Newspapers / The News & Observer … / Feb. 17, 1898, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The News and Observer. VOIi.XLIII. NO. 142. Loads all Other North Carolina Dailies in Both News and G?*juiation. THE MAINE'S MUTE STORY IS IOLD BY 253 DEAD SAILORS l Officers Jenkins and Merritt Among the Dead and There Are Only 96 Survivors. OPINION NOW LEANS AGAINST THE THEORY OF SPANISH TREACHERY HT'T SOME PROMINENT MEN EXPRESS THEMSELVES AS BELIEV ING THE WORST SUSPICIONS OF TORPEDOES. CAPTAIN SIGSBEE AND SECRETARY LONG SEEM CONFIDENT THAT THE CAUSE WAS ACCIDENTAL CIRCULARS OUT SAYING: “DOWN WITH AMERICANS” TIIE OLIVETTE ARRIVES WITH SURVIVORS WHO ARE INCENSED AGAINST THE HAVANA PEOPLE—THE SAILORS INSIST THAT IT WAS A DEEP LAID PLOT AND POOH-POOH THE IDEA OF AN INTERNAL EXPLOSION—A SUS PICION FROM SIGSBEE. CALMNESS AND COOL JUDGMENT ARE COUNSELED A Congressional Investigation to be Instituted, but Congress for the Moment is Appalled Into Silence-Senator Butler Does Not Adopt the “Accident” Theory-*Magazines all Closed at 8 O’clock and Keys Turned Over to Capt. Slgsbee -Graphic Details of Men in the Ship at the Moment of the Fxplosion-The President Closes the White House Against Func tions** High Spanish Officials Rush Eagerly Into Sympathetic Condolences-Spanish Ferry Boats Did Not Offer Aid-*Among the Survivors Are North Caro'inians as Follows: Trubic Finch, Raleigh; John H. Moss, Oxford; John Warren, Randolph; Henry Williams, Elizabeth City- G neral Lee’s Message-Southern Men on Board-Sympathy From Madrid and London, With a Hint of Suspicion From ih* rimasr&rf the “Torpedo” Th iiifftftMii ally Repudiated With Emphasis-Washington Flags at Half Mast-The President up Until Midnight—There Was a Second Explosion-Gustas Dressier Loses Both Eyes - Secretary Alger Silent -600 Pounds of Gun Cotton Exploded and There Was a Second Explosion. Washington. D. C., Feb. lt>. —After a tiny of intense excitement at the Navy Department and elsewhere growing out of the destruction of the battleship Maine iu Havana harbor last night, the situation tonight after the exchange of a number of cablegrams between Wash ington and Havana can be summed up in the words of Secretary Long, who. when asked, an he was about to depart for the day whether ho had reason to suspect that the disaster was the work of an enemy, replied: ‘*l do not. In that I am influenced by tbe fact that Captain Sigsbee bas not yet reported to the Navy Department on the cause. He is evidently waiting to write a full report. So long as he does not express himself I certainly can not. I should think from the indica-j tioiis, however, that there was an acci dent—that the magazine exploded. How ttfaat came about I do not know. For, the present at least no other war ship ■ will be sent to Havana.” The appalling nature of the disaster j and the gravity of the situation that! would arise should investigation give a basis for the undercurrent of suspicion of treachery and foul play than ran through all minds had a sobering effect on public men of all shades of politi- j eal opinion. The fact stands forth and is little less than remarkable that not a single resolution was introduced or a single speech made iu either house of Congress bearing on tlic disaster save one of condolence with the families of those killed, offered by Mr. Boutelle, and adopted by the House of Repro- sentatives. Public men expressed their j opinion with reserve when approached | for interviews, but everywhere there was a demand for an investigation and full details in the light of which the horror may I** justly viewed. Secretary Long undoubtedly summarized the general opinion of the majority of the Naval experts in finding it impossible just now to state the cause of destruction of the Maine. JMVHRS TO INVESTIGATE. There are a great number of the ories, (but most of them are of a character that makes it easy to prove or upset them by a simple investigation by a diver. Secretary Long has taken immediate steps to make this investiga tion. Later this afternoon lie telegraph ed 1 o Admiral Bicard at Key West to appoint a board of naval officers to proceed at once to Havana, employ div ers and generally to make such inquiry as the regulations of the Navy demand