The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 22, 1898, Page 2

z THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY. 22, 1898. STATESMEN STILL TALK OF PEACE SPANISH FLEET It Is Clear That the Dons Are Preparing Them= P R R R R R R R R R R T TR R P OGS GPT TO BE STRENGTHENED selves for Any Result of the Maine Inquiry Now in Progress at the City of Havana. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.—Spain has not neglected to take pre- cautions for any emergencies that may arise. According to official information which has reached Washington, there are now en route to Cuba the Almirante Oquendo—a sister ship of Vizcaya, which is now at New York—the Cristobal Colon, an armored crulser, and four torpedo boats—the Ariete, of 97 tons displacement and a speed of 26.1 knots per hour; the Halcon and Azore, each of 108 tons displace- ment and 24 knots speed, and the Rayo of 97 tons displacement and 25.6 knots speed. It is expected the Vizcaya will proceed to Havana within a da Besides the vessels mentioned Spain will then have in Cuban waters the Alfonso XIII, a cruiser of 3090 tons displacement, built in 1887, and carrying a main battery of 6.2-inch and 2.7-inch guns; the Reina Merce J ser of 3090 tons displacement, built in 1887, and two 4.7-inch and four 6-pounders; the Reina ry of 20 tons displacement, a speed of 17.5 knots and a bat- inch, two 2.7-inch, three 2.2-inch and two 5-inch guns; the Conde de Venadito, Infanta Isabel and Isabel II, each of 1130 tons displacement, 14 knots eed and batteries consisting of four 4.7-inch -inch gu aind five machine guns, and the Marquis de la. o) ade of 1030 tons displacement, a speed of 15 knots and armed with four 4.7-inch and five smaller guns of rapid firing type and four machine; In addition to these cruisers the Spanish fleet in Cuban waters consists of thé torpedo vessels Filipinas, 20 knots speed; Jorge Juan of 13 knots, Galicia and the Marques de Molirs and Neuva Espana of 16 knots The Spanish flag also flies over twenty-four ves- sels having icements of 300 tons, 200 tons, 100 tons and 40 tons each and nine yachts purchased in the United States and dolng ser- vice as patrol boats. The Cristobal Colon left Spanish waters for Cuba via the Canary Islands on February 1, in company with the torpedo boats mamed. only recently placed in commission and is accounted formidable vessels. She carries a battery of two 6-inch, six 4.7-inch and ten 2.2-inch rapid firing This ship v one of 10-inch guns. mos ten guns, AR R R R e R ok T R S R S S R RS S S S N R Rk & B R R RS the best light to put the matter in. PO Rt RS T D S PPN I could | a deafening roar; the plank that separated | obtain her address she would give you no further information, but would deplore the | fact that so much has already been made public. When the naval board of inquiry sits in a few days all these facts will be i made public, as the officer in question will no doubt testify at that time in effect as he has already written. | know him to be a man of such integrity as not to be guilty of writing such a message to his wife from any mere hearsay or rumor. He knew what he was about, and evidently wished to fortify her against any possible shock which might re- sult from sudden news of the loss of the ship. She had an inkling of what was com- ing, and was in a measure prepared for it. Once again | must assure you that this is true and express my regret that it has been made public prematurely, but business is business with you, and | know what to expect. This is positively all | will say regarding the mat- ter—at least until after the board of inquiry has met, and then | will be guided by its verdict.” . While Mr. Emery was speaking a group of clergymen gathered about him, who listened to his words with undisguised interest and immediately pressed around him with a series of questions which would have done credit to a professional interviewer. He stood himself up in a corner, however, and at once became as communicative as the Sphinx on matters regarding the disaster. WORK AT THE MOUTH OF CAPE FEAR RIVER. Government Mounts Heavy Ord- nance and Will Man the Mon- itor Nantucket. NEW YORK, Feb. 21.—A Wilmington {(N. C.) special to the Herald says: Since the Government began the erec- tion of fortifications at the mouth of Cape Fear River no visitors have been permitted to inspect the work being done. Everything contemplated has nearly approached completion. Heavy THIRD BRIGADE GETS ORDERS General Muller’s Instruc- tions of a Most War- like Nature. National Guardsmen Are Told to Quickly Prepare for Emergencies. Companies Must Be Filled and the Names of All Men Eligible to Be Secured. Special Dispatch to The Call. FRESNO, Feb. 21.