Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, March 5, 1898, Page 6

The Herald--Review, By E. Kiley. MINNESOTA, GRAND RAPIDS - roney to re- has lost the "China doesn’t ni deem Wei-Hai-Wei. pawn ticket. y She There is curiosity as to what An- thony Hope will say of us; but we -learned long ago that Hope tells 4@ flattering tale. The courage of M. Zola is likely to place him among the immortals, what- ever becomes of the academy which re~ fuses him that honor. We trust the man in Alabama who killed himself on the day appointed for his marriage was thoughtful enough to give his intended an insurance pol- icy. Resolution presented to the senate of New York state by women—“Where- as we do not want to vote, therefore resolved that no other women shall have the privilege.” “Tf a man is standing on the caboose of a freight train a mile long,” said the occasional time destroyer. “and begins walking toward the engine as the train starts and the train——” The people at the hospital are patching him up as well as th can, 1 Rev. J. W. Bundy of Terre Haute has sued deacons William Davis and Joshua Moore for $25,000 damages. He complains that they caused to be pub- lished in the Golden Echo a statement that they knew of their own knowledge that he had been guilty of forgery, dis- honesty and falsehood. This is indeed a golden echo. | It is confidently predicted that before May wheat will reach fancy prices, many predicting $1.50 a bushel. From now on the weather will cut a big fig- ure, and the fact that the entire winter wheat country is bare of snow is not encouraging to those who have sold wheat they do not own. Receipts of wheat continue light in spite of the high price of the grain. Max Nordau has been studying de- generacy and crime so long that he has ‘come to look on the present generation as mainly degenerates and potential criminals. It is a gloomy and forbid- ding world which this famous crimin- ologist looks out upon, inhabited by people capable of any deviltry, and only waiting opportunity to engage in it. Max Nordau should take a liver pill. Ha! At last there is a place where the bloomer costume may receive the honor which has been denied it up to the present time. Up in Alaska a bloomer colony is to be formed where skirts will be banished and the reign of the festive bloomer will be undis- puted and unchallenged by either prud- ish male or fastidious female. But the condition of the Alaska roads compels them to leave their bikes at home. Mrs. Jessie Mulligan, widow, is a brakeman on a western railroad and has given perfect satisfaction to her employe There are a good many country families wherein the wife cuts the wood and runs the reaping-ma- chine. Why should net that woman do the hard work of a railroad and earn money for her own use? It seems odd, but so did a thousand things of the same kind which are familiar enough now. A judge fined the Sacramento Bee for an alleged misreport of -a trial pending before him, and for severe criticism of his language in support of the attorney who brought the charge. The editor stood by his reporter and his own dignity, declaring that the re- port was correct, but was refused the privilege of defense; whereupon the case was carried to the supreme court of California and the sentence was set aside. The smaller the judge the more tyranny and the more law-breaking. A movement is on foot to divide the republic of Brazil, but whether the division will result in a peaceable sep- aration or a war of cession is not yet determined. It is reported that the representatives of the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Parana, Santa Catha- rina and Minas Geraes are soon to meet and proclaim their separation from Brazil and establish an independent republic. It has been known for some years that there was a growing ten- dency among the states composing the scuthern portion of the great republic to a division of the country and to a desire to establish a smaller and more compact republic in that section. The four states that have apparently en- tered into the plan proposed have an area of 306,384 square miles, with a population of 4,442,714 and a represen- tation of sixty-one members in the parliament of Brazil. The new re- public would embrace about one-tenth of the area and about one-quarter of ion of the present republic. Zertucha, the betrayer of Maceo, having been made mayor of a town in Havana province, one reflects with awe on the lost chances of that distinguish- ed poisoner, Holmes of Philadelphia, who was recently hanged. If he had lived his crimes might have made him governor-general of Cuba. It is predicted by a woman, writing for the New York Evening Sun, that the downfall of