The Middleburgh post. (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, March 31, 1898, Image 5

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    OF
glandnKyyertheold;filfof
Post we hiia in inc uuc
14, 1873, the following:
full of dipt. Weiser'n company
h was from Penn township in
eighborhood of Selinsgrove will
Dubt proxe interesting to our
.ra as many of the descendants
ieie dead heroes are still living.
CSTER Roll of Capt. Bfnj.
ewer's Company of Nob-
MBERLAND CoUNTV MlLITIA
June 30, 1777.
Benjamin Weiser ,
'JL Christopher Snyder
u AdamShaefler
Joseph Van Gundy
fcrgt. Max Hane
I Ueorge warsnau
borrf. Philip Moyer
I ' Frederick Kisenhauer
himer, Will Thompson
Privates.
VHosterman ' Ueorge. l'eiier
Livengood George isrosius
jnas lliteh
Audrew ueuz
Adam Kerstetter
Nicholas Bromus
John Hvtm
Adum Lcfller
k Meiser
Hp Neitz
liauscr
Vtian Sliaeffcr
ge Moyer Mathias Witmer
fge Herrold Jacob Snyder
La Bickle John Hester
Faust Henry Gromnger
ge Troutncr Martin Kerstetter
aust. sick, Leonard Kerstetter
loIausSliaft'er ZacliariasSpcngle
ad Farst Michael Newman
W Kauffman . Peter Weis
Uelphia, Jnne 30, 1777.
his company served through the
k-rni ot duty aoriug wnicii un
to of Trenton and l'rinccton
fought and were in the service
h montns.
Auditor's Notice
tsute of Phoebe
loebe )
A est V
dee'd. )
In the orphan' Court
ol Snyder County, l'a.
ly. law of west
TowDgnip, aec
Auditors' Notice.
undersigned, woo mi appointed auditor
II court to distribute the funds In the
of W. W. Wernetts, administrator of said
tor, titer bis Orel and final aoccant filed
xjnflrmed in said estate, to and among
legally enUUed to the same, will sit, fcr
irpose ot discharging the duties ol bis ap
nent, at the offlee of Charles Dower, Esq.,
Borough of Sellnsgrore, Snyder County,
D Friday, April ss, iw. between the hourf
ick A. H. and O'clock P. M. of said
rbere and when all parllea are requested
Sent Uieir claim or be forever debarred
Claiming any portion of said funds. .
. Jas. O, Caoiwr, Auditor.
OLD COPIES WANTED.
h order to complete our files we
it the following named issues ot
Post:
uly 8, Sept. 16, . 1869; Oct, 6,
1870; Jan. 520, 1871; Apr. 17,
13 ; Nov. 4, Dec. 23, 1875 ; Mar.
878; May 15, 1879; Feb. 17,
k 10, 1881; Apr. 23, .1883;
27, June 12, Aug. 7 and Uct.
1884; Sept. 17, 1885; Jan. 28,
V 6, Oct, 28, Dec. 23, 1886;
L 29, 1887..
ny ot our readers having copies
le above issues will confer a
r by letting us know. Such
es in good condition will com
id a lair price, tf.
lie ten shares of bank stock of
Fessler, deceased, in the First
ional Bank of this place, was
on 1 uesday at public sale tor
9.75 for each share. The luir
e of each share is $100. The
were bought by Dr. Kaua-
of Centreville. This is about
per share more than this stock
light two years ago. This is
r..i l pi
iiiui eviueuce 01 a successiui
' .
mg institution.
DllfU.
n March, 19, 1898, nearMeiscr
, Henry F. Bressler, aged 35
i, 11) mo. and zu days, . Fune-
was held on the 22nd inst. at
llichfield Lutheran church.
vs. O. G. Romig and Solomon
mybill officiated.
Cm March, 21, 1898, near Lew is-
hr, Elizabeth, widow of the late
njamin Arbogast, aged 90 years,
po. and 12 da vs. Funeral was
Id on the 24th inst. at St John's
Jirch, Frecburg. Revs. O. G.
)mig and H. H. Spohn officiated.
JOu March. 20. 1R98 nr. W
Vliu, Solomon Dreisbach. acred
years, 6 mo. and 3 days.
