Evening Star Newspaper, February 24, 1898, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR. —_>—_—_ PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1161 Peunsylvania Arsius, (or. 11th St, by The Fern Sr AER, oe Few York Ofice. 49 Potter Bailing ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the ity by carriers, on their own a-count, at 10 cents per week, oy 44 certs per month. Gopice ‘at the counter 2 cents each. By mail—any in the United States or Canada—postage prepald—60 cents e men Saturday Qcirtuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage — (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., ‘as second-cla. s mail matter.) 7 All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. Part2. Che Ev mM . Nl Star. Pages 11-14. The regular permanent family circulation of The Evening Star in Washington is more than double that of any other paper, whether published in the morn- ing or in the afternoon. As a medium for unobjec- tionable advertisements it there- fore stands unequaled and un- WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1898—FOURTEEN PAGES. RIGHT ARM AT CUBA Big Wrecking Tug Now at Scene of Disaster. RECOVERING BODIES OF VICTIMS Court of Inquiry Continues the Work of Investigation. ———— WOUNDED DOING WELL A late dispatch from Havana yesterday says: The tug Right Arm, belonging to the Merritt-Chapman Wrecking Company, with additional divers <nd apparatus, arrived here this morning. The wounded are doing well. The Oll- vette may take two bodies to the United States today. The identity of the corpses is not known at present. It is reported five bodies, probably of firemen, were found under the hatch lead- ing to the fire room today. The weather is mvch cooler, the wind is higher and a norther is threatened. Ash Wednesday is passing very quietly. The churches were crowded with people, end the ashes ef forty Jesuit fathers, which had been collected, were buried in @ tomb in the cemetery of Columbus. Thousands of the best people were present at the ceremony. Father Jose Pilacio, president of the Jesuit College here, made an address. The provincial of Jesuits, Father Power, from tne United States, was also present. The ashes represent the re- mains of Jesuits buried in different places within the past forty-four years. Question to Be Settled Today. Those engaged in examining the wreck of the battle ship Maine hope today to set- tle the question definitely as to whether the ten-inch magazine on the starboard side forward blew up. It is suggested that the public should bear in mind that a warship is not easy to get about in, even when afloat, and the difficulties are therefore much greater when such a ship is wrecked and under water. This accounts for the slowness of the results of the divers’ work. Miss Clara Barton, president of the Red Cress Society in the United States, is busily engaged in the reiief work, and sys- tem now prevails where lack of it was formerly noted. The survivors here of the Maine received tcday their first mail advices from home since the warship was destroyed, and every one is hastening to prepare mail for the steamer sailing at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Up to last night one hundred and fifty- elght bodies of the crew of the battle ship had been buried, all of them with religious services. Senor Jose Poo, the lawyer who was wounded on Sunday by the explosion of a bemb at the Irijoa Theater, while a mas- querade ball was in progress, died yester- day. ‘The others who were wounded at the same time as Senor Poo are progressing favorably toward recovery. Gen. Serrano Altmira, governor of Fort Cabanas, died yesterday, and was buried today. Brig. Gen. Masso of the insurgent army had a conference with Captain General Bianco today. The Court of Inquiry. The United States court of inquiry into the loss of ths Maine met this morning at 10 o'clock, as usual, and examined Dr. Heneberger, Paymaster Ray and ChieT Ergineer Howell of the battle ship. There Was a recess order2d at noon, and it last- ed until 1:30 p.m. Several witnesses whose names are not now obtainable were ex- amined during the afternoon. Ti usual visit was made to the wreck ‘apt. Sampson, president of the court. says he has no idea of the length of time the court will remain in session here. It all depends upon the testimony, and n-w features requiring further investigation may develop at any time. Capt. Sampson added that, sooner or later, every survivor of the Main> will be examined by the court, which seems to im- ply that sessions for that purpose will be continued later at Key West. Although this information is meager, it is absolutely all Capt. Sampson will give to the press. The correspondent of the Asso- ciated Press sees him by appointment twice daily, but there is a rigid rule to ob- serve silenc> until the facts in the case have developed through the testimony pre- sented. = Sigsbee Unjustly Criticised. Capt. Sigsbee is pained by the comments or his conduct, while th> Maine was afloat, made by some of the