The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 3, 1898, Page 2

AN FRANCISCO CALL THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1898. above water. They will pull out the funnel ‘plates and beams and carry them out to sea and thére dump them, gradu- ally preparing for the removal of the big guns and whatever of value that can be reached. No bodies were recovered to-day. wrec to allow the divers to recover the group of dead still imprisoned under the many tons of twisted steel and iron in the bodly of the wreck. The Havana newspapers are devoting an unusually large amount of space to gton and to the alleged views of fent McKinley, Secretary Long and Secre Gag Father Chidwick last night declared his ‘belief that it would' now be im- : to recover all the bodies. He it doubtiul whether more than fiity will be brought to the surface in the future. \ report has been received of ‘the landing of a very large expedition: al- most in Matan harbor. It is be- lieved to be that taken on the Dauntless by te Johnny” O'Brien. The supplies landed were taken charge of by gent cavalry numbering 400. They tacked by 800 of General Molin's ers, but the insurgents - refused successfully and escaped with the supplics absolutely without loss Reports of insurgent - activity inue coming. into Havana and greatly e the public, although every battl con- s made to suppress the -facts victories out of defeats.” The y ive in the prov- . in recent batties | iarto Caminos, Naiosa, nd * Peralejo, could no Id his own, eventually ed to retreat to Puerto losing one captain, one licutenant, ninety-seven privates killed, 1 two lieutenants and 220 privates in- ed On February 23 Spanish columns un- General Voda Rey and Colonel Lopez Ontega ‘were surprised and vig- orously attacked by the Cubans of Garcia’s command. The Spanish were thrown into confusion. and after an at- tempt to re-forin the liftes fled precipi-~ leaving Captain Gomez Avellen- id seventéen privates dead on the The rebels captured thirty-nine wounded Spaniards. On the same day near Holguin Gen- eral Torres with 80 men defeated the ymbined forces of General Ballesteros 1e Marine Infantry under Captain ndez Colombo, killing twenty- d wounding Captain Colombo, 1 thirty-eight privates. > of daily occurrence in the previnces of Matanzas, Havana and Pinar_del Rio. So eiten have rumors been circulated rebels were about to attack La peranza that the gudrd - has been doubled. "I am .informed by a most, re- liable agent of the insurgents that Gen- field eral Bellito with:600 armed men crossed h the trocha from Principe:and is advanc- ing toward Matanzas. At Nueva Paz a new band has been zed Calonel Comejo, form- ler Cu ), who surrendered a weeks Comejo refused to der. vo dynamite bombs: were exploded on February 20 on ‘the Holguin, de- ving the track and. causing great No lives were Captain Sigsbee has ‘received a let- ter written by Gene Jacinto Hernan- dez expressing sympathy for the loss of and crew. General Hernandez feared to address Captain Sigsbee, as that might - be misunderstood. and- so addressed an American. who is in: the field with Gomez. * The letter was. then forwarded to this city. = The following is a translation: few ost. rmy of Liberation:of Cuba. Fifth Corps, Second Division, “Second Bri- gade Chieftainship. “Distingushed Friend:: The sad news that your great nation - mourns :has reached us and I feel full of sympathy for the noble American people. . T deem it a duty to address a few linés to you in order to express the deep sorrow I feel and is felt by all my command:be- cause of the foul work plahned and exe- cuted by vile and hypocritical Span- For the sake of mankind -and zation 1 hope this foul crime will not remain unpunished. That would be a terrible blot upon American his- tory. I avail myself of this opportunity to confirm the expressions of my-sin- cerest esteem and the high opinion of you by this brigade. Yours respéct- fully, “JACINTO HERNANDEZ, “Chief of Brigade. “P. S—In camp, Feb. . 22, 1898—A messenger . left Gomez's camp early last week and is now proceeding to Washington carrying full data and de- tails of the insurgent field organization. In case hostilities break out General Gomez expects to co-operate with: the American fleet, and for that reason. de- sires“that American officers shall have full knowledge of the insurgent forces and equipment. - It is understood here that Gomez will offer to relinquish his command to any American general who may be sent from Washington.” A letter was received -at noon to-day from the Herald correspondent in.the field near San Antonio de Las Vegas. dated February 27.: It brings news of a six hours’ fight near the town of Tapasta, in the hills. No details have been received, but it is known that the insurgents held their post, forcing the troops to retire. The correspondent writes: “We have all been wondering how the political situation appears in Havana now. it being over a week since we had any news. The Spaniards in the neighbor. ing towns have been drinking many toasts to ‘Satan’s new .visitors.” "’ The Talbot’s Trial Trip. BRISTOL, R. I, March 2.