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OL. XXXI. NO. 25.
WILMINGTON, N. C, FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1893.
S1.00 PER YEAR.
IK IK Ktf ra
V
WAR PREPARATIONS
CONTINUED BY WAR A'D NAVY
DEPARTMENTS
he Old Mo ni torfc and 'Revenue Cotters to
be Brocght Into Service Contrae s for
Z Ammunition Report of the Court to
Reach Washington Tonight-Outline of
the Course to be Pursued by the Admln
lstratl n
Key "West, Fla., March 22. Lieuten
ant Commander Marix, judge-advocate
of the United StaT.es naval court of in
quiry into the loss of the battleship
Maine, left Key West this afternoon,
on his -way to Washington, iby the City
of Key West, bound for Miami, taking
with him the report of the court of in
quiry on the disaster. Commander
Marix brought the report ashore from
the "Nashville today and Hear Admiral
Sicard, with Convmander Marix, spent
several hours in its further revision.
All the officers of the Maine now here,
except Paymaster's Clerk McCarthy,
have received orders to leave for their
homes, there to await orders, as in the
case of the other officers who left here
last week. This is considered to be
evidence that the court did not require
corroboration of technical evidence as
was thought a few days ago. The ma
jority of the officers of the Maine left
this afternoon for 'Miami, and the re
mainder of them leave to-morrow for
Tampa.
Before leaving Key West, Comman
der .Marix sa'id nothing could be given
out about the work of the court of In
quiry or Its findings. Personally,' the
commander said .he was intensely re
lieved at completing his labors.
The decision reached 'by the court is
still a matter of surmise. Perhaps
significance may be attached and con
clusions drawn 'from a remark by Ad
miral 'Sicard last night, when he said
to a correspondent: "The case of the
Maine is motet 'peculiar, peilhaps the
most peculiar which has ever occurred
in the 'history of the world."1 From
the general tone of his remark it might
be inferred 'that the court findings do
not definitely solve the mystery of the
explosion. (This is further born out by
the admiral's statement that even after
the report had he en sent to Washing
ton the department may require furth
er investigation.
iLieu tenants Jungen and Hood, Cadets
Bronson and fBotyd, Passed Assistant
Engineer Bowers, Assistant Engineer
Morrlfs and Carpenter Hilms, c'f the
Maine, left here today on the City of
Key West for 'Miami. Gunner Hale, 1
of the lost battleship, 'will leave later.
There are no commanding officers of
the iMaine here.
The report of the court of inquiry
left here today In the custody of Lieu
tenant Commander Marix, judge ad
vocate. If the train connect Hons be
made, he 'will arrive in Washington
with the documents Thursday night.
Within the last five days a minority
sentiment has 'been steadily grdwing
that the court has been unable to de
termine definitely the cause of the ex
plosion. Still, it 'is true that a majority
h'old to the conviction that the report
will find, and prove that the Maine Was
blown up Intentionally.
The sending of the report today to
Washington, was an undramatic cli
max to weeks of waiting. Lieutenant
Commander Marix went aboard the
Nashville early in the day and brought
off the findings. 'After a prolonged con
ference with Read Admiral Sicard cer
tain alterations were made and then
Admiral 'Sicard affixed his signature of
approval. After luncheon Lieutenant
Commander iMarix boarded the steam
er City of Key West and sailed for
Mi'atmi at 4:30 o'clock, with the report
safely stowed away in state room 'No.
16. 'Lieutenant Commander Marix be
fore leaving was in a non-committal
mood, He confined himself to saying
that he wad intensely glad to be
through With the very tedious work
and once more to "be on the way north.
Tesipite the absence from Key West
of the documents on which the eyes
of the -world are 'fixed, the court of in
quiry continues in existence though in
active. ShVmld the navy department re
quire (further investigation and express
dissatisfaction with the findings, it is
probable the court will be obliged to
return to Havana, though the release
of all the IMaine officers held here as
witnesses until today makes it unlikely
that any loophole has been left which
would Justify the department in re
quiring the court to perform further
work.
THE A DMTN ISTR ATIO N 'S FIRM
STAND.