—General W. M. Muller, commanding the Third Brigade, National Guard of California, has is- sued the following orders to his sub- ordinate officers: ! ‘“Ascertain immediately the business and residence address of each member of your command. From this informa- tion divide your command into squads of corporals. Each -corporal - must keep both the business and residence address of each man in his squad and also familiarize himself with the usual whereabouts of each man both day and night, so that every man can be quick- ly found. . “You will ascertain immediately what per cent of your command can be de- pended on for active service and how many are unfit from physical disabili- ty. Ascertain how many ex-National Guardsmen in your vicinity who can be depended on for active service, and make a roster of these men, showing name and both business and resi- dence address. Report the approxi- not reasonably accuse the Spanish of hav- | ingdestroyed our vesse!, prophesied war and given a long dissertation on war, its calamities and the uncertainty of life in great disturbances, nor could | draw a possi- ble moral from the fact that our Government has not taken every precaution to guard against accident, as | am very familiar with conditions aboard a man-of-war and know that every precaution which human ingenuity can suggest is already in use. “I walked downtown, debating the ques- tion in my mind, and incidentally met my friend. He was just the man | wanted, and we at once entered into conversation on the chief topic of the day—that terrible explo- sion in Havana harbor, mhich may jar the world before its last detonation is heard. | While discussing the matter he incidentally | spoke of his friend, hoping that no harm | would befall him, and mentioned how brave he was in the face of a hidden danger. “I naturally expressed some surprise at the mention of ‘hidden danger,” and to my great astonishment he informed me that the wreck was not altogether unexpected—that the officers knew they were face to face with death, but could not tell in what form it would be visited upon them. He then spoke of the letter from the Maine’s officer, in which the evening of the 15th was men- tioned as a day of impending death, and | at once drew my lesson: These men knew they were face to face with a calamity of some kind; had an inkling of the day, per- haps the hour, and yet never faltered, never flinched, but bravely stood at their posts until the ‘something of the 15th’ happened— they were awakened from their slumbers by them from the deep was shattered; from the arms of slumber they were aroused to find themselves clasped in the arms of the angel ot death. | chose my text of ‘Be Thou Fajthful Unto Death,” but my discourse found myself at a loss for a fitting illustra- tion—something which would fully show how faithful these men were to the charge im- posed upon them—and the words of the offi- cer of the ill-fated cruiser flashed upon me. Thinking that they might pass unnoticed, and being fully convinced of the absolute relia- bility of my informant, I narrated the inci- dent of the letter. “The stir it created in the congregation and the many eager inquiries afterward were more of a surprise to me than the news | unwittingly gave forth was to my congrega- tion, and | was sorry for it. My desire is to be anything but a sensationalist, and, aside from this, in the present heoted condition of things it is bad policy to arouse the people | and start a clamor for war when an investi- gation may prove that Spain had nothing whatever to do with the disaster. “No; | must positively refuse to give you the name of either my informant or the au- thor of the letter, as I have refused many of my congregation. It would be premature at this time, and it would be necessary for me to gain the consent of my friend first. | think | have already gone too far with you, and hope you will not publish any of what | have told you, while I fully realize that it is your business to do so. “The lady who received the letter is not living here at the present time, and her hus- band was among those who were saved. am confident, however, that if you .should | ton on his arrival there. A dispatch j|from Havana late to-night says: | “General Lee is still here. He is not rifled ordnance, mounted en barbetteon disappearing carriages, have been placed in position, ammunition has been received and an artillery officer with a few men has recently arrived to take charge. As an adjunct to the land works the | United States steamer Nantucket—a | moniter of the old type, however—is | stationed in this harbor. Orders have recently been received to place the ves- sel in first-class condition. The battery | purpose of prompt notification. of the Nantucket consists of two 12- | inch cannon in the turret, with sev- | | eral