North Carolina Newspapers

www RALEIGH. N. C. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2J, 1898. LAST EDITION, JYXTA. M No. 74 VOL. I- ... . , Still Is. How Did the nlosion Occur? Ex I itsi mini Before the Naval Board of cjiiiry at Havana. if HE SIS A II Which May Erupt at Any Moment, Says President McKInley Ha vana's Leading Newspaper Ad vises Spain to Prepare for War With the United States Whatever the Ik-sult of the Investigation War is Not Improbable, as the HvffMjnitiun of Cuban Belligeren cy Senns to he a Foregone Conclu sion and That or the Attempted Pun hare of the Island Would Pre cipitaie War in All Probability Some Warlike Rumors and fhe Day's News All Seem to Point to Ultimate Hostilities. ' . ! '!'!; Mi .ruing Post. i h I. --An editorial in The ni- ;i I'ttM-noon advises the i v r ; ; i . i nt to prepare for war "nit'i States. Hr 'able tcrThe Morning 'Post.'"T,'V Havana. F.a. 24. The court of in- i i ry . ;in,!ii i thirty witnesses at the ' M ! !; ! . ! investigation today. i' S; ,: -!: witnesses declare that put tu them were all in l !i. .il l that the court con- lt;tin answers from i" tli'- theory that the th t. stilt of an accident, r- it 1 -.i 1 of excited com :ty ;tt the time this des- the steamer "Wash : Mr Van Slcklan, the 'li-- Standard Oil Works :i .!:- the witnesses today. - st ation of these wit ' v. ent to the scene of U. ami there exam and secured further ' !. is declared to be of h "'.iuht tip this afternoon '.i-'-s "t" powder for ten h utins. ' ha.- n..t the slightest '"'! -n. The divers say that unepi,.led cases are still it' i". and particularly of in. !i mms. l.uhi !...at also made some : said t lie important. ' pV"inptly sent to the 1", l,, , - owing to some the air of Wash sut. liarued with fever ' " r the extremity of i iti.'n resulting from the -Maine. : d tli re is talk of war. 1 th." central belief that ti the United States ' a. hed a nearly criti ' traced to no direct he the speech-making sterday. , - no news of any im- flMV mum Oil Havana today, nor has j publishes the following concerning a State , partment any in- j meeting of the wives of the chiefs of 1" t taiu e bearing upon j bureaus of the Navy Department held j at the office of the Secretary of the ' " ok the calm stHl-1 Navy 'yesterday morning to devise means i s the summer thun- j for the relief of the families of the sail-v-l.;'e those who nventjors who lost their lives by the wreck of - that the crisis had at the "Maine." There were .present Miss "i and that the situa- j Umg, Mrs. Clover, Mrs. Hichbom, Mrs. :' borne any longer .not , Van Reypen. Mrs. Lemley and Miss 1 uli why his mindjBenham. Mrs. Stewart, the treasurer, nly imbued with the was absent, having unexpectedly been : is imminent. (called, to New York, but Paymaster tins excitment that General Stewart reported in her behalf ssu. -d n note of appeal, that she ha 2 already received in contri- L f I"'ublie. judgment. butions $245. w hich had been deposited :s waiting, with anx- lo the credit of the Battleship Maine : " th- result which thej iciief Association in ijUggs' National : .v :..ay reach. I Iank. A form of circular, inviting con- ' 0uUbt that -he w ill be tributions was submitted and approved v. .,ui the report is re-1 an j copies ordered to be sent to all navy yards and stations and all vessels rd report that theW fhA navx- Tt i na follow- ihv.'. - 1 1 i -.u ty an acci- 1' i t would hardly make vhane in the situation. ! yards the policy of the! administration because, as is very well jknovn, the President was about ready- to take definite action toward bring ing the war In Cuba to a close when the disaster to the "Maine" occurred; and sooner of later the correspondence called for by the Senate and House from our consular agents in Cuba, as to the situation there, will be sent to Congress, and this undoubtedly will be followed by the passage of a resolu tion recognizing the belligerency of the Insurgent army, and that would re sult in nobody knows what. While awaiting the "fateful day when this step shall be taken, the adminis tration is going ahead expeditiously and persistently with" preparations for putting the army of the United States on a war footing, and bringing the navy to the very highest state of efficiency. ARE STANDING ON A VOLCANO. SAYS THE PRESIDENT. By Telegraph to The Morning Post. Washington. Feb. 24. President Me Kinley has talked anew with friends in Congress about the '"Maine" disaster. Among those with whom he has spoken on the subject today are Vice-President Hobart and Senators Spooner and Hale. To one of them he made use of the statement that the country wjvs rest ing on a volcano which mighr5 erupt at any time. He showed very clearly that he did not regard a resort to war as beyond the limits of probability. "If." he said, "the Board of Enquiry ascertained that the loss of the "Maine" was caused by the explosion of a sub marine mine, war would be inevitable. It would not matter." he said, "whether the mine was exploded without the cognizance of