Washington, (March 22. T'he cabinet
meeting today lasted something over
an hour and' was devoted exclusively
to the Spanteh situation in general,
and to the forthcoming report of the
Maine court of moulry in particular.
The tone of tine discussion was very
firm an)d determined that there must
come tan end to the .present state of
affairs In Cuba. Secretary Long au
thorized 4he -statement that the under-s-Landing
'before the cabinet was that
the report would' ireach. Washington
Thursday or Friday;- that it was very
-voluminous and lhafc fts publication
.and transmission to congress -would not
occur until next Monday or Tuesday,
as the president wotuld require that
much time to give t&e document the
mature consideration its momentous
character required. Other cabinet offi
cers stated that the general plan In
cluded the sending of a president's mes
sage along with the report, stating
that Spain had been called, upon to
make suitable response to the case
presented by the court of inquiry.
While the cabinet associates of "the
preJdent maintained their usual re
serve as to the exact character of the
deliberations, U was conceded that the
disctr&erftm proceeded on the theory that
the coming' report would show that the
Maine explosion wtas not the result of
an accident, but was due to an external
cause. This was not 'because of any
positive- information, however, as t0
the findings of the court. There f no !
doubt that substantia:1 unanimity ex-!
jets pa the part if the president and all
his cabinet, both as to the Maine ques
tion and the general subject of Cuba.
The possibility of a recourse to In
tervention in case Spain declined to
make suitable response to the repre
sentations we will make after receiv
ing the Maine report has been fully
discussed, although necessarily It has
been an abstract discussion thus far,
and no conclusion has been reached or
is possible until the Vital question as
to the court's ndings are before the
president and cabinet. At the same
time there is a very evident intention
to consider all eventualities, including
the recourse to intervention, the recog
nition of independence and other meth
ods which appear to suitably, meet the
requirements of such a condition. It Is
believed to be the intention of the pres
ident, however, to bring about a very
material and satisfactory condition In
Cuba by what shall seem to be the
best and most practicable method of
obtaining this end. It is the hope of
the administration that Spain herself
will so far realize the situation as to
sec the necessity for such radical ac
tion' on her part with respect to Cuba
as shall command the approbation of
this country and, thus, at once put an
end to all differences.
Outside of the cabinet meeting the
day was exceptionally quiet. Secre
tary Long 'was. able to clear his desk
at 3:30 o'clock for the first time since
the 'Maine disaster occurred, and he
'left the department before office hours
closed, to enjoy a walk.
THE HAMPTON ROATS SQUADRON
During the afternoon the 'bureau of
navigation posted the notice that the
battleship -Massachusetts had sailed
from Key West for Hampton Roads,
following the Texas, which left yes
terday. About the same time Commo
dore Schley, wlho ha3 been suggested as
the probable Commander of the "flying
squadron," centered at Hampton
Roads, called at the department and
tiad a conference with 'Assistant Sec
retary Roosevelt. The cruiser Brook
lyn is at Newport 'News and the moni
tor Puritan is under orders to proceed
there, so that these vessels will be
near the Hampton Roads rendezvous,
if it is determined! to establish the
squadron there. Orders for this move
have, not yet 'been made, however, nor
has Commodore 'Schley received any
information Ifrom officials that he
would 'bo placed in command of the
squadron.
The navy department continues to
keep informed as to the Spanish tor
pedo flotilla, now 'st'opplng at the Ca
naries. It can be stated positively
that President McKinley has protest
ed against the coming of this flotilla
is unwarranted. There has 'been no
such protest.
A COALING STATION TN WEST IN
DIES. ISerfous attention is being given by
the navy department officials to the
question of the acquisition of a suit
able location for a coaling station
somewhere in the West Indies. Steps
have been taken already to establish
such a station at the Dry Tortugas,
'but this, it is said, is the only deep
water harbor available for big war
vessels (between Hampton Roads and
the Rio Grange. Beside, If is practi
cally unprotected at present and a
fleet 'would have to be stationed there
to protect the coal stored, which is un
satisfactory. There are a number of
fine harbors among the West Indies,
said a naval officer today, and one of
these we ought fo have for a coaling
station. Secretary-Long is considering
the matter and it Is probable that if
the government can make the neces
sary arrangements a station will be
secured.