the new woman will come from the old and inevitable ac- cidents with the collar-button. Either that or she mist learn to swear a NY Hr THE NEWS RESUME DIGEST OF THE NEWS FROM ALL PARTS CF THE WORLD. A Comprehensive Review of the Important Happenings of the Past Week Culled From the Tel- egraph Reports—The Notable Events at Home and Abroad That Have Attracted Attention. Washington Talk, Gen. Henderson of Iowa has intro- duced a bill to revive the grade of lieutenant general of the army. Councillor of Legation Speck yon Sternberg has been appointed first sec- retary of the German embassy at Washington. The secretary of the interior has ap- proved for patent of the State of Min- nescota 24,407 acres of land in the Du- luth land district. Senator Quay has introduced a bill in the senate to appropriate $1,500,000 for the purchase of a site on which to erect a new president's residence. George W. Clark of Detroit, Kas., has been appointed a clerk of the bu- reau of animal industry of the agricult- ural department. The president has signed the resolu- tion of congress appropriating $200,000 for the work necessary for the recoy- ery of the remains of the crew and preperty of the wrecked Maine. The postoflice department has been informed that, after March 1, samples of liquids, greases, powders and gl: will be admitted to the mails of Gr Britain. Samples of these materials are «already admitted to the mails of a number of counties. Criminal, A. D. Perkins, who escaped from the Perkins county, (Kas.) jail, where he held for obtaining money under Ise pretenses, has been recaptured. Carl Paddleford shot himself in the head at Butler, Mo. He had been ex- pecting money from Elmwood, Neb., his former home, and was despondent at not getting it. In a quarrel arising from an old feud, J. W. Kribble shot and perhaps fatally wounded W. A. Watson at Nekoma, Kas. Kibble used a shotgun, discharg- ing both barrels in Watson's back, neck and head. People Talked About. Frederick Wooten, Conservative member of parliament for the Stepney division of the Lower Hamlets since 1886, is dead. He was born in 1836. Rey. Thomas Roslyn Howlett, a well known Baptist minister, died at his home in Philadelphia. Mr. How- lett was born in England seventy-one years ago. Mayor Carter H. Harrison of Chica- go announces that he will write a book on the free silver question to prove his devotion to the white metal. The book will be issued within months. Goy. Stephens of Missouri h: ap- pointed William C. Marshall city coun- cillor of St. Louis, to the state supreme bench to succeed Justice McFarland, who died recently. J. Sterling Morton is to be editor-in- chief of a new daily paper, to be start- ed by the e y and his four an old and re- n, Ill, is dead. years of Alexander W. spected citizen of Although he was age he had seen only sixteen birth- da having been born FE 29, 1828. The admirers of the Rev. A. M. Top- lady, author that much-sung hymn, “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me,” have on foot a scheme to commemorate his life and werk. ably beautiful woman ently young, as the princess of W Judge Robert Hughes, of the federal court of the Eastern district of Vir- ginia, appointed by President Grant j in 1874, has forwarded his resignation to President McKinley. August Ringling, father of the Ring- ling brotbers, of circus fame, is dead, at Baraboo, Wis, after an illness of several months, aged seventy-one. His death occurred on the forty <th anni- versary of his wedding. Robert Law, the pioneer coal dealer of Chicago, died of Bright’s disease. He was seventy-six years old. Mr. Law be- gan operating coal mines throughout the state in 1850 and until recent years was one of the leading operators. The will of the late Thomas D. Stimson, which disposes of an estate valued at $300,000, has been filed for probate at Los Angeles, Cal. Among the bequests is $5,000 to Clara A. Ed- son of Duluth, Minn. Colt. Ibbetson, who died recently in England, was the hero of the last sens- ational elopement to Gretna Green. He ran off forty-four years ago with Lady Adela Villier, daughter of the earl ot sey; she died six years after they were married. Foreign Notes. The Marquesa of Apeztgua, nee El- fen Vincent, of the United States, and wife of the chief of the Constitutional party of Cuba, is dead at Madrid. Brussels is having an unpleasant so- ciety scandal. A handsome Spanish adventuress, who kept a bar and gam- bling house, frequented by the most fashionable set in the city, having been arrested fer usury, made a confession to the police. As a result, seven di- vorce suits were begun the day the divorce court opened, and the Belgian attorney general has been forced to re- sign, Japan, distrusting Russia’s activity at Port Arthur, recently pressed China to renew the assurance that Russians would withdraw from the port in the spring. China, through her minister at St. Petersburg, endeavored to obtain the requisite assurance, but failed. Whether “Hoch!” or “Hurrah!” is the proper ejaculation after a toast is pro- posed, is a question that is disturbing Germany. Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, at the Munich banquet in honor of the kaiser's birthday, avoided the point by shouting “Heeb, hurrah!” France has a curious system of dis- tributing the tobacco shops, which are government offices, to the widews and other needy relatives of her distin- guished. Among the recipients of the 261 bureaux de tabac given last year are Mme. Jules Simon, widow af the academician, senator and minister; the widows of a general of division; of four generals of brigade, and of a rear admiral, and the daughter of a profes- sor of the Sorbonne. 3 é Caszaltics, The large establishment of the Nela- ringhaus House Furnishing company, at St. Louis, was partially destroyed, resulting in a loss of more than $50,000 to the stock and building. For preventing a railroad disaster by the timely discovery of a broken rail and the stopping of an approaching train, a locomotive engineer at Halle, ,on the Saale, received a reward of two marks (50 cents) from the railroad com- pany. Richard Claussen, aged fifteen, work- ing for a farmer near Reinbeck, Iowa, shot Miss Minnie Fogt, fracturing her skull. He then hung himself. It is thought the girl will recover. The shooting is believed to have been ac- cidental and the suicide caused by fright. Sporting Items. Dartmouth will play a big foot bah game in New York next fall with Cor- nell or the Carlisle Indians. Bobby Dobbs defeated Bob Kane of San Francisco in six rounds before Jack Skelly’s American Sporting club at Scranton, Pa. That three-cornered race at New London between Cornell, Yale and Harvard, promises to be a_ bigger event than last year’s race at Pough- keepsie. In the Metropolitan club’s arena at Wheeling, W. Va., Oscar Gardner, the “Omaha Kid,’ added another to his string of victories, putting out Jack O'Keefe cof Zanesville, Ohio, in the eighteenth round. ‘The grand jury at San Francisco has discovered that boxing contests out there are only prize fights in disguise. It has requested the board of supervis- ors to issue no more permits for such contests, Young Griffo is having the same trou- ble with the police of San Francisco that he had when he was in Chicago. Saturday the bluecoats of the Pacific coast city arrested the pugilist, charg- ing him with vagrancy. John Smith, a Toronto rider of some reputs, has, through his manager, challenged Jimmy Michael to an un- paced twenty-five-mile race. It is hard- ly probable that Michael wilkconsent to ride such a race with anybody. M. J. Connoliy, Peter Maher's bac! er, claims that, in a long conver: he had recently with McCoy, the said he would make a match Tommy Ryan as soon as the si with weeks have expired and he shall have claimed the championship of the world. “Pat” Ready, the Washington mid- dle-weight, intends to dispute “Kid” McCoy’s claim to the middlewe t championship, and his manager, Mike Haley, has deposited forfeit for a fight with McCoy, or any other white man, at 158 pounds at the ringside. John E. Wilson of Victor, Iowa, is willing to back his eleven-year-old son against any boy in the world under twelve years of age for $100 a side at fifteen live birds, twenty-five yards’ rise, three-quarters of an ounce of shot, Samuel Harris and “American” Billy Plimmer will probably be seen in ¢ limited-round contest before the Bank- ers’ Athletic club, Chicago, in the near future. The boys have agreed to weigh ib at 160 pounds the ringside. Otherwise. The salt works at I for the first time in y ing a full force of men. Members of the Cuban cabinet are reported secretly negotiating with the reyolutionists with a view to the inde- pendence of the island. It is stated that the name of Sienk- jiewick, the author of “Quo Vadis,” is pronounced Chenkayveetch, with the aecent on the second sylable, and ch as in child. It is stated that the overproduction of oil in the Los Angeles, Cal, oil fields at the present time is nearly 500 barrels a day. It is stated that the overproduction of oil in the Los Angeles oil fields at the present time is nearly 500 barrels per day. The Virginia State Bankers’ associa- tion, in annual session at Richmond, adopted the Indianapolis monetary plan, there being but two votes in the negative. : Chemists have submitted the follow- ing report on the ore from the new Wilkinson mine at Marquette, Mich.: napolis, Kas., are employ- Copper, 46 per cent other valuable metals, 5 per cent. Mrs. Helen Hammond, widow of George H. Hammond, founder of Ham- mond, Ind., the pioneer in shipping fresh meats in refrigerator cars, died at Detroit. She was widely known be- cause of her charities, The steamer North Pacific, bound for Alaska, which was abandoned by a number of passengers at Port Towns- end, on account of her alleged unsea- worthiness, has continued her voyage, a new crew having been secured. A Vain Quibvle. “Excuse me,” said the collector, “buv 25 cents isn’t an appreciable payment on what you owe.” “You are only collecting the interest, I believe?” “Yes.” “Well, this is according to contract. It was stipulated that the interest should be payable quarterly.”—Wash- ington Star. The morning after the recent gale an Essex county laborer bought a paper, and read to his mate the amount of damage done. Things went on satis- fectorily until they came to how Wool- wich arsenal was flooded out. “Seven thousand troops called out?” said the laborer, in astonishment. “What for?” inquired his mate. “Why, to drink the water up, of course!” was the sharp reply,—An- swers. * THE INVESTIGATION COURT OF INQUIRY PUSHING THEIR INVESTIGATIONS, OmMcers of the Hl-Fated Maine on the Witness Stand—Deliberations of the Court to Be Kept Seeret Until the Investigation Is Com- pleted—Divers Hard at Work on the Wreck—Every Survier Will Be Examined. Havana, Feb, 23.—The beard of in- quiyy into the Maine disaster met on the lighthouse tender Mangrove at 10 o'clock yesterday morning with Cap- tains Chadwick and Sampson and Lieutenant Commanders Potier and Marix present. Capt. Sampson pre- sided, and Lieutenant Commander Marix, recently executive officer of the Maine, acted as recorder. Capt. Sigsbee, the commander of the Maine, was the first witness called. He was under examination until 1 o’elock in the afternoon, at which hour an adjournment was taken. The board will make a careful personal examina- tion of the wreck, near which the Mangrove is anchored. Capt. Sampson received the Associ- ated Press correspondent immediately after the morning session. He said, in the course of an interview: “I would be glad to give the Associated Press news, but owing to the delicate situation, the board has decided to make nothing public. I do not know what testimony may develop or when, and it is only fair to the Spanish goy- ernment not to give the public the testimony until all has been received and the findings have been considered. You may say that this Rule Is Absolute. Due care will be taken for the rigid enforcement of it, and all stories pur- porting to come from the court should be set down as false. I have no idea as to how long the court will remain here. No one is authorized to fix the time, as the members themselves do not know. I shall give to the Associ- ated Press such routine news of the proceedings as is proper.” Capt. Sigsbee, on hoard the Man- grove, told the correspondent that he was quite pleased with the examina- tion and that he was able to answer all the questions asked, not only as to his own acts, but as to those of his subordinates on the Maine. There were no signs of disturbance here and carnival week is apparently closing in perfect quiet, there being much less excitement than usual. Gunner Charles Morgan, of the cruiser New York, arrived on the Mangrove and is in immediate charge of the divers. The divers found a copper cylinder used in conveying charges to the six-inch guns. The fact that it had exploded seems to show that there was an explosion in the magazine for fixed ammunition on the port side for- ward. All the wounded men except two are doing well. Paul Loftus and one other will be taken to Key West to- morrow by the Bache. In the afternoon the court of in- quiry personally inspected the wreck. By their invitation Capt. Pearl, ap- pointed by the Spanish government as a special judge to investigate the dis- aster, and his secretary, viewed the divers at work. Capt. Peral expressed his appreciation of the courtesies shown him by the court of inquiry. Havana, Feb. 24.—Many Americans left Havana for Key West yesterday on advice of Gen. Lee. It is expected that the entire colony will be deserted in a week as it is believed that war is sure to follow the report of the court of inquiry. It is expected that Gen. Lee will leave the city with the members of the court of inquiry, who will probably remain not longer than Saturday. It is said the experts are convinced that the destruction of the maine was_ the result - of a Spanish fanatic. When the news of the report is made public a riot is expected here. Havana, Feb. 24.