c;:: Raleigh, n. c, Friday aarch Y8. i898. NoTiT"
WARLIKE
SOME
NAVAL
The White' Squadron to Be Divided
Into Three
AGAINST
GUARDING
Of the Atlantic Seaboard,, Which Indicates the Administration
is Expecting a Collision With Spain.
STARTLING STATEMENTS ANENT MINES AT HAVANA
UetterFrcm a Spanish Officer, Written Just Before the "Maine" Ar
rived at Havana, to a Friend There Tells of the " Preparations" He
Had Made in the Harbor io Receive American Warships if Any
Dared " to Anchor There A New York Sun Correspondent Secured
the Letter and it Came Near Costing Him His Life, etc.
,K -J',.;, ..!,!,!; t-. The Morning Post. ;
n ,(Ut .M.T' li IT. Three squad- '
, . : w ill be organized
, -;;,iit;' i -list to furnish ade-
,,: t- th- heretofore al-'
,i. v s- riti.-s from Florida to
M.
y(t ,s w ! taken today by
, in directing Commander ;
s.- .. -.-ti'l th- "Massachusetts" and
; , x. ' I" H.nnj.tMii Roads. 1
ii l..- ;it K-y Wst, Fla., Hamp
!;; Va.. and Port Royal, S. C.
Th- war l hp1 recommended the new
Fj. !!:. ;js afioiflin the best protec-
ti.-n. sin"''" th- Spanish fleet would
jr'k'tMy n't alL-mpt to cope with the
iT'-at 'Hia!r"!i in Florida waters, but,
abanl"nini; !I;i;mi;i. might proceed to
Now York aivl ther Northern ports
ami nvatp havoc there before the
American vs.els could come to the de- :.
fence of the seaboard clties?''mrrrml
The main squadron, with headquar
ters at Key Wi-st. will consist of the.
armor.--.! rruiser "New York," the bat-'
tl-ship? "Iowa" and "Indiana," the pro-;
tcctrt! cruisers "Montgomery," "Marble- j
and "Detroit." the . gunboat
' .Vashviil..," nn-1 the torpedo flotilla.
Tli- first division at Hampton Roads
wil! r.sist ..f the "Brooklyn." the!
"Massachusetts." the "Texas," the
' v"ii;:!i!.ia." and the "Minneapolis."
Kx !asi . - monitors will be stationed
a; I'urt U..al.
a:i "i!urau.-n-i. nt should occur in the
'.-t Indian waters, the "Brooklyn,"
Ui" "Massu. hus.-tts.--the "Texas," the
' ''' : 'i': -J'i.-i." and the "Minneapolis"
"'n - d south to assist thelmain
s-piadi-.-n. !
if tl ( ity ,.f x(,u- York should be
..-at"n. -i. tli. so same ships could
' :- :"m!i- "i.-.-t tlio enemy, and keep
'"!sv ''n'i! the other vessels ar-
K.-y W-st.
'- win remain -at Port
;;;' ss th- y can be made better
l;'t aiiotli- r place, which is not
f'-nnation of the flying
i lav;i. ton Roads has not
!1 :
' 'st auxiliary vessels will be
division at thnt nnint if
t ho
! Vorted.
!h tl-,- "Brooklyn." the
: ! ' the "Minneapolis"
' l,V withdrawn from
ads t .r a foray on the
"-' if the Sponish torpedo
! ' ntin;;.-s on its way from
v' '" 'tlla.
STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS.
frt?J:.Ltt-ern,ng Mines in
Fr"n Cuba.
J -V
d !; t.. The Morning Post.
V . .
, -Minvh 1.. Honore F.
. ,.'!;' ' I"'ndent of the Sun,
,. . :'V', ."M" fr"m Cuba. made pub
, 'a 1 ' u"r u h the writer had
., ; ; n,i in Havana, in
-; ut!in statements are
T
., . ' t'o'e days' that the
'-'odering about send-
i 1 ' ' :" V;,l'snips to your city."