Btaarn la RiuU iiu.
plcan blood manna a oloan .bin Xl
juty without It. Cascarfts, Candy Cathar
I clean tnnp kai - i C J ;i .1
iiiZ i .u ana anving ail lnv
?ilhJ-? tWbodr. Begin toW to
I1!? P,m?K boilsTUoteha-, blackheads,
' - Biiiona mmnMuui
by taking
AUdnw-
"-T-bf&uty for tencen
guaranteed,
tuTIONARY SOLDIER3
( PENN TOWNSHIP.
mCLOiSiYEB
Despite the Peaceful Attitude
ot the Administration.
iCTIVm IN WASHINGTON.
Spain Willing That We Shoulcl Feed
Her Cuban Subjects.
TALI OF EUEOPEAH MEDIATIOH.
The GoTernment SeoarM Torpedo
Boat Bollt For the) German Govern
ment and a Nnmber of Yacht and
Tub Which Will Be Transformed
Into Marine Flehtera Admiral 81
card Retired, and Captain 8ampnon
Sncoeeda Him In Command of the
Fleet at Key Weet Commodore
Schley Commands the Flying Squad
ron at Hampton Itoada Some Con
areaamen Oppose the President's
Plan For Fnrnlahlno; Government
Relief to Spanish Subject In Cuba.
The Situation Rather Warlike. De
spite the Peaceful Attitude of the
Administration.
Washington, March IS. Following Is
the full test of the report of the court
of Inquiry appointed to Investigate the
disaster to the Maine at Havana:
United States Steamer Iowa, First
Rate, Key West, Fla., . Monday,
March 21, 1898.
After full and mature consideration
of all the testimony before It, the court
finds as follows:
1. That the United States battleship
Maine arrived In the harbor of Havana,
Cuba, on the 25th day ot January, 1898,
and was taken to buoy No. 4, In from
five to six fathoms of water, by the
regular government pilot.
The United States consul general at
Havana had notified the authorities
at that place, the previous evening, ot
the Intended arrival ot the Maine.
2. The state of discipline on board
the Maine was excellent, and alt orders
and regulations In regard to the care
and safety ot the ship were strictly
carried out.
All ammunition was stowed in ac
cordance with prescribed instructions,
and proper care was taken whenever
ammunition was handled.
Nothing was stowed In any one of the
magazines or shell rooms which was
not permitted to be stowed there.
The magazines and shell rooms were
always locked after having been open
ed, and after the destruction of the
Maine the keys were found in their
proper place in the captain's cabin.
everything having been reported secure
that evening at 8. p. m. The tern
peratures of the magazine and shell
room were taken daily and reported.
The only magazine which had an un
due amount of heat was the after ten
inch magazine, and that did notex-
pioae at me time me siaine was ae
stroyed. "
The torpedo warheads were alt stow
ed In the after part of the ship under
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
board the Maine to obviate danger.
Special orders in regard to this had
been given by the commanding officer.
Varnishes, dryers, 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 destruction of the Maine.
The medical stores were stowed aft
under the ward room and remote from
the Scene of the explosion.
No dangerous stores of any kind were
stowed below in any of the other store
rooms.
The coal bunkers were Inspected dally.
Of those bunkers adjacent to the for
ward magazines and shell rooms four
were empty, namely, B S, B 4, B 6, B 8.
A 5 had been In use that day, and
A 18 was full of new river coal. This
coal had been carefully Inspected be
fore receiving it on board. The bunker
In which It was stowed was accessible
on three sides at all times, and the
fourth side at this time on account of
bunkers B 4 and B 8 being empty. This
bunker, A 18, had been Inspected Mon
day by the engineer officer on duty.
The fire alarms In the bunkers were
in working order, and there had never
been a case 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
by the divers and are In a fair con
dition. On the night of the destruction of
the Maine everything had been re
ported secure for the night at 8 p. m.
by reliable persons, through the proper,
authorities, to the commanding of
ficer. At the time the Maine was de
stroyed the ship was quiet, and there
fore least liable to accident caused by
movements from those on board.
S. The destruction of the Maine oc
curred at 9:40 p. m. on the 15th day of
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 ot a dis
tinctly different character, with a very
short but distinct Interval between
them, and the forward part of the
ship was lifted 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 magatlnea of the Maine.
4. The evidence bearing upon this, be--ing
principally obtained 'from divers,
did not enable the court to form a def-
Inite conclusion as to the condition o1
the wreck, although It was established
that the after part of the ship was
practically Intact and sank In that
condition a very few minutes after the
destruction of the forward part.