POWDER BIDS OPENED.
lAt the war department bids wrere
opened in the bureau of ordnance for
supplying 470,000 pounds of brown pris
matic powder for the .seacoast fortifi
cation gun. There were only two bid
ders, the California Powder Company
and the Dupont Powder Company. The
former concern offered to supply the
powder at the rate of 32.175 cents per
pound.. Twenty-one days after receiv
ing the contract they wl'll begin deliv
ering the powder at the rate of 25,000
pound's weekly. The Dupont Company
bid at 32.175 cents per pound for that
to be delivered at the powder arsenal
at Dover, N. J., and. 34.175 cents per
pound for that to be delivered at the
Benecia arsenal, California
TWO MILLION CARTRIDGES.
In a day or two the, ordnance bureau
will award the contract for supplying
the department 2,000,000 smokeless
poiwder rifle ball-cartridges of .30 cal
ibre. Two concerns submitted bids for
furnishing these cartridges, the Win
chester 'Arms Companf and the Union
Metallic Company, both, of Connecti
cut. Their bids were substantially
alike and the contract probably will
'be divided between, the two companies.
(The war department has received in
formation of the arrival at (New York
of the steamer Norkyn with 5,700
pounds of foreign smokeless powder
also ordered. This powder is for test
ing 'purposes at the Sandy Hook prov
ing grounds.
NO OVERTURES TO SPAIN.
Pending -a decision on the govern
ment's final policy, no overtures or in
timations have been conveyed to the
Spanish government, and there is no
official knowledge as to (how Spain
would regard -a recognition of Cuban
independence, or intervention. The
Spanish minister, Senor Polo, request
.ed today that a statement be made thai
reportsttttaibuting to" h&nexpressionsfon
thesufojecttotf independence were un war
ranted and untrue. Senor Polo says he
has not discussed this or any other of
the pending questions.
THE KEARSAIRGE AiND KENTUCKY
'President Orcortt, of the Newport
News Shiplbullding Company talked
with Secretary" Long today on the plans
for the launching of the new battle
ships Kearsarge vnd Kentucky at New
port News next .Thursday. Owing to
the condition of affairs here, Mr. Long
is not likely to attend the launching,
as Thursday is the day on which the
report of the court oi7 inquiry may be
received. IFor the same reason many
of the naval chiefs who had hoped to
see these fine ships- glid5 Snto the
water will be unable to a ttend the
launching. A distinguished pOTty 1 to
leave here tomorrow night, however,
including members of the senatO and
house committees and such naval coffl
cjajs as are not pressed by the present
- " -V A. . A &
; morning and the Kentucky one hour
later. Mrs. Herbert Winslow, wife of
Lieutenant Commander Winslow, and
.Miss Christine BradJey.daugbter1: of Gov
eroor Bradley, the two ladies who will
christen the Kearsarge and Kentucky,
respectively, will reach Newport News
tomorrow. Governor Bradley and a
party of 300 Kentuckians will arrive
at tw am fit-no An 1tlnc frwvnor
I the ship which bears the name of
j their state. After the launching an
J hour will be grven to inspecting the
I shipyard, including the work on the
big battleship Illinois, and later, a col
t la t ion will be served. 'Mr. Ore lit t
i speaks in the highest terms of the new
j battleships and says that on a ptnch
they could be made ready for service
within eight months and possibly less.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PURCHASING
WARSHIPS.
The negotiations Tor rne purchase of
ships abroad is going steadily forward,
j but there was a regretable dissappoint-
nient in this connection today. The
authorities had been exceedingly anx
ious to get the big torpedo cruiser Tupy
built for Brazil. She is one of the most
formidable torpedo craft afloat, ner
size placing her in the cruiser class
while her torpedo armament gives her
the effectiveness of torpedo boat and
cruiser combined. It was learned pos
tively, today however, that the Brazil
ian government would not part wrch
the Tupy, and this closes the efforts for
one of the best ships under negotia
tions. In a small measure this was offset by
the success of the navy department in
securing a trim little narrow -built
launch, which, though very small, will
serve as a harbor torpedo boat. She is
of the same class of craft as the iMox
oto built for the Brazilian navy.