: : ." '-niand in Cuba they
: . ... " ''' '" dr-am about such
-; ., . 1 "' kT "u" lh;tt a terrible 'pun-
r : , a harbor well, prepared
: . ;"),i':'',;'"r.oy. I rapidly fm-
, ,,"!k vA' k Vrtinez Campos
:-. ; i ' "i;'"i- lf the insult- is
; V '. I"': !V win b? a Spanish
, ""u 11 a? tt-rribl- as it de-
U .. ! . . . '
. , .'. "Gained this letter
'-y i..:,,';'i"'n,icnt Havana, the
t! " "Mai
i" arrived there,
'-n. he clai
ms, was re
ORDERS
Divisions.
ATTACK ON CITIES
sponsible for his imprisonment and ex
pulsion from the island, and would
have cost him his life had he not been
a Frenchman and maintained French
citizenship.
WAR DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY.
Rapid-Fire Guns Being Bought in England
and Other Ordnance Mater'ai Being Laid
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
Washington, March 17. At the same
time the Navy Department is taking
steps to buy every available warship
for sale in foreign countries, the War
Department is laying in a large supply
of guns and projectiles of foreign man
ufacture. Two days ago the President author
ized Secretary Alger to purchase a
number of rapid-firing guns in Eng
land, and to make expenditures for
certain limits .
Through the agents of the United
States in England prompt results of a
favorable kind were obtained.
Yesterday a contract was closed be
tween this Government and the Vicker
Works in England for about thirty
rapid-firing guns for use in the coast
defences.
THE COURT OF ENQUIRY.
A Meeting Yesterday and a Message From
it to the Washington Government Prob
ably Sent by Lieut. Blow.
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
Key West, Fla., March 17. The
"Maine" Board of Enquiry held a
meeting on the battleship "Iowa" to
day. There is talk to the effect that a
brief preliminary report was sent to
Washington last night by one of the
"Maine's" officers. It grew out of the
fact that some hours after the other
officers of the "Maine"jmentioned yes
terday, had received orders to go
North. Lieut. Blow was unexpectedly
ordered to go with them.
It is said here tonight! that Blow car
ried at least a message of. some kind
from the Board to the Navy Depart
ment. I
THE JINGOES JUBILANT
Over Gen. Proctor's Speech, Which They
Characterize as an Unanswerable Argu
ment for a Radical Policy.
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
Washington, March 17. The purpose
and effect of Senator Proctor's speech
in the Senate today is not yet entirely
clear.
The Senator says he spoke upon his
own responsibility alone, and without
any desire to advocate the adoption of
any particular policy of intervention.
He says he is not in any sense the
mouthpiece of the President.
Whatever Gen. Proctor's intentions
were, it is plainly evident that it is re
garded In Congress, and by Govern
ment officials, as highly important and
especially significant.
The advocates of a radical Cuban pol
icy on the part of the President and
Congress are highly pleased with what
they regard as an unanswerable argu
ment, by the President's own friend, for
intervention of the most direct sort "to
end the war and set Cuba free.
The all-absorbing ' question of the
hour still is, When will the report of
the Naval Court of Enquiry be re
ceived; what will it contain, and how-
will it be made public?
It is a comparatively easy matter to
privately answer this question fully
now.
Officially, however, no information is
obtainable.
There is every reason! to believe that
the report will be in the hands of the
President early-next week, possibly by
Monday; that Jt wilfgo"to Congress
with the President's statement of are
quest for -reparation, and this report
will be followed by a demand for in
demnity, if it is not at once complied
with.
GUNS FOR AUXILIARY CRUISERS
The Government Ordnance Work Rushing
Work to Get as Many Ready as Possible. ,
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
Washington. March 17. Should the
I
Navy Department determine to place
in service a number of auxiliary crui
sers, the Ordnance Bureau will be un
able to provide quick-fire guns for more
than twelve, allowing full batteries to
each vessel, as recommended by the
board
There are now completed about 100
guns available for instalation on ship
board, pf which about half are already
at naval stations in readiness for
mounting
The factory here is pushing the work
to compete the remainder, and at the
present rate of progress they 'should
be ready by the time the ships could
be arranged to receive them.