The following farts In regard to the
forward part of the ship are, however,
established by the testimony.
That portion ot the port side of the
protective deck which extends from
about frame 30 to about frame 41 was
blown up aft, and over to port. The
main deck from about frame SO to
about frame' 41 was blown up aft. and
slightly over to starboard, folding the
forward part of the middle superstruc
ture 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 ot the forward magazines of
the Maine.
S. At frame 17 the outer shell of the
ship from a point eleven and one-half
feet from the middle line of the ship
and six feet above the keel when In Its
normal position has been forced up so
as to be now about four feet above the
surface of the water; therefore, about
24 feet above where It would be had the
ship sank uninjured. The outside bot
tom plating Is bent Into a reversed V
shape, the after wing of which, about
1S feet broad and S3 feet in length i
(from frame 17 to frame 25). Is doubled
back upon Itself against the continua
tion ot the same plating extending for
ward.
At frame 18 the vertical keel Is
broken in two, and the flat keel bent
Into an angle similar to the angle
formed by the outside bottom plating.
This break is now about six feet be
low the surface ot the water, and
about 30 feet above its normal posi
tion. In the opinion of the court this ef
fect could have been produced only by
the explosion of a mine situated under
the bottom ot the ship at aboit frame
18, and somewhat on the port side of
the ship.
8. The court finds that the loss of the
Maine, on the occasion named, was
not .in any respect, due to fault or
negligence on the part of any of the
officers or members of the crew of said
vessel.
7. In the opinion of the court the
Maine was destroyed by the explosion
of a submarine mine, which cauiied the
partial explosion of two of her forward
magazines.
8. The court has been' unable to ob
tain evidence fixing the responsibility
for the destruction of the Maine upon
any person or persons.
W. T. SAMPSON,
Captain U. 8. N., President.
A. MARIX.
Lieutenant Commander, U. 8. N., Judge
Advocate.
The court, having finished the Inquiry
it was ordered to make, adjourned at
11 a. m. , to await the action of the
convening authority.
W. T. SAMPSON.
Captain U. 8. N., President.
A. MARIX.
Lieutenant Commander, U. S. N., Judge
Advocate.
United States Flagship New York,
March 22, 1898. off Key West, Fla.
The proceedings and finding" of the
court of inquiry in the above case are
approved.
M. SICARD.
Rear Admiral. Commander-in-Chief of
the United States Naval Forces on
the North Atlantic Station.
TI1E PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Thinks Spain's Sense of Justice Will
Dictate a Course of Acttou.
Washington, March 28. The presi
dent 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 consular
representatives pointed out the ad
vantages to flow from the visit of na
tional ships to the Cuban waters in
accustoming the people to the pres
ence of our flag as the symbol of good
will and of our ships In the fulfillment
of the mission ot protection to Ameri
can Interests, even though no Immedi
ate need therefor might exist.
Accordingly on the 24th of January
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister, in which the renewal of visits
of our war vessels to SDanlsh waters
was discussed and accepted, the penin
sular authorities at Madrid and Ha
vana were advised of the purpose of
this government to resume friendly na
val visits at Cuban ports, and that In
that view the Maine would, forthwith
call at the port ot Havana. This an
nouncement was received by the Span
ish government with appreciation of
the friendly character of the visit of
the Maine, and with notification of the
Intention to return the courtesy by
sending Spanish ships to the principal
porta of the United States. Meanwhile
the Maine entered the port of Havana
on the 25th of January, her arrival be
ing marked with no special incident
besides the exchange of customary sa
lutes and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued In the harbor
of Havana during the three weeks fol
lowing her arrival. No appreciable ex
citement attended her stay; on the
contrary, a feling of relief and con
fidence followed the resumption of the
long Interrupted friendly Intercourse.
