Evening Star Newspaper, March 25, 1898, Page 2

2 THE EVENING STAR, FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1898—i6 PAGES. THE SPANISH FLEET gee Its Forward Movement May Hasten Actual Hostilities. HOW CONFLICT MAY BE AVOIDED If the Torpedo Boats Come No Farther Than Puerto Rico. NO DELAY EXPECTED ge forward movement of the Spanish ili- The torpedo fleet ts expected to hasten ho: no longer a matter of surmise, but is definitely undersiood, since the Pres- ident has begun te confer with senators and representatives that the possibility of the avoidance of war rests solely with Spain. This government has taken a defi- nite stand; Spain is informed of what our attitude is, aud Spain knows what she has to do to prevent war. The hope of peace entertained by the President has been based upon the belief that the better judg- ment of Sagasta would control the course of Spain. The indications now are that this better judgment will not control, and hostilities are likely to begin in some way at almost any hour after the torpedo fleet approaches American waters. Throug the forward movement of this torpedo fleet hostilities are expected to be breught about. It is said to be determined that that fleet shall not enter the Ha- vana harbor. As jong as Spain can be held at a distance and be kept from making any hostile move this government will strike no blow. The belief is very general among the congressional counselors of the President that Spain intends to strike the first blow. The forward movement of the terpedo fleet is interpreted to mean this, end is said to be so understood by the military and uaval authorities of the ad- ministration and by the President himself. One Opening Agninst Hostilities. ‘The President is said to see but one open- Ing for a different interpretation of the action of Spain in ordering the fleet for- ward. It is realized that the Sagasta min- istry is forced to this course by the politi- cal exigencies in Spain. It is said that the President considers the possibility that the exigencies may not carry the Spanish gov- ernment beyond sending the fleet to Puerto Rico, and that he sees a possibility of avoiding conflict if the fleet is halted there. But if the fleet is destinzd to pro- ceed to Havana it will be recognized that the Sagasta ministry has been forced be- yond a mere show of hostility, and that Spain has determined to fight. This is giv- ing Spain the benefit of the doubt, and the President is said to be willing to do that as long as the lives of American sailors are not jeopardized by so doing. It is said that American war vessels wiil hang upon the heels of the Spanish tor- pedy fleet from the moment they reach the zone of possible action, and that the first move toward Havana harbor will be a signal for action. The torpedo fleet may rest in security at Puerto Rico as long as may be desired by Spain. Interception of the fleet has been strongly advised, but it is not thought that it will be intercepted except in a course directly to Havana har- bor. A Misinterpreted Suggestion. It appears that the President's sugges- tion of delay of action has been misinter- preted. on account of the fact that the si- lence that is =njoined upon the men of Congress he talks with prevents their ex- ing what is desired. It may be stated that the only delay the leaders im Congress know of having be2n urged is with respect to action on the Maine report. The President is desirous that there shall be no action in Congress which will make the Maine disaster the caus> of armed con- flict. It is realized now ihat the character of the Maine report, now in the hands of the President, is such as to cause more ex- citement when it is read in Congress than has for some weeks been anticipated. It is realized that the mest intense feeling will roused. The admonition of the Presi- t has been that this feeling be not per- mitted to culminate in action—that Con- gress shall not be swept off its feet In a moment of excitement. It is desired that Congress shall wait for communi-ation from him, and that zh time—a few days—shall elapee be- the transmission of the report to eno tween Congress ard the serding in of a message calling for action on the general Cuban separate the two questions. complied with if there is ary longer any power or influence in lead- ership; for there is a perfect understand- ing between the President and the leaders on both sides in Congress on this point and @ perfect accord of view. It is not desired that the Maine disaster shall be made the cause of action. The au- thority of the republican leaders and the natural disposition of republicans to re- gard the wishes of the administration is counted on to hold the republicans from bisty action, and the splendid example the democrats have already given of their self- control and purpose to do the right thing in the face of an emergency, together with the influence and advice of such leaders as Gcrman, Jones, Gray, Morgan and Turpie in the Senate, and Bailey, Dockery and Sayers In the House, all of whom have been consulted by the President, is re- garded as sufficient assurance that the Congress will not be swept off its feet when the report is read. Delay Not Anticipated. Great delay is not anticipated before the President outlines a course of action, and no one familiar with the situation has any longer doubt as to the firmness of the pol- icy to be followed. The whole matter is expected to be fully developed witnin a week or ten days, if left to its natural course. The greatest apprehension at this hour, however, is that before mentioned, that the crisis may come suddenly through the movement of the Spanish torpedo fleet. This may take the matter out of the hands of Congress and bring about war before there has been any declaration on e-.uer side. + = + -——_____ HOW CATHOLICS STAND. CHICAGO, March 2.