Evening Star Newspaper, February 21, 1898, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. FTBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 3101 Ferzeylvania Avenne, Cor. 11th &., by y The Eng SUR coe ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the eity by crrriers. on their own account, at 10 cents per week. or 44 cents per month. Copies at the ccrnter 2 certs each. By mail—anywhere in the United States er Canads—postage prepaid —50 cents P Sheet Star, $1 per year, with postage added. $3.00. red at the Po.t Gftice at Washington, D- C., Che Zvening Star. The Evening Star is the only afternoon paper in Washington that receives the dispatches of the Associated Press. It is therefore the only one in which the reader can find the complete news of the world, directly trans- mitted by telegraph, up to the as sec nd-<lass ma’l matter. F All mail sutscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. No. 14,033. WASHINGTON, D. ©. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1898-FOURTEEN frem the port side. Secretary Long took it to the White House and gave it io the President, who 's much interested in the details as shown on the photograph. Warship io Go to Havana, MORE DIVERS WANTED Constl General Lee Wires the State Department. The Navy Department has not yet deter- mined definitely which of our warships I replace ‘a> Maine in Havana harbor, although it nas determined that as a mat- ter of policy another ship must be sent there. The choice lies between the Mont- gomery, cruisr, now on her way from San Domingo to Key West, and the ie, gunboat, now at Gaiveston pa ing in icipat, i ease the Mardi Gras festivities. If the latter terminate some time this week, as is ex- pected, it is said that the Nashvilie will REPORTS FROM C ‘APT SIGSBEE probabiy be the vessel selected for the trip, ° | as the Montgomery is just returning from a cruise in the West Indies, including two = Cuban ports, and has had hard service be- sides in patrol duty. The big battle shin Iowa arrived at Key West Saturday and will remain there for further orders. Doing Well at Key West. This afterroon a telegram was received from Captain Forsythe at Key West say- ing: Maire survivors in good shape. This T.orning surgeons report all wounded doing well. Will discontinue daily bulletin unless Gepartment desires it kept up.” Vice Admiral Spann of the Austrian-Hun- garian navy has telegraphed Secretary Long as foliows: “On receipt of the terrible information of the destruction of the Maire I send to you in the name of the Austrian-Hungar- jan war navy the expression of deep-felt sympath “Let Spain Point Out the Mines.” A correspondent of The Star, writing from Portsmouth, Va., regarding the causes of the Maine disaster, makes the query: “Had no mines or torpedoes been planted in the harbcr of Havana, would not the Span- ish authorities have said, ‘We cannot be held responsible, for we have placed no mines in the harbor." Have they done so? “The same authorities,” he says, ‘‘pro- fess to be anxious to throw all possible light of the matter and wish to have part in the examination of the cordition of the wreck. Why not say to them, ‘By all means. We will make the investigation jointly to bring out all the facts, and, as a preliminary matter, Senors, give us the exact positions of all mines and torpedoes Placed in the harbor, and let us examine the connections to see that all are intact and none exploded?’ ” SENTIMENT OF DIPLOMATS, “Zone of Explosion” Not Yet In- vestigated. SOBRAL INVERVIEW 10 BE IGNORED Resolutions Adopted by Senate Without Debate. FEELING AMONG DIPLOMATS Several reports came by telegraph to the State and Navy Departments today from Havana. All of the naval telegrams, how- ever, bore date of yesterday, while that from General Lee to the State Department was probably sent late last night, though marked as received this morning. None of these messages throws any hight upon the cause of the Maine disaster, and, in fact, the officers in the Navy Department have about resigned themselves to the belief that nothing definite on this point can be known for several days to come. Their reason for this belief is that the operations of the divers upon the wreck of the Maine are being confined at present to the re- covery of the bodies of the dead s:ill en- tangled in the wreck and the recovery of valuables, neither of which can be neglect- ed, while th2 other branch of the work, namely, the investigation of the cause of the disaster, may be more properly left to the conduct of the court of inquiry. Request for More Divers. Assisiant Secr>tary Day received the fol- lowing telegram this morning from Cofféul General Lee at Havana: “Great need divers to get eff2cts and bodies from wreck; two now employed; twelv> or fifteen could be used; one hundred and forty-three bodies buried. Very few found today (yesterday); over 100 suppos:d to be confined in ship. Sailors now in two Span- ish hosplials number eleven; visited them yesterday; ail will recover except two; are comfortable and well cared for.” Assistant Secretary Day