papers here. But, it is poinied out, such papers are not of the better class. The captain has been so uni- versally courteous and is appar2ntly so pepular with all that he is surprised that any of the papers of Havana should seek to do him injustice. A large quantity of clothing has been taken from the wreck, and after it has been disinf>cted it will be given to the reconcentra‘los. The bodies of the missing officers, Lieut. Jenkins and Assistant Engineer Merritt, ha net been recover2d. The divers reached the former’s room, but it was known that his body was not there. Thus far the sharks have given no trou- ut the vultures have lft scarcely anything but the skeletons of three men who were entangled in wreckage near the surfac> of the water. The bodies were not noticed by any one until the foul birds had ecmpleted their ghastly work. From the banc of one of the men Chaplain Chidwick removed a deeply chased goid ring for pur- poses of identification. ee ae DECLARED _NOT IN ORDER. Mr. Allen's Belligerency Amendment to the Diplomatic Bill. ‘The Senate continued to discuss Senator Allen's proposed amendment to the diplo- matic and consular bill, recognizing Cuban belligerency, yesterday afternoon until af- ter 5 o'clock. Mr. Thurston continued his speech after The Star's report closed. “I believe now that we are drifting into @ war with Spain,” said Mr. Thurston. “When the President delivered his he set time to running, and that time has ever since been running. Spain has not been able to quell the rebellion, and the possibility of peace is growing more and more remote. The time is coming—God knows how seon it will be here—when ac- tion in accordance with the President's mes- sage must be taken: when we shall either have to back down from our position or in- tervene in the Cuban affair, with the prob- ability of war. There is enough being said all over this country concerning the iry how proceeding in Havana into the .Maine catastrophe to involve us in war. Our peo- ple in the present delicate situation might well be at their altars praying for calm- ness and peace. I hope that the inquiry now proceeding in Havana will develop nothing that may involve us in hostilities, but while that inquiry is proceeding we in the Senate should maintain a most circum- Spect attitude and be calm and quiet.” Mr. Thurston thought that the court of inquiry ought not in any manner to be hampered by any friction or trouble here. “We ought to have patience,” said he, “and wait as a great ey, eee axes are \ As cal SLOW-BUT-SURE, GETS approachable. DIVERS KEEP: QUIET Announcement by the President of the Court of Inquiry, Arrival of Letters From Officers of the Maine. NEXT OF INFORMED The arrival of a mail in Washington from Key West last night bringing several pri- vate letters from naval officers lately at- tached to the Maine caused, a wave of ex- citement to run over the departments and for. there were all sorts of rumors as to the contents of these letters, very few of which rumors in point of fact The ohly feature so far as could be discovered of real im- portance as throwing any light on the cause of the-explosion contained in the tet- ters was the statement that the two after boilers in the after boiler space were all of the eight boilers of the Maine that were under steam at the time of the explosion. This fact had a negative value, for it dis- Posed at once of the theory that any ex- ploding boiler had caused the wreck. the Capitol, any sound basis. THERE FIRST. conclusion of the present difficulty may be reached.” Mr. Allen made an extended reply to the arguments advanced against his position. He maintained that this was the first time the belligerency proposition had been pre- sented to the Senate when there was any chance of its being effective. The House would be brought face to face with it, and it would be brought to a vote in that body. It could net be buried in a committee. Mr. Hoar Pleads for Deliberation. Mr. Hale, in charge of the bill, ylelded to Mr. Hoar (Mass.), who said he desired, in justice to himself and to those who believed with him, to refute the charges of coward- ice which had been hurled at those who differed from him by the senator from Ne- braska (Allen). He discussed the situation from the standpoint of an international lawyer, maintaining that the recognition of belligerency in ordinary circumstances was not a cause of war. It was not neces- sarily an unfriendly act. Mr. Hoar main- tained, however, that before taking any ac- tion of that kind the United States ought to have a clear and unquestioned state- ment of the facts in the case. He believed, too, that action of any kind in the Cuban matter should only be taken with the con- currence of the Senate, the House of Rep- resentatives and the executive of the coun- try. He expressed the opinion that the en- actment of a belligerency resolution at the present time would be productive of war, because of the friction that would be cre- ated by Spain exercising the right of search of United States vessels on the