The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 20, 1898, Page 2

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1898. WILL COMPE THE. SPANIARDS TO SELL CUBA President McKinley Said to Have Made Up His Mind Definitely Upon the Matter at Last. BOSTON, Mass., Feb. 19.--A Washington special says: The plan of tion for the solution of the Cuban question by the pur- and meets with general approval among the more con- bers of Congress to whom it was to-day revealed. New s to-day offered to float the necessary bonds. ‘Whether a whole, will indorse the scheme is a question which sident nor his advise the Senate are .ready defl- r, although Mr. McKinley has strong hope that it will .gislative approval. It is not certain, of course, that the plan the stake where it can be formally laid before Con- iepends upon the result of the court of inquiry, and t be sati ctory there is still a doubt as to the manner in & in will receive such a proposition of sale. vet there has been no correspondence between the two govern- 1d there will be none until something more is known about r to the Maine. But it may be stated that the destruction the Maine, following so closely after the De Lome incident, has had .ffect upon the administration in determing that the policy of pur- chase should be followed up. The plan has been more or less under con- sideration for some time, but not until now has the administration been able to see its way with any clearness to its realization. New olunteered to float the bonds to be issued for e. York financiers to-day the protection of the purcha President McKinely proposes to ask Congress to approve an offer nsurgents to purchase the island. The security for this trans- i to lie in the Cuban custom house and Cuban exports. It is ed that the revenues will rapidly pay any loan that may be ne- ated. Without the guarantee of the United States, the bonds need- uld not be negotiated, but with the indorsement of this Govern- would be acceptable anywhere at par. t has been variously estimated, but it is uncertain what attitude would be. Should Spain refuse to fix a price for her ., which shall not include the enormous war debt already in- , the President proposes to interfere in such a way as to give the a chance for.independence without any pecuniary benefit to In other words, the President proposes to compel Spain to sell ) its inhabitants. The negotiations for this purchase have been 'mplation for months. De Lome incident almost forced the promulgation of .the plan. The disaster in Havana haybor, it is said, has determined its adoption Nothing fan be done, however, until the verdict of the court of inquiry is given. If it shall appear that the explosion was due to an accident, thén the purchase of Cuba will be formally proposed. If foul play is proved there will be involved diplomatic ne- ations for indemnmity or something worse. Either result would be r to the scheme for purchase. The administration has taken into its confidence several Senators, beyond question. ak who have been conducting a quiet canvass to ascertain what the prospects of such a plan as that proposed would have in Congress. They report that in their opinion the policy would be approved. The President is determined that some solution of the Cuban problem should be reached, and that without much more delay. Congress would undoubtedly object to the assumption by the United States, even indirectly, of the Spanish war debt, which. is said to amount to $400,000,000, but the President has no intention at present 1g for such a guarantee as this. He believes that a payment of 0 will suffice. a $100,00 O O R R P O R R R R o apey = B S R kR B B o e o S e T R ek B & B B S B R SR SR o o S O e s s g o o S R SR D O e R R R R direction oceanward would come under the | regular army that San Francisco is well range of this battery. protected. Should war be declared to-day No doubt the signs of war will induce | and Spuin’s most formidable fleet be within the authorities at Washington to establish striking distance of this harbor, the guns a battery of high-power guns at Point| now in position and ready for immediate Bonita. This position commands a sweep- | use would stand off the fleet as long as ing range, and a battery there would be | the supply of ammunition lasted. highly effective against a hostile fleet. The Call is not able to ascertain here or The big 12-inch guns on the hill back | i Washington the real facts about the of Fort Point were supplied yesterday SUPply of ammunition for the forts of this with ammunition. So far as ascertained, harbor. For good and sufficient reasons, | from is freely expressed that atany moment the demand for