replied to Gen. Lze at once as follows: ‘Have called attention Navy Department to your request for divers. Same will be complied with.” ‘The department believes that the scarcity of divers complainzd of by Gen. Lee has probably already been overcome by the ar- rival of the Bache with a force of divers {rem the North Atlantic squadron at Tor- tugas and with the necessary apparatus. Telegrams From Capt. Sigsbee. Secretary Long has received the follow- ing telegrams from Capt. Sigsbee, all dated yesterday, in regard to the condition of the injured fn hospitals: “Visited hospital today. Men very pleased to see me. Koebler and Holzer low. Have hopes of Holzer. Koebler a fighting chance. Only members of bodies found and buried today. No investigation yet of zone of explosion. Need regular wrecking diver for that. Lee sent to Gen. Blanco telegram relating to prospective coming of wrecking vessels.” “Nine more bodies were buried yesterday. Only two identified—Wm. Lund and M. F. Harris.” “C. A. Smith and Harry Jectson died in San Ambrosia hospital. Carl A. Mattiasen and Axel C. Anderson were not saved.” It is understood here that by the “zone of the explosion” in his dispatch Captain Sigsbee means ihat part of the wreck of the Maine forward of the main mast that suffered directly. The reference to Lee's dispatch to Blanco touches the formal noti- fication to the Spanish authorities there of the coming of the American wrecking ves- sels to Havane. Under ordinary circum- stances there might be some question of the right of a foreign wrecking vessel to operate in the harbor of Havana, presum- ing that the Spanish law is identical witn our own. But in the case of a national vessel like the Maine the rule would not War Uniikel. va Inquiry at leading foreign embassies and lsgations today fails to confirm the rumors that members of the diplomatic corps have reached the conclusion that a crigis in Spanish affairs is near at hand, and that several of the foreign representatives have notified their governments that war was {n- evitable. As the rumors connected the French and British embassies with having advised their governments to this effect, it can be stated positively that no such re- ports have been made from thes> quarters. Of the other foreign establishments, it is said by those in a position to speak intelli- gently, that while the progress of events has undoubt2dly been communicated to the home governments, there is no knowledge of any reports being made that war is im- miment. It is pointed out that diplomats are most guarded in their official reports in making conjectures on the futur3, as any mistake in the conjecture might involve serious consequences. Moreover, it is stated by representative m2mbers of the diplo- matic corps here that all the information available to the foreign embassies and lega- tions tends to the conclusion that an armed conflict is not imminent, and that trouble will be av2rted. In expressing thig yjew, one member of the corps said that the prevailing feeling among his associates was that the Cuban ecnflict had dragged along so long that thera was no likelihood of its assuming a critical aspect through present conditions. Another leading member of the corps said that his associates felt that two fac- ters reduced the chances of armed conflict to a minimum. These factors, he said, were the conservative attitude of the ad- ministration and the desire of the business and commercial community to avoid a con- flict and its resulting disturbance to busi- ness. He said the prevailing impression among diplomats here was that thes2 fac- ters would overcome any radical sentiment. ACTION IN THE SENATE. According to the Pre- = Opinion. Appropriation and Investigation Res- olutions Adopted. The galleries were filled today when the Senate convened, the crowd of spectators doubtless being attracted by the probabil- ity of further debate upon Cuban affairs or matters connected with the catastro- phe to the battle ship Maine. The joint resolution providing for the re- covery of the bodies of officers and men from the wrecked battle ship Maine and for the recovery of valuable property on the ship, which was passed by the House of Representatives last week, was pre- epply, though the notice is conveyed to | sented to ihe Senate and passed immedi- Captain General Blanco as a matter of |ately. It carries an appropriation of courtesy and to prevent possible delays | $200,000. Mr. Hoar (Mass.) introduced a joint reso- lution directing the transfer of valuable historical documents from the severat gov- ernment departments to the National Li- brary. Mr. Allen (Neb.) Introduced the follow- ing resolution: “Resolved, That the com- mittee on naval affairs be, and it is here- by, directed to make a thorough inquiry into the destruction of the battle ship Maine in Havana harber on the 15th in- stant und report to the Senate.” The resolution was passed immediately without a word of debate. IGSBEE WAS ON GUARD. through the interference of some unin- structed subordinates in the custom service at Havana. Captain Sigsbee’s