the Spanish authorities. The fact that the 'Maine' was allowed to anchor over such a dangerous de vice that could be fired at any time, by some irresponsible Spanish officer, would be sufficient cause for this Gov ernment to declare war against Spain." '"The country." said the President, "would not allow the Government to take any other course." SPAIN NOT WILLING TO SELL. CUBA. By Gable to The Morning Post. Madrid. Feb. 24. The correspondent of the London Standard has interviewed statesmen and other public men on the proposition to sell Cuba to the United States. All parties, including those who op pose the Government, expressed them selves as amazed and; horrified at the suggestioiwwJilch -they-hoid-would ex pose the monarchy to a revolt among: the people supported ,by the army and navy. Financiers declare that the Cuban debt, which exceeds half a billion, is held almost wholly by the Spaniards, and that this fact precludes the pos sibility of any such arrangement, as a half billion would not satisfy half the compensation required. The Ministry is unanimous against thfe sale. Pagasta announced at the council of Ministers today that there was nothing in the domestic or international affairs which necessitated any further post ponement of .the dissolution of the Cortes. He would, therefore, ask her majesty to sign a decree fixing the election for Deputies at March 3d, Sena tors. April od, and the meeting of Parliament at April 24th. A VERITABLE DEVIL OF DE STRUCTION. .By Telegraph to The Morning Post. New York. Feb. 24. The Holland submarine torpedo boat "Plunger." which may some day dive under and destroy Spanish war- ships, left today for her, final trial. She will spend about one week in maneuvering at Princess Bay. She is under charge of Mr. Holland, her in ventor, and has a full crew of six men. A number of dummy torpedoes were taken along and the trial will be an ex haustive one. The "Plunger's " trial at this time has no warlike significance whatever. The "Plunger" arrived in Perth Am boy harbor early this afternoon and began work immediately. She dived and came up under a loaded coal barge half a mile away, and did a few more similar feats.' THE WOMEN TO THE RESCUE. Washington, Feb. 24. The Post today -A meeting of the wives of chiefs of bureaus of the United States NWy De- I i! ; lil Continued on Page 4. SPANISH SIM'S ill Went to the American Con sulate and Declared II IS GOING 10 BE BLOWN OP Spaniards Insulting Americans and O Glory Russell Sage's Private Advlc and His Offer to Loan Government $I6 000.000 Rich Spaniards Celebrate Event With Champagne Dlnners- "Blown Up by Spanish Flre-Eaters4- Latest From the N. Y. Sun's Corres pondent. 1 By Telegraph to The Morning Post, j New York. Feb. 21. That the situa tion as regarding the blowing up of the "Maine" is still critical was evidenced on many sides today. Uglier stories than ever regarding Spanish treachery continue to pour in from Havana, and these, together with reports of warlike preparations on the part of the Government, caused a semi panic on the Stock Exchange and in the money markets. ; Stocks began to fall from 2 to 10 per cent, in a short time, and money ad vanced from 2 per cent, to 3 per cent, f This story from the Havana corre spondent of The New York Sun has added to the excitement: t "A man who seemed to be a Spaniard came to the American consulate a fevir days before the explosion and, address ing himself to Mr. Hyatt, whom hi mistook for Gen. Lee, said: 'Mr. Consult I have come to inform you that th? "Maine" is going to be blown up. Take the vessel away, and let me go with It; otherwise I am a lost man.' .jr "Hyatt has charge of the distribu? tion of American supplies for reconl centradoes. ' " J "His desk is at the entrance to the consulate, and as he is daily approach ed by hundreds of weeping women and men, who are half deranged owing to the effects of starvation, he paid no atr tention to the man, who addressed Vice-Consul Springer- Hyatt motioned to Springer to pay. m. attention to the stranger; that he seemed crazy. "The day before the .explosion, he canfejtotheconsulajie Jthrettmea.y4 was very much excited. Since then no one has seen him." "BLOWN UP BY SPANISH EATERS." FIRE- Russell Saget said this afternoon: "I have private information that the 'Maine' was blown up. I think the Gov ernment should demand a big indem nity. If war broke out, I should be will ing to lend the Government $16,000,000, if necessary. I understand that the vessel was blown up by Spanish fire-eaters." Sage declined to say where he got his information. SIGSBEE CABLES LONG. Capt. Sigsbee cabled Secretary Long this afternoon that much of the twist ed debris of the "Maine" will have to be blown away before the divers can get to work. He advises that every thing recovered from the wreck to be sent to the United States be disinfected, owing to the danger of infection. BOARD OBSERVING GREATEST SECRECY. The Sun correspondent says that the efforts to maintain secrecy by the Board of Inquiry are more