So noticeable was this Immediate ef
fect of her visit that the consul gen
eral strongly urged that the presence
of our ships in Cuban waters should
be kept up by retaining the Maine at
Havana, or In the event of her recall
by sending another vessel there to take
her place. ,
At 40 minutes past 9 In the evening
t the 15th of February the Maine was
destroyed by an explosion, by which
the entire forward part of the ship
was utterly wrecked. In this catas-
trophe two officers and 264 of her crew
perisnea, inun wnu wero nu luuea oui-
rigni Dy ner explosion Deing pennea
between decks by the tangle of wreck-
age ana arownea vy mo immeaiaie
linking of the hull. Prompt assistance
was rendered by the neighboring ves
sels anchored In the harbor, aid being
especially given by the boats of the
8panlsh cruiser Alphonse XII and the
Ward line steamer City of Washington,
which lay not far distant The wound
ed .were generously cared for. by the
authorities of Havana,' the hospitals
being freely opened to them, while the
earliest recovered bodies of the dead
were Interred by the municipality In
the publlo cemetery In the city. Trib
utes of grief and sympathy were of
fered from all official quarters of the
Island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of our country with . crushing
rce, anl tor a brief time an Intense
iiiiawm mi limn
ntdtement prevailed, which In a com
munity less Just and self controlled
than ours might have led to hasty acts
of blind resentment. This spirit, how
ever, soon gave way to the calmer pro
cesses of reason and to the resolve to
Investigate the facts and await mate
rial proof before forming a Judgment
as to the cause, the responsibility, and.
as the facts warranted, the remedy.
This course necessarily recommended
Itself from the outset to the executive,
for only In the light of a dispassionate
ly ascertained certainty could It de
termine the nature and measure of Its
full duty In the mattes.
The usual proceedure 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 duty im
posed upon them. Aided by a strong
force of wreckers and divers, the court
proceeded to make a thorough Investi
gation on the spot, employing every
available means for the impartial and
exact determination of the cause of
the explosion. Its operations have been
conducted with the utmost delibera
tlon and Judgment, and while Independ-
antlv. nuraiieil nn aniir nf Informa
tion was neglected, and the fullest op-
portunlty was allowed for a simul
taneous Investigation by the Spanish
authorities.
The finding of the court of Inquiry
was reached after S3 days of continu
ous labor, on the 21st of March, and
having been approved on the 22d by
the commander-in-chief of the United
States naval force on the North At
lantic station, was transmitted to the
f executive.
It is herewith laid before the con
gress, together with the voluminous
testimony taken before the court.
Its purport is in brief as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted to the regular gov
ernment pilot buoy No. 4, to which she
was moored In from Ave and one-half
to six fathoms of water.
The state of discipline on board and
the condition of her magazines, boilers,
coal bunkers and storage compart
ments are passed In review, with the
conclusion that excellent order prevail
ed, and that no Indication of any cause
for an Internal explosion existed In
any quarter.
At 8 o'clock In the evening of Feb.
16 everything had been reported secure,
and all was quiet. At 40 minutes pant
9 o'clock the vessel was suddenly de
stroyed. 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 greater volume. Is attributed by the
court to the partial explosion of two or
more of the forward magazines.
The evidence of the divers establishes
that the after part of the shlo was
practically Intact and sank in that con
dltlon a very few minutes after the ex
plosion. The forward purt was com
pl"tely demolished.
Upon the evidence of a concurrent
external cause the finding of the court
is as follows:
At frame 17 the outer shell of the
ship, from a point 11 feet from the
middle line of the ship and six feci
above the keel when In Its normal po
sition, has been forced up so as to be
now about four feet above the sur
face of the water, therefore about 34
feet about where it would be hud th
ship sunk uninjured.
The outside bottom plating Ih bent
Into a reversed V shape, the after wing
ot which, about 15 feet broad and 32
feet In length (frame 17 to frame 25),
Is doubled buck upon Itself against the
continuation of the same placing ex
tending forward.
At frame 18 the vertical keel is
broken In two and the flat keel bent
Into an angle similar to the angle form
ed by the outside bottom plates. 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 effect
could have been produced only by the
explosion. of a mine situated under the
bottom ot the ship, at about frame 18,
and somewhat on the port side of the
ship.
The conclusions of the court are:
That the loss of the Maine was not
In any respect due to fault or neg
llgence on the part of any of the of-
flecrs or members of her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by the
explosion of a submarine mine, which
caused the partial explosion of two or
more of her forward magazines, and
That no evidence has been obtain
able fixing the responsibility for the
destruction of the Maine upon any
person or persons.
I have directed that the finding of
the court of inquiry and the views of
this government thereon be communi
cated to the government of her ma
jesty, the queen regent, and I do not
permit myself 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 be the duty of the executive
to advise congress of the result and in
the meantime deliberate consideration
is invoked.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY,
Executive Mansion, March 28, 1898.