—A stirring incident occurred last night at Central Music Hail. Before a large audience of Roman Cath- oles, presided over by Archbishop Feehan, end ineludizg nearly every well-known man of that faith in Chicago, Mr. John J. Delaney of New York was delivering an @ddress under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus, of which organization he is the chief executive. While the speaker was eloquently telling what America had done for people of the Catholic faith, and whac they had dene for her, he paused a mo- Ment and said: eed I add that if any crisis arises ta the life of this nation tomorrow, let the oc- fasion come how it may, you may be sure that the Catholics of the United States will, if need be, drain every vein in thew bedies to attest their devotion to the stars und stripes.” The applause that followed was instan- taneous and vigorous—far beyond anything poe heard during the proceedings. { was several moments before the cheer- proceed, ing subsided and the speaker could —_+— Lloyds Increase Their Rates. LONDON, March 25.—Lioyds regard the situation as being worse today, and are asking 20 guineas per cent on war risks, VIEW OF THE COURT (Continved from First Page.) factory. It stated briefly that the naval. militia of Massachusetts could furnish officers and men immediately for the man- ning of the monitors intended for New Ergland points. The Secretary has not yet heard from New York, but he has no doubt that the naval militia of that state will be equally ready to furnish officers and men for the monitors. It is the intention to utilize about three officers for each of the moni- tors and a sufficient complement of men to operate them with the assistance of some of the sailors from the regular navy. Aside from this reliance on the naval mili- tia the Navy Department is perfecting Plans for detailing officers of the regular navy for service on some of the monitors. The first order in this connection was is- sued tcday, when Commander Strong was ordered io take command of the monitor Nahant. Latest Naval Orders. The naval orders in detail are as follows: Rear Admiral Montgomery Sicard, de- tached as commander-in-chief of the North Atlantic station and granted sick leave for six months; Capt. C. M. Chester, detached from the command of the South Atlantic station and to continue in command of the Cincinnati; Capt. W. T. Sampson, de- tached from the command of the Iowa, and at once ordered to commander-in-chief of the North Atlantic station, with the New York as his flagship; Ensign J. F. Carter, detached from the Vicksburg and ordered to the Mayflower, March 31, as watch and division officer; Ensign W. V. Pratt, de- tached from the Annapolis and ordered to the Mayflower, March 31; Lieut. C. 8. Rip- ley, before th2 medical examining board, March 31; Ensign W. 8. Crosby, detached from the Naval Academy, March 28, and ordered to the Mayflower, March 31; Pay- master T. B. Harris, to take up the ac- couats of the Mayflower; Commander E. T. Strong, to League Island, with the Nahant; Lieut. W. R. Shoemaker, detached from the Naval Academy and ordered to Newport, with the torpedo boat Talbot; Lieut. C. S. Williams, detached from the Naval Academy and ordered to Newport with the torpedo boat Gwin; Commodore W. S. Schley, detached from the light- house board and ordered to command the “flying squadron,” with the Brooklyn as his flagship; Capt. R. D. Evans, detached from the light house board and ordered to command the Iowa: Lieut. G. P. Blow, to the Mayflower, March 31; Lieut. A. E. Cul- ver, detached from the torpedo station, April 1, and ordered to the Mayflower; Surgeon S. H. Griffiths, detached from the Museum of Hygiene, Washington, D. C., and ordered to the Mayflower; Commander Cc. H. West and Lieut. C. H. Harlow, de- tached from the New York, ordered home and to await orders. ‘To Hurry Up the Albany. Instructions have been sent to the naval atteche at the London legation to iasten the completion of the cruiser Albany, under ccnstruction on the Tyne. This vessel was recently purchased from the Brazilian gov- ernment, and was formerly known as the Abreuall. At the time of her purchase 3: was estimated she cculd not be finished tefor2 December next, but arrai ments are soon to be made by which it hoped that the vessel may be made ready for service within the next few months. Arrangements Fave been made for put- ting the torpedo boats Gwin and Talbot into active service as soon as_ possible. These vessels were built by the Herreshoff Company, and were recently accepted by the government after a satisfactory speed trial. They are now at the torpedo station receiving their outfit. Lieut. C. S. Williams as today ordered to duty in connection ith the ovtfitting of the Gwin, and Lieut. W. R. Shoersaker was erdered to perform a similar service in the case of the Talbot. These orders are preliminary to placing the officers named in command of the re- speetive torpedo boats, which it is expected will be ready for active service in a few days. Enlistments for the Navy. The enlistment of men for the naval serv- lee is progressing satisfactorily at w.e Washington navy yard, and a good class of men is being obtained. Heretofore