rigid than erer, and that nothing whatever is given out. The divers testified today. It is understood that no one has yet officially declared before the board as to what caused the explosion. Secretary Long issued a statement this afternoon appealing to the public to suspend judgment until the official report of the naval Board of Enquiry is received. SPANIARDS "GLAD OF IT. Passengers on a steamer from Ha vana today say that Spaniards openly insult Americans on the street there, deride the United States flag and ex press joy at the destruction of the "Maine." "We gave them what they deserved," and "The dose will be repeated if neces sary," are common expressions, heard on every side, among the Spaniards in Havana. At Matanzas the disaster was cele brated by a number of rich Spaniards, w ho gave champagne, dinners and in dulged in a general rejoicing. Chamberlain's Plan. By Telegraph to The Morning Post. London, Feb. 24. A parliamentary paper has been issued containing Cham berlain's scheme for the future admin istration of the British South African Company. The plan provides that the company shall refer any' difference which may arise with natives to the colonial secretary and shall obey his de cision. The company will also furnish the secretary with an annual statement of Its accounts. If the company fails to comply the charter Is revocable. The judicial appointments are subiect to the approval of the secretary of state. The resident officer and the military com missioner are to be paid by the crown, who has the power to remove. EWART'S-CONFIRMATION. Indications Seem to be That Butler Will Succeed In Defeating It. Special Despatch to The Morning Post. "Winston. N. C, Feb. 24. The Sentinel this afternoon states that it has in formation from a reliable source to the effect that H. G. Ewart will never be confirmed as Judge of the United States Federal Court for the Western District of North Carolina. It is knowi in Washington, says a gentleman just from that city, that Senator Butler has enough against Ewart to prevent him from being con firmed. Senator Pritchard passed through Greensboro this week and it is learned that he admitted to a friend that there was ndt hope for Ewart. A prominent and well-informed Re publican here thinks that IT Ewart is defeated the President will name Col. James E. Boyd. After making this prediction, he added: "Wonder if But ler would fight Col. Boyd's confirma tion?" This Republican stated'that Butler's object in fighting Ewart was to force Senator Pritchard to take the judge ship; "and I believe he will succeed in this." said he. It was suggested today that Con gressman Pearson was responsible for Ewart's nomination. He needs help, as the politicians say, in his district and he thought Ewart could do him some good. It is predicted that Senator Butler will file his charges and have the mat ter settled next Monday. YESTERDAY IN CONGRESS Corfcett Contested Election Case In Senate House Discusses Quarantine. By Telegraph to The Morning Post. . Washington, Feb. 24. The Corbett contested election case was discussed in the Senate today, after Senator Al len had withdrawn his breezy amend ment to the appropriation bill under discussion yesterday. v The House today considered the Sun dry Civil Appropriation bill, discussing the question of quarantine regulations. Bailey (of Texas), moving to modify the appropriation of money so as to limit the President to the use of it only in connection with State or local officials. He said he would prefer that the people should be afflicted witji the plague rather than that the States should be stripped of the powers they ought-tdnpossess : and: exercise. ., l ? ' Other Southern Democrats who have experienced arid suffered from local "shotgun" quarantines, favored the amendment as reported, and it was agreed to by the narrow majority of 74 to" 72. During the discussion Mr. Cannon warned the Republicans that they must attend the sessions regularly, to guard against Democrats foisting extravagant appropriations on the country in order to be able during the campaign to point to Republican extravagance. THE DEPUTY SHEOl-FS' SIDE Of the Striking Miners' Killing Case Being Heard Yesterday's Evidence. By Telegraph to The Morning Post. Wilkesbarre, Pa., Feb. 24. The de fense in the trial of Sheriff Martin and deputies went steadily on today, piling up a mass of evidence showing the state of riot and disorder which existed in the entire Haz'.eton region for a week prior to the shooting. All the witnesses examined ' today told of the strikers carrying clubs, iron bars, revolvers, and committing acts of violence and creating a general reign of terror, so that every one, men. women and children fled upon the re port of their approach. The testimony showed that they marched from col liery to colliery, and from one mining camp to another, destroying and dama ging property, beating arid threatening men and boys, and compelling them to join them. SAM JONES WITHDRAWS From the Georgia Gubernatorial Contest, But