last dispatch, sent yes- terday, was as follows: “Will send two wounded from the hospi- tal by the Bache tomorrow. These are two recommended to go to Tortugas. Barnette (captain of the Bache) would report to ad- miral."" The Navy Department has informed Ad- miral Sicard at Key West of these facts communicated by Captain Sigsbee. It leaves entirely to the admiral’s discretion the assignment of the wounded arriving from Havana to Tortugas instead of Key West. Captain Lemly, the judge advocate gen- eral of the Navy Department, with Cap- tain Bradford, chief of the equipment bu- reau, and Commodore Hichborn, chief con- structor, were in consultation some time with Secretary Long this morning, report- ing to him the plans they had formed for tha raising of the Maine. Captain Lemly suggested some further changes in the de- tails of the contracts which are now being drawn with the wrecking companies, and it is expected that within a few hours aft. Congress shall have enacted and the Presi- Why a Naval Officer Discredits the Torpede Theory. “What makes me discredit the tleory that the Maine was sunk by a torpedo,” said a prominent naval officer, who spoke frankly only on condition that his name should be withheld, “is that Capt. Sigsbee and all his officers and men were vigilantly guarding ..eir ship against just such a vis- itation. Capt. Sigsbee knew of the hostile feeling against the United States then pre- vailing in Havana, and he, as well as the other officers of the vessel, had been re- peatedly warned against danger and treachery. Pepper's letter in The Star the day before the destruction of the Maine told how Capt. Sigsbee, on the occasion of his visit to the bull fight, had been handed contract will be signed. Photograph of the Wreek. The incoming mail at the Navy Depart- PAGES. moment of going to press, TWO CENTS. . THE From u photograph received t Lieut. Hocd of tne Maine (Feb:uary 1 t MAINE WRECK, FROM PORT QUARTER LOOKING FORWARD. Secretary of the Navy this morsing from Rear Admiral Sicard, to whom ft was delivered at Key West by , 1898). Taken the morning after the explosion by photographers of the New York Herald. bee contained, in addition, the warning written in English on the margin, ‘Look out for your shi “Since the explosion on the Maine the newspapers have published letters” from members of the crew, written days before, describing the alarming conditions around them, and expressing apprehension of Spanish treachery. Nearly all of these let- ters showed that the men on the Mainc fully realized that they were in hostile wa- ters and were in constant danger of attack. Consequently, it is only natural to assume that they did not take any chances in the matter. All were on the lookout for attack and the usual safeguards on a man-o’-war were undoubtedly redoubled. Submarine mines and torpedoes were especially feared, and it is a safe assumption that every pos- sible precaution was taken against them. Inasmuch, therefore, as everybody on the ship was guarding against the approach of torpedoes, it is hard for me to believe that one of those destructive agents could get to the ship without detection.” “The story that the Maine was purposely anchored over a submarine mine is incom- prehensible to me. Such a theory involves the highly improbable condition that Cap- tain Sigsbee neglected the simplest precau- tions to insure the safety of his vessel. Although it is possible that torpedoes may have been floated against the vessel, such a proceeding is hardly Hkely unless the vigi- lance of the lookout was relaxed—a thing 1 do not believe, in view of the general feel- ing on the part of the men on the vessel that they were in constant danger of sucn a visit. “It is these considerations that lead me to believe that the loss of the Maine was due to some unavoidable internal disturb- ance rather than to an attack from a quar- ter that every one on the ship was guard- ing against. Captain Sigsbee is my friend, and I do not wish to say anything against him, but it seems to me that he must have been remiss in some way if he allowed a torpedo to strike his vessel after having been repeatedly warned against an attack of that kind. To my mind the establish- ment of that fact will be almost as much a reflection against the discipline and effi- ciency of the ship's crew as would be the findings that the ship and her crew were destroyed by some interior mismanage- ment resulting in the explosion of the mag azine. It is this view of the calamity thai makes me hope that the investigation wil show that the loss of the Maine was an accident pure and simple, and was not i any wise due to a laxity of vigilance or dis cipline such would permit the use of torpedo or the introduction of an inferna machine near the powder magazine. “Although Paul Boyton has demonstrated that it is not a difficult thing to fasten a torpedo to an unsuspecting vessel in time of peace in a friendly harbor, it has never yet been shown that such a thing can be done to a vessel in a hostile harbor on her guard against such an attack. Modern science furnishes safeguards against tor- pedoes just the same as it furnishes de- fense against all other forms of attack. Captain Sigsbee has acted nobly in this matter, and I hope and trust that he will be completely vindicated in every respect.’ LIEUT. SOBRAL’S MISSION. He Thoroughly Informed Himself Re- garding Our Military Condition. Evidence is at hand that Lieut. Sobral, late naval atiache of the Spanish legction, was an eminent suceess as a procurer of secret information of the military re- sources of this country. If there is any scrap of information of importance relative to our naval and military affairs and sea- coast defenses which is not now ia the pos- session of Spain, it is because it was lost in the mails, and not due to Lieut. Sobral’s fall. re to obtain it. Lieut. Sobral’s mission to this country as navel attache was nom- inally to advise his government. upon mat- ters of naval construction coming within the purview of an honorable man. Lieut. Sobral has undoubtedly been con- + gratulated upon the amount of information which he has transmitted to his govern- ment. Whether Ite is to be congratulated upon the methods used to obtain it is an- other question. Comment unfavorable to him is occastoned by the fact that he was relieved from his duties January 24 last, although this government was not notified. The construction which is placed upon that incident by some people is that the Spanish legation was aware that Lieut. Sobral might be called td’ task at any time for his conduct in regard to obtaining information, and that embarrassing consequences could. be obviated by having his recall on file, ready to spring at the proper moment. Visited Important Fortifications. It was stated to a Star reporter today by @ person now in this city who has been | familiar with Lieut. Sobral’s movements for the past two years that he has un- doubtedly visited every fortification of im- portaace on the Atlantic coast. He has in- spected the warships of this government, has come into possession of plans which are only on file at the Navy Department, and ig familiar with the details of the mil- | itary resources of the government to an extent, it is sald, greater than any single man in this country. ‘There is only one feature of our system of | These crews of the monitors Puritan and Terror and the dispatch boat Dolphin. In each case it was specified that the recruits should be citizens of the United States. There will be no difficulty whatever in securing these men, inasmuch as there are applications on file far in excess of the re- quirements of the navy for some time to come, unless Congress shali immediately comply with the recommendations of the department for an increase of a thousand men in the enlisted strength of the navy. Numerous letters and telegrams have been received at the department from individ- uals desiring to join the navy, asking to be enlisted immediately. A telegram was re- ceived this morning from an organization in Detroit offering tie immediate services of 10,000 citizens of that city in case of need. Stmilarly patriotic offers have been received from other places. ———_- e.____ GREATLY IMPROVED. said to be unfamiliar. That is the torpedo and submarine system of the harbor of New York. The plans and drawings for this work are in the personal possession of Gen. John M. Wilson, the chief of engineers, and he never permits them to get out of his hand or the hands of hig immediate asso- clates, It 1s said that Lieut. Sobral has been a hard worker since he ‘came to this country, and has devoted himself constantly to the task imposed upon kim. It will be remem- bered that last summer,a report was cur- rent that spies were endeavoring to obtain information of a secret:character relating to fortifications on the South Atlantic sea- board, and Licut. Sobmmf's mame was men- tioned in connection with @hat incident. He denied at the time that_he was doing the work of a spy, and efmimed to have been in Charleston only on Jegitimate business. TO IGNORE SOBRSL ENTERVIEW. the The State Department, in view of the published denial by Gaptatm Sobral of the authenticity of the amterwiews accredited to him in the newspapers @nd the further faét that he had besidesspreviously ter- minated his official eonnectton with the Spanish legation here, has Gecided to ig- nore the matter. 5 It may be that tLis goyernment does not care what the Spanish of any other people krow of our deferges, but it is likely that Decision of the State Bepartment in Matton Encouraging Reports of Secretary Alger’s Condition. Mr. Mason, confidential clerk to Secre- tary Alger, who has just returned to Wash- irgton from Fort Munroe, Teports that the Secretary is showing great improvement. He took a walk with Mr. Mazon yester- day, having already taken a little out-of- dcor exercise Saturday, and but for the damp weather would be out of doors a great deal. He is hoping ‘to return to his Cuties in Washington in a few days, ° the Spanish know all they care t Sp Sopcast Gavan ecm ce _ TAMFICO WHARF BURNED. tral, who acquired it through o} Was 23575 Feet wee ni n- mated at $2,000,000. MONTEREY, Mexico, February 21.