high seas. This, he said, was the position main- tained by Grant in the ten years’ war. Mr. Hoar said that severe, partisan and angry discussions, particularly of such a question as that pending, have no part in the pro- ceedings of the Senate—no more part than they would have in the Supreme Court. He did not, he said, believe that any sen- ator should make utterances about a friendly nation that could not with entire propriety be made by the President of the United States. The Senate, as the treaty- making power of the government, was the constitutional adviser of the President, and he held that it ought not in its dis- cussions violently censure any foreign na- tion for its action in the conduct of a war. Spain, ne thought, would have just cause of complaint on account of these violent discussions. “I have always,” said Mr. Hoar, “favored a resolution proposing mediation. If that fails I am in favor of supporting the ex- ecutive department when the time shall come and when the case is so clear and flagrant that all the constitutional repre- sentatives of the American people substan- tually agree as to the facts.’” Mr. Stewart (Nev.) made a speech in favor of granting belligerent rights to the Cubans at once. Ruled Out on Point of Order. Mr. Hale made the point of order against the amendment that it was general legisla- tion and had, under the rules, no place in the bill. The Vice President sustained the point, and Mr. Allen took an appeal from the ruling. Upon this Mr. Turpie (Ind.) delivered an extended speeech in support of the ruling of the chair, although he was personally in favor of the proposition tontained in the amendment. Mr. Clay (Ga.) also supported the ruling of the chair, although he said he would vote for any independent proposition for the relief of the Cubans. Mr. Mason (Ill.) said he could not be de- terred either from sustaining or opposing the ruling of the chair by any overgrown reverence he had for the rules of the Senate or of any other alleged deliberative body, but he said he desired to appeal to Mr. Hale to let the bill go over for a few days, in or- der that senators might examine into the rules and authorities bearing upon them. Mr. Bacon (Ga.), speaking in support of the ruling of the chair, drew from the gal- leries an enthusiastic round of applause, which was quickly suppressed, however, by the Vice President. He said that one of the greatest causes ever tried before the na- tions of the world was now being tried in Havana. The Facts Wanted. “Let us do nothing,” said he, “that will in the least way embarrass those who are conducting that investigation. The wreck of the Maine now lies on the bottom of the Havana harbor. The facts relating to the explosion are being sought earnestly and intelligently by a competent court of in- quiry, and we ought to do hothing that will in the slightest manner interfere with the progress of that work. What we desire is to know the facts. If it should be found that the explosion was due to an accident we must know that. If, however, it should be disclosed that it was due to treachery the whole world will applaud the action of this country in holding to strict account the country in whose friendly harbor that awful disaster occurred.” Mr. Bacon pointed out that any unfriend- ly action on the part of the United States toward Spain might cause that nation to interfere with the conduct of the investiga- tion. He suggested that now was the time for Congress andthe American people to remain quiet and not to agitate an already critical situation by discussion offensive to a friendly nation. Mr. Hale then moved to lay the appeal on the table and Mr. Allen demanded the yeas and nays. Mr. Hale’s motion was carried, 5l—5, those voting against the motion being Messrs. Allen (Neb.), Cannon (Utah), Heit- feld (idaho), Mason (Il.) and Teller (Col.). No further amendments being offered the bill was passed. experts all say that by no possibility could the after boilers explosion have wrecked the fore part of the Maine and left the after part almost unharmed, Much interest was shown in a dispatch received shortly before 3 o'clock from Ad- mural Sicard giving the recommendations of Captain Sampson of the court of in- quiry as to the raising of the wreck. This RECALLS INCIDENT OF THE Harding Rogers, fem the New York World, today. Miss Marie Dorces ‘onde, the heroine of last year’s pretty naval romance, is en- gaged to Lebbeus Harding Rogers, jr., a junior at Yale. Ensign George L. P. Stone is on board the cruiser New York, thinking, perhaps, of disappointed love. Capt. Sigsbee, who presided at the court- martial arising from the gallant young sailor’s attempt to elope with the girl he loved, is at Havana, with trouble of his The battle ship Maine, in the saloon of which the court-martial was held, is a wreck and an object of concern to the na- lions of the world. So there have been many changes since last spring, when two young lovers vowed and tried vainly elude the vigilance of Papa Swits Conde and his sentinels. At the