NEWS FROM OUR WARSHIPS.
The navy department was notified to
day of the arrival of the cruiser Cin
cinnati and the gunboats Castine and
Wilmington at Port Antonio, Jamacia.
This is about the same distance from
the south shores of Cuba as Key West
is from the north shore. The gunboat
I Marietta announced her arrival at Pan- J
ama. The Marblehead has gone from
Port Tampa to Dry Tortugas.
A SECRET MISSION TO KEY WEST.
Captain Barker, naval aide to the
secretary of wthe navy, returned to his
desk at the navy department today
after a few days absence. He went to
Key West on a secret mission, the ex
act nature of which has not baen dis
closed. Inasmuch as he conferred at
length with Rear Admiral Sicard, com
manding the North 'Atlantic squadron
and writh Captain Sampson, president
of the navy court of inquiry investi
gating the cause of the 'Maine disaster,
there appears to be 'good reason for the
inference that this business , related to
that affair and Its possible conse
quences. One of the most active branches of
the navy department just now is that
engaged in the enlistment of recruits
for various positions in the service.
Yesterday notice was given by adver
tisement that recruiting stations would
be opened at a number of cities, mostly
on the coast. Today In response to
representations that have come to
hand, the enlistment bureau gave
notice that a 'board of officers would be
detailed to visit various cities in the
vicinity of the great lakes where, it is
said, there are a number of persons
who would be willing to enter the ser-
fVice. Many of them are Scandinavians
who have been at sea in their native
country.
GENER1AL GRAHAM'S TOUR.
'Atlanta, Ga., March 22. General
Graham, comamnder of the department
of the gulf, will leave tomorrow morn
ing for a tour of inspection. He will
be accompanied by Lieutenants Barney
and Reber. The officers go first to
Charleston and then to Savannah, St.
Augustine, Key West, Mobile, Pensa
cola, New Orleans and Galveston, In
the order named. The works at Gal
veston, nearing completion, have not
been approved but will probably be
turned over to the government during
or shortly after General Graham's visit.
Lieutenant Reber, chief of signal ser
vice for the department will examine
into the telegraph facilities at each
point visited.
Chief Clerk Bass of the adjutant
generals office, arrived today, and at
once took up his wrork dn the Austell
building. There arrived also five other
clerks and the entire office force of the
signal corps.
Havana, March 22: The rumors that
General Pando has been recalled and
is awaited here with 6,000 men are pro
nounced to be without foundation. Gen
erals Pando and Salcedo, it is given
out, are continuing their operations in
the province of Puerto Princfpe,
The Spanish cruiser lAlfonso XII en
tered the new floating dock today, in
order to have her bottom cleaned. La
ter 'in the day the dock rose without
mishap. 'All the machinery Is working
nicely and her crew are busy cleaning
the bottom of the vessel, but the dock
Will not be accepteduntn more fully
tested, by a heavier ship.
DIVERS' WORK ON THE WRECK.
The wrecking contract divers have
been busy on the iMaine today, raising
two 6-lnch guns from the after cabin
with great difficulty, and getting am
munition from the magazine aft. In
doing this the divers are compelled to
go down through the turret aft in "a
narrow chute and then along the deck
to the magazine opening. They are
liable to be jammed, and great care is
taken. It may be necessary to cut a
hole through the decks direct into the
magazine. (Moreover, the divers are
scmrwhat nervous about handling ex
plosives. OFFICIAL LIST OF CASUALTIES.
Chaplain Chhlwick has completed
his mortuary report, which shows that
257 men an4 two officers perished in the
catastrophe, six succumbed to their in
juries in the San Ambro hospital here,
one died on the Spanish! transport
Cdlon, 171 bodies have been recovered
from the wreck, of which sixty-one
have been identified, 160 have been
buried in Colon cemetery and eleven at
Key West. This Is the official report,
made puWHc, after careful correction,
for the first time. It is probable that
many smore Identifications will (be es
tablished rhen the enlistment reconis
emergency concmioas. Jir. vrcuxi sign
ed that the Kearsarge would leave the
ways at 10 o'clock a. m. Thursday
are compared with the notes in Chap-
lain Chidwick's possession of marks on
the corpses.