shall In* made in the case of tbe loss of a ship. It is expected that this work will take some time, and while there are officers who say that in their opin j ion it will not be possible, owing to the probable disrupted condition of the hull.j of the ship to make out the cause of the | explosion, the opinion of the majority is that the question will Im* easily set tled by the simple observation of the condition of the ship's hull plates in the neighborhood of the hole which sunk her, whether or not they are bulged out, as would be the case if the explosion came from inside, or whether they were driven in, as would result from the at tack of a torpedo or the explosion of a ! mine beneath the ship. The large ma jority of naval officers are inclined to the belief that the explosion resulted from spontaneous combustion of a coal bunker, the overheating of the iron par titions between the boilers and the ma gazine or from the explosion of a boiler, though the last theory finds little sup port. The lists of survivors that came to the Navy Department this afternoon in answer to telegrams, was inaccurate and made out the loss of life eight more than the summary originally given by Cnptain Sigsbee in an earlier telegram, iso Secretary Long telegraphed for another corrected list, aud also one that should show who were and who were not wounded of the survivors. It was found necessary to do this owing to the great number of pitiful appeals for in formation as to the safety of some un fortunate on the Maine that came from all partis of the country. MAINE MAY BE RAISED. The Naval consructors, in the light of the dispatches thus far received, say that it is by no means certain that the Maine cannot lie raised and again carry the Hag. They say that while she is a big ship, others tits large have been raised, and at Havana, the new floating dry dock would receive her if she would once be gotten above the water. Cap tain Sigsbee is evidently taking an in terest in the future of the ship, for he sent a telegram to Commander Forsy the „t Key Wist, that was promptly transmitted to Secretary Long suggesting that a light house vessel or some such small craft be stationed in Havana har bor to watch over the wreck. The lat ter, even if beyond resurrection, eon tains valuable ordnance and other prop city that doubtless can be secured by dive ns. It is said at the Navy Department Uiat RALEIGH, N. C., THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 17, 1898. this disaster is Hie greatest of the kind in Naval history since the siiiiing of the big British warship Victoria by col lision with the Oamjierdowu in the Mediterranean, off Malta, June, 1803. By that accident the British Admiral .commanding, twenty-two officers uiul three 'hundred and thirty-six men lost their lives. A CHANCE ACCIDENT. The Spanish legation was early ad vised of the horror by Captain General Blanco, who expressed hi* profound re gret and added that the occurrence was a chance accident, the undoubted cause being an explosion of the boiler of the dynamos. This was the only specific cause assigned from an official source during the day. Sonor Du Boac, the Spanish Charge D’ Affairs, called at the State Department to express his pro found regret, and the entire Spanish staff left their cards at the Navy De partment as a mark of personal condo lence. At all of the foreign establish ments there was the deepest interest and solicitude over the affair, and during the day Ambassador Gambon of France, Sir Julian Pauncefote, of the British Embassy, and other foreign represen tatives called on the President or at the State Department to express their re grets. The disaster is remarkable in that only two officers lost their Jives and these were of junior grades. They were Lieutenant Friend W. Jenkins and As sistant Engineer Darwin R. Merritt. The former was unmarried, but leave* a mother and sister. The latter, it is thought, also was unmarried but the department was unadvised concerning his family. Mr. Jenkins was born in Alleghany City, Pa., June 20, 18G5, and was ap pointed Naval Cadet September 28, 1882, by Representative Thomas M. j Bayne, of the twenty third Congres sional District. After a short cruise on the Atlanta he