—The new United States torpedo boat Talbot was to-day given her first builder’s trial trip over the seven-knot course. The trial was in every way a success, and it was announced at the close that the boat made’ the record of twenty-two knots an hour. 3 —— Only one person in 15,000 reaches the age of 100 years. | after 'a Cabinet EVIDENCE ALL TENDS ONE WAY Naval Offlcers Certain That a Mine Blew Up the Maine. It may be some time before the | rs can make sufficient progress | Opinions at Havana Are That the Board Will So Declare. Spaniards Have Been Given Permis- sion to Make an Independent Investigation. Bpectal Dispatch to The Call. HAVANA, March 2.—Without adding unnecessarily to the flood of surmi: conjectures and prophecies concerning the finding of the Court of Inquiry, it is fdir to say that, as a mater of fact, most of the naval officers here and at Key West incline to the opinion that the court will find that the disaster to the Maine was caused by the explosion of a floating submarine mine under the port side of the ship, forward. Opin- jons differ as to whether the mine was made of high explosives, such as wet and dry gun cotton, or ordinary gun- powder. Opinions agree, not only as to the eX- |y, three or four days has proved ac- [hypotheses does istence of mines in the harbor, but also that this one was laid purposely near the buoy where foreign vessels were directed to moor, and was fired from an electric battery on shore. It is believed barely po ble that the explogion of the mine W the result of carelessness or ignorance of Spanish officers ‘in charge of the mine station keys, when testing the circuit, but the | 1atter supposition is not felt to be prob- able. It is further regarded as settled by the evidence before the court that the port side of the hull forward was completely blown to pieces, and that the only explosion on the Maine, except for isolated cases of fixed ammunition, was that of 2000 pounds of saluting powder, stored forward, and of which no trace can be found. These views are gathered from offi- cers who talk with great reserve and only upon the urance that their identity will never be revealed. The fact remains that only the members of the court of inquiry know all the testi- mony elicited, and no one is authorized to make public matters in advance of the final judgment. A great deal of surprise was ex- pressed by Americans here at learning that the Spanish divers were to be permitted to make an examination of the wreck of the Maine, especially as it was also said American naval offic would give such divers all consistent facilities and would throw no obstacles ip the way of a thorough submarine inspection. It was not at first under- stood—as it came to be later—that the Spanish search was to be entirely in- dependent, and while it was being made the American investigation would proceed under Captain Sigsbee’s super- vision. As understood here, the Spanish request, made immediately after the disaster, for a Joint investigation, was profptly refused at Washington, but consultation it was agreed that the Spaniards had a moral and international right to discover the cause of the wreck for themselves if possible. Therefore, permission for an pendent examination was granted, on the ground, as understood here, that it could not be refused to a friendly power in her own harbor. That the permis- sion was not accorded until after the Court of Inquiry had finished its work here and gone to Key West is regarded as significant. It opens a wide field for speculation. Some assert that the court now has no objection to a Spanish inquiry, for | one of two reasons: Either the court has sufficient evidence already of acci- dent or malice—evidence that cannot be controverted by the Spaniards—or, after a &iligent search, the mystery re- mains as deep as ever, and the court does not think the Spaniards will reach a conclusion where the Americans have failed. Of course, all this refers princi- pally to inspection of parts of the ship other than the hull, Until the guns, decks, engines and -debris of all kinds have been removed and the mud has been pumped from the hull, it cannot be examined thoroughly by any one. Some good authorities think it will be necessary to build a cofferdam around the wreck, piles being driven, etc. WILL CARRY SUPPLIES TO RECONCENTRADOS. WASHINGTON, March 2.