The death of Henry Williams, one of
the diving force of the 'American tug
Chief, of the Merritt Wrecking Com
pany, occurred at 8 o'clock last even
ing, due, according to the American
physician who attended him. to chronic
hemorrhage of the stomach. It was
not unexpected. Mr.Williams was ill be
fore he left the United Stated. The
body will be sent ,ro Key West.
The central relief station in this city,
is feeding 12,000 persons daily. It will
be formally opened tomorrow, although
partially in use already. The system
is admirable, and food is plentiful.
There are 1.0S3 tons of supplies now on
hand or afloat. Advices from the coun
try districts are satisfactory and show
the same condition, as have been re
cently described.
La Discusclon today criticised the
editorial of La Lucha, referring con
temptuously to the charitable work of
Americans in the island, and says that
the editorial was inspired by hatred of
the Cuban 'people, from whom La
Lucha has derived a large part of its
income. The eMtor of La Lucha says
La DLscuscion "knows that there are
300,000 victims of starvation, and would
not care if there were as many dead.
He is ignorant of the great charities
maintained by the United States and
also of the gifts of supplies from the
United States to other countries than
Cuba in time of need."
La Ludha and La Uiscuscion are po
litical opponents and their editors are
personal enemies.
Up to the hour of closing the cable
tonight the officers of the Maine in
Havana had not received orders to go
north. (All but Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright may be ordered away at
any time. He has been placed official -
8y in charge of the wrecking in progress
under the contract. Captain Sigsbee
and the other officers were supposed
to remain only while the court of in
quiry was in session, here and they
are confident they will be ordered
away before April 1st, as, after that
date, quarantine laws against yellow
fever will be enforced more rigidly than
ever, on account of the outbreak last
year in 'New Orleans and elsewhere in
the United States. Captain Sigsbee is
not very well. He is anxious to go
n'orth, but, of course, says nothing on
the subject, being willing to wait pa
tiently for orders.
THE PRESIDENT CONSULTS SENA
TOR GORMAN.
Washington, March 22. Senators Al
lison and Gorman sa'w the president
today by appointment. The president
desired to consult them regarding the
'present JCuban situation, as he has
been consulting others. Little could
be learned concerning the nature of the
conference but it is known (that the
president desires the views of leading
men of both parties at this time on
the situation, which is considered very
critical.
(Havana, via Key West, Fla., March
22. It is known positively that the
negotiations between General Pando's
delegates, 'Ramirez and Charvez, and
General Calixto Garcia and other prom
inent insurgents, in wttiich the radical
autonomists made what are said to be
final offers of practical independence,
have proved an absolute failure. No
particulars have yet been received at
the palace here as to the place or the
particulars of the meeting, but that
the negotiations have failed is shown
by the resumption of hostilities.
Madrid, March 22. The papers here
publish full reports of the movements
of the United States warships and of
tne aerensive preparations being made
by the govemmnt of the United States.
It is reported that the Spanish war
ship selected to convoy the torpedo
flotilla has sailed from Carthagena for
the Canary islands, tt appers that the
delay in the voyage of the torpedo
boats is due to the fact that the Ariete,
one of the Spanish torpedo boats, sus
tained some slight damage while on
her way from Cadiz to the Canaries.
The Spanish newspapers advocate
further strengthening of the1 naval
squadron in Cuba, so as not to be
caught at disadvantage in case of war.
Senor Maret, the minister for the col
onies, told the newspaper men who
waited on him today that the report of
the Spanish court of inquiry would not
be known as soon as had been expect
ed. He said he" believed the Amrican
report would not be as facorable as
Spain desired.
Count De Villa Gonzalo, Spanish am
bassador to 'Russian has resikned.
The Spanish government has received
a dispatch from its minister at Wash
ington, Senor Polo y Bernabe, saying
that the report of the United States
naval court appointed to inquire into
the loss of the battleship Maine holds
that the explosion was of external
origin.