—The court of in- quiry opened at 12:30. G. F. Holman, navigator and ordnance officer of the Maine, was examined at the morning session. The court met for the after- noon session at 1:30, and Lieutenant Commander RK. Wainright, executive otticer of the Maine, was called to the witness stand. Lieut. Wainright has heen in immediate charge of the wreck since the explosion. Four divers are at work, two in the fore part of the ship and two aft. The task is most laborious, and the men are naturally extremely careful, as they have had to work in complete darkness, and several have had bad falls. Electric lights from the Man- grove are now available and much good is expected from them. Nearly all the possible salvage has now been made from the cabin aft. The efforts to reach the ward and mess rooms are frustrated by some unknown obstacle. It is expected to find bodies in those rooms. Two cases of ten-inch ammu- nition have been found, one having ex- ploded, the other full of powder. These were found forward. The work of securing the bodies under the hatch has been most difficult in the dark, but it is hoped that the electric lights will be of great assistance. The bodies are much mutilated and some are partially burned. The officers of the court of inquiry paid another visit to the wreck. Capt. Sampson, after the visits of the mem- bers of the court to the captain gen- eral and Admiral Manterola, said the reception extended them had been po- lite and cordial. The captain general and admiral had expressed deep sym- pathy and the hope that nothing would interfere to prevent a thorough in- vestigation. They offered to give any help in their power. Capt. Sampson referred to the visits as “tending to promote a better understanding.” THE INQUIRY PROCEEDS. Every Survivor of the Maine Will Be Examined. Havana, Feb. 25.—The United States court of inquiry into the loss of the Maine met at 11 o’clock yesterday morning and examined Dr. Heneberg, Paymaster Ray aad Chief Engineer Howell, of the battleship. There was a recess ordered at noon and it lasted until 1:30 p. m. Several winesses were examined during the afternoon. Capt. Sampson says he has no idea of the length of time the court will remain in session here. It all depends upon the testimony and new features requiring further investigation may de- velop at any time. He added that, sooner or later, every survivor of the Maine will be examined by the court, which seems to imply that sessions for that purpose will be held at Key West. Although this information is meager, it is absolutely all Capt. Sampson will give to the press. The correspondent of the Associated Press sees him by appointment twice daily, but there is a rigid rule to observe silence until the facts in the case have developed through the testimony presented. Capt. Sigsbee is pained by the com- ments on his conduct while the Maine was afloat, made by some of the pa- pers here, but it is pointed out that such papers are not of the better ‘The captain has been so unive courteous and is apparently so popular with all that it is surprising that any of the papers of Havana should seek to do him injustice. ===4. ARE LESS FREQUENT. Stories of Startling Discoveries in The Maine Wreck. Washington, Feb. 26.—Rumors of startling discoveries in the wreck of the Maine were less frequent, but there were enough of them still afloat to warrant Secretary Long in making this statement to the newspaper men as he left his office: “Summing up the situa- tien, I should say that the navy de- partment knows nothing more about the cause of the disaster than it did five minutes after the receipt of the first dispatch from Capt. Sigsbee.” The secretary’s attention was called to the published statement that Capi. Crowninshield, chief of the bureau of navigation had just arrived at Tampa, Fla., on the Montgomery from a trip to Cuba, where he had been inspecting prospective coaling stations near ™ tanzas. The secretary’s comment was simply this: “Capt. Crowninshield has not been to Cuba. He has been off with his boy on matters not in any wise connected with the business of the nayy.” Until the conclusion of the investiga- tion of the court of inquiry at Havana, the principal business of ,the navy de- partment in connection with the Maine will relate to the conduct of the wreck- ing operations. Wrecking Operations, Capt. Lemley, the judge advocate- general who has this branch of the work immediately in charge received telegrams from the Merritt and Chap- man Wrecking company, at New York stating that the steamer Merritt and Wrecking Lighter Sharp had sailed for Havana and that the tug Under- writer with the chief would leave New York Saturday for the same place. The assistant wrecking master was going