—The de- cision of the Navy Department to send two ships to Cuba with supplies for the suffering Treconcentrados caused some- commotion in-official circles to- day, until the real purport of the visit of the ships came out. The cruiser Montgomery and the gunboat Nashville were selected for the purpose and or- ders were sent ta Admiral Sicard to put them into shape for the required serviee. It is explained at the Navy Depart- ment that this action was taken at the instance of the Cuban Relief Associa- tion, organized through the etforts of the State Department for the relief of the non-combatants in Cuba. It was represented to the department that distress prevails among the people in the vicinity of Sagua la Grande and Matanzas, on the northern coast of the island, and that considerable difficuity is experienced in sending supplies there because of the infrequent visits of the merchant ships.- On this account and because of the immediate demand for supplies at the points indicated the of- ficers of the association requested the Secretary of the Nayy to authorize the use of one or more warships at Key West in the transportation of food supplies contributed by the charitable people of the United States in response to the appeals of President McKinley and Secretary Sherman. Secretary Long conferred with the President on the subject, and it was decided to comply with the request. The Montgomery and the Nashvyille were selected as the most suitable for the service, and the necessary orders were dispatched to Admiral Sicard. The “Montgomery will go to Matanzas and the Nashville to Sagua la Grande, with the understanding that they will re- main in those ports only long enough 10 deliver the supplies to the agents of the association for distribution where they will do the most good. Although the missfon assigned to the warships will take both within a short distance of Havana, estimated from two to four hours, it is stated that neither ves- sel will visit the Cuban capital, inde- | and Seamen aster at KEY WEST, Fla., March2.—Thenaval Court of Inquiry has practically fin- ished its work in Key West, or at lat- est will do so to-morrow. The pre- diction made in these dispatches before the board left Havana, that the pro* | ceedings here would not occupy more | curate. The precise time for the court's return to Havana is not yet fixed, but not unlikely it will be to-morrow after- | noon or on Friday Captain Sampson and Judge Advocate | professed the most profound ignorance | as to the details of the court’s future movements. The departure for Ha- | vana yesterday, however, of Naval | Constructor Hoover, who came from | League Island to make a special in- spection of the wreek, and the fact that Carpenter Holmes of the Maine's crew received orders and left here for Ha- | vana hurriedly last night on the Plant Line steamer, makes it appear like the court will find that evidence of im- portance has been secured on reassemb- ling at Havana. Formal proceedings of the court at Key West closed this afternoon with the most picturesque scene witnessed since it convened. All the iving officers and men of the Maine whos condition made their presence possi ble were mustered before the Court of Inquiry in Key West Marine Barracks, to comply with one of the naval regu- lations governing such bodies. The pro- | cedure was really of a formal chara | ter only, but one of great interest. This | ceremony is indicated by the naval code. and as illustrated in the case of | the Court of Inquiry following the loss of the Kearsarge, which perhaps most nearly parallels the case of the Maine in our recent naval history, is as fol- lows: The captain of the lost ship, in the resence of the entire shiv's company, | is called upon to read a statement giv- ing his version of the disaster. He is asked by the court Whether he has any charges of negligence or_dereliction of | |'duty to make against officers or crew. The officers and crew are then called | upon in turn to state in the court’s | presence whether any one of them | has any such charge to make, or| | knows anything bearing upon the sub- | | ject matter of the investigation and not previously elicited. This is the usual course of procedure, | | but in the present case all precedents | | were necessarily violated to some ex- | | tent, and the muster presented unique | features. Captain Sigsbee is still in | Havana, and of course could not be | present, nor could his executive officer, | Lieutenant Commander Wainwright. | The muster in the Marine Barracks was of itself unusual, such formalities gen- erally being conducted on the ship's deck. | The proceedings this afternoon were | as exclusive as have been all other de- liberations of the court, but the scene witnessed when the muster was com- plete was without precedent. Here al- together, with only a few exceptions, were the men who had passed through | that awful ordeal and lived. As the| marines and blue jackets lined up as | if for inspection mnot a few showed | bandaged heads, swathed hands or| arms hanging helplessly in slings. | There was Fireman John Panck, tall | and fine looking. He has lost two fing- | ers, and his career in the navy is end- | ed, but he looks as game as any man | in the ship’s company, with the white sling in which he carried