The ordnance officials, recognizing
that no private firms or government
factory could possibly deliver four, five
and six-inch guns, even if the work
should begin at once, under two or
three months, are looking up a number
of old smooth-bore round shelf guns
which might be pressed into service in
a pinch.
THAT TORPEDO FLOTILLA AGAIN
Uncle Sam Evidently Doesn't Like Its
Movements, and He Has Demanded of
Spain its Meaning To Threaten Spanish
Coast.
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
Washington, March 17 The departure
of the Spanish torpedo flotilla for Cuba
has been made the subject of enquiry
by this government of Spain as to what
that move means. If an answer has
yet been given, it is being kept secret.
The government is advised constantly
of the movements of Spanish war ves
sels, and if another fleet starts, as is
reported to be its intention, our answer
will be the sending of the flying squad
ron, now being prepared, to menace the
coast of Spain.
It is today hinted that even sterner
action may be taken.
AWFUL ENGINE OF DESTRUCTION.
Successful Diving Test ot Holland Subma-
J'Tlne Boat Dynamite 6an. and -Torpedo
Tube to be Tested Tomorrow.
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
New York, March 17. The Holland
submarine boat made a dive beneath
the waters of Staten Island sound this
afternoon, ran a quarter of a mile
while completely submerged, and rose
to the surface again. This feat, the
constructors say, proves its value as a
naval vessel, as the fact demonstrates
its ability to approach hostile battle
ships unseen, itself protected in the
meantime from their fire by the water.
Armed as she is with torpedo tubes
and two dynamite guns, she would be
a terrible antagonist indeed.
The Government test will be made
Saturday. The torpedo tubes and dyn
amite guns will then be tried. If the
boat then proves all that her designer
promises, she will be. purchased and
used by the Government.
AN INFAMOUS AASSACRE
Of Defenseless Women and Children by
Spanish Brutes Yclept Soldiers Over a
Hundred Murdered.
By Cable to The Morning Post.
Havana, March 17. Via Key. West,
Fla., March 17. A horrible Spanish
crime has terrorized the Cuban popula
tion. The train which arrived here this
morning irom casiquas, Alatanzas,
brought several Cuban women and
children, who had been made prisoners
by the Spanish column at El Purgo-
torio, Matanzas Province.
The Spanish column found about a
hundred starving women and children
there and massacred them.
Those which arrived today are all
wounded, and they are the only few
survivors of the assassination.
An official statement is given out to
the effect that "the women and chil
dren were insurgents."
WOULDN'T PAY INDEMNITY
If United States Asked It of Spain Excite
ment Over Report to That Effect In Wash
ington.
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
Washington, juarch li. There was
considerable interest and some excite
ment in the city today due to publica
tion of a cable from Madrid, telling of
the issue of a semi-official note early-in
the day, declaring that if the Washing
ton government should demand an In
demnity of Spain for the loss of the
"Maine" Spain would refuse to pay it
Those officials who have declared per
sistently that there would be no war.
have based their declaration on the
belief that, in case the Board of En
quiry reported that the "Maine" was
blown up from the outside, this coun
try would promptly demand an in
demnity and that Spain would pay it
rather than fight. They still think so.
H 1H rH H FT. Kfl . n.mffl, nnorunnTrnomn ;
Secretary Proctor's State
- .ment to the Senate.
WORST GOVERNMENT HE El SI
Scenes In the Hospitals Too Horrible for
Him to Attempt to Describe The Cu
bans Practically Unanimous In Desiring
to Throw Off the Spanish Yoke Deple
tton of Spanish Army and no Piospect
of Ending the War Literal Nakedness
and Starvation of Cuban Women and
Children A Terrible Picture of Suffer
Ing and Woe.
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
Washington, March 17. Senator
Proctor this afternoon read to the Sen
ate al statement of his recent trip to
Cuba,f He dwelt particularly on the
wretched condition of the reconcentra
dos. I
1
Outside of Havana, he declared, -it
was neither war nor peace; it was deso
lation and distress, misery and starva
tion.! TheJ food sent from the United States
had greatly relieved the suffering, but
this necessary aid might cease, unless
the war is soon ended.