ACTIVITY IN WASHINGTON.
Congressmen Oppose Government Re
lief to Cuban Spanish Subjects.
Washington, March 29. Yesterday
was one of action In every branch ot
official life; action In the White House,
where the president and his cabinet
advisers assembled in special cabinet
t aaaalnn nf 1030 n'rlnrlr. action In hnth
v.. -.. ,,. h.
,,.. of the preBdent on the Maine die
MteP and report and testimony of the
i court of inqury were received, action
In tha secret conferences of state of-
flclala and diplomats concerning tho
latest phases of Spanish-American ne
gotiation. and action In the war and
navy ' departments, - with the Spanish
situation as the common purpose of all
the varying aspects of official action.
Seldom has a day been replete with
o many diverse and Important phases
of a single subject. And yet through-
out this activity the prevailing tone
as received from administration sources
has been more assuring, more In the
line of naaca than It haa haen for inmn
days. This was the Impression con -
veyed by cabinet officers after the spe-
clal cabinet session. The same sentl-
ment characterised the diplomatic eon-
ferences at the state department. But
, bi congress, which afforded the great
m ' iiiiiiiiim immiiiin'iiiii ii' n nm I'm
'est field for antl-Spantsh and warlike !
expressions, a strain of discontent and
uneasiness prevailed after the presl- .
dent's message and the Maine report
was submitted, especially on the house
side.
The president's message submitting ;
the Maine report and accompanying i
evidence was the main eventof the day.
Those who had anticipated that the
message would contribute to the ag- h,m ' command ot inn neet at Key
gresslve spirit were disappointed. It I We- Optaln Robley Evans ("Flght
contalned no surprises. In the house j l"K Uob" w appointed to the com
of representatives the message and re- I n,an(1 of Iow- "ucceedlng Captala
port was referred to the committee on j Sampson. On Friday Commander W.
foreign affairs, and Spanish debate . 8. Schley was appointed to commanl
was for the time being diverted. i ,ne flyln squadron at Hampton Roads.
In the senate there was a similar ' Orders were also issued to have the
reference to the committee on foreign I vessels of the white squadron painted
relations, and Mr. Money, of Missis- 1
sippl, delivered a brief and energetic
speech picturing the woes of Cuba.
With the report was submitted tho
voluminous evidence taken at Havana
and Key West before the court of ln
lnqulry. After the adjournment of the house
there was considerable discussion over
proposed consolidation of the forces i
in the house who favor some form of 1
Immediate action on the Cuban Is-1
sue. There was a strong feeling shown !
over the avoidance In the messuge of
any outline of a definite administration
policy and a decided disposition ap
parent not to await any further delay
nor resort to temporizing measures.
The project to furnish ad libitum re
lief supplies to the Cuban non-combatants
Is meeting with opposition, to
which members on both sides of the
house have given voice In private dis
cussion on the ground, first, thut Spain
alone is responsible for the conditions
on the Island, and, second, the ex
tending of such large and probably I
continued aid abroad Is unjust to the
people of this country.
The special cabinet session was hold j
to go over the president's message and 1
particularly to consider the latest
developments in the negotiations now
proceeding with Spain. These had as-1
sumed a wide field, embracing not only ;
the Maine question, but the entire
Cuban problem. The answer of Spain 1
was in hand to the firm note sent ,
through Minister Woodford last week
stating that the condition of Cuban '
affairs had become so Intolerable that
the United States could not much
longer remain inactive toward It. The
general tone of the Spanish answer Im
pressed the president and cabinet of
ficers most favorably, so much so thut :
after the meeting it was stated by
members that the outlook was far more
assuring, and that Spain hud shown
such a concllitory tone that it was
believed she would make concessions
sufficient to permit an amicable ad
justment of the present Ht ruined re
lations.
This was supplemented, however, by
the statement that the (lunger point
had not yet pussed, and that war, while
no longer a probability, was yet a
possibility. The president hud dls-
flnrtlv rltncluMftil til hin rnlilnitt naa.t- '
clutcs his purpose to avert war if it
wus possible with a just solution of
the Cuban problem, and he hud felt
from the disposition manifested by
Spain that this Just solution could be
reached. This, however. Is without
considering congress, which may, now
that the subject is formally before It.
tuke some radical action.