was graduated June 1888 after which he served successively ou the Galena, Kearsarge, and Swatara. He was next attached to the coast «sur *Vey and served with it until Februury, 18b0 when he was again ordered to sea, tin the gunboat Pennington. From June, 1893 to September, 1895, <he was on Ordnance duty at the Naval prov ‘ 1 miii nil fr 1 1 llil r rT- *• on September 18, 1895, he was ordered to the battleship Maine and has since been attached to that vessel with the excep tion of a short interval in the wpriug of 1897, He reached his present grade of junior lieutenant in January, 1897. He had malty friends in this city and was regarded as a most capable and efficient officer. THE TWO DEAD OFFICERS. Assistant Engineer Merritt was born I at Red Oak. Montgomery county, lowa. April 12, 1872. He was appointed to the Naval Academy Septemtlier 10, 1891, graduating at the head of his class four years later. He went to sea on the Amphitrite and was subsequently trans ferred to the Indiana, receiving his final graduation July Ist, 1897. After a short service at the New York Navy Yard he was ordered to the battleship Maine .September 10, 1897, aud has since been attached to that ill fated ves sel. Although his Naval service has been short it is said at tbe department to have been extremely creditable. Captain Dieting, chief of tin* Naviga tion Bureau, expressed the opinion to day that the explosion took place in the magazine of the Maine. He said that this was evident for the reason that the ship was afloat for an hour after the explosion. Had a torpedo been find un der the battleship sin* would have sunk almost immediately. Secretary Long, for the President, has sent this telegram to Captain Sigsliee: “Sigsbee, IT. S. S. Maine, Havana. “The .President directs me to express for him«elf and the people of the United States his profound sympathy with the officers and crew of the Maine and de sires that no expense lie spared iu pro viding for the survivors and the care of 1 the dead. (Signed) “JOHN D. LONG, “Secretary.” The President ;lsas recalled his invita tions for receptions this evening and to morrow night ovvling to ithe disaster which has befallen the American Navy. The President and several of his Cab inet associates held an extended confer ence about noon. It was not a Cabinet meeting, as no notices had been sent out, and only Secretary of the Navy Long, Secretary Gage, Attorney General Griggs, Postmaster General Gary and j former Attorney General McKenna were I present. The disaster to the Maine was ■ the only topic considered. About 12 o’clock the Cabinet officers came from the President's office. One of them stated that tiie President hail given directions that all official informa tion relating to the disaster should lie given to the public. A message was re ceived late in the day stating that the (Continued on Second Page.) THE COASI DEFENSES I Engaeed the Attention of the Senate. ADD TO APPROPRIATIONS THE MAINE DISASTER STIMU LATES ACTION. THE HOUSE EXPRESSES ITS SYMPATHY Teller Alludes to Cubm Situation-Our Duty to Step to the Front and Tell Spain to Desist, Let the Consequences ba What They May. Washington, D. C., Feb. 10. —The de-j bate on the Bankruptcy bill, which is to continue until Saturday when a vote will be taken, opened in the House today, but it attracted little attention, the merest of lie members living enirely absovlted by lie disaster to the Maine. At the time the hall of the House was almost <k<scrted, the members being con gregated in the lobbies or cloak rooms Sussing the accident and speculating u its probable consequence. Just be ■ the House adjourned Mr. Boutelle, chairman of the Naval Committee pre sented the following resolution which was unanimously adopted: - “Reiolved, That the House of Repre sentatives has learned with profound sorrow of the great calamity which has caused the destruction of the United Stales battlship Maim, and the ap palliug Toss of more than 250 lives, and the wounding of many others of the gallant defenders of our Hag and that the House expresses its sympathy for tfhe injured and its sincere condolence with the families of those who have lost their lives in the service of the nation.” Before the question was put, Mr. Bailey asked Mr. Bou telle if his win- mjttot* was in possi ssion of any informa tion which threw any light upon the of the accident. “I regret to say that we have no infor mation.” replied Mr. Boutelle. “upon with-fa a conclusion could be based. My! own impression, which may not be of i . v-due* is that it wys an accidental j occurrence." 