Maimi, Fla.. March 23. Lieutenant
Commander Marix, of the Maine court
of inquiry, with the following party,
arrived here this morning from. Key
West. Lieutenant John HOod, Lieuten
ant C. W. Junger, Passai Assistant
Er.gineer F. W. iBower. Cadet Amon
F. Boyd, 'Assitant Engineer J. R. Mor
ris and Carpenter G. M. Helm. A few
minutes later they left by the East
Coast Railway for Washington.
'Lieutenant Commander Marix was
very reticent, but. when your corre
spondent said: "It looks like war," he
replied: 'Tt surely does." Others of
the party in answer to the same ques
tion were more emphatic in their re
plies, one saying: 'T cannot see how
it can be avoided." Another, in answer
to the same question, said : - "There
will be no war." His face was as genial
and brht as sunshine, but suddenly
a change came over his countenance,
his eyes flashed and, when asked when
their report would be made, the reply
was: "As soon as we reach Washing
ton; there will be no delay."
The strong impression left here is
that the. board's report will be against
the accident theory.
THE CRISES NEATt AT HAND.
Washington, March 23. The feeling
was universal throughout official cir
cles today that the culmination of the
Spanish crisis was near at hand. With
the report of the iMaine court of in
quiry only a little while off, with the
Whfte house the center of Touig and
earnest conference between the presi
dent arid the party leaders of congress,
and .with the exceptional activity to
ward emergency preparations In the
war and navy departments, there was
abundance of evidence that definite re
sults regarding the Maine disaster and
the Cuban question In general were
about to be reached.
'Among the president's callers were
Senators Cockrell. Turpie and Foraker.
General Dan. Sickle?, former United
States minister to Madrid, and Repre
sentative William Alden Smith, of
Michigan, who has recently returned
from a trip to Cuba. The call of Sen
ators Cockrell and Turpie was regarded
as particularly rfenificant, as they are
representative democrats in the sen
ate and their visit foHowed that of Sen
ator Gorman yesterday. It was gen
erally understood that in the pnent
emergency the president desires" patri
otic unity without reference to party.
Secretaries Long ami Alger also con
ferred with the president during the
day. Secretary Long said later that
the Main? report would probably reach
Washingron tomorrow night. If how
ever, it did not come before S o'clock
Thursday evening, Mr. Long said he
would probably not receive It until Fri
day morning, when it would le laid
before the president immediately. The
secretary dM not think the president
would give the document any consider
ation at a late hour tomorrow night.
It was more probable, he thought, if
Lieutenant Marix arrived at a late
hour that he would take the report to
a hotel for the night.
There has been no change in the plan ;
of sending the report to congress early
next week, probably Monday, accom
panied by a message from the presi
dent. It Is defintely settled, however,
that the message and the papers ac
companying it will relate exclusively
to the Maine disaster. It will not take
up the fearful condition of affairs in
Cuba, as shown by the reports of Unit
ed States consuls, these lieing reserved
for subsequent action and a later mes
sage to congress.
r LACING THE MONITORS.
Secretary Long- determined today to
order the double-turreted monitors
Puritan and1 Terror to Key West,
where they will reinforce the squad
ron in those waters. He also determin
ed to bring into service the eight single
turreted monitors at League island
navy yard, Philadelphia, two of which j
will be sent to "Boston, two to New ,
York and four held in reserve at Phil- (
ad el phi a. The Puritan and Terror take .
the place of the battleships Massachu- J
setts and Texas, recently withdrawn ,
from the squadron at Key West. It
was stated at the navy department
that this move was in accordance with
a programme previously greexl upon,
although this programme has not been
announced heretofore. The Puritan by
many experts is regarded as the most
formidable ft'ght'ing machine in the
navy.
TO ADD REVENUE CUTTERS TO
THE FLEET.