time he was a storm center of ro- mance Ensign Stone said repeatedly that Swits Conde’s reason for forbidding his marriage to Miss Conde was that he wished her to become tie wife of a young man of wealth, a New Yorker. fills these conditions. Rogers, the elder, is a rich man. president of the Rogers Manifold and Car+ bon Paper Company of No. 75 Maiden lane, and has a handsome house at No. 341 Len- The son returned home a few weeks ago, after traveling abroad for a year in search of health. It is one of the singular features of this engagement that the elder Rogers pro- fessed to know nothing about it yesterday afternoon, but accepted it as a fact after The view of naval officers was that Captain Sampson and his associates were giving this advice not as a court, but as officers in a position to speak as to the best methods to be adopted for wrecking Various interpretations were put on the expression “forward half com- This was regarded as @ partial confirmation of the theory that the forward magazine had‘exploded, as that is-one of the most important portions of the forward half of the "ship. At the same time it was held by thorities that the destraetion of the for- ward half of the ship did net necessarily mean that the forward magmzine had ex- ploded, as this might be still intact, al- though a part of the generat wreckage. In the absence of an explicit statement as to the forward magazine thera was a disposi- tion not to accept any fmplied statement as to its desiruction. No Interviews With Divers. Evidertly the president of’ the court of inquiry is fearful of the effect upon the public of ill-judged attempts to account for the destruction of tle Maine, for yes- terday afternoon he telegraphed. Secretary Long as follows: a “Any reported interview with divers un- Every precaution has been taken, Officer always present.” This brief statement disposes of all the allegations that have been made pro and con as to the blowing up of the forward more of war than pletely destroyed.” ‘some naval au- Young Rogers ful- Lebbeus Harding “It would be very strange,” he sald when first quastioned about it, “if my son should be engaged without saying anything to me Where is he? Oh, he left for Yale this morning. The officers here are still thinking of Captain Sigsbee’s request to be furnished the plans of through the magazines and coal bunker The reference to the latter is Particularly interesting and leads to a de- sire to be informed on the exact quantity and quality of the coal supply at the time It is said that these pocket bunkers are rarely emptied, being designed as much for the protection of the ship against gunshots as for capacity to One expert said that these bunkers in his own experience have not been emptied in months. to do with Maine’: CAUSING GREAT AGITATION. the ‘aine’s Secretary Gage’s Recommendations for Consolidating Customs Districts. The recommendation of Secretary Gage that customs districts throughout the coun- try be consolidated wherever possible is causing considerable agitation. prepared by the Secretary is meeting with violent opposition in some quarters and strong commendaticnh sentatives are being besieged by customs officials who may lose their offices to op- The Secretary himself asked for conferences to talk over the bill. Some of the prominent republican leaders in the House and Senate are understood to be pushirg the measure because it will save a considerable sum of money each year to the government, Secretary Gage points out many humor- ous situations in the matter of customs is still main- tained as a customs district, and has a col- lector drawing a salary. The Secretary says it has no wharves or docks where vessels can load or unload, and has abso- lutely no customs or commercial business. the Secretary says, is true ricts throughout the coun- of the explosion. All of this has the ‘spontaneous combustion theory, as the bunkers abut on the maga- zines and might have set off even the safe brown powder, if the latter were ex- posed to a degree of heat above 600 de- grees for some time. may show that Captain Sigsbee is not yet satisfied as to the cause of the explosion, notwithstanding the expressions that have been attributed to him by unauthorized pose the bil. The. request besides districts St. One of the private letters received here yesterday in speaking of the disaster says it was all over in five minutes. was ashore and heard the neise. He hast!