rapid-firing guns as a secondary | battery. This ship is to be manned by | the North Carolina reserve force, con- | sisting of about 250 men, and an officer | of the regular navy has arrived to 1n-; spect and instruct them. Lieutenant | | Commander George L. Morton, with his | | whole command, is very enthusiastic and ready at any time to respond to| the call of the Government. Greater confidence is now felt here in | the security of our port, and, whne‘ more extensiy: fortifications may be needed, still the opinion prevails that a | hostile ship would have difficulty in | passing the batteries without serious injury being inflicted upon them. Be- sides these means of defense and pro- | tection, torpedoes will be provided to | be placed in the channel both outside and along the bars, which at high wa- | | ter would admit of the passage of ves- | sels drawing twenty-two feet. Our re- | serve will give a good account of itself | should an emergency arise, and many | of the recruits care not how soon. | Lee Remains at Havana. | NEW YORK, Feb. 21,—There is no truth in the report from Tampa, Fla., stating that General Lee left Havana | this afternoon by the Government ves- | sel for that port, and that a train had been ordered to take him to Washing- lgoing to Washington to-night.” i mate timeé you would require to recruit | your command up to the maximum of | 103 members who are physically fit for active service. Make two rosters, one | of ex-National Guardsmen and one of | men who are willing to volunteer, show- ing business and residence address. Place a copy of each roster most con- veniently into sections of indefinite number In charge of each sergeant for Load immediately all effective shells you have necessary to bring your supply of ammunition up to 100 rounds per man on a basis of present membership, being extremely careful to properly size each shell. If your finances per- | mit, it would be well to provide a re- serve supply beyond this quota for pos- sible recruits. “Can you In case of emergency pro- vide your command with six days’trav- eling rations per man from your local source of supply? This ration to com- ply as nearly as circumstances will ad- | mit to United States army standard. You are hereBy lered to assemble your eommand for an inspection in the armory on Thursday, February 24, 1898, at 8 o'clock p. m. promptly, in heavy marching order, and have all property ready for inspection.” STOCKTON, Feb. 2L—Major Gus Grant recelved to-day an order from the headquarters of the Third Brigade, calling him to inspect Companies A and B of this city next Thursday night and giving certain instructions whicn show that the object of the inspection is to ascertain the condition of the companies for service in case of war. | The order directs that the business and residence address of members and ex- members of the National Guard be se- cured, and that the officers familiarize themselves with the whereabouts of the men, day and night. The order also directs that effective shells be loaded at once, sufficient to bring the amount up to 100 rounds per man, and asks if six days' traveling rations per man can be supplied in case of emergency. The number of men physically fit for actual service is asked for, and an in- THE DON—*“There’s No Telling How Much This Fellow Will Stand.” | spection in heavy marching order is ordered for Thursday night. The fol- lowing accompanies the orders: “The primary object of this inspec- tion is to ascertain the condition of property and its fitness for active serv- ice, more especially the ammunition on ‘hand, and the condition of the pieces generally and also the number of men present and absent and their general fitness for service. It is not contem- plated to devote much time to drill or company movements, but information as to the deficiencies of equipment in any particular wiil be ascertained. Re- ports will be made in duplicate within twelve hours, one copy forwarded im- mediately, direct to brigade headquar- ters and the other to regimental head- quarters.” The orders have occasioned quite a stir among the local militiamen. EXPLOSION ON BOARD ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. The Ship Was Lying Quietly at Anchor and the Magazine Should Have Been Locked. That an explosion could take place in the magazine of a war vessel at night when its hermetically sealed door is locked and the key hidden away in the commander’s cabin, or when the ship is lying peacefully at anchor in harbor seems well within the limits of impossibility. To those who have wit- nessed the care which is taken of the powder storeroom on board ship there is no such thing as such an occurrence. Every hour, day and night, the sleep- less vigilance goes on, for officer and man know the