to Havana on the Ward Line steamer Saturday and it was suggested to the department that its inspector should 4 take the same steamer. Inasmuch as Lieut. Commander Kimball who is now at Havana has been assigned to the duty of inspecting the wrecking oper- ations it will not be necessary to ob- serve this suggestion. ‘The navy department gave out the figures showing the strength of the naval militia up to date. This shows a total force of 4,445, officers and en- listed men, which is gratifying increase from the 38,703 shown by the last re- port. he number of ofhcers and men by states is as follows: California, 38 Connecticut, 165; Plorida, 186; Geor 225; Illinois, 523; Louisiana, 262 chusetts, 441; Michigan, 193; N - sey, 364; New York, 472 North Caro- lira, 230; Ohio, 216; Pennsylvania, 216; Rhode Island, 180; South Caroiina, 152; Virginia, 44. Ttotal, 4,445. New Brigades Forming. Aside from the forces shown in the above list, new brigades are in pro- cess of formation, which prom swell the total to much larger figures at an early day. The organization of this auxiliary arm of the na service is under the immediate direction of Lieut. Gibbons, U. 8. N., whose energy has accomplished much in securing state organization and in the harmoniz- ing of the bodies into one compact force, capable in emergency of co- operating with the regular navy. bh his last report Mr. Roosevelt said that the state naval militia in the event of a sudden emergency could be utilized at once for manning thesmaller na- tional cruisers. It could be depended upon mainly, he said as a second line of defense and also be used in placing mines and the establishment of signat stations for coast defense. Thanks to the promptness and effi- ciency of the chief of engineers and the chief of ordnance of the army, the city of Washington is now regarded as being well nigh safe and secure from attack by water. The fortifications at Fort Washington and Sheridan point, on the opposite side of the Potomac are sufficiently advanced to be able to repeal an ordinary fleet of invaders and in case of necessity they could be vastly strengthened in a comparatively short time. These defenses are con- sidered sufilcient to keep all hostile vessels beyond the range of gunshot of the national capital. Moreover the river has been blocked off and prepared for mines. and _ tor- pedces at a point below the fortifica- tions already mentioned so that it is probable some of the ships of an enemy would be blown out of the water before it would be necessary to use the guns at the forts. gah. ee IS QUIETLY WAITING. The Government Awaits The Con- clusion of The Inquiry. Washington, Feb. 27.—In spite of the stories that come from unofficial sources in Havana as to the sensation- al developments in connection with the work of divers in the Maine's hull the administration remains firm in its statement that there is no credible ev- idence one way or the other as to the cause of the disaster and holds to its purpose to await the conclusion of the investigation now being made by the court of inquiry. This position was emphasized at the cabinet meeting. People who looked for some startling announcement were disappointed, as the members, without reservation, frankly admitted that the subject of the loss of the Maine had been dis- cussed but the government had re- ceived no information from Havana since Thursday and had no intention of changing its policy until there was something of substance to warrant it. The Spanish legation was equally in the dark as to any of the discoveries reported from sources that are not cited, as was shown by the message from Capt. Gen. Blanco. Secretary Long has been under a heavy and almost constant strain ever~ since he was awakened in the middle of the night a week ego last Tuesday by the news of the loss of the Maine, and now that matters are, at least for a time, in ‘ A Quicter State, he has withdrawn from the navy de- partment and gone away fer a few ys’ rest, lexving Assistant Secretary Roosevelt to manage the department. Just before the department closed he had word of the sailing of the cruiser Montgomery from ‘Tampa for Key West. Up to that time the vessel ha been given no orders, s of her departure for is to go at all, is conjectural. The Castine, the second of the Unit- ed States warships on the South At- lantic station, hes arrived at Barba- does, where she joined the Cincinnati. It may be that the Castine will go to Martinique to be decked as she is in need of cleaning after her tropical service. Since so much depends upon the re- port of the court of inquiry it may be interesting to note that so far as Sec- retary Long himself does not know when to expect this important