his maimed | hand hung over his neat blue jacket. | There, too, was Apprentice Dressler, | cheerful and chipper, though he can | barely mumble his answers through the | in heavy roll of bandages that hoid place a fractured jaw, and limps pa fully from a shattered kneecap. The ufficers all stood ent aud erect as if on parade, but a; for their rai- ment the party was suggestive of Fal- staff’s army. Only a few were in uni- form appropriate to thelr rank, for only a few have uniforms of any kind. Lieu- | tenant of Marines Catlin appeared re- | splendent in trousers, negligee shirt and polo cap. Passed Assistant Engineer Bowers was conspicuous in bicycle breeches, tan shoes and golf stockings, | while Lieutenant Blow, who lost in the | wreck nearly all his personal belong- | ings, including some valuable bronze and a watch, watch chain and seal, which were invaluable as family heir- | looms, nevertheless contrived to appear | in & neat fielding suit of black tnat | gave him the appearance of a orosper- ovs banker or broker rather than a | naval officer. There, too, Orderly Anthony, whose cool report to Captain Sigsbee immediately after the explosion, “Captain, I have tc report the ship blown up and afire,” has al- ready become historic. This was prob- ably the last muster ever to be held by the gallant officers and crew of the| Maine. On Friday all the enlisted men able to be removed will go North. The offi- cers are only waiting the department’s orders. In another week most of these gallant fellows who together faced death will be scattered, never again to answer the same roll call. This morning's session of the court was devoted to the revision of the tes- timony of thelarge number of witnesses | heard vesterday. A few trifling cor- | rections were made. Then came the final muster of this afternoon. Of the future no man can speak authorita- tively. The session in Havana may not be a long. one—probably will not be unless there are weighty reasons for delay in the committe report. LAW AS LAID DOWN BY BRITISH PRESS. Survivors of the Before the Court of Inquiry. Marix, when I asked them to-day, both | QUIET PREPARATIONS FOR E THE LAST MUSTER OF THE CREW Maine Maimed and Bandaged Officers Lined Up and Questioned as to the Dis- Havana. | “No sane American could believe that | the Spanish Government had any hand in exploding the Maine, and vindictive | damages could only be demanded on | the ground that Spain was guilty of connivance, or that the Havanaauthor- | ities were negligent beyond the border | line of criminality. Neither of these it seem possible to | sustain. While, therefore, it is quite unlikely that war will arise through the Maine disaster, the situation is still ’far from reassuring, in the face of America’s projected proposal to pur- | chase Cuba.” ADMINISTRATION POLICY PUZZLES TIE CONGRESSMEN Continued from First Page. ing. The statement is made by some of the Republican members of the House that they have reason to be- lieve an effort will be made to get rid of the appropriation bills and ad- journ Congress before anything is done by the President with respect to the Maine disaster, if not before ine report of the board is made pub- lic, and to prevent any sort of action with relation to Cuba being taken before adjournment. The men who make this assertion take it so seri- ously that they have set a movement on foot to resist adjournment at any time before the Cuban question has been disposed of. They have been conferring among themselves and with some of the Democrats to-day. The authority for this is a Repub- | lican member of standing in the | House from the middle West. #The trouble,” said this member, “arises out of a firm belief in the minds of several members that there is a plan to adjourn Congress with- out taking any action on Cuba or before the Board of Inquiry reports. Whatever may be the President’s views of the public sentiment in this country on the Cuban question, we know through private letters and | other trustworthy sources that the people expect some action. If it is not taken there will n~t be twenty Republican members elected to the next Hovse. Just let a resolution be reported to adjourn this Congress without action on Cuba and you will see the liveliest row ever witnessed in the House. The President and Speaker Reed will learn that the op- position will mnot come from hot- heads, but from some of the most conservative men on the Republican side. The Democrats are already pledged to stand by us. The canvass is being made, and in a few hours we will have the pledges from the Republican members who can be ab- solutely relied upon. Already there is every indication of enough votes to carry out our plan.” The Representative who submit- ted to the above interview drew from his pocket a letter from the Governor of his State expressing the popular feeling on the subject, and saying he had pledges from sources which would eneble him to guarantee that he could place 100,000 men in the field at once, were it shown they ‘were needed. NO EUROPEAN POWER WILL HELP SPAIN. NEW YORK, March 2.