power of the deadly mine just under the deck they walk. Before a magazine door is opened all fires, all open lights, must be extin- guished. The captain’s cigar and the sailor's pipe is put out. Should the gunner or any of his mates enter the sacred place they must change their clothing, donning garments on which there are no buttons or any hard sub- stance that might rub against a stray grain of powder. Shoes with metal nails in their soles are replaced by rub- ber slippers. Even rings are removed from fingers and every* precaution known to human ingenuity is taken to prevent the deadly friction that may send a shattered hulk below the waves. Relative to the awful disaster that has stricken the noble battle-ship Maine, many causes have been mooted for the deadly explosion. Spontaneous combustion in the coal bunkers or among the high explosives in the mag- azine itself has .been advanced as a probable caus~, Gun cotton has been mentioned as an agent of destruction to the vessel. On the subject of this fulminating compound a representative of The Call interviewed H. J. Tresselt, a retired gunner of the United States navy, now residing in this city. He was serving on board the Trenton when she was wrecked in Apia harbor, and his retirement from active service was caused by injuries received in that disaster. The officer stated that gun cotton is used on board ship for torpedo work and carries 30 per cent of water and is usually stowed below decks in its spe- cial magazine. When charged with this amount of moisture it {s consider- ed perfectly harmless. However, it is officially inspected at intervals for signs of the dangerous deterioration which may be taking place. Special pains is also taken to keep the contents of the torpedo cases up in weight, which may fall below through.evapo- ration. If loss of weight fs noted pure rain or distilled water is added. As a rule wet gun cotton of 30 per cent moisture cannot be detonated except with the assistance of a certain amount of dry gun cotton called ‘‘a primer.” About three pounds of, dry are required to detonate thirty-five pounds of wet. The dry is exploded by a detonator composed of a certain number of grains of fulminate of mer- cury. All the dry cotton and the de- tonators are carried either in the cap- tain’s cabin or above decks. They are separated into small quantities’ .and distributed about the vessel that the explosion of one package will not be communicated to others. Fire could not cause an explosion in guncotton as it would simply burn slowly, and it is practically impossible for the wet guncotton to lose enough moisture to render it explosive and dangerous. It is likewise impossible that the powder could have been heated from the fireroom or coalbunkers. The magazines are generally well away from these places, and protected from them by heavy steel bulkheads. All powder charges are sealed in copper cylinders and stowed so that they do not come in contact with the bulk- heads. The magazines are guarded and inspected constantly. They are lighted by electricity, each lamp so ar- ranged that it may shed its glow with- in the storeroom and yet not be a pos- sible source of danger to its inflamma- ble contents. The illumination is thrown into the magazine through heavy glass deadlights, which are pro- tected on the magazine side with a heavy wire screen. As no part of the lamp or its wires enters the magazine proper, there is no possibility that the Maine's explosion came from this source. Even the powder itself is frequently tested to determine if there is any de- terforatjon from ‘standard power. So it will be seen that the magazine and its death-dealing contents are never left alone, day nor night, and under this everlasting vigilarice it is nearly impossible that explosions could take place therein. GROWS WEARY OF CONSTANT FLIGHT Speclal Dispatch to The Call. ‘SAN JOSE, Feb. 21.—Edwin A. Lowe, who claims to be a defaulting assistant postmaster from Newtown, Mass., surren- dered himself to Constable Martin at Mountain View yesterday morning. Lowe, who is about 20 years of age, says that in November last he discovered a small shortage In his books that he could not account for, and, fearing arrest for em- bezzlement, took $1500 from the eXusmfllce and went to Mexico. He stayed In that country until about four weeks ago, when he came to California. His money had all been spent in dissipation, and he prefer- red going to an Eastern jail to tramping about the country. Lowe sald there was $4500 in the postoffice at the time he took the $1500 and he could have got away with the whole amount, but he took only what he thought he would need. Lowe says he was assistant under Post- master Ellis at Newtown, seven miles from Boston. He says he was under $1200 bonds and lis bondsmen may have made good the defalcation. The postal auttl:mrmeu have b‘:en notified of the ar- res! FALLS DEAD JUST AS HIS GUESTS DEPART. SAN JOSE, Feb. 21.