the enlistments have b2en confined to ratings of machinists, seamen and ordinary sea- men. On the recommendation of Lieut. J. N. Robinson, the recruiting officer in charge of the rendezvous, the Navy De- partment has authorized him to include the enlistment of co2l passers and firemen, so that now the enlistments comprehend every rating of the enlisted service. Men who had applied for enlistment as firemen and coal passers were informed some time ago that they could not be enlisted at this sta- tion under the original orders, but tnat if these orders were changed so as to permit their enlistment public announcement to that effect would be made in the news- papers. Commander Hemphill of the bureau of navigation, Navy Department, who has charge of naval enlistments, requested a Star reporter this morning to state for the benefit of all men in this vicinity de-!ring to enlist as firemen and coal passers that their applications will receive due consid- eration if filed at the recruiting office of the Washington navy yard. The enlist- ment of Seamen, machinists, etc., will con- tinue as formerly. SAIN eS IEE a DAE aL a se ES Oe a ee SN ea ar A a a ac oR MN a Rl la Na ia etl Da a PE le SU Nel Officers for Revenue Cutters. Capt. Shoemaker, chief of the revenue cut- ter service, was busily engaged tcday in making assignments of officers of the revenue cutters detailed yesterday for de- fensive service along the Atlantic seaboard. Every vessel in the service available for ection has been or will be assigned to duty. Even the new cutter Gresham on the Great Lakes and the little cutter Calumet, lo- cated at Chicago, have been called into service, and in a Jay or two both the lake ships will be en route to the rendezvous at Hampton Roads. Orders for the movements of the sev- eral vessels have not yet been made out by Capt. Shoemaker, but probably will be some time during the day. The com- manders have, howeyer, been notified by wire to be in readiness to move as soon us their general orders are received. The revenue cutters which will be order- ed into service and their present stations are as follows: Woodbury, Portland, Me.; Hamilton, Philadelphia; Hudson, New York; Manning, Boston; Calumet, Chicago; Gresham, Milwaukee; Morrow, Wilming- ton, N. C., and Windom, Baltimore. Rendezvous of the Cutters. Capt. Shoemaker was of the opinion that it would require about a week for all of the vessels to reach Hampton Roads or Norfolk, which will be their official rea- dezvous. At the navy yard there the ves- sels will receive their equipment—guns, ammunition, torpedoes and supplies, and will make such other preparations as are necessary for fighting service. ~The new cutter Gresham, recently buflt at Cleve- land, Ohio, can, in a brief time, be trans- formed into a formidable commerce de- stroyer or torpedo boat. Indeed, she was built expressly for such an emergency as she is aow called upon to meet. She is equipped for a torpedo tube, and can carry an ugly battery of rapid-fire guns. All of the vessels are first-rate seagoing craft, and all of them are fitted with small but effective batteties. Their speed rate varies from All iat ecibpeilriiiainsiaeeeiietneesebiadaeaneitinines ipa dh cern tlisotgitiaeetet-sicienatiiectce eespelanecesneeneg obit ibeneraor——ao raion npemeptaneniecegmnenenensssnanesntenrnaeeeaeeeeceneenet ckusetts came first, and was most satis- | now on duty with the life saving service are today being withdrawn and assigned to duty on the vessels ordered to Norfolk. Their orders are made immediately effective in every case, and they will report to the commanding officers of the ships as soon’ as the vessels arrive at Norfolk. To Be Sade Ready for Service, Orders were issued from the Navy De- partment today to the commandant of the Norfolk navy yard directing him to pre- pare the revenue cutter vessels for service as soon as possible after their arrival at the yard. He was directed to expedite the work on the ships a8 rapidly as was con- sistent with the nature of the work to be done. That the Navy Department officials are anxious that the revenue vessels should be equipped for sea duty at an early date was evidenced hy a request made upon the revenue cutter service of the Treasury De- partment for information as to the length of time it would require for the vesseis to report at Norfolk. As soon as the vessels are prepared for service they wiil be dispatched to Key West and placed at the disposal of Com- modore Sampsvun, in command of the naval squadron at that station. The cutters will ‘be employed as scout or picket boats, and will be prepared for both offensive and de- fensive service. for the vessels will be put in at the Nor- folk navy yard, and it is expected by the naval officials that they will prove to be pretty formidable ships, even if employed in aggressive tactics. The New Catter McCulloch. Another vessel of the revenue service which may be utilized in the naval service is the new cutter McCulloch, one of the finest vessels of that service. She was con- structed at Baltimore and left that port several weeks ago for duty on the Pacific Station, going by way of the Mediterranean sea and Suez canal. She is now somewhere in the vicinity of Singapore, and is due to arrive at that port in a few days. The spe- cial service which it is proposed to put her to is as a dispatch boat on the Asiatic sta- tion. In case that plan is adopted a cable message will be sent to her commanding Officer at Singapore directing him to pro- ceed to Hong