Of the 1,600,000 persons in Cuba, Sen
ator Proctor thought that not over
200, 000, exclusive of the soldiers, gave
allegiance to Spain. Every town in the
four western Porvinces is surrounded
by trocha, and guarded so that the
reconcentrados could not get out nor
the insurgents get in. ' Between the
towns there is hardly a human being
living, and no crops.
Hei said the scenes in the hospitals
were! too horrible for him to describe.
He had found that the newspaper re
ports were not exaggerated.
OfiSpain's military power, there are
only;, 60,000 soldiers left, out of 200,000
sent'to the island, and they are poorly
drilled and equipped.
He concluded by saying:
"L have endeavored to state what I
sawand heard. It was a spectacle of
a million and a half of people the en
tire 'native population of Cuba strug-
dorri' and deliverance from the worst
misgovernment of which I ever had
knowledge.
"Whether our action ought to be in-
fluerced' by . any of. these things, and
if soVhdfarrsaw
am not in favor of annexation-
Remedial steps may be safely left to
the President of the United States and
the American people.
"In one town I saw 400 women and
children, most of them but half-clothed
and literally starving to death.
"There are manv of these unfortu
nate children who have not a rag of
clothing on them.
"Not over 25 per cent, of the people
of Cuba are. white; the remainder are
negroes, and the white population has
been gradually decreasing for years.
The Spaniards in the four western
Provinces hold just what their armies
stand on."
He repeated that this is not war; that
t is concentration and desolation.
"And this is the 'pacified' condition
of the four western Provinces! he
added.
Gen. Proctor quoted from Weyler's
reconcentrado decree, and said, after
describing the horrors of the situation:
"What wonder, then, that half of
them have died, and that a quarter of
those still living are so diseased that
their lives cannot be saved."
In one hospital in Havana, he stated,
there were some 400 women and chil
dren lving on stone floors in a most
deplorable state of emaciation and dis
ease. All the Cubans, he declared, are in
surgents at heart.
In speaking of the richness of the
island, he stated that he had never seen
any country that could compare with it.
PURCHASE WARSHIPS COMPLETE
Formal Transfer Made In London Yester
day and Secretary Draws Draft for Nearly
Two Million In Part Payment of Same
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
Washington. March 17. The formal
transfer of the "Amazonas" and "Ad
miral Abreuall" to the United States
was made in London today, and the
particulars were telegraphed to the
State Department by Charge d' Affaires
White.
The Secretary of the Treasury today
signed a draft for $1,689,621 In favor of
Belmont & Co., of London, to be used
in payment for the warships. What pro
portion of the purchase price this
amount represents, the officials here
will not say.
Steamboat Inspector for N. C. and Va.
Special Despatch to The Morning Post.
Washington, D. C, March 17. Sen
ator Pritchard talked with the Pres
ident today in favor of the appoint
ment of W. H. FairlesB. of Portsmouth.
Va,for the Virginia and North Carolina
district. J. W. Oast, of Newport News;
who has lived in Pittsburg, Pa., for
the past few years, is also a formida
ble candidate. Congressman Bowden is
backing him.
Quarantine BUI Still Unfinished Business
In the House The Clarksvllle, Tenn ,Un
Iverslty Gets $23,000 Indemnity, Etc
By Telegraph to The Morning Post-
Washington, March 17. The Senate
today passed the House bill aUthoriz
ing the Nebraska, Kansas and Gulf
Railway Company to construct and op
erate a railroad through the Indian
and Oklahoma Territories.
The conference report on the Agricul
tural Appropriation bill was agreed to
Twenty-five minor bills were passed,
including one appropriating $23,000 to
reimburse the Southwestern Presbyte
rian University, of Clarksvllle, Tenn.,
for injuries sustained through its oc
cupancy by United States troops dur
ing the war.
