
Men rushed below to tell their com
rades in the lower decks. Above all the
uproar In Spanish rang out tho sten
torian volco of an American pallor:
"Great God, boys. Is that true?"
Randy Hook pilot Dan Glllcspto was
the only American aboard the ship.
Ho had been cruising to th'e southward
for a week or more In tho Dllot boat
Ambrose Know and was Ignorant of tha
startling developments of the last few
(layB. Early tomorrow morning the
Viscaya will come up to tho nnchoragn
selected for her In the tmper bay,. .
i i
S