1 The speakers on the Bankruptcy bill were: In favor of the measure. Messrs. Hend erson, (Republican. loual: Eiuha.ni. (Democrat, Texas), ami Burke, (Demo crat, Texni*); in opposition to it, Messrs. Underwood, (Democrat. Alabama): Bell, (Populist. Colorado); Henry, (Demo crat;- Texas); Mcßae, (Democrat, Ar kansas), and Cochran, (Democrat, Mis souri). At 5:05 o’clock i>. in., the House ad journed. SENATE PROCEEI>I N< IS. Washington, Feb. 10. —A discussion upon coast defenses was the interest ing feature of the Senate to-day. Many Senators took the ground that tbe ap propriations should be for the full a mount of the estimates by the War De partment instead of some four millions less. In the early part of the day there was a discussion of the Kansas Pacific Railroad sale but no action was taken. At 1:35 p. m. the Senate went into executive session. Open session was resumed at 3:15, when the fortifica tions Appropriations bill was taken up. Mr. Perkins, in tbe course of a state ment concerning it, said the Commit tee on Appropriations was unanimous in its action in increasing the aggregate (tom appropriated by the House bill. Ev ery member of the committee was iu favor of peace but all realized that the best way, to preserve peace was to be prepared* for war. Mr. Stewart thought that the appro priations should bo increased so that there should he no more talk about the drnfmseless condition of tin* coasts. Mr. Chandler, (N. H.), wanted an in crease made upon powder and projec tiles which could be immediately availa ble. Mr. Gorman opposed the increase, say ing the country could not, iu view of the present condition of the finances and for other reasons afford the in crease. Mr. Stewart said we did not carry on <>ur negotiations with foreign govern ments m a proper manner because* our great cities were not properly protected. Mr. Hawley favored liberal appropria- tions. Mr. Ixnlge advocated a steady policy looking to the proper defense of our sea coast cities. Air. Teller opposed the proposed in crease, saying it was better to leave the amount as fixed by the committee. He agreed with those who did not con sider a war among the early probabili ties, but that the time of peace was the time to prepare for war. Still the in dications were strong for a general war and while the United (States might es cape by drawing its head Into its shell like a turtle, still we as a great nation should 1 b© prepared for any emergency. Here Mr. Teller made an evident al lusion to the condition of affairs in Cuba saving it was our plain duty when a nation was conducting a war up on our borders contrary to international law and the rules of humanity to step to the front and tell that nation it must, desist, let the consequences be to us what they might. ...... „ Mr Teller also spoke incidentally of tlie Hawaiian question, lie said that if t S «»«« 'vanted to become anything mow* than a hermit nation and escape war only by submitting to insults it would have to prepare itself to take I part in the affairs of the world. He not | only wanted to provide the ships, but j hie believed in sending them where they j were needed for the protection of our people and occasionally to places where their presence was demanded in the in terest of the human raw. On motion of Mr. Pettus, the appro priation for the construction of seawalls and embankments was increased from $30,000 to $55,000. An amendment offered by Mr. Chan dler Increasing the amount appropriated for pow’dens and projectiles for a reserve supply for armament and fortifications from $650,618 to $050,018 was accepted. This completed the consideration of the bill and it passed without division. At 0:05 o’clock the Senate adjourned. AN OCEAN DISASTER. The Flachat of the Transatlantique a Total Wreck and Only Twelve Per sons Were Saved. Tenereiff. Canary Islands. Feb. 10. — The Coinpagnie Geuerale Transatlan tique Line steamer Flachat. bound from Marseilles for Colon, was totally wreck ed on Amiga Point, this island, at 1 o’clock this morning. Her captain, sec ond officer, eleven of her crew and one passenger were saved. Thirty-eight of ; the crew and forty-nine passengers were lost. The Flachat was built at Stockton, England by Pearse and Company, in 1880. She was a stern screw, iron ves sel of 1,239 tons net. and 2,175 tons groefc, register. She was 300 feet long by 30 feet beam and 25.5 feet depth of hold. FOR BURNING A GIN HOUSE, John Braswell and Wife. Colored, Were Convicted. Tarboro, N. C., Feb. 10. —(Special.)