The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 5, 1898, Page 2

[&] THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY. MARCH 5, 1898. case of trouble this Government could | chase from Japan the Kasagi and the which are nearing completion at Philadelphia and the Union Iron Works. The official with whom I‘ talked had no doubt that Japan would | be be willing to aid the United States by selling the warships before the com- mencement of war. In the event of war this Government might feel constrained. | Te said, to take the ships and settle for them aft As the Herald has stated, Chile has a | fine armored cruiser of 8400 tons dis- | placement, the O'Higgins, under con- | struction, which could be purchased, it is thought, if necessity demanded. | “Of course,” d the administration | officer to me, “this Government ‘will | have to pay nearly $10,000,000 for the | four battle-ships and cruisers and the ard four torpedo boats which have been of- fered to it. “If it should be found necessary to take the Kasagi and Chiosa a big sum would have to be paid to Japan. The President realizes, 1 think, that the mar- gin of safety, so far as armored ships are concerned, is dangerously close, and Spain stands almost as good a chance of the United States in case of 1 . | e loss o the Maine reduced uur: armored fleet on the Atlantic to the | battle-ships Towa, Indiana and the Mas- | sachusetts, the second-class battle-ship Texas and the armored cruisers Brook- Iyn and New York, making six in all The Spanish navy has now in commis- | sion or practically ready for active serv- ice the battle-ship Pelayo, and the ar- | mored cruisers Almirante Ogquendo. | Vizcaya, Infanta Maria Teresa, Carlos | V. Cristobal Colon and Princessa de| Asturias. The completion of the battle- | ship Numancia and the armored cruisers Catalina and Cardi Cisneros is being pushed, and they will be ready for service in a few months. The total ar- | mored fleet of Spain in commission to- | y comprises seven_ ships, with three rtly to be completed, and if the re- port of to-day should prove true two | more are to be added to her effective | force ! “Our battle-ships are superior to anything in Spain’s navy, but if we are to continue this superiority it would be necess: or us to buy ships that have | been offered to us for sale. I have no doubt that Congress will make the ne- cessary appropriation should the Presi- | dent take the ships.” Before the cruiser Baltimore proceeds | to the Asiatic station she will await the | coming of the corvette Mohican, which | will ey to Honolulu from Mare | Island a great many tons of ammuni- tion for the ron. There has been some talk of relieving | the cruiser Olympia by the Baltimore, hips of the Asiatic squad- | | o’clock this afternoon. COURT IS AT A STANDSTILL No Sessions Have Been Held During the Past Two Days. | Proceedings May Be Further Delayed by the Sickness of a Stenographer. Officers of the Maine Indignant Be- cause Survivors Are Ordered to Duty at Once. Copyrighted, 1863, by James Gordon Bennett. KEY WEST, Fla., work of the Court of Inquiry is at a standstill. vesterday or to-day. Judge Advocate Marix has spent the entire day ashore, while Captain Sampson remained aboard his ship, the Iowa, until 3 He then came ashore and conferred with Admiral Si- card and Commander West, chief of the admiral’'s staff, in the parlors ‘of the Key West Hotel. Captain Chadwick and Lieutenant Commander Potter remained all day on the flagship New York. The taking of further testimony in Havana may be somewhatdelayed by a | J. W. Hulz, the | | official stenographer, was permitted to curious complication. start for Washington last evening. | Members of the Court of Inquiry thought he could be spared, as the small quantity of evidence remaining to be heard at Havana could ecasily be recorded by R. L. Bissell, who is the court’s official typewriter, and is also an efficient stenographer. Now that Mr. Hulz has gone, as a result of vaccination, to which he had to submit last week In Havana at the hands of Dr. Brunner. The arm is swollen and so badly inflamed that may prevent rapid work on the type- writer, and thus become really a seri- ous impediment to the conclusion of the work of the Court of Inquiry. tutes cannot readily be put in theplaces of these men. They are especially skill- ful, and are sworn Government em- ployes of the highest class in their pro. fession. The court's two days of idle- | ness and its obvious purpose to be in no hurry to get back to Havana have not unnaturally strengthened the be- lief already prevailing here that there is a clearly defined purpose to gain fu ther time before the conclusion of the | | report on the investigation. The first detachment of the Maine's survivors to go north will start to-morrow. It consists of Master- at-Arms Ladd and four men from the steward’s department. They are ex- pected to go direct to the receiving ship Vermont in the New York Navy Yard. March 4.