muni= tions of war may come. The amount of stores om hand would soon be exhausted it war should be declared, but could Wbe easily replenished the ecasterm division. The only supplies that are nition for modern gumns, and a special train is now on its way from the East as fast as possible. The special train mentioned in the dis- patch from Benicia may be bringing only projectiles, as powder for the use of the high-power guns can be obtained from the works in California. This is mere conjec- ture, and it may transpire that the Govern- ment does not want to take any chances on powder ~and will therefore supply the arsenal ot Benicia and the magazines in this harbor with ammunition fixed for imme- diate use. When a nation prepares for war it is not wise to underrate the strength or fighting quality of the opposing power. Spain is a proud old nation, and if impelled by force of events to meet the United States in battle would doubtiess make a desperate struggle to held her own. The chances are that she would not send a ship of war to the Pacific Ocean, and therefore San Francisco would be remote from the scenes of actual conflict. The Spanish army in Cuba might be considerably re-enforced by fresh troops from Spain before our cruisers could pre- vent the re-enforcement. The idea foolishly entertained that a few regiments .could walk over Cuba and subdue the Spanish forces ought to be dismissed. It is just about as absurd as was the notion that the United States could put down the rebellion of the South with 100,000 men in sixty days. It is on a par with the belief enter- | tained by the South that one Southern man was good for six Northerners in a fight. Spain has an army and a navy, and is capa- ble of putting up a good battle on land and sea. In a fight to the finish the United States would give old Spain a terrible trouncing, but in the first few engagements our troops and ships might be worsted. The Americans are patient and slow to na- tional wrath, but when once aroused they make war in earnest. It is not likely that England, Germany, France, Russia, Austria or [Italy would interfere in a conflict with the United States and Spain. The general opinion exists in Europe that the United States does not amount to much as a fighting nation. The defeat of Spain would cause some annoy- ance and surprise, but Europeans would | entertain thereafter greater respect for the | American nation. President McKinley seems to be very anxious to suppress the war feeling in this country. He has been through one war and knows that war is not so desirable and beautiful as some imagine it to be. General Shafter received the following telegram yesterday from the headquarters | of the army in Washington, which signifies fo many that the President is seeking to allay public excitement : “Washington, Feb. 19. “Commanding General Department of only a few of the shells are charged with perhaps, the ordnance authorities do not | California, San Francisco: The President explosives, but the powder is on hand for subject, but diligent inquiry leads to the charging whenever the emergency of firing 4 e | belief that the supply at Benicia arsenal is | limited. The officers and enlisted men of the Third | . United States Artillery are at their respec-| 11 Call's correspondent at Benicia was yesterday directed to interview the com- tive stations guarding the guns from the intrusive inspection of outsiders. The "’“"‘I"”‘.‘" the arsenal and in response mortars and the dynamite guns are sup- "'ted this message: plied with ammunition and are carefully | BENICIA, February 19. guarded. | Colomel Babbitt of the Beni- Whatever the conditions may be in New | cia arsemal refuses to be in- York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, Sa- | terviewed regarding the af. vannah and other cities on the Atlantic | fairs of the arsemal, but from coast, the fact is recognized by military imquiries made, everything is authority and by good judges outside of the | om a temsiom,and the opinion take the press into their confidence on this | directs that the period during which flags at military posts, etc., were ordered to be displayed at half-staff as_appropriate honor | to deceased in disaster to battleship Maine terminate at sunset to-day. “SAMUEL BRECK, Adjutant-General.’ To-morrow the flags in California will be displayed at half-staff, in compliance with the proclamation of Governor Budd, which was issued last Friday. In New York and Chicago the display of flags was remarkable. Many of the flags were draped in mourning and as an ex- pression of sorrow many of the buildings were so draped. ADVERTISEMENTS. A Mother’s Experience From generation to generation the | America’s Greatest Medicine. For il- taint of impure blood is transmitted | lustration of this thought, please read and in the same way the beneficial !lhlfl letter: blood-purifying effects of Hood's Sar- | “The end of one of my fingers began to itch and soon there was a collection | of watery blisters under the skin. In a | short time the blisters came to the sur- face and broke, discharging a watery substance and the flesh became in- flamed around my finger nail. It kept getting worse and spread toward the knuckle. Then I began doctoring for poigon, using carbolic acid for a wash and putting on poultices. The sore did not get any better, however, and Boon it appeared on the next finger and | continued to spread. It pained me so | much that I became alarmed. | not do any of my housework. I was told that the trouble was salt rheum, | and was given a prescription and be- gan taking medicine. I found it hurt my nursing baby and I stopped taking psaparilla are spread through familles. If the life stream is purified at its | source, or immediately when evidence of impurity first appears, much suffer- | ing will be avoided. The beneficent work of Hood's Sarsaparilla for young women, wives, mothers and littie ones of all ages has won the highest praise, and is another gem in its crown as Hood’ Is America’s Greatest Medicine, because it accomplishes wonderful cures when all other medicines Prepared only by C. I. Hood & Co., Apothecaries, Lowell, Mass. $1; six for $5. © by druggists. it. . The digease then appeared around the nails on _every one of my fingers and my suffering was terrible. I could | not attend my boy and was advised to wean him, but I hesitated about this, as he was puny and his diges- tion was poor. At this time I conclud- ed to try Hood's Sarsaparilla and Hood’s Pills. * Before I had finished 1 could | the first bottle of Hood’s Sarsaparilla I could see a difference in my boy; he was more quiet and getting better. When I had taken two bottles of Hood’s Sarsaparilla and a box of Hood’s Pills T found my hands getting better. I kept on with Hood's Sar- saparilla and my hands continued to improve and now they are perfectly healed. My little boy is strong and healthy. Hood’s Sarsaparilla has given me strength to do my housework. M. husband has taken Hood’s and says it is as essential in ‘the family as flour.” MRS. PROSPER ANTOINE, i Box 23, Justus, Pa, Sarsaparilla fail. It is sold short om the coast is ammu- WRECKAGE 0F THE LOST SHIP GCompanies Putting in ‘Bids to Do the W ork. Two Concerns Combine Their Plants in Order to Save the Maine.’ But the Navy Department Has Not Yet Awarded the Contract for the Work. Special Dispatch to The Call. Call Office. Riggs House, ‘Washington, Feb. 19. The contract for the work of saving portions of the Maine, and, if pos- sible, raising her, was not closed to- day, although representatives of wrecking concerns were in conference with Navy Department officials throughout the day. Captain Lem- ley, who will frame the contract, said that progress has been made toward understanding the general plan of operation, but a final agreement had not_been reached. Until to-day the Merriam & Chapman Wrecking Com- pany and the Boston Towboat Com- pany have been alone in the fleid, and the department understood they had combined their interests. This would have insured the Government the double facilities of these extensive wreckers and would have given them the contract. But to-day the Lucken- bach Wrecking Company of New York City entered upon a competi- tion for the work, and before the day closed it had made a bid. The other concerns did not bid to- day, but expect to do so Monday. The plan proposed by them is to use the large wrecking tug Orion of the Bos- ton company, In conjunction with the powerful cranes of the Merriam com- pany. If this plan is adopted, the Orion will carry the wrecking material to Havana and then ve in trans- porting the heavy tur guns and detachable parts of the ne back to the Norfolf navy vards, where it is proposed to assemble the remnants of the ship. The Luckenbach company propose a different plan. Their bid contemplates s hauled by ocean of the wreck to the plan of operations of all bidde to assume the entire work of furnishing appli- ances, divers, etc., and delivering such material as is saved to Norfolk. A government official is to make gen- eral Inspection of the work as it pro- ceeds. R. G. Packard and contractor, Norfelk. a wrecking engineer present and urged the contracl wd be divided into two parts—firs he saving of such parts as can be detached, and second, the raising of the hull. He also made the point that the removal of the Maine as