The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 22, 1898, Page 1

Call SAN FRANCISCO, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 189S. PRICE FIVE CENTS. TH E MUTTERINGS OF WAR ARE GROWING YET LOUDER IS GOVERNME NT KEEPING BACK INFORMATION ? STATESMEN ARE GETTING VERY CURIOUS Believe That the PreSide_nt Wants Time to Prepare for Balttle. There Is a General Strengthening of Coast Fortifications and the South Atlantic Fleet Is Hurrying Northward. | Call Office, Riggs House, Washington, Feb. 21. Are the administration officials sincere and honest in| the expression of the belief that the Maine’s destruction re- sulted from accident, or do they merely assume this con- servative attitude to gain time in which to put the army and navy upon a war footing ? This is a question which members of Congress are ask- ing. It is certain that leading Senators and Representatives | in Congress who are members of the Naval and Milizary | Affairs Committe2 have been in private consultation wi h the President, and the fact that they are secretive naturally creates a belief that these conferences were important. It is known to be an absolute fact that the President requested the Washington Post and Star to assume a conservative attitude, so as not to incite jingoes in Congress to radical action which might precipitate a crisis. But whether the President and his advisers are really of the opinion that an accident caused the Maine’s destruc- tion, or whether the officials wish to temporize in order to put the army and navy on a war footing, is a question ex- cited by the unusual activity in army and navy circles. It is a significant fact that Senator Perkins and Repre- sentative Hilborn, of California, both of whom are members of the Naval Committee of their respective houses, are unusually cautious and discreet in their expressions of opinion. But, however careful they may have been, it is known by their friends that they regard the situation as very serious, and both men are at this time deeply engrossed in the study of naval matters. I asked Congressman Hilborn to-night if in his opinion the United States was prepared for war. “Perhaps not,” said he, “but we will be prepared in short order should the findings of the naval court at Havana show the Maine’s destruction to have been caused by design.” It is very evident that Mr. Hilborn thinks the Maine was blown up by a submarine mine, for in casual conversa- tion to-night he said: “The fact may not be generally known at large, but we have our own harbors planted with torpedoes and submarine mines. New York harbor is thus fortified, and so is San Francisco harbor. A diagram is in| the possession of the officers. - The entire harbor is checked off into squares or subdivisions, and each one is numbered | as accurately as the chairs in an opera-house. Lookouts | posted*on the bluff have such an accurate knowledge of these harbor subdivisions that they can, by a signal, a flash to the gunners, show the exact location of a hostile ship, and the gunners have their range-finders so adjusted that they can fire a shot and strike any one of these squares. As tor the torpedoes and submarine mines in San Francisco harbor, 1 of course do not know where they are located. Neither does any civilian. These secrets are, for obvious reasons, jealously guarded by the War Department.” HAVANA, Feb. 21.—The board of (at 10 o'clock this morning, with | inquiry into the Maine disaster met | Captains Sampson and = Chadwick on the lighthouse tender Mangrove |and Lieutenant-Commanders Potter and Marix present. TCaptain Samp- son presided, and Lieutenant-Com- | mander Marix, recently executive of- ficer of the Maine, acted as recorder. Captain Sigssbee, the commander of the Maine, was the first witness called. until 1 o’clock this afternoon, at which hour an adjournment was taken. It is probable that no fur- ther witness will be heard to-day, but the board will make a careful personal examination of the wreck, near which the Mangrove is an- wgred. Captain Sampson received a cor- respondent immediately after the morning session of the board. He said in the course of an interview: “I would be glad to give news, but owing to the delicate situation, the board has decided to make noth- ing whatever public. I do not know what testimony may develop, and when, and it is only fair to the Spanish Government not to tell the public the testimony until all has been received and the finaings have been considered. . “You may say that this rule is absolute. Due care will be taken for the rigid enforcement of it. 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 such routine news of the proceedings as is proper.” Captain Sigsbee, on board the Mangrove, told the correspondent that he was quite pleased with the examination, 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. Gunner Charles Morgan, of the cruiser New York, arrived on the Mangrove and is in immediate charge of the divers. The latter have been at work all day, but up to the time of sending this dispatch no discoveries have been made. It is believed that the salvage by the wrecking company will be consider- able and valuable. LATIN REPUBLICS SHOW FRIENDSHIP. Deny That They Would Form an Alliance With Spain against the United States. NEW YORK, Feb. 21.