Kong and place his vessel with officers and crew under the command of Commodore Dewey, commanding the naval forces on the Asiatic station. The entire fleet of that station is now assem- bled at Hong Kong, with a view to making a demonstration against the Spanish forces on the Philippine Islands in case of war between Spain and the United States. Giving the President Authority. General Wheeler of Alabama today in- troduced in the House a bill providing “that in the event of an act of war being com- mitted by Spain or any other foreign na- tion prior to the meeting of the next ses- sion of Congress, the President of the Unit- ed States is hereby authorized to accept tenders of volunteer troops, to purchase arms and munitions of war, to equip suca troops for active service, organize such troops into brigades, divisions and armies for actice service, appoint necessary gen- eral, staff and other officers, except such fiekl and company officers as may have al- ready been sclected or may hereafter be selected by proper autherity, and do any other act necessary to the safety of the country, or any part thereof and to protect its honor and pretige.” The second section appropriates the hecessary money to carry out the provi- sions of the act. West Indian Coaling Station, Capt. Bradford, chief of the bureau of equipment, Navy Department, is negotiat- ing for the acquirem-nt of a suitable site for a coaling station in the West Indies. One of the points under favorable consid- eration is the Island of Navassa, which is under the protection of the American gov- ernment. It is operated by a Baltimore ccrporation for the shipment of guano. It is a few miles southwest of Haytl and about a hundred miles southeast of Cuba. Another island in the same vicinity, known as Swan Island, is also under considera- tion. Sites in Hayti and San Domingo are also said to be available for purchase as Coaling stations in case the United States desired te place them there. Vessels Examined and Bought. Two large steam yachts and several ocean-going steamers suitable for trans- formation into warships have been recent- jy inspected by the auxiliary board of the navy and will probably be added to the naval service in case of an emergency. [n the number are John Jacob Astor's yacht, the Nourmahal, and Mr. Borden's yacht, The Sovereign, which are among the larg- est and best-equipped steam yachts in the country. Other vessels recently examined and which may be acquired by the govern- ment are the San Marcos and Lueces of the Mallory Line; the Irequois and Sem- inole of the Clyde Line; the Kansas City of the Savannah Line; the Hercules and Atlas, belonging to the Standard Oil Com- pany, and the tug P. H. Wise, a sister ship to the DeWitt C. Ives, bought by the gov- ernment iast Wednesday. The Navy Department has arranged to convert the Ward steamer Creole into a floating hospital for service with the North Atlantic squadron. Ske is 252 feet long, 44 feet broad and 14 feet draught, with an in- dicated horse power of 3,500 and a. gross tonnage of 3,800, The tug De Witt C. Ives, recently pur- chas2d, will be used in carrying fresh wa- ter to the vessels of the North Atlantic squadron for use in the boilers and drink- ing purposes. The boat has a capacity of 15,000 gallons of water. ‘The purchase of the City of Vicksburg by the government for the purpese of conysrt- ing her into a gunboat for service on the Mississippi river disposes of the last one of the fine fast steamboats which formerly composed the famous St. Louis and Nw Orleans Anchor Line. For Naval Repair Ship. The auxiliary board at New York has recommended the charter of the Morgan Line steamship Chalmette for use as a naval repair ship. The Chalmette ts’ of iron and has a displacement of 2,000 tons. She was built by the Cramps in 1879. Ths ves- sel will probably be sent to the Boston navy yard to be fitted out for the work for which she is designed. Most of the interior fit- tings of the merchantman will be removed, and she will be transformed into a floating machine shop. At the time of the threaten- ed war between the United States and Chile, growing out of the Baltimore affair, one of the first acts of preparation made by Secretary Tracy was the chartering of the Inland Line steamer Ohio for a repair ship, and although her services w2re never required the plan was considered such ah excellent one that it has been decided to adopt it in the present emergency, and the purchase of the Chalmette is in line with that program. Movements of the Warships. The Navy Department was today inform- ed of the foliowing movements of vessels of the navy: |. Monitor Terrcr left Tompkinsville for Key West; steam tug Leyden left League Isiand for Key West; battle ship Texas arrived at Hampton Roads; monitor Monad- nock arrived af San Francisco; coast de- fense ship Monterey arrived at Mare Island. ts z The last two vessels are designed for the defense of the port of San Francisco, and take the place of the battle ship Oregon, | which recently left there for Callao, on her way around the Horn to join the fleet at Key West. tee The tug Leyden is one of ‘the larger of that description of vessels in the The torpedo equipments | for transporting freight, and it is supposed | she will be used for such purposes. Activity in the War Office. Except ingthg: office of Secretary Alger, who left the department early for the cab- inet meting! wtbre-was the usual activity arcund the war _office today. Both the ord- nance office and the engineers’ department