—According to a cable dispatch from London, all the Eurcpean powers were notified some weeks ago that unless Spain restored was Marine | Peace in Cuba by March 1 the United States would intervene. The dispatch says that no European power gave any sign of willingness to protest in behalf of Spain, though the Spanish Govern- ment at first hoped to secure at least the friendly offices of Austria or France to induce the United States to refrain from intervention. Great Brit- ain’s attitude has been particularly dis- appointing to Spain because, while not indorsing the American policy in any way, it has been clearly indicated that England would refuse in any manner to hamper President McKinley in en- forcing his peace policy in Cuba. OFFICERS DETACHED FOR IMMEDIATE SEA DUTY. NEW YORK, March 2.—Orders were received at the Naval Academy at Annapolis by telegraph from the Navy Department detaching a number of of- ficers now stationed there for immedi- ate duty on board ships of the North Atlantic squadron. The orders caused some consternation among residents of the Institution. About thirty officers, whose time of shore duty expires by June, expect to receive similar orders LONDON, March 8.—The Daily Tele- graph says editorially this morning: daily. Among the officers detached is Lieutenant David Danlels, head of one of the departments of the academy. M MERGENCIES, BOUTELLE IN N0 HURRY T0 ACT Chairman of the House Naval Committee Pro- crastinating. Has Not Submitted the Depart- ment’s Request for More Men. Sub-Committee Had Already Agreed Upon an Increase in the Enlistment. Epecial Dispatch to The Call. ‘WASHINGTON, March 2—Chairman Boutelle of the House Committee on Naval Affairs has not yet submitted to his committee the letter he received last Friday from Assistant Secretary Roosevelt of the Navy Department, then acting Secretary of the Navy, ask- ing for the passage of a special act au- thorizing the enlistment of 1500 addi- tional men and boys in the navy. This additional force was asked for in ad- vance of the passage of the regular ap- propriation bill, in order, it is under- stood, that the vessels which are being put into commission might be properly manned. The sub-committee on naval affgirs in charge of the regular appropriation bill had already agreed on an increased enlistment of 1250, bringing the total of enlisted men up to 13,000. 1he sen- timent of the House committee is ex- tremely liberal, and Mr. Foss of Illi- nois, a member of the committe, said to-day that if the Navy Department asked for a special bill and the ques- tion was officially submitted to thecom- mittee, he had no doubt it would re- ceive the indorsement of the commit- tee. The sub-committee has shown a liberal spirit in its recommendations for increases thus far. Action on the question of ships and drydocks will be largely influenced by the outcome of the investigation into the Maine disaster. It has already been practically decided that the price which the Secretary of the Navy shall be au- thorized to pay for armor plate for the ships now approaching completion shall be $400 a ton, but no formal vote has yet been taken on this proposition by the sub-committee. The work of the sub-committee, as far as it has gone, is\now being reviewed and ratified by the full committee. Thus far the sub- committee’s action has not been re- versed. The full committee has rati- fied the action of the sub-committee in for ordnance and ordnance bringing the total appropriation for this item up tc $300,000, besides the appro- priation of $25,000 for converting 6-inch guns into rapid-fire guns, $45,000 for capping armor-piercing shells and $50,- 000 for the manufacture of cartridge- making machinery—the latter appro- priation to go to the ordnance factory. An appropriation of $275,000 to in- crease the speed of the Chicago and to replace her old guns with rapid-fire batteries is also recommended, and an appropriation of $250,000 for reserve torpedoes and appliances. The increase in the number of enlist- ed men recommended by the sub-com- mittee has not yet been considered by the full committee. A significant in- crease voted by the full committee re- lated to the appropriation for the naval militia. Heretofore $50,000 has been carrfed by the appropriation bill for the naval militia. A delegation repre- senting the militia was here recently, and asked for a slight additional appro- priation, and the committee voted an increase of $10,000, making a total of $60,000. CHILE WILL SELL NO WARSHIPS TO SPAIN. Has No Intention of Parting With Any of the Vessels of Her Navy. Copyrighted, 1895, by James Gordon Bennett. VALPARAISO, March 2.