In addition to its other preparations
for possible trouble, the navy depart
ment today took steps toward utilizing
ten of the seagoing revenue cutters
for use along the Atlantic coast. Cap
tain Shoemaker, chief of the revenue
cutter service, conferred with Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt during the day on
the plans (for turning over tjiese cut
ters to the navy. They will be first
sesnit 'to Norfolk where additional sruns
will be mounted, and then will proceed j
to Key West and become a part of
the squadron there. Their main ser
vice, however, will be as naval pickets,
a Chain of these fleet cutters being
maintained outside of the cruisers and
battleships. The revenue cutter ser
vice now has ready for instant and
active service 124 line officers, T4 en
gineers, 900 enlisted men and 19 ves
sels, of which fourteen are on the At
lantic coast. Two others are in course
of construction at Cleveland a:;d with
"rush" work can be completed and
ready for sea in from thirty to forty
five days. The Manning, the Gres
ham, the Ailgonquin, the Onondaga and
the Windom are all new, fast and effi
cient vessels. The Manning is consid
ered an eighteen knot boat. All of
them, it is said, could be quickly con
verted info torpedo boats or dynamite
cruisers. Whether this last move will
be made is not definitely decided. Sec
retary Long said today it had become
evident that torpedo boats could not
be bought abroad and could not be
built soon enough in this country, so
that we might have to equip other
draft with torpedoes.
The navy department opened bids to
day for extensive improvements at
Dry Tortugas and Key West, a formal
transfer having been effected, as re
gards Tortugas, which pases from the
treasury to the war department.. These
consist of two solid steel piers to be
constructed at Dry Tortugas, with two
extensive coal sheds and an elaborate
mechanical equipment for loading
naval vessels with coal. At Key West
the improvements consist of a steel pier
and two coal sheds, with similar ma
chinery for loading warships with coal.
The bids ranged from $1,151,000 for the
entire work down to about $400,000.
Among the bidders for the Dry Tortu
gas piers and coal sheds was the S. S.
Leonard Company, Jacksonville $274.
700. On the Key West work the S. S.
Leonard Company's bid was $188,000.
Jwo bids were made for the entire
work at Tortugas and Key West, as
follows: R. G. Packard $1,151,000. and
G rattan & Jennings, New York, $797,
000. Other bids were made for the ma
chinery, tracks, coal cars etc., ranging
from $150,000 down. The award will be
made within the next day or two.
NAVAL OFFICERS AT HAVANA TO
BE RECALLED.
The navy department has arranged
for the practical withdrawal of all its
naval officers at Havana and the aban
donment of the wreck of Che ill-fated
battleship Maine. Captain C. D. Sigs
bee, Lieutenant Commander Richard
Wainwrigrht, Surgeon L. G. Heneberg
er. Paymaster Ray, Chaplain John P.
Chad wick. Chief Engineer Charles P.
Howell, and Navai Cadets J. A. Holden
and W. T. Cluverius, who have been
tx Havana with the wreck, will return
very soon.
Although t Is not finally settled, it
is more than probable that the Fern
also will return to -the Unfted States
as soon as it is determined that noth
ing more is to be gained by her pres
ence there. In the even, of the aban
donment of the wreck ft is more than
Hkly that the navy department will
arrange for its complete destruction by
the use of dynamite or torpedoes. In
RoysJ Bukcs th food (tire.
Absolute! Puro
nc i auxi rc mrw r"ie.
Its presvnt condition it ts a danrruoar
oMrrictkm to n&vlgvUm ami it i
'elieved that any opposition will tx? of
fered to its removal.
TO USE THE NATIONAL GUAIUX
Representative Marsh, chairman oT
the house committee on th- m Kit La.
caUed upon Secretary Alitor today wul
urged that in event of Ik? i : i t lte
recourse of the government f,,r WI-th.
be the state militia. y1m shuM U In
vited to vtMunttvr frr th ? onin try's de
fense. Secretary Alger was very mucli
intterested 1n the argument made -hy
Mr. March and while not oomnilttimr
himself on that subject, seemed to re
gard the suggestion mado by him h
practicable. Af terwnrd Mr. Mart.
called on lYesid-nt McKinley and r-peatt-d
the statement ho had nuido to
the secretary.