The Quarantine bill was taken up
as unfinished business, and was op
posed by Bacon (of Georgia), who
said he would never give his consent to
a bill that denied any community the
right to take care of itself In the face
of danger from an epidemic.
WTashington. March 17. The House
stuck pretty close today to the text of
the Postoffice Appropriation bill, but
did not conclude its consideration. The
debate was confined to two propositions
to increase the allowance for clerk
hire in the first and second class offices,
over $11,000,000 proposed by the com
mittee, which failed; and to increase
the appropriation for rural free deliv
ery from $150,000 to $300,000, which pre
vailed. Much time was spent on the proviso,
prohibiting the expenditure of any of
the money appropriated for rural free
delivery for the payment of special
agents, which also prevailed.
Washington, March 17. Representa
tive Hull (of Iowa), chairman of the
House Committee on Military Affairs,
has introduced a bill providing for the
reorganization of the line of the army.
The bill will increase the regular
army in times of war by nearly 110,000
men. The only change in the peace or
ganization is the addition of twenty
five majors, at a cost of $S7,500 a year.
DUBIGNON ELECTED CHAIRMAN
Of the Georgia Democratic State Commit
tee He is a 'Sound Money" Man While
Committee Is Composed Mostly cf "Free
Sllverltes." t
By Telegraph to The Morning Post. "
Atlanta, Ga., March 17. The Demo
cratic State Executive Committee, al
though composed of free silver adher
jents; today, elected - Fleming G: Du
bignon, a sound money Democrat,1 - to
succeed Senator Clay as chairman. "
The committee also provided for , a
general primary on June 6th, in which
every county will elect and instruct
delegates to the Gubernatorial conven
tion, to be held July 2d.
THE SOLDIERS START
For Fort Caswell, Tybee Island and Fort
Morgan.
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
Norfolk, Va., March 17. Lieut.'Bitler,
Of the United States Navy, in charge of
the Naval Reserves of North Carolina
and Virginia, has been instructing two
divisions in this city minutely in the
laying of submarine mines and the
uses and effect of torpedoes.
Three companies of artillery, of sixty
men each, were sent South over the
Seaboard Air Line tonight. The men
all came from Fort Monroe. One com
pany will go to Fort Caswell, N. C,
one to Tybee Island, S. C, and the
other to Fort Morgan, Ala.
Big Gun Ready For Transportation.
By Telegraph to The Morning Post,
Annapolis, Md., March 17. The six
inch rapid fire Fletcher rifle gun used
by the Naval cadefs for practice at the
Naval Academy, is now dismounted,
boxed and ready for shipment, await
ing telegraphic orders from Washing
ton. The order to dismount and pre
pare for shipment was received at 1
o'clock yesterday afternoon, and at 5:30
o'clock the gun was ready for transpor
tation at the academy.
INTENSE WAR FEELING IN HAVANA
Gen. Lee .'Deplores It. and Says He Yet
Hopes That the Troubles May Be Settled
Without Racourse to Arms, t
By Cable to The Morning Post.
Havana, March 17. The war feeling
is very intense here and the people be
lieve that hostilities between the Uni
ted States and Spain may begin at any
moment.
The banquet given at the Palace last
night by Gen. Blanco, In honor of the
officers of the Spanish Navy now here.
had great political importance.
It was remarkable that the only rep
resentative of a foreign Government
present was Senor Vasquea, the Mexi
can consul.
The consuls of England, France, Ger
many, Italy, Russia and ' Austria sent
excuses.
Consul General Lee said today:
"I consider the situation serious, bt
not alarming; and I am sorry to see
the puhlic here believe so thoroughly
in the imminence of war.
"I hope all pending-questions between
the two countries may reach an honor
able solution without recourse to war."
La Union Constitucional says today
editorially, that in its opinion war ap
pears to be Imminent.
IIIILUUU I UUIIIIIIUILIIUUII
Sr. Busbee's Term Expires in
About Two Weeks.
l NOT YET AGREED (IPO!!