—The state- ments that Spain, through her agents In South and Central America, is en- deavoring to form a Latin alliance against the United States are denied in Mexican cable dispatches to the Herald from the principal cities of the Southern republics. From Argentina ¢comes assurances that the Government would not permit Spain to make over- tures in this direction. Mexico's senti- ments are entirely with the United States, as against Spaln and Chile, it is said, would not embark in any dan- gerous alliance against the United States. President Zelaya of Nicaragua tells the Herald that his Government sym- pathizes with the United States, and President Pierola of Peru, extends con- dolences for the Maine disaster. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Feb. 21.—To the Editor of the Herald: Domestic affairs have prevented the Nicaraguan people from hearing of the recent in- cidents beétween the United States and Spain. Owing to that fact, we are unable to: give an opinion thereon. I can, however, assure the Herald that in Nicaragua there s a heartfelt sym- pathy for the American people. L S. ZELAYA, President. LIMA, Peru, Feb. 21.—To the Editor of the Herald: Accept my salutations. In reply, will say that the Peruvian Minister in Washington must by this time have expressed to your Govern- ment the condolence of the people of Peru and mine for the painful accident to_the Maine. PIEROLA. Buenos Ayres has never attempted to influence the policy of Argentina, nor would any diplomatic effort in that direction be permitted by the Government. I am able to say this on high authority. The officials of Ar- gentina heartily disapprove the act of Senor De Lome, formerly Minister to the United States, in criticizing Presi- dent McKinley, and applaud the en- ergy of the American Government in the matter. The disaster to the Maine has been widely commented upon, but public opinion as to the cause has not taken definite form. The public anxiously awaits the result of the Government’s ‘investigation. VALPARAISO, Chile, Feb. 21.—The assertions that Spanish dipiomats in the South American republics are working to_obtain their support against the United States took every one here by surprise, and as far as Chile is concerned they are absolutely unfounded. It is true that Chileans, in spite of their old quarrel with the mother country, are deeply attached to Spain, and Spanish residents jin Chjle are numerous, but Chilean statesmen have often proved their disinclination to embark in dangerous enterprises, such as an alliance against the United States, for which He was under examination | they have sincere friendship. Besides | this, Chile’s hands are full now with the settlement of questions with Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, and she has no time to listen to such . propositions from Spanish representatives, even if made, which I most emphatically say on the best authority is not the case. The news of the hlowing up of the Maine, while from the first not attrib- ;tefl here to foul play on the part of p caused -a- on g enedn".fldmprea yrpathy great sister republic, the United States. Newspapers throughout the republic greatly deplore the catastrophe and fleeply lament the loss of so many ves. DELVING AMONG THE MAINE'S DEAD. Divers Encounter a Horrible Sight Among the Ruins of the Ship. NEW YORK. Feb. 21.—The Sun's Havana cable says: To-day has been one of the most cloudy days of the sea- son. Besides, the many objects float- ing inside ‘the Maine added to the dark- ness and greatly hampered the divers in their work. To prevent all this trouble it is an- nounced that to-morrow the divers will carry a wire and place anelectricsearch light inside the Maine. The wire will be connected with the Mangrove, and the tender’s dynamo will be used to throw the light inside the wrecked battleship. The divers have received strict orders to refuse to reply to any question about the cause of the dis- aster or the results of their investiga- | tion. Inside the hull of the ship the divers found many bodies. About this they talked freely, saying it was one of the most horrible spectacles that human sight could endure. ~ii efforts to re- cover these bodies were useless to-day. 8o much iron being around them. The divers will try to-morrow them up. The sailor Koehler was dying at 10 o'clock to-night. At a late hour it is confirmed that the Bache leaves to- morrow with an important communi- cation for Admiral Sicard. = WILL ATTEMPT TO PREVENT AGITATION. Leaders of the House Now Think It Good Policy to Remain Silent. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.—1It was stated to-day that it will be the policy of the House leaders to prevent, as far as possible, any agitation of matters relating to Cuba or the Maine disaster in the future. Pending the result of the official investigation they believe it is wise and the part of good public policy. to maintain silence. As Chair- man Hitt, of the Foreign Affairs Com- mittee, is confined to his home by a bad cold, it is probable that no more meet- ings of the committee will be held un- til he'returns to his seat in the House. 1t is understood that the report of the State Department to be made in an- swer to the House resolution of in- quiry regarding the situation in Cuba will not be made for a week or ten days. It is explained that the work of preparing the consular reports which will be transmitted will require consid- erable time. Besides these reports, it is said, must be scanned ‘by Assistant Secretary Day in person and the de- mands upon his time at present are very great and he has little leisure to give to this work. AN ORDER FOR RAPID-FIRE GUNS. NEW YORK, Feb. 2L.