—The new wharf at Tampico, constructed by the Central railroad under government super- vision, was totally destroyed by fire Sun- day. The fire started in a box car on the east end of the wharf and gradually spread to the sheds. The cause of the fire is un- ‘known. The Ward Line steamer Yumuri was alongside the wharf and turned the first stream on the fire, but without avail, and to escape the flames she had to steam up the river. A. 3. Robinson, the engineer in charge of the construction, while nghting the flames, was injured by falling umbers, and will probably die. The construction of the wharf was commenced in July, 186, and °t Was considered to be one of the finest on this continent. Its length was 2,675 feet, and all is burned. The custom house, unde> construction and nearly completed, was damaged to the extent of $300,000. The total loss on wharf, custom house and mer- ise is nearly $2,000,00u, fully msured. —— COLUMBIA RIVER DEFENSES. Washington and by lccal inspection. ‘This phase of the question does not seem to be regarded as of most consequence. The thing that seems to be peculiar is the action of Spain in not notifying this gov- ernment of the recall of Sobral on ihe 24th of Januery. This proceeding was extraordinary on the part of Spain, and must have been based on some particular reason. The construc- tion put upon it is that the recall was “gazetted” in advance tn order to forestall anything that might develop in respect to Sobral’s ‘investigations.’ Though it is now annéunced that Sobra} was “gazetted” on the 24th of January as recalled, a message of condolence was re- ceived at the department from the Spanish legation last Wednesday ‘signed Sobral, “naval attache.” There is an air of sub- terfuge in this. As to the possession of knowledge by the Spanish legaticn of our miiitary charts, ete., it is said that during the last months of the Cleveland adjqJnistration Mr. De Lome was given access fo such as he asked for, which were in thé possession of the Navy Department. hig statement is made on the authority which at the time re- ferred to was as good'as could be. The statement was then made without reserve and without the thought of being apparent that there was anything-tmproper in facili- ties being given De -Lome to make such a study of unpublished charts as he desired. Conferring With President. There was nothing new at the White House to give out regarding affairs in Ha- vanu. Secretary Long paid a short visit to the President before the latter's depar- ture for Philadelphia. Phe Secretary of the Navy stated that he had nothing new from Havana. Judge Day, assistant secre- tary of state, was alse a Visitor. He talked with the President aboyt the difficulty of obtaining expert-diyvers fyr'the work of ex- amining the kull of/tm@ Maine. He said that arrangements wérey yeing made to ob- tain Lhe’ desirea workma The Maine disastersis gtill the absorbing topic in the minds of: ers at the Execu- tive: Mansion=” Many: yablican members of the House who ‘calle today expressed som@ impatience at the | progress being mad@ at Havana. They sey that to wait even‘a few hours in pleting an exami- nation. means. that the: ination will be upsatiifactory from 1 position of the } stip in the mud. Theweme men say that if the “inv ion feveals crooked work nothing~can prevent t&¢ House from tak- ing quick action. Thesé mentiments come from republicans who: Reve acted with the meajcrity in suppressigg action by that body. r Two Kew Ten-Inch Guns for Scar- borough Head Recetved. PORTLAND, Ore., Februery 21.—Two coast defense guns for Scarborough head, at the mouth of tne Columbia river, on the Washington shore, have arrived here, and @s soon as the excavation has been com- pleted they will be put in position. The guns are of 10-inch bore and weigh 70,000 pounds each. They are companion pleces of the guns recently set up at Fort Steven- son, on the Oregon shore, and with those that are to follow will make the fortifica- tions at the mouth of the Columbia a formidable barrier to the passage of a hos- tile warship. ——= ENGLAND AND FRANCE MAY FIGHT. Situation in West Africa is Becom!: is Grently Strained. LONDON, February 21.—Great activity is manifested by the colonial office of the West African Gepartment, and among the higher military officers who are going out to the Lagos Hinterland. The latter are inclined to discredit the news which reach- ed Akasha, Niger coast protectorate, yes- derday, to the effect that two French ex- peditions are advancing toward Sokoto, capital of the sultanate of that name,which is within the British sphere of influence, but add that if the news should be con- firmed i: must be followed by declaration of war. fternoon, ccmmenting- upon the 4 , says: “It the invasion of Sokoto. is directed from Paris, ic admits of but one interpretation, and the seriousness of the situation is in- creased when it is remembered. that these Filling the Wiommeles. must have Steps have been talett by the Navy De- partment to fill the wecampies in the en- Usted branch of the qmvy: caused by the loss of most of the crew ofthe Maine. The legal quota is now abeuti three hifidred skort, .and arrangements baye been made for the immediate-enlisiment of about that number of men. Telegraphic orders have been sent to the recruiting officers in charge of the receiving ships at New York, Philadelphia and No: authorizing them Paris Has Not Heard the News. PARIS, February 21.