Says He May Re-enter It Why. By Telegraph to The Morning Post. Atlanta, Ga,. Feb.2l. The Rev. Sam Jones has withdrawn from the Guber natorial contest, but declares that he reserves the right to re-enter it at any time he sees fit. He gives as his reason for withdraw ing now, the "lack of cleanliness" in the State Democratic forces. He says that in former campaigns they have sold themselves to the whiskey element, and he has no assurance that this campaign will be an exception. He also says that he docs not care to endorse the "vagaries of the Chicago platform" a step which would be ren dered necessary should his candidacy as a Democrat be continued just now. Spies to Testify. By Telegraph to The Morning Post. Tampa, Fla., Feb. 24. Two of the Cuban spies, it is reported, will appear before the court of inquiry in some old warehouses on the shore near where the Maine was buoyed. It is stated that wires and other appurtenances were found and circumstances will be unearthed pointing to a plot formed for the purpose of blowing up the Maine. As Is Also the Freedom of the Press in France. I PRIME MINfSHR SO HOld In the Chamber of Deputies Yesterday The Dreyfus Campaign Causes the Step to be Taken Parisian Newspapers and Correspondents of the 'Thunderer" and Ameilcan Newspapers warned to Abandon Attitude of Hostility to France. By Cable to The Morning Post. Paris. Feb. 24. The Government hat decided to suppress summarily the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press. 4 "Prime Minister Meiine announced this in so many words in the Chamber of Deputies this afternoon. j Four newspapers were this evening notified that unless they cease the Drey fus campaign tomorrow they will be rigorously prosecuted. Correspondents of foreign newspapers are warned that unless they abandon their attitude of hostility toward France they will be expelled from the country. These correspondents include the rep resentatives of the Cologne Gazette, the Belgian and the Italian papers. The correspondent of the London Times, and the American newspaper correspondents have also been given hints to be more careful. Col. Picquart, whose courageous ac tion in the Zola trial excited much ad miration on the part of all lovers of fair play, , was tonight expelled from the arm w ithout pension by the Min ister of War, who imposed on him a three-years' police surveillance. Leblois, the lawyer who advised him, has been suspended from the bar and removed from his office of Major of ihe seventh arrandisement of Paris. More rigorous measures of the same high-handed policy will soon be pro mulgated, it is predicted. ZOLA TRIAL AFTERMATH. Chamber of Deputies Gives Government a Vote of Confidence. By Cable to The Morning Post. Paris, Feb. 24. A series of lnterpel Iations" upon the Dreyfus and Zola af fairs was discussed inJ the Chamber to day. Hubbard, radical Republican, asked if the Minister of War had authorized the partial revelations which had been made at the Zola trial. Hubbard denounced the assumption of authority which had been made. "Vive la Republique" was a cry of se dition in Paris, and subjected those who uttered it to thf violence of the mob. "Why." he asked, "did the authori ties allow the cry of 'Death to the Jews' everywhere?" Meiine replied: After military Jus tice, civil justice lias declared Itself. It has proclaimed that the court-martial were hoiiest men, who obeyed their consciences. "There is but one conclusion. The government will impose a silence upon everybody. It will take such discipli nary measures as the circumstances demand. Nobody can continue the ag itation in good faith, and after tomorrow- the government will suppress all attempts to continue it. "If present weapons are insufficient, it will ask for more. (Great tumult). Everybody rallies under the Hag." After this utterance of the govern ment's tyrannical intentions, the'Cham ber voted confidence in the government. HOLDERS OF SPANISH BONDS Are Alarmed Over Important Financial News From Madrid. By Cable to The Morning Post. London, Feb. 24. The Evening News says the holders of Spanish bonds are greatly alarmed at the serious news received from Spain to the effect that the Bank of Spain will only take coupons due on April 1st with recourse. Anglo-Spanish bankers say it means that the Government has not put the bank in a josltion to redeem the coupons. If the bank is not indemnified by the Government, parties who have obtained money will have to repay it. This, the bankers believe, is a grave situation, and indicates government embarrassments The bank is pafe guarding itself, and will not guarantee that coupons will be paid. Possibly they will paid in paper instead of gold- Bondholders are aIo! fearful that a tax w ill be put upon coupons, or that the - discount will b' reduced. Leading Anglo-Spanish firms say there is a great question whether Spain will meet coupons integrally. A heavy fall in Spanish exchange is utrong evl-l dence of the difficulties of the Govern-, ment. i The La Champagne