an obstruction to navigation was a duty incumbent on this govern- ment and that the cost of that branch of the work would be one-half as much as the cost of saving portions of the ship. The department is désirous, however, of having the work done as a whole, and bids will be accepted probably on that basis. UNCLE SAM’S MILITIA ANXIOUS TO SERVE. Guardsmen, Naval Reserve and Uniformed Pythians Ready to Volunteer for War. Lieutenant W. E. Elliot, aid to Cap- tain Turner, commanding the naval militia, in talking of the spirit of the men in that arm of the National Guard, said: “The men are all ready at a mo- ment's notice to go to the defense of the flag, and if there should be a call I believe that almost every man who has dropped out of the militia would re-enlist. Our ranks would be ‘fill- ed to the maximum number in no time. Lieutenant Morey, who a few weeks since resigned, telephoned me that in view of the condition of affairs at this time, he is sorry that he sent in his resignation, but that if the militia is called out, he will re-enlist, even if he has to do 80 as ‘a cook.” Lieutenant-Colonel Duboce of the First Infantry, N. G. C., speaking of the National Guard generally, and of the First Regiment in particular, sald: “I am confident when I speak of the First Regiment, if there * should be a call for men, that within forty- eight hours 'the 'twelve companies would be recruited up to their full strength, provided they were required to go to the front, but I do not think that would be the case if it were to send them out to the Presidio to take charge of the post and guard the bat- terles at Fort Point.” There is an organization in the United States known as the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias, which is recognized by the War Department as next to the National Guard of the several States, and which is ready at any time to answer a call from that department. Brigadier-General (re- tired) Herman Schaffner of this city sald yesterday: ‘“The lesson taught to all Pythians is that they are to support the constitution of the United States. The members of the Uniform Rank, who are distributed over the different States of the Union, are all drilled in accordance with the United States regulations, and they all under- stand by implication that it is a part of their obligation to stand by the con- stitution. They number at this time 52,000, more than 1000 of which are in California. They are under the or- ders of Major-General James R. Car- nahan of Indianapolis, Ind. During the trouble with Chile, the force of the Uniform Rank was tendered to the Na- tional Government and if it is needed at this time it will no doubt be ten- THIS C0AST 1S PROTECTED Admiral Kirkland Speaks - With €onfidence of His Ships.: Ready to Meet Ahy Force of Spaniards That May ‘Be Sent Out. Vessels at Mare ‘Island That Will Be in Shape for Service Very Soon. Spectal Dispatch to The CalL VALLEJO, Feb. 19.—“We can take care of any force the Spaniards can send against us on this coast,” said Admiral Kirkland, the commandant of the navy-yard. to-day. “If we were to go up against England or France or Germany we could truth- fully say we were not prepared just at present for war, but with Spain we are now in a position to take care of ourselves. “On this coast we have two ‘ships, the Monterey and Monadnock, ready for a battle at an hour’s notice, and either one of them could whip the best ship in the Spanish navy. Then there is the Oregon. She is now in the drydock at Port Orchard, but she could be ready for service in a week, or perhaps less, if she should be call- ed upon. “In a few weeks we could have the Philadelphia, Charleston and York- town that are now in the yard ready for sea. With those six vessels we would have a formidable fleet and the coast could be well protected should war come with Spain.” The loss of the Maine is attracting all the attention of the officers of the navy yard. Little else is talked about and with the conversatirn comes the- ories that big ships of war are not as serviceable or as effective as small ones. There is hardly an officer at the yard from Admiral Kirkland down to the newest ensign who is not of the opinion that big battleships are not what they are in theory represented to be. ‘Whether the Maine was destroyed by design or by accident, they say, it shows the fallacy of constructing such large vessels. A battleship like the Maine, or the Oregon, or the Texas, or any of that type of vessel, costs about $5,000,000 when complete with her ma- chinery, armament, ammunition, stores and equipment. She carries from 400 to 800 souls. She can be only at one spot at one given time. She requires deep