- ly took a boat and started for the Maine, arriving there in about twenty-five min- utes. Then all was quiet and smooth, and, in fact, as he said, in five minutes after the blast the Maine wes in about her present Some solicitude was expressed at the Navy Department over the report of Ad- miral Sicard’s health. It is said, however, that there was no occasion for relieving him now; that the flagship New York is not to leave Key West, and even if she should Capt. Campson or Capt. Taylor can assume charge of the squadron, while the admiral takes the two weeks’ leave to.re- cuperate from his malarial fever which he was about to enjoy wherfhe voluntarily re- turned to his place. A formal order has been made out for Lieutenant Commander Wainwright to take station at Havana and look after the gov- ernment’s interests while the work of wrecking the Maine progresses. It has been arranged that he shall board one of the wrecking steamers. Next of Kin Informed. Secretary Long has sent a personal letter to the next of kin of every man lost in the Each letter informs the reciptent that his or her relative was killed by the explosion or died from wounds re- “J re to e3 profou' 7} thy with you in this ead event and In the bereavement which you haveisustained.”” Contract With Wreekers. Under the terms of thi qdwtract for the wrecking of the Maine, grevinusly referred ‘Merrttt-Chapman The same thin, of numerous di Ty. Washington and Alexandria are to be consolidated into one district, with George- town as the port of entry. Speaking of some of the districts, the Secretary says: “It will be observed that the inclosed draft of bill provides for six districts in the state of Maine, whereas the present number is fourteen, and wherever it has been found practicable a similar reorgani- zation has been suggested. It is proposed to consolidate the districts of Passama- quoddy and Machias under the name of the district of Eastport; for the reason that in the Machias district the importations dur- ing the last fiscal year amounted to only $1,632. The importations in the districts of Bay for the same period amounted to $1,473, and in the district of Castine to $2,915, and it is therefore pro- districts to the dis- trict of Bangor. The port of Rockland has long been the most port in the districts of Belfast and Waldo- Lore, and it is desirable that Rockland should be the chief port in the proposed district to _be formed by consolidating eald districts. The importations into the dis- trict of Wiscasset during the last fiscal year antounted to only $316, for which rea- to annex this district to Frenchman’s subsisted on posed to annex the: important customs Maine disaster. the documenting o: of thirty-nine all told. Hence it gested that these districts be with the district of Portland. “During the three months ended Decem- ber 31, 1896, the total expense for the cus- toms service in the then district of Ver- f vessels to the number to in The Star, the pany of New York and the Beston Towboat Company will endeavor jointly to raise the Maine, or, failing in thet, © remove the wreck in part, at a for seecacted. ant nf are empl Ly barge. ee full facilities $80 for the x increased expense for three months only of $4,057.11, by reason of the ereotion of two customs districts in the state of Vermont. At this rate the in- pounds, the charge of the torpedoes now in use. These torpedoes are capable of de- stroying any vessel afloat. Just Before the Disaster. Frederick Holzer, one of the sailors on the Maine, who has been hovering between life and death in a Havana hospital, wrote some letters to his brother, Albert J. Hol- zer of New York; which throw an interest- ing sidelight on the situation in Havana just prior to the disaster to the battle ship. Under date of February 1, in Havana, young Holzer wrote: “The people here are well pleased to see us, and were even surprised at the ship, the largest of the American vessels they have seen here. We have a good many visitors on board every day, even Spanish soldiers. The best of it is that we came in here with the ship cleared for action and all the guns loaded. They are still in that condition. “At first we could not get anything to eat, but finally General Lee made a contract with certain reliable parties to supply us with water, beef and other things, so as not to have them poisoned, for that is what nearly all were afraid of. “There is one vessel, a cruiser, lying here, and should anything occur she would be at our mercy, for she lost her propeller and her boilers are out of order. We had gun drill yesterday, and in turning the turrets they thought something new was up, and in five minutes every gun on board of her was trained toward us, so our captain aban- doned the drill and went over and explained that it was our regular day for drill.” Under date of February 8 Holzer wrote: “‘We have double watches all night, with loaded rifles and belts, so no boat can come near-us. You must remember we came in here with ship cleared for action and every gun loaded. “A funny incident happened one day last week. It was on Thursday. We were drill- ing at general quarters, which is similar to clearing ship for action, and as we trained our guns we could not help training them on the Alphonso XII. In a minute they had all the broadside toward us. It made every one laugh, as it looked as if they thought we meant business. One of our ten-inck shells would put her high’ and dry in Havana, and no one would know how she got there.” In a postscript to this letter, the last word heard from the sailor lad, he wrote: “I told the chaplain about you. Many thanks and the same to