Meantime, at the state department,
cablegrams were being received from
Minister Woodford, and the Spanish
minister, Senor Polo le Uernabe, was
in a lengthy conference with Judg3
Day as to the prospective adjustment.
The meeting between the Spanish min
ister and Judge Day came after the
cabinet conference, so that such repre
sentation as Spain submitted through
him did not get before the cabinet. At
least two of these new phases submit
ted by the minister were of exceeding
Importance. The Spanish government
made It known that no objection would
be made to the humanitarian objects
of the United States government in ex
tending relief to the sufferers in Cuba
on a far greater scale than hitherto
had been contemplated. On the con
trary, Spain has made known that It
recognizes the humane purposes ani
mating this country, and that it does
not doubt that these purposes will be
executed in such a way as to avoid all
possible force of action. It Is not ex-
pected that the relief will be carried
l ... V. I ikl- 1.1 ltr.wlmin n I .
Ill waiBlli'li ill linn ituuiu uuiuuuLg ,
political aspect Into a project which Is
purely humane.
This acquiescence by Spain clears the
way for the president's message of the
next few days asking a large appro
priation for the relief of destitution in
Cuba. It had been feared that this
relief, given directly by the United
States government, would be resented
by Spain as indirect Intervention. In
that event there is little reason to
doubt the relief would have been for- 1
warded at any cost, even the cost of
war, as the administration has felt that
a war in behalf ot a humane object
would command universal approbation
of the world.
u, u ". u"tu:
ment which reached the government
. , , . , . 7 .
during the day was the abstract of the
, . , .
report of the Spanish naval commls-
slon which Investigated the destruc
tlon of the Maine. It is the only an-
k , 1 1 1 . C .. I .. u .1 . .
Snoln hi. thn. fur muria n tha
action of this government In submit
ting to Spain the findings of the Amer
ican court. The conclusions reached
by the Spanish commission are directly
the opposite of those of the American
court. No demands have been made
in connection with the Maine, and
therefore there Is no response beyond
the submission ot the Spanish report.
Following the call of the Spanish
minister at the state department the
French ambassador, M, Cambon, had
a conference with Judge Day. This
renewed the talk ot European media
tion, which is assuming tangible form,
The speech of Premier Hanatoux in
the Paris chamber last Saturday is
looked upon as foreshadowing at least
sympathy, If not direct steps toward
mediation, by France and other conti
nental powers, to which Spain would
not object.
Al i ii o wr kiiu ii vj ueriiueiiia
the stir of preparations continued as
At the war and navy departments
usual. The navy department made
plans for a "mosquito fleet," to be com-
posed of tugs and steam yachts re-
. cently purchased and armed as an
auxiliary fleet. The war department
made numerous shifts in the location
isf troops In the west, with a view to
thel speedy concentration.
I General Flagler, the chief of ord-
1 lance of the war department, awarded
a number of companies contracts
It furnishing the department with
disappearing carriages for the eight,
ten and 11 Inch guns, emplacements
for which are now being constructed
at the sea coast fortifications. -
The events of last week were a suc
cession f exciting Incidents. Oa
Thursday last Admiral Sicard was
retired on sick leave and Cap
tain Sampson appointed to succeed
drk lead color, and that work Is now
proceeding. On Friday it was an
nounced that agents of this govern
ment had purchased a "Schlschau"
torpedo boat Just built for the German
government. At New York agents ct
the government purchased four swift
yachts, nine fast sea going tugs and
one coasting vessel, which are being
transformed Into war vessels.
The great event or last week was, ur ,
course, the arrival In Washington on
inursuuy nisni oi nm rrj-un ui mr
Maine court of inquiry, which was
brought to the capital from Key West
by Lieutenant Commander Marix.
Lieutenants Hood and Jungcn, Kti
glneer Rowers and Ship Carpenter
Helmes, of the Maine's crew. Another
Important event of the week was the
launching, on Thursday lust at New
port News, Va., of the two new bat
tleships Kentucky and Krarsarge.
Last Thursday the body of Lieutenant
Jenkins was recovered from the wreck
of the Maine, and has been forwarded
to his mother at Allegheny. I'u.
The Spnnixh government bus cabli9
officially to Washington that the Span
ish naval commission holds the disaster
to the Maine to he of Intel mil origin.