—A Bridgeport (Conn.) spectal to the Herald says: The American Ordnance Company re- ceived an order this afternoon from the United States Government for forty- seven six-pounder rapid-fire Hotchkiss to bring guns, which are to be delivered as soon as possible. The company js making preparations to turn the guns out with all possible speed. An extra force will be put on them at once. It will take several months to turn them out. At no time since the company started has it been so pressed with orders as now, due largely to the activity the Govern- ment is making in preparations to strengthen coast defences. \ 000000000000 0000000000000000 Q000000000 CO00000O000000 0000000000000 33000000000GGOOOOGOOOQOOOOOOOO00000%8 o0 o0 o GOING TO HER DOOM. a9 00 00 ST og 5 The American battleship Maine pass- 3o 22 ing Morro Castle on the way to her - o0 anchorage .in Havana harbor, at the gg 25 point where her wreck now lies, and $o 2% where so many of Uncle Sam’s brave $3 oo boys in blue sleep beneath the murky oo oo water. o0 090 s [ 000000000000 000000000000C000DCO00C000C 000020000000 0000C0C000000000C000000000 “An officer of the Maine ina re- cent letter to his wife said, *If we do not get out of here before the 15th of February something serious will happen. This announcement made from the pulpit of the Church of the Advent by the Rev. J. A. Emery Sunday night created a profound sensation. In almost every city or village of the United States, no matter how large or small, it is safe to say that some reference was made from at least one pulpit yesterday regarding the terrible disaster to the Maine. When Mr. Emery entered his pulpit Sunday evening and announced hig in- tention to dwell upon this topic the congregation took it as a matter of course. His subject was “Be Thou Faithful Unto Death,” and as he en- tered into it his words were followed 0000000000000 000C000000000000 closely. «jt may not generally be known,”" he said, but it is nevertheless a fact, that when the ship entered the harbor of Havana her gal- lant crew knew they were risking their lives, but they never murmured nor sought tfo swerve from the path of duty. Yesterday I was talking to an intimate friend of mine, a retired naval officer and a man in whose word | place implicit confidence. In speak- ing of the disaster he mentioned a very dear friend of his, who was a prominent officer on the Maine, but whose name I will not men- tion. This officer, in a recent !smr to his wife, spoke in no uncertain terms about the perilous position of the Maine in Havana har- bor, and furthermore stated that he was | positive if the Maine did not leave Havana | barbor before™ the 15th some tatastrophe would result.” b 0On the evening of the 15th the Maine was blown out of the water by some unknown agency, and there in the mud and filth of the bay with the gnarled and twisted iron lie the bodies of the brave boys who were “faithful unto death.” & At the close of the sermon the preacher was surrounded by a number of his congre- gation, among whom were many of the cool- est heads in the city, eager to learn more of % the sensational incident he brought to light, | but beyond reiterating his former statements | he woutd have nothing to say. Mr. Emery is not by any means. a sensationalist, and the members of his congregation are satisfied that he would make no statements without having fully investigated them and having full confidence in their authenticity. WOULD BE Yesterday afternoon a Call reporter visited him at the diocesan house on California street, where he was in company with a number of prominent Episcopalian clergymen, and questioned him regarding the story. He was very reticent, and positively refused to divulge the name or rank of the author of the sensational letter. “The_ incident I mentioned in my sermon Sunday evening is perfectly true, and were 1 at liberty to mention the name and stand- ing of my informant the doubts in the minds of a great many people would at once be set at rest. As itis | feel almost sorry that | mentioned the incident in my address Sun- day evening, and had | known there was a reporter in my congregation | would never have done so, as the story was related to me casually in conversation and | feel now al- most as though I had betrayed the confidence |- of a friend. The letter in question was re- ceived by the officer’s wife a few days prior to the dreadful explosion which sent over two hundred of our brave boys to an untimely grave in the bottom of the bay. She at once wrote to my friend knowing that he, as OFFICERS OF THE MAINE EXPECTED THEIR SHIP DESTROYED One of Them Said to Have Written That the Worst Would Happen if the Vessel Remained in the Harbor of Havana After the 15th of February, the Fatal Day. a military man, could be considered fairly | good authority on such matters, told him that | it had occasioned her a great deal of uneasi- | ness and asked his advice in the matter. “He was not greatly alarmed at first, ; thinking perhaps some of the Jack tars who | had tarried a little too long on shore had been excited by the idle gossip of the Span- ish-rabble along the water front and had car- ried the gossip on shipboard, adding a little to it by way of giving it proper color. “Whatever his conjectures may have been he received a rude awakening on the morn- ing of the 16th when he read in an early copy of The Call the particulars of the dire disas- ter, and the meaning of that terrible ‘some- thing will happen on the 15th if we don't get away from here’ dawned upon him in all its horrible reality. “There have been some doubts as to who is responsible for the wreck, but how could an officer select the day in advance 2 “| read the stories in the papers from day to day and . determined on selecting the dis- aster to the Maine as the topic for my Sun- day evening address, but was in doubt as to REV. J. A. EMERY.