—The | No sessions were held either | Mr. | Bissell is afiticted with a very sore arm | Substi- | probably | but no orders contemplating such ac- tion will be issued in the near future. | The addition of the Baltimore to the Asiatic squadron will make that squad- strong, it is believed in to easily defeat the five From there they will probably be de- tailed soon to duty on other vessels. Master-at-Arms Ladd, it is said, will be | transferred to the ram Katahdin. Or- ders were received this afternoon de- tailing all the enlisted men for imme- diate duty on board the various ships now at or near Key West. The only ARTILLERY BILL [0 BE PASSED Soon the Pending Meas- ure Will Go Through in the House. Speaker Reed Will Not Regard It in the Light of an Emer- gency Measure. But a Majority of the Representatives Favor Prompt Preparations for Contingencies. Speclal Dispatch to The Call. NEW YORK, March 4—A Washing- | ton special to the Herald says: Chair- | man Hull of the Committee on Military | Affairs is now confident that he will get | | the bill providing for two additional regiments of artillery through the House next week. He told me to-day that, while the Committee on Rules had not yet acted on his resolution provid- ing for a special order for the consid- eration of the bill, he had what he re- garded as an assurance that they would report a special order some day next weék, and that the bill would be | pas ed. | There was an informal conference of | Republican members of the Committee on Rules last night, at which the ques- tion of when the bill should come up | was considered. There was some talk of bringing it up to-day, but after some discussion it was decided that it should go over until next week. No specific day was agreed upon and it is possi- ble that it may be delayed even longer. | Speaker Reed’s position on the artillery bill has been the subject of consider- able d , and it h been repre- sented in some quarters that he was opposed to it. I am able to state that the Speaker does not oppose the bill as a measure for the increase of the army so as to afford sufficient men to prop- erly care for new guns, which have been mounted in seacoast fortifications. He is one of the men in Washington, however, who refuses to recognize the existence of danger of a rupture with Spain over the Maine disaster, and he will not consider the artillery bill in the light of an emergency measure. Tak-| ing this view of the matter it is natu- ral that he should not regard the de- lay of a week or two of any particular consequence. When the artillery bill once gets before the House it will go through with a rush. The opposition | to it has practically collapsed. Repre- senative Sulzer of New York is not the only Democrat in the House who has| seen new light in regard to this bill I called on Boutelle this evening, and asked for his views on the situation. He declined to discuss it in any way or to say what he thought of the proposi- tion to buy ships abroad for use in the event of an emergency. He declined to discuss the work of his committee in any way or to say what action would be taken. He declared that there was| no dispositicn on the part of the com- mittee to refuse to give the navy all that was needed. | the last to be mounted at present at | now here, and all that remains is to | ed. | ments. pine Islands and to reduce the fortifications of Manilla. The concentration of the - ‘Asiatic squadron at Hongkong, 600 miles from Manilla, was completed to-day when the cruiser Boston and the gunboat Con- | cord arrived at that port. Upon the ar- rival of the Baltimore at Hongkong. | which will be in the course of a month. | this Government will have at the British | port the Baltimore, the Olympia, the Raleigh and the Boston and the gun- boats Concord and Petrel. I was told to-day that the Asiatic squadron was net so badly off for am- munition as reports this morning indicated. When the Concord went to the Asiatic station last fall she carried with her thirty-five tons of pro- and powder, which were distrib- uted among the els on the station. The department has been attemipting to make shipments to Asia by tramp | steamers, but has been unsuccessful. | In accordance with orders issued last week by Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, | Commander Pendleton, in charge of the ordnance department at the Wash- ington Navy Yard, has commenced shipment to New York of ten six-inch guns built for the Atlanta and Chicago. but which will in reality be placed aboard the ships of the American line. | This shipment will be followed by an- other, which will include twenty-two | five-inch guns. It is proposed by the department to have everyrhing in readi- ness so that instant action can be taken without the slightest unnecessary delay. There is no longer avy doubt of the intention of the administration to keep the North Atlantic squadron at the | strategical point at which it is now sta- | tioned for some time to come. | FLAGSHIP OLYMPIA TO BE ORDERED HERE. The Peerless Queen of Cruisers Soon to Be Sent to San Francisco From the Asiatic Station. WASHINGTON, March 4.