—Herman Reich, a well-known resident of this city, fell dead from heart disease about 9 o'clock last night. He had been entertaining 'some lends and as soon as they left he .was stricken. In falling he struck a Hucket, cutting a in his cheek. He was a native of and 38 years of age. | The deceased had been in this city about SWelve YeRts THE MAINE WAS DESTROYED BY THE SPANIARDS One of ‘the Sailors Who Survived the Explosion * * Does Not Hesitate to Express His Opinion of the Dastardly Treachery of the Doms. PROVIDENCE, R. I, Feb. 21.—A United States Steamship Maine saflor who was serving in the anchor watch, that is, the members of the crew on duty on deck in Havana harbor at the time of the explo- sion, arrived in Newport to-day and went to Conanticut Island, in Nar- ragansett Bay, to visit friends. He came from Cuba on one of the first Government steamers ‘to leave the island after the disaster, and is nows in apparently as good héalth as ever in his life, though he suffered some at first from the shock and the fall on board. The member of the anchor watch does not want his name revealed, for he is now on furlough and under orders not to talk to newspaper writers. His home is not in this State and he is not a Rhode Islander. All day yesterday this survivor of the Havana horror narrated to dif- ferent friends on Conanticut Island the details of the affair when they recurred to him. He said in substance: “I was on duty at my post. About 9:40 the Maine was lifted from twelve to fifteen feet out of the water into the air. There was an explosion under the ship, in my opinion. An in- stant later a second explosion occurred and then a third. It is my belief that the Maine was blown up by the Spanish, for no one else would have the opportunity in that harbor, which is sentried to beat anything I ever saw or heard about. The first explosion was the most fearful, and I was tossed into the air. I went up with the ship fifteen feet or so, and then when my feet left the vessel I went up still further into the air, and when I struck I landed in the black waters of Havana harbor some distance away from the sides of the Maine. I was picked up in about five minutes. I surely swam about as long as that. The rescue of those swimming about was quickly done, but some who were blown overboard were drowned. My opinion is that the magazines will be found intact, for I don’t think they ex- ploded. There was on the Maine at the time she was blown up a lot of fixed ammunition, and this was probably exploded. T think this caused the second and third explosions, and it came from the flames that fol- lowed the upheaval of the mine or torpedo which exploded beneath the vesel. The fixed ammunition was for instant use in any emergency. “There are a good many reasons why I am sure the vessel was blown up by Spanish design. We all feared it for a week before it oe- curred, and none of the survivors are astonished that the plot was car- ried out just as we expected it would be. The investigation by divers and the naval inquiry will demonstrate that I am right in saying the disaster was no accident.” Regarding the volcanic upheaval of the explosion, the sailor says it was awful, and that he never thought a naval monster like the Maine could be lifted out of its element in such a manner. The wreck when last seen by the departing survivors was a sunken, tangled mass of iron, steel and armor. In his different statements the sailor adheres to his opinion that the first explosion lifted the vessel high in the air, and he is confident that whoever planned the job intended to destroy both vessel and crew. sk 3k ok 3k sk sk %k sk kR ok ok sk ok %k 3k ok sk sk sk ok sk ok sk ok sk 3k sk ook ok ok ok sk sk ok ok sk %k ok sk %k ko k k ok % kX P R R E R R TR R R R R R R TURRET MERELY TOPPLED OVER Divers Make an Impor- tant Discovery on: the Maine. It Was Impossible for the For- ward Magazine to Have Exploded. Startling Evidence That Tends to Out the Treachery Theory. Bear Special Dispatch to The Call.. NEW YORK, Feb. 21.