are busily mt work making ready to ex- pend the money allotted to them out of the $50,000,000 enierZency fund in purchasing munitions of war, snipping them to the Seu ‘coast fortifications, and putting the latter in condifion to make them effective. The ordnange.office is much better off in the supply of wapid-fire and other guns of formidable character, ammunition and pro- jectiles than in jhe matter of carriages and mounts forthe guns. It has beep the practice of the bureau to first acquire guns, for supplying which the contractors require much more time than for furnishing:ammunition and projectiies. The construction of guns-required for the sea coast fortifications are therefore taken in hand as saen:as the money is available. The carriages 'for the guns are furnished ordinariiy in mich quicker time than Is re- quired for supplying the guns therfselves. The main need of the service just now is an adequate: supply of gun carriages, and it is hoped to secure them out of the allot- ments made io the bureau and from the money made available by the fortifications bill. Bids were. recently opened for supply- ing eight, ten and twelve-inch gun. car- riages, and as‘soon as the officials know the precise amgunt of money at their dis- posal for this purpose awards will be made. Meanwhile, the engineer bureau is at work engaged in’ the building of emplace- ments for the guns, and this work is being pushed with all .possible speed with the force available for that purpose. The Tortugas Fortifications. It is expected that the work on the torti- fications at Dry Tortugas, at which place the Navy Department is to establish a coaling station, will be begun as soon as the plans for that purpose have been adept- ed. It is thought that Capt. Duvall. the military aid to Secretary Alger, who left here last night, will make an investigation of the requirements of the service at Tor- tugass The ordnance bureau expects to obtain in all about forty-six rapid-fire guns from abroad for the sea coast fortifications. Twenty of these were obtained through Vickers Sons and the remainder through the Hotchkiss people. The former consign- ment is understood to be already on its way to this country. ‘These guns are of 4.7 cali- ber and the contract providing for their purchase calls for between two and three hundred rounds of ammunition. A Big. Order for Cables. ‘The largest order ever placed by the gov- ernment for cables was given today to th> Safety Insulated Wire and Cable Company of New York city for submarine and un- derground cables connecting all the forts and islands of New York harbor. Secretary Alger sent to Congress today a raquest for an increase in the number of hospital stewards in the army from 100, the maximum now fixed by law, to 115. "The Secretary says that in view of the re- cent increase in’ the number of military posts and recent éxpeditions.to Alaska, pr2sent number of stewards is inadequate to the needs of the service, and that 115 is the lowest number that will mezt the present demand. The request is made on the urg2nt, recommendation of Surgeon General Sternberg. Senator Davis at the Department. Senator Davis, chairman of the com- mittee or. foreign relations, was a caller at the Navy Department this morning. He was there to see Secretary Long, but the Secretary had gone to the White House with the report on the Maine disaster. The Senator had a brief interview with Assist- ant Secretary Reosevelt, but had no in- formation to irhpart at'its conclusion. Senator Dayis, said that it was his’ un- derstanding ihat the Maine report would be sent to Congress next Monday, but its transmission might be delayed until Tues- day. As to the disposition to be made of it by the Senate, he sald that in all proba- bility, after the reading of the letter or message of transmittal, it would be re- ferred to the commitiee on foreign re- tions and ordered to be printed. Any senator might, however, demand the reading of the report in the Senate, and if it should prove to be not too long that course might be, pursued, on account of th: intense interest. manifested in its contents by all. He was decidedly of opinion that there would fie no debate upon it until it had been considered by the foreign rela- tions committee. The expression of opinion as to the ac- ton of cither the committee or of Con- grees with regard to the report would be premature at this time, in Senator Davis’ judgment, as only those who had read the report had any definite idea of the findings of the court of inquiry, and even they might not be prepared to say what course it would be most desirable and politic to pursue. Commander Mnrix's New Post. Lieut. Commander Marix, judge advocaie of the Maine‘court of inquiry, has been ordered to special duty in the office of the judge advocate general of the navy, pend- ing action by the President on the report of the court. He will hold himself in read- iness to supply any information that the President or Secretary of the Navy may desire in cennection with the proceedings of the court: Conference With Judge Day. Secretary Long, on leaving the cabinet meeting, went with Lieutenant Commander Marix back to the Navy Department and had a short conference first with Assist- ant Secretary Day at the State Depart- trent, next with the judge advpcate gen- era! of the navy, and then with Mr. En- Gicott, the new chief of the bureau of yards and docks. The naval Secretary went to luncheon amout 12:30 o'clock and did not return to the department until after 2 o'clock... , CABINETZAGAIN