— John Braswell and wife, colored, were today convicted of burning the gin house and 100 bales of cotton on the flag marsh farm in this county. This crime was committed last November. The jury remained out only a little while. S- vent I hundred cords of wood were burned near town last night by forest fires. A tobacco lain of Dr. W. P. Mercer, was burned last night. The murder case of state against Wil lis Lee will . lie tried tomorrow. 11A W AIIAN A NNEXATION. Senator Morrill Says it Would l>e Against Good Policy and Tradition. Washington, I>. 0., Feb. I)s.—Senator Morrill, of Vermont, occupied tin* entire time of the executive session of the "State tudayirtth u-speech opi rowing” ftrr ratification of the Hawaiian annexation treaty. .Mr. Morrill's speech was intended to show that the acquisition of the Ha waiian Islands would lx* against both good policy and the traditions of this country. GENERAL WHEELER READY. lie Wires That bis Services are at the Disposal of his Country. Wa-hington, Fob. It*. —General Joseph Wheeler, tin* ex-Confi*<lenite calvary commander, now a member of the House from Alabama, sent, tbe following mes sage to tin* President this afternoon: "To the Honorable, the President: ‘‘lu case of any trouble with Spain, remember that my tender of services is on file at the War Department. ‘‘JOSEPH WHEELER." UNION PACIFIC SOLD. Alvin W. lvrech Representing the Reor ganized Committee Was tin* Purchaser The Price Paid M as $9,303,000. Topeka, Ivans.. Feb. 19. —The govern ment lien in tin* Union Pacific ease was wiped out today at the Union Pacific sta tion iu this city. The Kansas Pacific road was liought in by Alvin W. Krech, representing tin* reorganization commit tee, for $9,303.1MX). There was no compe tition at the sale. THE CYST WAS REMOVED. Madame Sarah Bernhardt was Operated Upon Successfully. Paris, Feb. 19.—Madame Sarah Bern hardt was operated upon this morning at Dr. Pozzi’s Hospital. The cyst was removed with complete success. Dr. Pnzzi hopes that Mine Bernhardt will l e able to resume her profesisonal work in April. VOX I)ER AIIE STILL IN JAIL. Pittsburg. Pa., Feb. Id.—Von Dor Alio is el ill in jail and it begins to look as though tin* offer of the league magnates to get him out of limbo had a string to it. Reports are being circulated that the league in consideration for its com ing t<» Von Dor Alie’s relief require that the St. Louis man renew the offer he made some time ago to sell the fran chise of the Browns. This attitude of the league cannot be vouched for but there is a hitch in the proceedings some where. President Watkins was notified yesterday by National President Young to secure Von Per Abe's release, yet no action was taken to-day. REGARDED AS CLOSED. Madrid. Fob. 19.—El Oorreo, the gov ernment organ, announces that United States Minister Woodford to-night re reived Spain's reply concerning the De Lome letter, and it adds that the inci dent is regarded as terminated. FIRE THIS MORNING. This morning at 3:40 an alarm of fire was turned in. I*t turned out to be a wood house back of the bouse occupied by Lizzie Cooper. near the Rook church, East Raleigh. The greatest damage done was the loss of /the fire wood in the house. J LAST EDITION. FRICE F T / 'ENTS. DeLOMEDN DISftSTER It Is Terrible, but No Span iard Did It, SAYS HE LOVES AMERICA REGRETS KEENLY THE UNFORT UNATE LETTER INCIDENT. SAILED ON BRITTANIC FOR LIVERPOOL Says There Will Be No War Between America and Spain. Complimentary Resolutions Presented on Board by Delega tion of Spanirds. New York. Feb. 10.