—The government has no news of the French having crossed the Niger into the Sokoto country, and, it is to make the would be disa' by the governmen’ ediately:» . SSO TEE beaten ship Vi IN SENATOR CANNON’S BEHALF. peplseetrrer ries Jones Urges Democrats of ers. Sis st 1 Utah te Support Him. man urged the democrats of Utah to unite are in addition to those | with the other elements here and send inflame public opinion beyond the white heat, which it is said to have reached over the calamity to th They summarized in entence suls report that a lief for the suff Intervention or Anarchy. SPAIN'S HOLD IS WEAK Her Rule in Cuba Fast Approaches State of Anarchy. can be ‘The con- d Spanish re- ing are twin failures, tonomy If American intervention is coming in any form it will have to come rapidly or else it will be intervention in the anarchy that reigns in a graveyard. CHARLES M. PEPPER. REPORT. DIVERS’ STARTLING + Which Maga: it Exploded, Said to Be Intact. Was Supposed DISASTER DIVERTS NOTICE Frem the New York Herald, today KEY WEST, Fla., Sunday.—I learn from what may be considered a semt-official Source that the divers sent down on behalf of the United States to examine the wreck of the battle ship Maine have mad. liminary report of the result of th Incredible as it may seem, I am assured that after a partial examination of the magazines of the Maine the divers report that the one in which the explosion is sup- posed to have occurred is intact. According to my informant, the contents of this magazine are unharmed. Therefore, if this report be true, an entirely different aspect is given to the terrific explosion which brought death and destruction to the Maine. Officers of Il-Fated Ship Believe She ; Was Blown Up. @ pre- ir work. AUTHORITIES MAY KNOW BY WHOM Divers Renew the Work of Investi- MADRID HEARS WAR NEWs, gation This Morning. Imparcial Publishes Sensational Ss Cablegrams From New York. MADRID, February 21.—An official VIZCAYA AT NEW YORK] 36ency sars: The Imparcial publishes a ‘dispatch for which it must assume full responsibility, as it does not accord with the relations actually known to carist between the Span- ish and Aierican governments. It is dated frcm New York, and reads: “Great militery preparations are being made. The forts are being reinforced. Three hundred ertillerymen have been sent to Sandy Hook, and the naval reserves have been ordered to hold themselves in readiness. The gun cotton and smokeiess powder factories cre working night and Cay, and it is gererally betieved that a Sreat crisis in the relations between the United States and Spain is imminent.” DIVERS AT WORK ON MAINE. Special Cablegram From Staff Correspondent. HAVANA, February 19 via Port Tampa, Fla., February 20.—Spanish sovereignty in Cuba is rapidly approaching a condition of anarchy. While the people of the United States are in the shadow of the Maine calamity the internal affairs of the island are naturally forgotten, nevertheless the probable consequences of that disaster should not be overlooked. It may be the investigation will show that the belief privately held by the offi- cers of the Maine, from the highest in command down, that the ship was blown up is a mistaken one. If so, possibly the relations between the United States and Spain will continue friendly and the re- gret manifested by~the officials for the accident, when it shall be proven to have been an accident, will cement a better un- derstanding; but with the light that has thus far been shed the calamity is dis- cussed in Hayana as something else than ® casualty. Public opinion in the United States will doubtless await oMzial aeclara- tions and. be guided by them. For that reason the exact facts may be stated about the situation in Havana dispassionately. Feeling of Spanish Classes. ip epee “t—tnal ta conceal the real feelings of the Spanish classes. A large number of them do exult, some secretly and some openly, in the destruction of the Maine and the deaths of her crew. Whether the cause was accidental or whether a plot was successfully carried out makes no difference in the feeling of exul- tation. The Maine is gone, and with nearly 300 American sailors, I have scen too many evidences of this sentiment to be deceived. It is not univer- sal, but it is general enough to show that the ultra-loyai Spaniards in civil life, the velunteers and the army officers are con- sumed with a fierce hatred toward the United States. Among these classes. those having modcrate opinions are few. Captain General Blanco and the officers show a deep sense of the responsibility that is on them and their government. They know, Spain today has more to fear