you. Last Sunday it was a year since we lost our shipmates in that storm. I reminded him, as he had forgotten, and we had special prayers.” Signed by the Presiden The President has signed the resolution of Congress appropriating $200,000 for the work necessary for the recovery of the re- Mains of the officers and men and property from the wreck of the Maine. ee RAMON WILLIAMS TALKS. Ex-Consal General Says Cuba is Lost to Spain. From the New York World. Havana harbor is a mine of dynamite. Torpedoes were planted there early in the Cuban campaign. That is why Spain sta- tioned no warships to guard the city. The harbor is a trap of death. The Maine en- tered that trap and was destroyed. This is the conclusion one is forced to ar- rive at after a conversation with Ramon O. Williams, ex-consul general to Cuba. What he refuses to say is convincing. “Will you deny that you were not con- fidentially informed of the torpedo trap planted in the harbor?” “No, 1, will deny nothing. My testimony on that point is locked up in the State De- partment at Washington. I made a report. It will be found there in the secret arch- ives. The inquiry is now on. If I am sum- moned I will tell the whole story. Other- wise I am silent.” “Do you think Spain has iost Cuba?” “I think Spain has lost Cuba. I think it is too late to remedy matters. I spent fifty years in Cuba. I know the situation and the people there. I was ten years vice consul and twelve years consul general. Besides, I was twen even years engaged in commerce there. I was agent for steam- ship companies and sugar planters.” BIDS FOR THE RAM ALARM, The Navy Department Agreeably Surprised at the Offers. Proposals were opened at the Navy De- partment yesterday for the purchase from the government of a war craft. This was the unique craft Alarm, designed by the late’ Admiral Porter as a torredo ram. The Alarm was built at the New York navy yard in 1874 at a cost of $419,004. She was of 800 tons displacement and was de- signed for a speed of ten knots. Pro- tected by a heavy armored turtle deck; almost submerged in the water; without any ordnance and designed for a speed of ten knots, it was the fond boast of Ad- miral Porter that the Alarm would be able to vanquish any craft afloat in the waters of a harbor. But the speed expected was never realized, the maneuvering powers of the boat were deficient; she was a most un- comfortable and’ unwieldy craft and the rapid advance of the average speed of tho man-of-war during the many years that she was under construction made it most unlikely that she would ever be able to damage any alert opponent. So the gov- ernment took out her boiler and engines and other valuable equipment and adver- tised her for sale last April, but no bids were received. Another advertisement recently placed brought out six bids, which were opened teday at the Navy Department. They were as follows: Henry A. Hitner’s Sons, Phila- delphia, $2,905.50; W. J. Bannerman, . Gregory, Perth Am- es Walsh's Sons & Com- pany, Newark, N. J., $1,131; J. W.- Sullivan, Brooklyn, $1,000, and John Hennessy, New York, $1,575. The bids were an agreeable surprise to the department, inasmuch as after the ‘last failure to sell the boat her appraised value has been reduced to $800, and even $600 wouid probably have been accepted by the department. —————_~—__ POSTMASTER BAKER'S MURDER. A Successor is Not Likely to Be Ap- pointed. Information of the murder of the colored postmaster, Baker, at Lake City, 8. C., and the burning of his office, came to the Post Office Department yesterday in a dispatch from Inspector Williams, in charge of the rict, who has headquarters at Chatta- The latter's telegram was brief, and merely told of the killing of the man and the burning of the cffice. He will send an inspector to the scene of the tragedy at once to irvestigate and make a full re- port of the case to the department. When f PATRIOTIC GOTHAM Singing of National Airs Arouses Great Enthusiasm. MEN FLOCK 0 ENLIST IN NAVY Great Deal of Interest Manifested in the Vizcaya. RESOLUTIONS BY COUNCIL Se Special Correspoadence of The Evening Star. NEW YORK, February 23, 1898. Greater New York had another distin- guished visitor today—the sun. For the first time since last Friday the daybreak was warmed and brightened by the face of Old Sol, and he brought out a record- breaking crowd to see the Spanish cruiser Vizcaya at her anchorage off Tompkins- ville. The ferry companies ran all their extra boats and they were crowded with men and women, the majority of them with field glasses or binoculars slung over their shoulders, to take a peep at the Spaniard from the decks of the boats as they neared Staten Island’s shores. Many of these were content to make the round trip on the boats and to satisfy their curi- osity with their glasses, but a larger num- ber tovk the rapid transit from St. George, the landing place for the ferries, to Tomp- kinsville, where the cruiser can be plainly seen with the naked eye about three times her own length from the shore. There they