—Senor de Lome heard the news of the disaster to the Maine at the Hotel St. Marco this morn ing. At first he refused to credit it, but when the truth dawned upon him, he said: “It is terrible. I pray God the news has been exaggerated. You may be sure of one thing, however, no Spaniard did "Like myself, all Spaniards of import ance entertain friendly feelings toward this country. There will be no war: there can Ik: no war between America and Spain. “I am forced to say now by this terri ble affair what 1 should have been pre cluded from saying before. There is no country in the world that I love as I do America. I love the country and the people, and it is with the keenest regret that 1 take my leave as the result of this unfortunate letter incident. Nearly all prominent Spaniards and mtn of in fluence in my country share my views in regard to America." PE LOME SAILS. New York. Feb. 19.—Senor Dupuy de Lome, former Spanish Minister to Washington, sailed on tin* steamship Brittuuuie for Liverpool today. Compli mentary resolutions were presented to fun on hoard by a delegation of Span iards. There was no hostile demonstra tion of any kind. A RAILROAD BATTLE. The Southern Building a Switch in - Night Time. Hickory, N. (\, Feb. ltk—(Spedal)-- On Monday night the Southern Railway sent a crew of laborers to Hickory from Mprgnnfou and constructed a switch across the main line of the (paldwell and North Western railway iu the Western part of town. The switch was built to get a siding at Hickory Manufacturing Company's shop mid Piedmont Wagon Works. Presi dent Harper. Superintendent Nichols and Attorney Jones of the C. and N. W„ hurried Imre, when they learned or tin* Southern’s action. The Southern left a large crew to sleep in the ears near the switch. Tuesday night, about twelve o'clock, the C. and N. W •. sent, in a gang of hands who began tearing tip the tracks. Aliout three a. in., the Southern's men hurried to the place and I egan putting I sick the rails. The two gangs struggled together till morning, (lie Southern getting most of the switches bark ns they had more men. The situation become serious, tin* men wrestling over the track, throwing each other off the switch and seizing enow lmrs. A general fight was imminent. Mr. Ilulham. Mayor, with thirty armed deputies went t<* tin* scene and announc ed (hint the law would Ik* enforced at any erst. The contending gangs fell back tin* C. and N. W. on one side of lh<* switch, the Southern on the other. The deputies are occupying the switch and all parties are watching each* other, but there is no trouble. Abci:it eleven o’clock the Southern received a car load* of reinforcements. Reinforcements were sent by C. and N. W.. from Lenoir and Granite on Wagons ami ears. After some dispute the C. and N. W. passenger train bound for Le noir was allowed to pass. No further disturbance, but all hands are on th<* look out. About three o'clock p. m. Superintendent Nichols of the C. and N. tV.. and Road Master Docteon, of tlx* Soutneru, appeared and announced to their men that the difficulty had been settled. The railroad men and deputies leaving the ground and there is) great excitement over the affair. All is quiet now. The Southern had about 150 men and the O. and N. W. about 100. The Southern claimed the switch was on their right of way. The terms of settlement, could not be learned exactly, but operations all sus eemled until Presidents Spencer and Harper can confer. HELPING THE CUBANS. Durham, N. Feb. 19.—(Special.)—A few '.lavs ago tbe President <»f the Wo n>nn*>s Parsonage and Home Mission So ciety of Trinity church, received a letter from the mission post of the M. E. church South, at Tampa. Fla., stating that there were some 3.000 Cuban refu- < gees at that place who were in a wret chedly helpless condition, and uppealii for help. These j>oor creatures without clothing or bread, and the nouncomrnt at Trinity Sunday won touched a tender chord in Durl big hearted |M*ople. This evening Southern Ext ness bore from the three la rge boxes filled with c 1 and material for clothing to the a of SIOO or over. Washington, 1). 0., Fel*. 19. —J« Sawyer has been appointed a class iiostmaster at Weeksville, i
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 17, 1898, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75