water to float in, and most har- bors are inaccessible to her. Should she touch a soft bottom it means end- less expense and great damage. SHould she get on rocks she is likely to be permanently disabled, if not totally de- stroyed. In case of accident to any one of her end compartments she will be so sub- merged she cannot enter a place for safety unless she has a deep channel to enter by. Fifty pounds of dynamite or other high explosive under her bot- tom will either incapacitate her or else destroy her tetally if applied under her magazines or boilers. A monitor of the Monterey or Monadnock type would give her a fair battle, and two such vessels, both costing almost one-half that of a bat- tleship, would easily blow her out of the water. Ten torpedo boats costing $200,000 each and aggregating $2,000,000, attacking her simultaneously under or- dinary conditions of night, will sink her. If the battle-ship should destroy one or two, or even three, there would only be a loss of $600,000 and a few lives on the one side as against many mil- lions of dollars and hundreds of lines on the other. These torpedo-boats burning liquid fuel could harass the officers and crew of the big vessel until the battle-ship would be demoralized. They could out- run the big warship and make their attacks at their own convenience. They could keep her surrounded at all times and be invisible to her in the confusion of a night attack. Such a thing as accurate firing at rapidly mov- ing objects of such small size as a torpedo-boat would be practically im- possible. HATE AMERICANS AND STARS AND STRIPES. Spaniards Drup;—a Hog in Old Glory and a Bull Gores the Porker to Death. A prominent resident of San Fran- cisco, who is not willing that his name should be published, gpoke yesterday of his travels in Spain some eightéen months since. He was there about the time that some speeches on the Cuban situation were delivered in the Senate of the United States and the Spanish people were highly indignant. He said: “At Seville I attended a bull fight. Now in Spain the hog is thought to represent the lowest and most degraded of all animals, so to entertain the vast audlence which congregated to witness the exhibition the management brought into the arena a hog wearing the flag and colors of the United States. Then as a combatant for the hog there was introduced a fine, furious bull attired in the colors of Spain. The bull at once gratified the spectators by a furious rush at the Yankee hog, and the Ameri- can colors were soon tarnished in the blood of the despised porker. When the hog was slain and the flag trampled on the audience cheered 'to the echo.” This resident of San Francisco spoke Spanish fairly well and ' three ‘young ladies with him spoke it fluently. His courier gave out that the party were Americans. The term American is understood in Spain to apply to South Americans. The people of the United States are known as Yankees. The San Franciscan heard the opinion freely ex- pressed that Spain never was whipped and never could be, and that in the THE SPANIARDS ARE PREPARING FOR HOSTILI TIES Getting the Fleet Sustain Any May Take in Shape to Steps Spain in the Cuban Matter. says: tion. yards hastened. battle-ship Petayo, greatest speed. yards. $3332888 080008 n e annangenot s be placed in commission. % have taken place and she has been accepted. % The battle-ship Petayo has a displacement of 9900 tons. % been supplied with new boilers and is to receive a modern armament £ of rather heavy character. & The Carlos V is a 9089-ton armored cruiser. & eleven 8-inch guns and five 5-inch rapid firing guns. 8 The Cristobal Colon is a sister ship to the Argentina cruiser % Jose Garibaldi, purchased by the Spanish Government. & ton cruiser, and Is one of the most modern vessels of her type. %8 State Department advices are that the Spanish authorities have % taken necessary precautions to provide American citizens in the pe- & ninsula with protection. Around the house of Minister Woodford vig- % ilance has been increased. A squad of policemen is continually pa- # trolling the grounds and the Minister has a body guard, it is said, of & six men. 3 NRURNBRUURUBEBRIIQ NEW YORK, Feb. 19.