The government of Spain, it can be
stated positively, is not disposed to turn
back the torpedo flotilla now proceed
ing from the Canaries, and would be
disinclined to consider a suggestion
from this government tending to In
terfere with the disposition by Spats
of her own naval forces.
This week opened with every rvitmnte
of approaching war at the nutlnn'v
! Ptal. Sunday was an unusunlly buF,
day. At the state, war and navy de
partments there was little semblance f
the Sabbath. Chiefs of bureaus, clerks,
messengers anil telegraph operators
were all at work. Probably never sinci
the days of the late war have s man)
officials gathered at th- war nnd nav
departments on a Sunday. The ren
dent hud conferences with tho mem
bers of his cabinet, and Assistant Sec
retary Day hud a confTcnco with tht
Spanish minister at the t-stuto depart
ment. At the sumo time It was stated
In official circles thut the president
was determined to terminato the war
In Cuba on terms that will make th
Cubans practically free.
A matter of considerable important e
in connection with the Spanish win
troversy Is the fact that in Sunday's
elections In Spain the Sagasta govern
ment made sweeping victories,
A dispatch from Havana states Inn:
nen mo mangrove went to mat in,
I on Saturday to bring home the Main
officers she was boarded by a Spao-
lsn inspector, who proceeded to ex
amine her as though shu was a sus
pected filibuster. Consul Ocnernl It
vigorously protested, and the inspector
was quickly removed.
Jersey's Nnval Milt tin, Ordered Oat.
Camden, N. J., March 2J. The navid
reserves of New Jersey, Second di
vision, were ordered on board th
monitor Ajax (lying at this place) laxl
night. The officers expect orders at
any hour either to move the Ajux or
transfer some of the men to one of the
monitors at League Island.
Richard F. I.oper Arretted.
Philadelphia, March 2!).-Kichard F
Loper, of the defunct Guarantors' Fin
ance company, was arrested yesterday
afternoon at the office of his counsel.
State Senator John C. Grady, la -the
Glrard building. Magistrate Jurmoa
announced that he would require 126,00
ball. It is alleged that Cashier Hop
kins loaned Loper securities of the
People's bank, which are now missing.
One of the clerks of the bank says Mr.
i Hopkins called up Mr. Loper nn the
telephone and Implored hltn to return
the securities loaned him. This is what
Mr. Hopkins said: "I cannot stand the
strain any longer, and if you do not
return the securities within 24 hours
I shall blow my brains out." The next
day, when the cashier had, Indeed",
made good his threat, the clerk recalled
and repeated it. Loper denies the
statement.
Arson to Hide Triple Murder.
Atlanta, Ga., March 2S. Firemen re
sponding to an alarm at an early hour
yesterday morning found the bodies
of Mr. and Mrs. W. II. Brlley. white,
and Robert Wilkinson, colored, in a
store at 75 Humphries street, which
was being rapidly consumed. The
i bodies were gotten out without being
i . ... ..,.
marred by flames. All were horribly
' , " . . . , ...,i.j .i.l
mutilated, having been murdered with
" .
jtw t?r. fln n the Zor Mr
!wh'ch were. fou" d ?e. "
JI uej .n ...c . .. -
and It is believed that robbery was the
motive. The police have made a num
ber of arrests.
French Robber Murdered Six.
Paris, March 29. A terrible tragedy
Is reported from Bernai, In tho depart
ment of the Kure. A robber nnmed
Callliard murdered a family of six per
sons there Sunday evening. From a
window of the house Inhabited by the
.family he shot and killed, with ajin.
inn iiuauaiiu, ma wue iuu iwu uflll-
dren, who were playing at a table
Callliard then entered the house and
cut the throat ot a little girl who was
In the next room. Finally he blow out
the brains of a paralytic bedriiden
Woman 71 years of age. The murderer
was arrested and confessed to com
mitting these sna other Crimea
Terrible Disaster to Sealers,
St. John's. N. V.. March IR Tha aanl-
I -
"n "learner Greenland, which put Into
Bay de Verde Saturday night with
story ot terrible disaster to her crew
on Wednesday and Thursday, while
among the Ice floes In search of seals.,
arrived here yesterday afternoon. She
reported 25 men dead, 23 missing and M
"uuy irusiowen mat aooiu zu
' then their limbs. The
colony Is aghast at the magnitude of
,ns 'ter, nothing like which has
Ter been known here. Already a re-
"trted to assist the
relatives of r deceased.