Senator Pritchard ays He Has Not Yet Rec
ommended Any One to the President,
and Has Not Yet Decided Whose Candi
dacy He Will Support The Contest Ap
pears to be Between Nichols. Shaffer
and Balley-Unless the Appointment Is
Made Very Soon Mr. Busbee Will be Re
Commissioned, as In the Case of Dis
trict Attorney Ay cock.
Special Despatch to The Morning Post.
.Washington, March 17. Much inter
est attaches to the fight over the
Raleigh postmastership at present, as
the term of Postmaster C. M. Busbee
expires about April 1st. The contest
appears to be between Shaffer, Nichols
and Bailey.
Senator Pritchard says that he has
not made up his mind who shall be rec
ommended for the place. Upon his recom
mendation will rest a good deal.
Assistant Attorney General Boyd
called on the President with friends
today.
Judge Shepherd, of Raliegh. and Dr.
Lattimer, of North Carolina, were pre
sented to the President by Senator,
Pritchard this morning.
In regard 'to the candidacy of ex
Congressman Nichols, that gentleman
stated to a representative of The Post
last night that he had only yery re
cently decided to become a candidate,
and then with the understanding that
he would not antagonize Mr. Shaffer.
He desires to have It understood that,
at the suggestion and request of a
number of business men and large
patrons of the office, he has concluded
to become a candidate to this extent:
If Senator Pritchard and Congressman
Stroud intend to recommend Mr. Shaf-
fer, then he (Nichols) Is not a candl
date. But unless the administration
dees intend to appoint that gentleman,.
Mr. Nichols is a full-fledged candidate,
armed, he says, with endorsements of.
his candidacy and .of his former ad-.
ministration of that office, which ought
to have great weight with the Presi
dent, Senator Pritchard and, the Con
gressmen in making tbe appointment.
Post'-'- .
FOR , KILLING HIS STEPSON
A Wilkes' Man Gets Four Months Marriage
of a Winston Citizen.
Special Despatch to The Morning Post.
Winston, N. C, March 17. Eslev
Absher gets four months In the county
jail of Wilkes county for killing his
step-son, Norman Richardson, with a
knife several months ago. He was tried
this week and the evidence showed
Richardson to be a bad man, and that
Absher killed him' in self-defense.
William NIssen, one of Forsyth's
wealthiest citizens, was united In mar
riage at Greensboro today to Miss Ida
Wray, of Reldsville, sister of Sheriff
Wray, of Rockingham. Their bridal
tour will included New Orleans and San
Francisco.
Holton for U.S. Judge.
Special Despatch to The Morning Post.
Winston, N. C, March 17. A gentle
man There who Is usually Informed of
Republican calculations, tells me, that
District Attorney Holton stands a good
chance of securing the Federal Judge
ship for this district if Judge Ewart Is
not confirmed. Mr. Holton says he is
not an aspirant for the place, but of
course he would accept. "It will be
either Holton or Col. James Boyd," said
my Informant, who is ih a posiiton o
know.
...
- "Arbor Day" at Cameron.
Special Despatch to The Morning, Post.
Cameron, N. C, March 17. Cameron
observed "Arbor Day" In great shape
today. The address of Dr. Mclver'was
a magnificent effort, showing him to
be not only a ripe scholar, but a true
patriot and broad-guaged statesman.
Henry Blount fpoke tonight In his
usual flowery and eloquent manner.
Register of Treasury Bruce Dead.
By Telegraph to The Morning Post.
Washington, March 17. Register of
the Treasury Bruce, who has been 111
for several weeks, died In this city this
morning.
Mr. Bruce was one of the most dis
tinguished and acceptable negroes In the
country, and ' had held several im
portant offices under Republican ad
ministrations since the war, among
them that of United States Senator
from Mississippi for several years Just'
after the war, enjoying the distinction
of being the only negro who occupied
a seat In the Senate of the United
States. The office held by him at the
time of his death had been filled by him
under a previous administration.
He was esteemed as a man by those
who knew him personally and he had
many friends among the prominent
statesmen of his time in botk the
North and the South. Post.
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