—The Herald’s Official information has reached Spain is making an earnest effort to rapidly place herself in a condi- tion to support any steps she may choose to take in the Cuban ques- I was informed by a well-known naval officer Spain is placing contracts for smokeless powder, which will be trans- ported to her arsenals in Spain and in Cuba. It is understood that orders were issued by the Ministers of the Navy and War of Spain on January 27 to have work at various ship The orders had special reference, it is said, to the the armored cruiser Carlos V, and the armored cruiser Cristobal Colon, whose armament is to be put in place with the Other orders issued by the Spanish Minister of the Navy have come to the knowledge of the department, contemplate the ex- pedition of work on other ships under repair or construction at different The torpedo-boat destroyer Prosperina, which is now ready for active service, is expected to shortly arrive in Spain, where she will Speed trials of the Dona Maria de Molina Washington ‘Washington correspondent showing that to-day that which She has She is supplied with S8 at st onininentaneneninangeaninis s She is a 6840- o< % rRLLLLLLRNLIRLLLRNN tries ‘the Yankees, who were not es-; teemed as fighters, would get a terrible | whipping. “They really believe that they can| whip us easily,” said the traveler. | nanfki at 330 Fourth $treet and stolen ten pair of pants, valued at $75. The men were seen hovering around the place, and as soon as the opportunity offered itself they entered and committed the theft. Captain Bohen detailed two detectives “They cited Napoleon's failure to con- s to look into the matter. quer Spain and spoke of their men as the bravest in the world. The hostil- ity to the United States is intense and is shared by all classes of the people. Nearly every family in the land has sent some representative to subdue the insurgents in Cuba. All the misfor- tunes encountered by: the Spanish army in Cuba are charged to the ac- count of the United States.” SO PR, A DARING ROBBERY. Tt was reported at the Chief of Police's office yesterday afternoon that five burg- lars had entered the store of Mr. Poze- S Death of Actor Scanlan. NEW YORK, Feb. 19.—William J. Scanlan, the singer and Irish character actor, died late last night of paresis in | the Bloomingdale Asylum for the In- sane. He was aged 42 years. He had been an inmate of the asylum for six years and had been cared for by his wife, Maggie Jordan. —_— ‘Wayne (Mich) Councils passed an or- dinance prohibiting slot machines, pool and card playing in saloons. The sa- loon-keepers are now boycotting the Councilmen who are merchants, and the ordinance may be repealed. ADVERTISEMENTS. “AT SLOANES” . ANNUAL CLEARANCE SALE UPHOLSTERY DEPARTMENT. We_offer our immense assortment of FURNITURE AND DRAPERY, FRINGES, GIMPS AND CORDS, at ONE HALF REGULAR PRICE. 50-inch DRAPERY SILK; new in color- ings and design. Regular price T5c to $1 10 per vard. DURING SALE 40c 50-inch DRAPERY SILK. Regular price $2 50 per yard. DURING SALE $1.25 50-inch DRAPERY SILK. Regular price $3 per yard. DURING SALE $1.50 FURNITURE COVERINGS. eat variety. egular price 50c per yard. DURING SALE 30c Regular price 8¢ per yard. DURING SALE 60c HIGH GRADE FURNITURE COVER- INGS at one-half regular value. In dered again.” event of war beétween the two coun- FHEEP L4444ttt bt A I AP LA RS P S N e SPAIN IS VERY ANXIOUS TO MAKE OUT A CASE. MADRID, Feb. 19.—A dispatch received to-day from Rear Admiral Manterola, the naval commander at Havana, says proof exists that no dead fish came to the surface after the explosion that wrecked the Maine, and that when the disaster occurred there was not the slight- ‘ est upheaval of the water, such as would inevitably follow a sub- marine explosion. 40#0*##0004#0\}64-‘4640040#6&0#6&0.00 AR R RS R R R JUST . FOR MONDAY. SOFA' PILLOVS. 100 DOWN FILLED, INTERLINED, %IDLé(Es COVERED, RUFFLED Regular price $5 each. DURING SALE $2.50 250. Regular price $1 25 to $1 75 each. DURING SALE 75¢ 20. Regular price 7ic to $1 25 each. DURING SALE 50c 100 _nickel-plated, high class, Grand Rapids CARPET SWEEPERS. Regular price $350 each. DURING SALE $2.00 FURNITURE DEPARTMENT. “Artistic’” DECORATED IRON BEDS, all sizes. Regular price $10 to $18. DURING SALE $5.00 to $9.00 WHITE ENAMELED CHIFFONIERS. Regular price $15. DURING SALE $10.00 1 mahogany, 2 piecce CHAMBER SET, Empire design. Regular price $350. ~ DURING SALE $200.00 1 mahogany CHAMBER SET, Colonial design. Regular price $140. DURING SALE $85.00 Fine quarter-sawed oak HALL SEATS (with box). Regular price $24. DURING SALE $15.00 LACE CURTAIN DEPARTMENT. 300 pairs NOTTINGHAM LACE CUR- TAINS. PATTERNS. 25 To close at absolutely less than whole- sale cost. Banrgmg from $7%c per pair and up- ward. -~ PORTIERES. 100 pairs. Regular price $4. DURING SALE $2.50 Large line of odd pairs at one-half regu- lar value. RUG DEPARTMENT. 500 SMYRNA RUGS (not the jute kind), size 30 inches by 60 inches. Regular price $3 50. DURING SALE $2.00 GREAT REDUCTIONS IN OUR CARPET DEPARTMENT - W. & 1. SLOANE & (0, CARPETS, FURNITURE, UPHOLSTERY 641-647 MARKET STREET, HONOR OF AMERICA 1S YET SACRED 2