—It is prob- | able that the Olympia, flagship of the | Asiatic Squadron and the peerlessqueen | of cruisers, will come home to San Francisco. The navigation bureau has thismovementunder consideration, and in view of the fact that the ship has| been three years away from a navy yard engaged in hard cruising service, even if there were no other reason, it is likely that the order will be given. The Olympia is a protected cruiser of extraordinary speed and endurance. | with a battery strong enough to over- power almost anything short -of a bat- tleship, and speed enough to run away | from that or anything else that she| does not care to fight. 1 The torpedo boat Winslow, at Nor- folk, has completed repairs, and will join the flotilla at Key West as soon as the gale on the coast blows itself out and makes the run down safe. SAYS CONSUL LEE SHOULD BE RECALLZD One Conservative Spanish Newspaper Complains of the Diplomat’s 3 Course. H sensational | | | | MADRID, March 4—The BEpoca, sober-sided conservative paper, says: *““We believe that just in the same man- ner as the Washington Government acted in the case of Senor de Lome, | which was a case much less grave, so should Senor Gullon act in the case of General Lee, The relations of that of- ficial with the insurrectionists and his maintenance in Havana are prejudicial to the good relations of Spain and the United States.” | No orders have yet | said: exceptions are the five mentioned who | go north, and four or five pthers whose injurjes render them sfn anfit for duty. Been received for the Maine's officers, but they are open- ly indignant that their subordinates are ordered back to duty without opportu- nity to go home. The order issued to- day affects about fifty men. After two postponements of its de- parture, the Court of Inquiry left for Havana this evening on the lighthouse tender Mangrove. best informed here that the court will complete its labors in the Cuban capi- tal within ten days. Only three of the six days the court was here were devoted to the work of investigation. The inactivity of yester- dayv and to-day ls still unexplained, ex- cept by a semi-official statement that Rear Admiral Sicard was awaiting 1 structions from Washington. The sfons, it is generally understood, devel- oped no evidence by which the court could definitely determine the cause of the explosion. A naval officer in close touch with the members of the court sald to-day: “With one exception, the witnesses who testified here were Maine surviv- ors. The evidence, though, in most cases taking longer to tell, can be summed up in the worde of an enlisted { man who, when Judge Advocate Marix asked him what he knew about the ex- plosion, replied: ‘Sir, I was blown up. I was saved, and I'm here.’ That was all he could swear to.” One important fact has been iearned. however. It is that, although the mem- bers of the court may have their indi- vidual theories, they are by no means prepared as a body to render a decisive verdict. The official already quoted “If the court has yet heard any testimony which would enable it to de- cide intelligently that the Maine was blown up from external causes, I am the most mistaken man in the world. Before the coming Havana sessions are over, it may secure such evidence, and | possibly find the blowing up was inten- | tional. It will learn from the divers the actual condition of the ship after the explosion, as it has already learned from the survivors most of the aetails of the ship's condition before the ex- plosion. With these bases thoroughiy established, the court will hear more expert theoretical testimony, and then reach a verdict.” This statement can be taken as more worthy of reliance than that of the Maine officer, who said the other day that he believed the court was bound | on evidence already heard to find tne cause of the explosion external. Its | conservatism is also at variance with the opinfons of many other naval offi- cers here, especially those of the young- er set, and directly contrary to the be- lief of most of the marine survivors, that their ship was intentially blown up. Before sailing to-night Captain Sampson had a long consultation with Admiral Sicard. JUDGE-ADVOCATE MARIX’S SIGNIFICANT WORDS. Says the Court’s Report Will Be In- teresting Reading for the American People. NEW YORK, March 4—A Key West special to the World says: A corres- | pondent met Lieutenant Commander Marix half an hour before the Man- grove, with the Maine Court of In- quiry, sailed back to Havana to-day. He laughed heartily at the idea that ! the court Investigation had failed to prove that the Maine had been blown up from the outside. “That’s all bosh.” he said. . “Why can't the newspapers stop theorizing until we get ready to report? Then, 1 assure yoy, we shail have some read- ing for the American people that will be interesting.” “Will it mean war?” was asked. The judge advocate’s manner changed. He looked grave, as he replied: “That’ a question I can’t answer now. Wait.” It is believed by the | jSPAIN_BWI G “SHIPS. ‘ Continued from First Page. | 2 inches. Their dimensions are 267 | feet € inches in length and 48 feet beam. Being intended solely for coast defense, the motive power of their two vertical triple-expansion engines | is to develop only 3400 horse-power under natural draught and give a | speed of 14 knots, while under forced | draught the speed