Overdue. By Telegraph to The Morning PosL New York, Feb. 24 (Thursday.) The French Line steamship "La Cham-' i pagne." which sailed, from Havre 12 I days ago. and was due Sunday night f lor Monday morning, had not been I I sighted up to 1 o'clock this (Thursday) morning. I MORE OF HAVANA HARBOR MINES. The U. S. Government Secures Possession of Maps oj Them Bought From a Span iard. By Telegraph to The Morning TosL Washington. Feb. 24. A cablegram received here by a private party of prominence from an American officer of high rank In the United States Navy, tells an Interesting and probably truthful story to the efTct the United States Government here ha In Its possession maps showing the many submarine mines in Havana harbor, one of which may have been respon sible for the destruction of the "Maine' The cablegram then process to say: " "The Spanish residents here (Havana) deny this statement and say .that th mines exist only In Imagination. The Cubans, on the other hand, claim that there are mine gailerien unUr thJ harlor leading from subterranean pas sages known to have existed for yeurs Fort Cabanas and Moro Castle and this port. "Gen. Blanco, on thenlght of the disaster, was sitting with Gere Marinas ' in the corridor of the palace. When he heard the explosion he Jumped from his chair, exclaiming: "At lat they have put a shell in the palace.' "The divers here are those connected with the warships. They are not ac cttnmed to work at any depth or In turbid waters. ' Their apparatus ha seldom been used, and the air pump are apt to get out of order. Nevetli- r less, the securing of the cipher cod book and the private correspondent e of the State Department with Capt. Sigsbee was very satisfactory. "The explosion continues the' main, topic In all circles, but especially Amer ican. It Is useless to deny that in in." believe in an outside agency. These assert that even a cursory examina tion of the wnck shows conclusively that the disaster could not have origi nated from within. "It is pointed out that the main magazine forward was filled with brown hexagonal powder in proper cases, and would be slow to Ignite, while all the high explosives were aft. It is generally conceded that neither the boilers, the electric wires, nor spontaneous combustion could, from the very condition of things bo re sponsible. "The wreck has sunk several feet at ready in the soft mud, and will prob ably continue to settle." FORGER LEWIS CAUGHT. The Crook Who Adopted Gov. Scales' Name Caught at Madison. By Telegraph to The Morning Tost. Went worth, N. C, Feb. 24. The al leged "crook." Robert V. Lewis, who has been "operating" under the name of the late Gov. A. M. Scales, of Greens boro, (and State Senator Scales, of the same name), was arrested at Madison and Is now safely lodged in the county jail at this place to await the coming of the Texan sheriff who wants him for alleged forgery in that State. It is thought now that Lewis has been around here among his kin folks for Home time, probably ever since he left Keysvllle. The sheriff from Paris. Tfxas; is- al ready on his way to North Carolina after Lewis. It ls thought that Iwls stayed In the woods last night and had gone In to get his breakfast Just when the of ficers came up on him and had levelled on him with their guns before he saf them. Lewis Is wanted In Texas for forgery and Jumped his ball bond, and the present arrest is at the Instance of his bondsman who has'had to suffer on his account. Lewis 'under the name of Scales, held a high position In religious and business life in Keysvllle, and had fully won the respect and regard of that community, so much so that detectives charge that citizens of the town aided Lewis, who was known there under his alias of A. M. Scales, to make his escape. His friends there made a strong. ef fort to keep the incident quiet, and even the newspaper correspondents were induced to refrain from sending out the news about the fleeing man and the only comprehensive report con cerning the remarkable story of Lewis carne from other source. He i known In Marion and Buchan an county, Va., and In neither place has he the good reputation he succeed ed In establishing at Keysvllle. where though a fugitive from Justice with the officers on his track, he had so Impressed the people with his character that they did not believe him guilty. Lewis' friend still maintain that If he stands trial In Texas he will be cleared. Lyschers Get a Burglir. By Telegraph to The Morning Tost. Mayfield. Ky.. Feb. it. A mob at midnight took JMchard Alien, a negro burglar, from Jail here and hung him to a tree. He got his arms loose while hanging, and had to be strung up three timet bfore dath caioe. He suffered horribly and bagged the mob to shoot him and en 1 his misery. Allen admitted his guilt, and Im plicated six others. A warning notice to these to leave town was pinned to the body of the one hanged. Washington. Feb. 21 Senator AUe today withdrew his resolution because he thought that it had no chance. i J I u 1 t 4 0