IN SESSION. a Recess When It dl. It developed durahg the afternoon that the cabinet ely ‘recessed until 3 o'clock, and it 1¥'now reassembling. This afternoon¥the testimony will be reviewed to it Merely le _were 60 reticent after that they would not containing the positive he findings of the court, the-cabinet séssion and RELIEVING THE CUBANS. Gen. Lee Telegraphs the Work is Going on Satistactorily. On the 27th of December last President McKinley issued an appeal to the people of the United States for contributions of money, food and clothing for the beue- fit of the starving Cubans and announced that contributions of money might be sent to the consul gereral at Havana through the Secretary of State. The total fund received at the State Department to date in response to this appeal amounts to $20,048. It was started by a subscription of $5,000 frcm the President of the United States, and has gradually been added to by organ- izations and individuals all over the coun- try until it reached the figure of $30,048. The latest contributions covering a period of: several weeks past are as follows: Mr. Romero, the Mexican minister, $100; citizens of Shepherdstown, W. Va., through Rev. W. H. Wilson, $7821; Blacon Duncan, Redondo, Cal. $100; W. H. Stout, Fort Scott, Kan., $62; the World Publishing Company of Omaha, $12 Krouse and Winzell, Yankton, S.'D., $71; Leslie Suiter, Thomas Mission, citizens of Suffolk, Va., through A. W. Ely, $94.85. All of this money has becn forwarded promptly to Consul General Lee, and has undoubtedly been expended by this time for the relief of the people in distress. It is in acdition to the large quantities of supplies of food and medicines which have: been contributed ty the people of the United States and taken to Cuba om the irs Fern and the steamers of the Ward ne. Assistant Secretary Day received a cable message from Consul General Lee bearing on this subject as follows: “Work of relief progressing most satis- factorily; tomorrow arrangements made for twenty-two cars of supplies for Cienfuegos, Cardenas, Sagua, Caibarien and. Santa Clara and other places. Railroads will carry special trains through free of charge. Have been greatly assisted by Mr. Klopsch.” —_-e.___ ATTEMPTS SUICIDE. Mrs. Shaw, Department Clerk, Tries to Drown Herself. 5 Mrs. Z. M. Shaw, a widow, thirty-two years of age, and said to be employed in one of the government d2partments, made an attempt to end her life this afternoon about 2 o’clock by jumping into the river at the llth street wharf. She was rescued in time, however, by som2 men employed at the wharf, and was taken to the second precinct station, where her condition is re- garded as critical, it being feared her mina is affected. Mrs. Shaw, it is said, was engaged to be married to a man named W. W. Greenwell. She lived at 1015 Maryland avenue, with a Mrs. Davis, and Greenweil visited her there Wednesday. This morning she received < letter from Greenwell, stating that he hac been married yesterday in Baltimore, and that ine and his wife would be at home to visitors April 1. Mrs. Davis stated to a Star reporter that he had married a di- vorced woman named May, and seemed to place credence in the story, although at the station house the opinion was ex- pressed that Greenwell had perhaps played a practical joke on the object of his affec- tions. Mrs. Shaw showed the letter she re- ceived from Greenwell this morning to Mrs. Davis, and said that perhaps thé latter would never see her again. Mrs. Davis tried to reason with h but did not seem to make ary impression upon her. Mrs. Shaw then went out and nothing more was heard of her whereabouts until she was fished out of the Potomac this ‘terncon. When rescued the letter was found pinned to her dress, and her talk at the staticn house would lead one to the belief that she had fully made up her mind that life for her was not worth living and that she was going io end it. it is also said tke woman whom Green- well was represented to have married in Baltimore yesterday also called on Mrs. Shaw Wednesday in relation to some let- ters that had passed between the latter and Greenweil. As the case stands, how- ever, Mrs. Shaw is in a pitiable condition at the second precinct, both with regard to body and mind. Mrs. Davis said Mrs. Shaw had been liv- ing at her house for about three months and had always conducted herself properly. She knew very little of her except that she had come from Boston. When Mrs. Shaw reached the police sta- tion she was very much excited and re- tused to be comforted. Lieut. Hollinberger destroyed the letter, believing the woman would be better without it. —— METHODISTS TO PRAY FOR PEACE. Resolutions Adopted Today at Hins ton, W. Va., Conference. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. HINTON, W. Va., March 2 ‘The Balti- more annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South today adopted resolutions praying for the settlement of the Cuban trouble by arbitration and without war, if possible. Bishop Wilson, who is presiding, was requested to suspend busi- ress at noon next Monday and lead ihe ecnference in prayer for peace and for Divine guidance upon the officers of the na- tion in dealing with the Spanisa question. Rey. Dr. J. P. Hyde introduced the resolu- tions. : Edwin Joseph Hopkins of Washington was rejected when he came up for 2dmis- sion on trial. He was not recommended by a special committee chiefly on the grounds that he has a wife and thre? children, whom he would be obliged to ppert on the salary of a single man cr «lse displace scme other married man. ‘A memorial was adopted to general con- ferenc2 protesting against the proposed transfer of Fredericksburg Churen into the territory of the Virginia conference. Only one member of the church voted for the propesed change. oe MORE LIBERAL PROVISION. Commissioners Propose an Amend- ment to District Pension Law. The District Commissioners today trans- mitt2d to the chairmen of the two District committees in Congress draft of a bill to amend the law providing a revenue for the police fund and the firemen’s relief fund of the District, praying that the bill be introduced and enacted. The bill provides for the folowing rates of pensions: Majo: and superintendent of police force, $125 a month; captain, $00 a@ month, and lieutenants, $65 a month; chief engineer of the fire department, $100 @ month; assistant chief engineer, $75. foreman, $60; engineers, firemen and ho lers, $50, and privates, emo SICARD STILL IN COMMAND. Order for His Detachment Not Yet Received at Key West. KLY WEST, Fia., March 25.—The com- mand of the fleet has not yet been trans- ferred from Rear Admiral Sicard to Cap'. Sampson, as the necessary order from Washington has not arrived here. Capt. Sampson came ashore this morning and had a long conference with Admiral Sicard. Mrs. Jenkins has telegraphed to have the bedy of Lieut. Jenkins, which was recov- ered yesterday from the wreck of the Maine, sent direct to Pittsburg. It is ex- pected to arrive here tomorrow night on the steamer Olivette, though it will not be taken ashore here, but will go right through to Pittsburg, via Tampa. > ‘ FUNERAL OF GEN. VEAZEY A Large and Notable Gathering at Epiph- any Oburch. Exquisite Floral Tributes Sent to Show the Esteem in Which He Was Held—Burial at Arlington. The funeral of the late Gen. Wheelock Graves Veazey, one of the most discin- gvished heroes of the war of the rebellion, and equally noted in private and public life for his exalted character and superior attributes, took place this afternvon at o'clock from Epiphany Church, the inter- ment being in Arlington cemetery. The gathering which listened to the beautiful and impressive burial services of the E) copal Chureh, which were conducted by Rev. L. G. Wood, was a notable one, and attested the esteem in which the dead man hed been held. There were many of his old companions- in-arms present, as well as delegations from the Medal of Honor Legion and the Loyal Legion, of which he had been a member, and from the various posts of the G. A. R. in the Department of the Potomac, of which he had been commander. Department Com- mander Hendricks and his staff were pres- ent in a bedy and the entire force of the interstate commerce commission, of which Gen. Veazy had been a member, was also in attendance. - Exquisite Emblems. The fioral tributes were particularly handsome and were numerous. The em- Ployes of the interstate commission sent a huge spray of red roses, Easter Iilies and palms. The Loyal Legion's tribute was an immense shield, across the white front of which was the name of the organization in purple immortelles. A large white anchor of roses, carnations and lilies, with a rope of violets for a chain, was sent by the National Life Insurance Company of Hart- ford, and from the Peruvian minister was an. exquisite shaft of violets rising from a base of white and red roses. Roberts Post, G. A. R., sent a floral G. A. R. badge, the eagle and cannon being produced in’ yellow immortelles and the flag in the same flowers of red, white and blue. Secretary Alger and Mrs. Alger’s remembrance was a long, graceful bunch of Easter lilies resting on palm leaves, and Mrs. Charles Clement and children’s tribute was a beautiful profusion of pink roses, lilies of the valley and palms. The Vermont congressional delegation sent an immense wreath of ivy with vio- lets and white roses in profusion, with palms extending from the base, and or- chids of unusual beauty and variety above. Mrs. Florence T. Baxter sent a large wreath of ivy, with dark, rich double pan- sies. The Pallbearers. The edifice was crowded with the friends of the dead man. The honorary pallbearers were: Senator Morrill, Senator Proctor, Judge H. H. Pow- ers, Representative W.'W. Grout, Gen. J. G. McCullough, Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, M. A. Knapp, Col. A. F. Walker, ex-Senator George F. Edmunds, Gen. W. F. Smith, Dr. William J. Tucker, Gen. S. S. Burdette, Representative Amos J. Cummings, R. A. Alger, Secretary of War, and Gen. Cobin. The active pallbearers were L. S. Emory, John Tweedale, S. C. Robb, Arthur Hend- ricks, Major Huxford and Nathan Bick- ford. The ushers were Messrs. James Mor- rill, Wililam T. Hatch, H. K. Kondrup, John Q. Eaton, Ralph P. Lee and A. A. Fisher. Col. Fred Pleasants of the staff of Gov- ernor Tyler was present as the official rep- resentative of the Virginia executive. A large cortege accompanied the remains to Arlington. —————— FOR CUBAN SUFFERERS. by a Little Relief Fand Augmented Boy's Do: io} The Star is in receipt of a communication from a little boy, written by himself, in a boyish hand, in which is inclosed a con- tribution for the starving Cubans. The note, written upon dainty paper, with the figures of a dainty little couple in the up- per left-hand correr, is as follows: “The Star: I am only a little boy of ten and have no money. I hear of the poor little boys and girls starving in Cuba, so sold two of my pigones for twenty-5 cents for you to get some