—The report that Spain is negotiating to buy from Chile three warships in course of con- struction in England is characterized as absurd by Government officials here. They laugh at the story and declare that the Chilean Government has never received even the most remote hint from Spain as to the purchase of war- ships. It is further stated that Chile has no intention of parting with any vessel of her navy, and that even if she were disposed to sell warships she would not sell to the United States or Spain, knowing the status of the present relations between these two countries. Chile has only two ships in Burope— the armored cruiser O'Higgins, which is nearly finished and is expected here in April, and the schoolship General Baguedona, which will be finished about the end of the year. The Chilean transport Augamos left for Zngland several days ago with officers and crew for the O'Higgin: o gt SOBRAL SAILS ON LA BRETAGNE FOR SPAIN. The Talkative Naval Attache Given a Parting Ovation by His Countrymen. NEW YORK, March 2.—Lieutenant- Commander Sobral, formerly naval at- tache of the Spanish Legation at ‘Washington, salled to-day on the steanier La Bretagne for Havre. Many of the Spanish colony in New York were at the pier to bid him farewell. In anticipation of Lieutenant-Commander Sobral's departure the Junta Potriotica Espanola sent a cablegram to the Min- ister of the Navy at Madrid as follows: “The Junta Patriotica Espanola of the United States regrets the departure of Lieutenant-Commander Sobral. His patriotic and valuable services are highly appreciated by the Spanish col- ony.” To-day a member of the Spanish col- ony handed to Lieutenant-Commander Sobral the reply of the Minister of the Navy. It read as follows: “I have to thank you for your tele- gram regarding Lieutenant-Command- er Sobral, whose return to Spain has been ordered that he may render her service.” Just before going aboard La Bre- tagne, Lieutenant-Commander Sobral sald to a representative of the Asso- clated Press that he had been misun- derstood. “I have no remorse,” he sald. “My conscience is clear; I sail contented.” recommending an increase of $100,000 | stores, | MEN Numbers Wars ton special to the Herald says: The Navy Department is still erying . for men. Besides seamen, it was officially stated at the department to-day, ma- chinists were particularly desired. and instructions have been sent to different rendezvous directing enlistment in un- limited numbers of men of this trade. Some men of the grade of chief ma- chinists have been discharged within the last three months. It is desired by the Jepartment to fill the vacancies now existing on board ships in com- mission, as well a8 to provide machin- ists for the monitor Miantonomoh and the ram Katahdin, which are to be placed in commission on March 10. Secretary Long definitely determined to-day to place Captain M. L. John- son in command of the monitor Mian- tonomoh. The selection of this officer was somewhat a surprise to naval of- ficers on duty at the department, but it is due to an application for sea duty made by Captain Johnson. Cap- tain Johnson was relieved only last September from the command of the cruiser Cincinnati, which was at that time attached to the European station, but returned to the United States and is now the flagship of the South At- lantic station. The experience thus obtained by Captain Johnson, officials believe, will be valuable. Since his | return to the United States he has been | on waiting orders. | “The Board of Construction of the Navy Department to-day determined to | remove from the cruiser Philadelphia | her - above-water tubes. It was a!soi' determined not to introduce submerged | tubes in place of those to be taken out. In explanation of the removal of the above-water tubes, it is explained that this action is in pursuance of a policy adopted by the department of taking such tubes out of all ships of service. There is danger in case of battle that | an enemy’s shell strike a torpedo in‘ | an above-water tube and cause its dis- | charge, the result of whicn would be the destruction of the ship. The most serious embarrassment un- der which the navy would labor in caseé | of trouble—lack of docking facilities—| will be removed shortly. Naval Con- | structor Bowles, who is superintending | the repairs to dry dock 3 at the Brook- | lyn Navy Yard, has reported the Navy Department that.the dry dock | will be ready to receive ships on April | 1. In addition the department has| been notified that the work of dredg- ing the basin in front of the dock at Port Royal has been commenced and | that the work will . be pushefl as rap- idly as possible. I learned at the department to-day | that the structure at that point has been strengthened and officials of the | department now say that’ when the basin is dredged out it will be possible | for a ship to come up stream and anchor in the basin until a favorable tide, when the vessel will enter. the dock. The importance of having a | large dock in the South is appreciated by the officials, especially at this time, | when the entire North Atlantic squad-.