—A special ca- ble to a morning paper from Havana says: I am informed that the result of the divers’ work to-day on the hull of the Maine is considered by the naval experts as going almost as far as cer- tainty in demonstrating that the Maine was destroyed by an outside force and not by the explosion of her own for- ward magazine. Immediately over this magazine was the immense turret. If the magazine had exploded the experts believe that the turret would have been blown to pieces, or, at least, carried far away from the ship. ‘What the divers discovered to-day is that the immense turret has simply been toppled over and is sthll part of the Maine, although covered with de- bris. Although the divers have not actu- ally explored this forward magazine, it 18 now considered in view of the con- dition in which this turret was found that there was really no explosion in that compartment. The facts thus far presented to them are held by the naval officers to demon- strate almost to a certainty exactly how the ship was destroyed. The ex- plosion must have taken place under the boilers between the forward and after magazines. The force applied in that place would break the vessel in two parts and leave the wreck in the general condition in which it now appears in the water. Also an explosion there under the boilers and furnaces would have thrown up the volcano of fire and ce- ment which was observed by those on shore at the time. While the force of this upheaval would be very great it would not have smashed and broken up the turret nor blown it away, but 6h the centrary this immense mass of BN NN NN ARERRNRRERBRURRNURE THE MEXICANS KNOW AND it HATE THE SPANIARDS. . . . CITY OF MEXICO, Feb. 21.—The general feeling in Mexico is that McKinley has been careful in his desire not to wound Spanish susceptibilities in the De Lome incident. aster, the first idea was that it would lead to war, as everybody be- Heved a Spanish officer caused it. President Diaz sat up until half past 2 o'clock Friday morning to. read the dispatches sent to the Daily Two Republics, and was intensely interested. There is no truth in the statement that Spanish diplomats have * * * * * * * * * * » * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * steel would have fallen in—toppled over practically as the divers found it to-day. It is for this reason that the r experts, as I am informed, while have not reached a conclusion, v been strongly impressed toward ti theory of the submarine mine by the peculiar position and all but uninjured condition of the turret. The officers who were attached to the Maine have held this belief all along, and it is now known to many Ameri- cans in Havana that Captain Sigsbee and his officers have littie .doubt that the mine was exploded under the boil- ers between the two magazines, and that when a thorough investigation is made it will be found that neither of the latter helped to destroy our war- ship. MEET T0 LABOR FOR MANKIND State Convention of Christian Young Men at River- side. Special Dispatch to The Call. RIVERSIDE, Feb. 21.—The biennial State convention of the Young Men's Christlan Association will convene in this city on Wednesday and will close Sunday next. To-morrow will be devoted to the an- nual field day sports and a fine pro- gramme has been arranged for the day. Bome of the best amateur athletes in the State are entered and it is expected that records will be broken. The best athletes of the associations at San Diego, Los Angeles, Pomona, Redlands, Ontario and from the colleges at Po- mona and Ontario are listed among the entries in the general events. Delegates are beginning to arrive and it is expected that 100 accredited repre- sentatives will take part in the deliber- ations of the convention during the week. The delegates will be given the freedom of the city and every consider- ation will be shown them. As these conventions occur only once every two years, there is every probability that the coming session will be a busy one, for the association has a large field of work to go over and much legislation of an important nature to consider. The list of speakers includes Rev. Dr. Locke and H. J. McCoy of San Fran- cisco, D. Edward Collins of Oakland, F. L. Wilis. of Milwaukee, Rev. A. J. Frost of San Bernardino, Rev. Hugh K. Walker of Los Angeles, and other prominent Christian workers. Rey. Mr. ‘Walker will deliver the opening address on Wednesday evening on “ Young Manhood: Its Care and Culture.” Be- sides those mentioned there will be ad- dresses by several other men promi- nent in the work of the assocjation, and during the convention many of the leading ministers of this part of the State will interest visitors at the even- ing meetings. As regards the Mains dis- RARRURRRIRBRRIRVIPUIEI{IIER RN R NRBRRRL R IRRRRRRNN endeavored to influence the Mexican Government to support Spain In case of war with the United States, as they know this would be utter- ly useless. Mexico's sympathies are with the United States against Spain. The Mexican people are thoroughly Imbued with hatred to Spain. This dates back to the conquest by Cortez. They prefer that Cuba shall be a free republic, but would rather see her annexed to the United States than remain a Spanish colony, and are astonished at the forbearance of the Americans. BRRRRES BRBBBRBBBBI BT BN NRNRRRRNS