During the morning Svrvtary Alger
was also in conference with General
Mikis. comandlng the army, respect rur.
the military occupation f Fort Jeffer
son on Dry Tortuga island Ttw de
termination to garrison this frt 1km
been reached by the secretary ami Uws
question now to be met are thnv of
what improvements in the fnrtilicu
tions now there may be necessary.
Havana, March 23. liishop M.niwJ
Santander y Trutotf. the I Ishop of Ha
vana, has coniKvraU-d fie central re
lief station and also the l ee -orphanage.
lie paid high tributes to Louis Klp"cb
the spedal cornmisssonvr, for his vcyn
tern of relief work, and seemed greatly
pleased with all th arrangtnmvts
made to help the poor, as well as tb?
orphans.
La Lucha in an ,editHal un'd-r Ww
captain of "expeotaLum in the world
maintains the American curt of iu
qulry, owing to the sho:t tim it wan
here, could not give a scientific reinfc
on the Maine disaster. "AinerkMio
naval officers," says La Lucha," ant
not likely to decide against brother of
ficers. The divers could not give ex
pert testimony, owing to the fact that
the machinery was lm1edded four feet
in the mud." It is greatly to lx; regret
ted that more time and care were ivrt
given to the preparation of a rejiort for
which the whole world waits and wh4oh.
is likely to change the entire feeHtvi
of a part of the American pplo to
ward Spain and Cuba." La Lucha
publishes also an interview with Gen
eral Lee, which quotes him as saying
that he knows nothing of the nature of
the report, but is saHsfled that Om
eral Blanco never conceivn-d th Hjj
ter until he heard the shock in the har
bor. DIVERS LEAVE HAVA.NA.
Gunner Morgan left for th fleet a I
Key West today. With him went ttae
naval divers Fisher, Rundqunt and
and Schlutcr. and Hani, tin? h'lpr
This leaves two navy divers and live
civilians on the contract work.
The body of a white man was founi
In the forward part of the wrvck to
day. It will probobly be identified Iby
marks on the clothing when th; latter
has been disinfected. The dy vw
sent to Key West on the Olivette.
BEARING THE IMPORTANT DOCU
MENT TO WASHINGTON.
Jacksofnville, Fla., March 23. Judg -
Advocate Marix left Miami at 7:30
o'clock this morning on the East Coasl
railway, reached Jacksonville at 7:i
o'clock p. m. on time, and left at K
o'clock via the Florida, Central a3
Peninsular and Southern and will pa
through Savannah, Columbia, Char
lotte, Greensboro, Danville, Lyoctf
burg and Charlottesville, reachins
Washington at 9:25 o'clock p. m. ut
era time, Thursday night. The raH
road wires have carried the mesour
down the line to use all dispatch. TTrtx
practically makes a special of the Marix:
train and without unforeseen accUkut.
Washington will be reachxd on the dxtt.
and the portentous document In the
White house by 9:30 o'clock. The run
from Jacksonville is 772 miles, the sctie
dule time being a little over twenty
four hours.
Lieutenant Commander Marix pnjMOtl
through thfs city this evening, having
in custody the report of the court T
inquiry In the Maine ease, on which
will depend so much of the happenings
of the next few weeks of the world",
history.
During the short time of the stay tm
this city, an Associated Press morJ5
secured the attention of Lleutenant.
Marix and showed him a dispatch, frora
Miami that appeared ki the aftoernocKk
papers in which he was quoted af say
ing: "It looks like war; It certain! jr
does." Before the words had been read
to him, he exclaimed: "It is utterly
false. I have said nothing of the kiadt
I don't talk about, this matter." AQ
efforts to get him to make any erprca
Fi'on of opinion were equally futile mt
far as the present crisis or his relation
to it are concerned. Other members or
the party were equally iKm-ecnmnrttal-
"Durirrg the transfer from one train
to the other. Lieutenant Marix
closely guarded by the members of
party. He walked between two of
friends, carrying a. mysterious box tmr
package, covered wfth black cloth. Be
hind him. the officers of his party wal2c
ed closely and the effort was appamtt
to allow rn possible chance tar
outsider to come between them.
walked rapidly and dW not stop fce
i
t (Continued on Fifth Page.)
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