would stand and gaze blankly at the war vessel. Others would hire small boats and row out toward the vessel only to be turned back by the police or naval patrols. The whole performance was a monument to American curiosity. There was nothing to result from all this Journey except the privilege of saying “I've seen her.” Spirit of Patrictism Rampan While the spirit of apprehension is wear- ing itself out, the spirit of patriotism is everywhere rampant. Even among our large population of naturalized foreigners the undoubted love for the adopted country and a quick inclination to resent a wrong done is everywhere evident. Bvt the old motto of Davy Crockett, “Be sure you're right, then go ahead,” seems to be taking the place of the first desire to like somebody anyway, just to get even. The strong right hand, figuratively speaking, is still clenched for a return blow, but it is buried deep in the trousers pocket, while the eye questions the time and policy of dealing it. If any- thing were needed to make sure of the steadfastness of our citizens it could be found in the fact that, while our city jour- nals are teeming with alarmist stories, our people are waiting—waiting for the word from our government that cur cause Is just; that the time has come, and that Uncle Sam and not the so-called “‘jingo” is at the helm. At four dinners given in this city last night patriotic sentiments were reccived with tremendous enthusiasm. The most emphatic statement and the most emphatic demonstration was at the dinner at the Merchants and Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation at the Waldorf-Astoria. The dinner was attended by many of the most promi- nent business men of the city. Amos J. Cummings, a member of the committee on naval affairs of the House of Representa- tives, in his remarks said: “If it shall be shown that the Maine was blown up in the harbor by the Spanish government, or with their knowledge, the American flag will float over Morro Castle within two weeks.” The entire assemblage arose, waved Ameri- can flags and cheered like mad, and then sang the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Resolu- tions indorsing President McKinley were passed with a whoop. Sentiment at Colonial Cl The temper of the American people with regard to Spain was also indicated clearly at the dinner of the Colonial Club. . The orchestra started to play “La Paloma,” a Spanish dance, and the diners started to hiss. A number of the guests started zor the musicians. The music was quick! changed to “Marching Through Georgia. which was cheered to the echo. The entire company sang the chorus. At the dinner of the Sons of the Revolu- tion at Delmonico’s patriotic enthusiasm was manifested at every reference to the Maine. The same was true of the dinner of the Southern Society at the Hotel Savoy, at which Senator Lindsay of Kentucky was the principal speaker. The guests drank in silence a toast to the memory of the men of the Maine. Hugo 8. Thompson, president of the society, was cheered to the echo when he said: “I know and you know that from the lakes to the guif Americans will be found crowding together, bringing their gifts to the altar of their common country.” Great enthusiasm marked the singing last night of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” at the concert of the New York Banks’ Glee Club at Carnegie Hall. The hall was crowded and there were many women, who, in honor of Washington's birthday, wore the stars and stripes. Prof. Bristow presided at the organ. At the first chords the audience be- gan to stir and it sang the first verse with increasing ardor. The audience then broke into a mighty cheer. Women split their gloves in their efforts to swell the noise. Men rose from their seats all over the house and the cheers fairly drowned the great tones of the organ. The Glee Ciub alone sang the second verse, and again the enthusiasm broke forth. The greatest dem- onstration occurred when the audience be- gan singing the third verse, “Bless thou our native land.” Men forgot to sing and cbeered, and cheers and the organ were the joint accompaniment of the stirring song. Patriotic Political Rivalry. But this is all patriotism. The nerves are steadying, and even our Tammany mu- nicipal council is taking a hand in this | work. The disaster to the battle ship Maine was the cause of a little aldermanic rivalry at the board's meeting today. Mr. let % be known that he would introduce a resolution in refer- ence to the Maine disaster, and immediate- ly Mr. Glick, democrat, got up one him- self. Tammany wanted a monopoly of all this sort of thunder, but Goodman got in his resolution first.. After deploring the Maine disaster the document was as fol- to Fort McPherson in Georgia without stop- ping over to see General Miles. I am not certain that I shall see him during my trip. LT intend to be gone about two weeks. From Fort McPherson I shall go to Jackson bar- racks at New Orleans, and thence to Fort Barrancas at Pensacola, Fla. Thereafter my itinerary may include