docu- ment, up to this time having heard nothing from any of the members on this point. He rather expected that the court, which has complete power to work on its own lines, would wind up its work at Havana before leaving so as to avoid the necessity for a re- turn trip. One member of the cabinet had a More Defintte Opinion on the subject, expecting the receipt of the report from the court about the middle of next week. Taere is reason to believe that in the meantime, and to prepare, too, for the reception of a report, that would show the disaster to be other than the resuit of an acci- dent, some of the officials of the ad- ministration had been looking up the subject of indemnities, so as to lay the foundation of a case in the event it should be decided to resort to that method of settlement. There are a large number of prece- dents which will aid the authorities in shaping their action in this direction if the facts are fully established. While none of the cases show the fear- ful loss of life sustained by the Maine explosion, yet they include many in- stances in which the United States has adopted energetic measures to redress tke killing of American citizens in for- eign countries. In a general way these methods of redress have included de- mands for indemnity, proclamations excluding the warships of the offend- ing nation from our harbor display of forces, non-intercourse, withdrawal of our minister, reprisal and blockade. some of these steps border very close- ly on war, although they are regarded as the movements just preliminary to actual hostilities, and as amounting to threats that force will follow if repar- ation is not made. eget SINKING INTO THE MUD. Wreek of the Maine Is Slowly but Surely Settlinz. Havana, Feb. 27.—The wreck of the Maine is slowly but surely sinking into the mud. Before the hull could be raised it would be necessary to move the guns and deck debris. Wor lack of proper appliances practically nothing in this line has been accom- plished. Aside from the officers and cabin. effects the salvage thus far has been pitifully small. The cloudy weather and rain made the work of the divers unsatisfactory yesterday and very little was done. It is said that a hole has been made by the divers in one of the forward hatches and it is hoped that a number of bodies will be recovered. The court of inquiry sat longer than usual ves- terday, the six divers being examined more in detail than heretofore. A civilian, whose testimon, said to be of some importance, was also exam- ined. The name of the witness and all the particulars of the evidence are withheld. o> SICKE) G SPECTACLE. Buzzards and Spaniards Hovering Around the Wrecked Maine. New York, Feb. 27.—Passengers on the steamer Concho, which has just arrived from Havana, say that the sight of the Maine was_ horrifying from the evidence the wreckage bore of the power of the explosion and the carnage wrought. Buzzards hung about the wreck, the Spanish officials making no effort to drive them away, though their presence was sickeningly offensive. Spaniards who rowed about in boats did not conceal their satis- faction at the American warship’s fate and some times were seen shaking their fists at the flag that hung at ha?f-mast above the hulk. Be ge WARLIKE PREPARATIONS. Work of Strengthening the Army and Navy Continues. Washington, Feb. 27.—The president was so much annoyed by the repetition of the story that he and the cabinet had fixed upon a certain sum to be de- manded as indemnity from Spain that he wrote the following statement: “The question of an indemnity has never been considered by the presi- dent or the cabinet in any shape, form or manner.” ‘he accident theory has been practically abandoned. The pre- parations toward strengthening the army and navy and the fortifications go on daily, and the significance of these preparations is not lost upon men capable of observing. Zigas Bodies Cannot Be Disinterred. Washington, Feb. 27.—The friends of the victims of the Maine disaster have discovered that they cannot have their bodies brought to this country in cases where they have already been interred. This is due to the fact that the Spanish laws forbid the exhuma- tion of corpses until the expiration of five years ofter burial. The prohibi- tion had its origin in the fear of in- fection from contagious diseases. anes Mexicans Are Excited. City of Mexico, Feb. 27.—Intense ex- citement prevails over the possibility of a rupture between tke United States and Spain. In case of a war the police would have their hands full in preventing collisions as there are many Spanish and American residents here, some of whom are likely to pick a quarrel. ~- Lb, CR | SS ee oe oe { i i i