from within than from without, but they also have means of knowing the probability of the Maine having been blown up, for the secret of the harbor defenses and of the mines ard torpedoes which existed, if there were any, is la their possession. Dynamite Conspiractes. The authorities also know something of the dynamite and other conspiracies with which the city was thought to be honey- combed, because these conspiracies were originally directed against the government. Whether these plots were diverted toward the American warship should not be diffi- cult to determine if the authorities are as fully informed as they claimed to be. It may prove after the calm and thorough investigation of the disaster by the naval court of inquiry that there was an acci- dent and that the external evidences of the ship having been blown up which now seem 80 strong are mistaken. In that event presumably full credit will be given the Spanish government and a kindlier feel- ing may prevail in the United States. Nevertheless the official assurance that the Maine was destroyed through some acci- dental cause would not change the condi- tions in Cuba, nor would it alter the senti- ment which has been disclosed. At some stage or other American statesmansh.~ must recognize that it has to do with half civilized people, whose savage instincts manifest themselves when the oceasion arises. = Spanish Sovereignty Waning. All this time-Spanish sovereignty in the island is becoming extinct, but the ex- tinction comes like a volcano whose fires are dying out,” yet blaze forth at times. It is literally true that in the eastern end Of the Island the Spanish troops have been repulsed by the insurgents under Calixto Garcia. It is also true that reinforcementa have been sent to Santa Clara province be- cause of the oppressive tactics of the in- surgent -chiefs\ who are carrying -out the Bomb Exploded at Masquerade Ball Last Nigh HAVANA, February 21.—The divers to- day continued the work of trying to re- cover the bodies of victims of the disaster to the battie ship Maine. There is no truth in the report that an- other explosion has occurred at the wreck of the Maine, as might have been inferred by tne reports which reached Key West on Saturday. About midnight last night, while a mas- querade bail was in progress at the Irijoa Theater, a bomb was exploded on the sec- ond floor, destroying window blinds and the rvof and wounding a lawyer named Pou and his father and two other persons. The explosion caused great confusion, and faany of the masqveraders abandoned the ang. és aomtinued Aance SURVIVORS FEEL BITTERLY. Maine's Wounded Sailors Anxious te Avenge Their Comrades. JACKSONVILLE, Fila., February 21.—A special to the Times-Union and Citizen from Key West, Fla., says: Sailors of the battleship Maine, suffering from wounds in the Key West hospital, are smarting over the delay of the government in punishing what they term a “Spanish outrage.” In their minds there is no doubt as to the cause of the explosion, and they explain the delay in taking summary action by saying that the President is morally cer tain that there was no accident, and, wish- ing to inspire the Spaniards with a feeling of security, is using the short time to make the necessary preparations to enforce his ultimatum. If no action is taken, they say, not a man among them will again pace the deck of an American man-of-war; but ~ business is meant, it would take a strong force to keep them from hurrying to the front, wounded though they are, to take a hand in what they look upon as a personal vengeance. Warned Not to Go to Hava “We were warned not to go to Havana” one said today, “being told that danger awaited us there. When we got there we were again told, and it was current rumor, that the harbor bottom was honeycombed with mines. We first chose our anchorage and rested there for several hours, but the harbor master compelled us to weigh and proceed to a spot marked by a .@ We were reviled on the streets of Hhevana sneered at until our blood boiled and found out for our own safety that it was neces- sary for us to make our visits to the city in force. No man dared to go it alone. There was no knowing what would happen to him. “The explosion itself is the best evidence that it was a mine or torpedo. There were two sharp and distinct reports. The first was like a peal of thunder close at hand— sound as of ripping parchment, a quick report, followed by a tremendous and aw- ful roar, and then darkness and chaos, made more horrible by the screams of dy- ing men, the fierce shouts of those fighting for egress, and the moans of those who ‘were hemmed in to die by fire or by drowne ing. No Searchlight Used. “The Spanish warship was ly close at hand, and Morro Castle was not a pistol shot away. Both have searchlighis, but none was turned upon us to help the work of rescue, and because of ihe darkness many brave men who could have been res- cued went down to ‘Davy Jones’ locker.’” SAW A BOAT APPROACH MAINE. ment to succor the starving people will be withheld from Conaress in order not to es soy