bread to send to some little boy in Cuba. “THURMAN DALY.” The contributions, including that of Thurman Daly, so far received at the of- fice of The Star in aid of Cuban sufferers are as follows: Heretofore acknowledged. RS. Fair....... $1,056.50 5.00 MR. BLACKBUR: ILLNESS. The Ex-Senator Stricken With Syn- cope, but Soon Ralifes. Ex-Senator Blackburn. accompanied by members of his family, returned this morning from Newpert News, where ne attended, yesterday, the launching of the battle ships. As he was walking from the boat to a carriage, he became unconscious. He was immediately conveyed to the Wel- lington Hotel, where he has rooms. The members of his family were very much alarmed, and supposed at first that he was suffering from a stroke of paralysis. Drs. Jobnston and Carr were summoned, and it was then ascertained that the ex-senator was suffering from synccpe or heart fail- ure, which, it was said, was induced by an acute attack of indigestion. At a late hour this afternoon he was pro- nounced to be practically out of danger. ———_-e-+_____ Claims $10,000 Damages. Another suit-at-law to recover damages growing out of the collision, the 17th of September, 1895, at the intersection of 9th and P streets between cars of the Metro- Politan and Belt Railway Companies, has been instituted. The plaintiff is Joseph L. and he seeks to recover $10,000 Coteman, from the Metropolitan for injuries claimed to have been received as a'> of the collision. RAIN, Open. “High. Low. Close. = Paz % 25% Bs Oats—May. Bs 2B ES a 22%-3 c OW" Seow ions? 2% Pork—May. 55° Sar bas Sas 257 96 240 v.50 Sor Sor S02 se: fis 88S $2 £3 COTTON. Pita Sez 598i 583 5.81 Rt MERE HES Baltimore Markets. FINANCE AND TRADE —-_-+__—_ Another Bear Day on New York Stock Exchange, Traction Shares Also Show Element of Weakness. GENERAL MARKET REPORTS - Special Dispatch to The Eventi NEW YORK, March for American securities regularity by comparison with the parity of erday, a fair demand for St Paul being an especially significant feature of London's operations. The steady underton ket failed to find reficction on this side, prices yielding liberally throughout the opening hour and relapsing into dullness at every slight advance. The total trading up to noon exceeded 200,00) shares, but the volume of business fell off considerably dur- ing the later trading. Kumors were again the basis of much the trading, but little of real importance Was developed from such incentive. Con- Servative operaters have become resigned to the belief that action in either account is unusually hazardous in advance of the Maine report. The public, speaking gener- ally, have argued in a similar strain since the disaster was first reported, and the market is consequently assigned to the professional element. No buying is reported except by small traders, who took the courage to borrow siccks over night, notwithstanding the con- viction that such action alone is profitable. This fact, however, is a strong argument against short selling. Too much company in any enterprise is likely to react against the object of its ccnception. There are many indications of an urgent demand for stocks already over- sold, and the only remedy for such a situa- tion is either to buy them in at advances or to force liquidation. The latter solution has been attempted repeatedly, but investors have rarely held more tenaciously to what they have paid for and beyond the reach of margin liabili- ties. If this fact can be perpetuated until after the board of inquiry’s finding becomes public the stock market is not likely to be materially deflected below its present level. American Sugar and the Traction stocks were active features of today’s trading, and all made new low levels. Sugar was sold in round amounts and was practically Gevoid of all support down to 110. At this point the covering of short contracts be- came a feature of the trading and a rally of 1 per cent followed. The price held well for a time, but new selling during the first hour carried the price down under the previous low polat. Sentiment is strongly adverse to an im- mediate recovery in these shares, but there is a large short interest to reckon with in the near future. The traction shares were all weak and were freely sold for both accounts. This group is generally recognized as the one most likely to lead the recovery because of the experienced manipulative ability of those who control them. There is a feeling in certain quarters that the present week will see a complete dis- counting of the worst phases of the Maine incident, some closing of the London mar- t ee FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. The following are the opening, the high- est and the lowest and the closing prices of the New York stock market y, as re- pcrted by Corson & Macartney, membera New York stock exchange. Correspondents, Messrs. Van Emburgh & Atterbury, No. 2 Wall st. .& Ps M.& 0. Gas Lake snore... : Louisvuie & Nashvuie.. Metropolitan ‘Traction. Manhattan Kievated..... Michigan Central Sales—regular call—12 o'clock m.—Capital Trac- tion, 4 at 70%. Met jtan Mailroad, G at 117. Firemen’s Insurance, 15 at 30%. Fire Insurance, 4 at 120; 1 at 120. "Riggs Fire insur- ance. 50 at 7. American Gr . 42 at 16%; 16 at 15%. Pneumatic Gun Ca 100 at 35 cents. Lanston Monotype, 10 at 10%. District of Columbia Bonds.—20-rear fund 3s, 101% bid. 30-year fund 6s, guid, 110 bid. 3.658, Railroad 5s, 117 bid: Belt Railroad Se, 45 Gs. 97 bid, 100 Gs, 118% bid. 7 ed 4 q i $ Pg SE Fy ? : H Re ili te . : t