| ron is massed in Southern waters. | It is recognized by naval tacticians that should there be war with Spain naval battles’ will undoubtedly take place near Cuba, and that it will be | highly advantageous to have a ‘dock close at hand to which disabled ships | may be towed for repairs. The Port Royal dock is not as near the gulf as the authorities would wish, and its requtation for strength is not such as to cause the officials to desire to in- trust a vessel to its care; but on the principle of “any port in a storm” it is expected that it will be very valuable in case of emergency. The construction department has established a shop at Port Royal and has been purchasing the necessary tools with which to equip it, so that repairs can be made without any difficulty. With the com- pletion of the Brooklyn and Port Royal docks the department will have two | structures capable of accommodating | | battie-ships. The Port Royal structure can proba- bly not take in the Massachusetts, which is equipped with fin keels, but if’ it became absolutely necessary to dock these vessels at Port Royal these keels could be removed. Dry dock 3 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard will be able to receive any of the battle-ships, and the department will be glad to have it again in commission. All of the bat- tle-ships are in need of docking, and when the opportunity offers they will | probably be sent to the Brooklyn yard to have their bottoms cleaned and painted. THE THEORY OF INSIDE EXPLOSION IS ABANDONED Continued from First Page. he remarked that Secretary Long | had probably been misquoted by Some American correspondent who had deceived the Havana papers. He believes Secretary Long observes the same silence enjoined upon the officers of the navy. . Captain Sigsbee received the usual visit from Captain Eulate of the Vizcaya this afternoon. Orders From Washington to Obtain With All Possible Dispatch Recruits for American NEW YORK, March 2—A Washing- Eulate, ENLISTING FOR THE NAVY Machinists and Seamen in Needed in the Service. hips. knowing - Siesbee was without a uniform, did not don the usual gold lace. He visited Sigsbee in ordinary uniform. and expressed the sympathy of the Spanish navy for Captain Sigsbee. Later Sigsbee, accompanied by Eusign Bookwalter, visi‘ed Eulate aboard the Vizcaya. He was not aboard and the visitors left their cards and departed. Captain Sigsbee was much dis« #ppointed at the result of the work of the divers to-day. He had hoped to reach the bodies in the marines’ compartments. - Being unsuccessful in this he now fears few more bodies will be fouud. Some were undoubtedly blown to pieces and can never be recov- ered; others mav have floated out with the tide. If there is not more success in the effort to reach the bodies soon the search will be abandoned. Captain Sigsbee is getting very anxious to getaway from Havana, but will not ask for recall until he can be of no further service here. He will remain for some time ye!, anyway. Vidal Ducassi, the so-called brigadier-general of the division of insurgents in -the Pinar- del Rio, was killed in a skirmish. A big explosion of dynamite is said to have occurred at Taco Taco, in the same province, destroying the store of Mayia Rodr guez, con:- manding the insurgents of the three western provinces. Senator Proctor, while going to Mantanzas to-day, saw some burning cane and a slight skirs mish, the Spaniards dispersing th rebels.. The wires were cut and the train slowed down for some time, so. Proctor got some idea of the Spanish ‘method of operation and a little excitement thrown in. He is not talking. EEETST A i Shipment of Dynamite. CINCINNATI, March 2.—Two tons of dynamite were shipped from here to- day to Pensacola, Fla. The shipping firm declines to say swhether it was shipped en Government account or to private dealers: SLED $3.00. This is the regular ) Yukon Trail Sled. They all buy it—7 feet long. Only one illustration of what you can save at SMITHS CASH STORE 25-27 Market St., S.F. Ah Instrument of Torture S A TRUSS MADE ON THE PLAN OF THE l above, With a heavy steel or iron band, as you well know if you have been in the habit I wearing one. Throw it away. Why will Sou continue wearing such an instrument of Jorture when we can furnish you a most effi- clent truss without any iron hoops or steel which may be Worn AY? PIERCE'S PATENT ' has accom- } It is an ELECTRIC fruss; the only genuine and successful one ever and has been sold for the past -TWO vears. If ruptured it will pay Jou o, investisate, st once. Consultation tfee. MAG! piished invented " s8es ‘without extra . Call or send 2c _in stamj for our New Book on Rup- tare. book also_describes our New 4D e for PILES, VARICOSE VEINS, etc. MAGNETIC ELASTIC TRUSS ¢ ANY 620 Market st., opp. Palace Hotel, !‘r.Pl and 36, Sullivan block, Seattle, We