Columbus bar- racks in Ohio and Fort Thomas in Ken- tucky, opposite Cincinnati. It should be said that my trip is simply the annual trip which the head of the department is re- gn to make each year before Septem- Activity at Navy Yara. The activity at the Brooklyn navy yard continues. From a hint dropped by one of the officers of the receiving ship Vermont it was learned that orders had gone forth from Secretary Long prohibiting inter- views by newspaper men on the subject of the present Spanish difficulty or the cause of the Maine explosion. There were fully 500 American citizens in the yard today willing and anxious to serve their country in the capacity of seamen, and these 500 crowded the decks of the recruiting ship Vermont till they were ordered out of the dock, and there they pushed and shoveed and clamored and shouted for a chance to prove their patriotism. In addition to these there were about 100 boys. About‘one in fifty of the men and about one in twenty of the boys were accepted. There have been over a thousand applicants rejected in the last three days, and there is nothing to indicate an immediate cessation in the number of applications. ——. __ NOMINATIONS CONFIRMED. Favorable Aciion Taken by the Senate. The Senate has Gpnfirmed these nomina- tions: To be United States atterneys—Reuben D, Hill, for the district of Kentuck: ca i Hamblett, for the district of New Hamp- shire. To be collectors of customs—George H. Lyman, district of Boston and Charlestown, Mass.; John H. Deveaux of Georgia, dis« trict of Savannah. Postmasters. New Ycrk—F. W. James, Naples; H. H. Smith, Worcester; R. M, Skillen, Akron. Pennsylvania—J. W. Bart+ lett, Doylestown. Wisconsin—J, C. Ouths waite, De Pere; O. Oleson, Oshkosh; G. A. Kuechenmeister, West Bend. Kansas—8, L. Billings, Marion; Z. R. Detwiler, Wames go; E. P. Karr, Valley Falls; N. B. Need= ham, Clifton; W. C. Perdue, Beloit. Minne- sota—E. B. Shanks, Fairmont; Shakopee. Mi i—-R. N. £& ence. Alabai . C. Crowe, Marion. fornia—O. W. Maulsby, Santa Ba West Virginia—A. Clohan, Martinsburg To be receivers of public moneys—M. Can- non of Sunnyside, Wash., at North Yak= 2 Wash.; G. W. Chase, at Watertown, . D. To be register of the land office—J. R. Gordon, Pueblo, Col. Postmasters—New York; W. C. Froe . at Hamburg; J. H. Roberts, Binghamton. Illinois—M. F. Walsh, at Harvard: W. H. Shaw, Canton; M. A. L. Oisen, Dekelb: H. Mayo, Ottawa; F. M. Lo Lewistown; H. L. Henline, Colfax; J. W. Fornof, Streator J. A. Cummins, Aledo; J. Bromilow, Chilli= cothe. Tennessee—W. L. Trent, Knoxville; R. A, Patton, South Pittsburg. Nebraska—F. G. Simmons, Seward; W. H, Andrews, Lexington. Ohio—B. B. Fret drich, Northamherst. Wisconsin—W. A. Mayhew, Clinton. CZARINA HAS THE SMALLPOX. Wife of the Russian Ruler Also Neer Accoucheme: A dispatch to the New York Journal fom Vienna says: Within a few weeks of the date on which, according to officia) an- nouncement the czarina is about once again to become a mother, she has been g-ricken with smallpoz, and, although the most strenuous efforts have beeen made at St. Petersburg to conceal the fact, measies be- ing given out as the cause of her seclusion, yet the true nature of her matady is the Subject of conversation in all the court circles, news having been received here thereof by letter, as, of course, the censor would not permit any information of this Kind to leave the Russian capital by wire. The announcement is net altogether un- expected. Indeed, it has been anticipated for ten days paSt. It seems that about a fortnight ago Count Mouravieff, the Mus- covite minister of foreign affairs, gave a magnificent concert and supper in honor of the czar and czarina, all the other mem- bers of the imperial family, who happened to be in St. Petersburg being present. The count complained of feeling ill on the night of the entertainment, his looks corroborat- ing his words, and he was forced to take to his bed on the following day. Forty-eight hours later the physicians finally diagnosed his case as a very severe attack of smallpox. It was therefore taken for granted that he had already been in the first stages of that horrible malady at the moment when he was doing the honors of his official residence to the emperor and empress. Since then the utmost um SR has prevailed at the Russian court, and both Nicholas and his beautiful consort may be said to have been under continual and close supervision of their medica! at- tendants on the lookout for any symptoms of the dread disease. Canton; E. B. Ak g 02 MRS. WHITNEY’S INJURIES. Symptoms of Paralysis Develop and Physict Ty to Her. A special dispatch to the Baltimore Sun from Aiken, 8. C., last night says: The con- dition of Mrs. Wm. C. Whitney, who wat severely injured by being accidentally thrown from a horse here Monday, is criti- cal tonight. Evidences of paralysis from concusssion of the spine are greater. Dr. C. 8. Dana will arrive in Aiken to- morrow morning and consult over the case with Drs. McGahan, Bull ané Moti, who have already arrived. Up to this morning