is to reach at least | 15 knots. Hul! protection is afforded by a Harveyized stcel belt along the water | line, from forward to aft, 5 feet 6 inches in depth amidships and 13 3-4 inches thick, tapering at the ends to 4 inches. The ship has also an arm- |ored deck 1.3 inches thick. The | armament consists of two 9.4-inch | Armstrong rifles mounted in turrets of 8-inch Harveyized steel, four 4.7- | inch quick-firers in casements of 2.9- inch armor and two 6-inch howitzers. The secondary battery comprises four 6-pounders, two 1-pounders, two ma- chine guns, two field pieces and two | torpedo tubes submerged. The coal capacity is 236 tons and the comple- ment 200 men. The condition of these two ships is no doubt very backward as to com- | pleteness. It is not even probable that they have been launched. Neither of them would cut much of a figure in a naval demonstration, as their coal supply would scarcely suffice to carry them across the At- lantic. As coast defenders they are only efficient so long as they are within reach of a coal pile. Without this latter they must depend upon escorts and transports. e R BRAZIL DID NOT SELL THE SHIPS. They Were Disposed of. to Spain Probably by the Firm That ‘Was Building Them. Copyrighted, 1895, by James Gordon Bennett. BUENOS AYRES, March 4—I am ad- vised by the Herald's correspondent in Rio Janeiro, Brazil, that nothing is offi- cially known about the reported pur- chase by Spain of the ships now build- ing in England for Brazil. . NEW YORK, March 4—A Washing- ton special to the Herald says: Con- siderable surprise has been expressed here over the announcement from Lon- don that Spain has purchased the two cruisers which the Armstrongs have | been building for the Brazilian Govern- ment. Brazil is in entire sympathy with the United States as against Spain, and stands ready tojoinwith this country in any step that may be made toward recognizing Cuban lndepend-l ence. 1If Spain has secured these two ships, it is believed the sale has been made by the Armstrongs, rather than by Brazil, notice having probably ‘been given to the firm that they were at liberty to sell them if a purchaser could be found. There is no doubt the United States could have had first choice had the administration desired them. In ad- dition to these ships, constructed by the Armstrongs for Brazil, that Gov- ernment has under contract three tor- pedo vessels of 1030 tons each at Kiel, Germany. None of the Brazilian ves- sels is of a type particularly desired by the United States. The weakness of | | oulr navy is specially in armored ves- sels, i FORTIFICATION AT SAN DIEGO ‘War Department Rushing Work on the Harbor Defenses. The Third 10-Inch Disappear- ing Gun Being Taken to i Ballast Point. | Force of Men From Battery D Mak- ing Roadways and Other Pre- parations for the Guns. Special Dispatch to The Call. SAN DIEGO, March 4.—The War De- partment is rushing work on the forti- fications of San Diego harbor. The third ten-inch disappearing gun and | Ballast Point is now at the end of the Spreckels wharf, and a force of men under the supervision of Captain Pol- hemus is at work getting ready to move it upon a large lighter. It will be put on board the lighter at high tide to-morrow morning and towed to the fortifications. All the material for the fortifications at Ballast Point is mount the guns, the last carriage hav- ing been delivered last week. There is now a force of between thirty and forty men from Battery D making roadways and other prepara- tions for the handling and mounting of | the guns. The original intentions of the Government were to allow the em- placements and cement work at the point fully six months to set and harden before the guns and carriages with their enormous freight were put in place. But present orders are to | hasten the work at least to a point where the guns can be put in promptly if needed. Each gun was tested by the,Govern- ment officials before being sent here. The three emplacements for the dis- appearing guns are now finished, the last one being completed this menth. The first emplacement was finished about six months ago, and on this em- placement the first gun will be mount- The work will require about two weeks. After the gun is mounted and ready Major Field of the Second Ar- tillery, inspector for this district, will be here to inspect the gun and have it fired with a full charge to test the em- placements. The charge for each gun requires 270 pounds of brown pris- matic ov der, and the projectile weighs 550 pounds. At the muzzle the projectile can penetrate twenty inches of steel, and eighteen inches of steel at 1000 yards. The first gun will be mount- ed as soon as the detachment now at work frem Battery D finishes the work on the roads leading to the emplace- THE PRESIDENT IS ALIVE T0 *TIE DANGER Continued from First Page. a clear declaration of policy the United States will be ready for any contingency that may result from such declaration. The Speaker and his trusted foi- lowers are doing what they can to counteract the war spirit 1n the House. During the past week Mr. Reed has been talking a great deal with members, and some of the Republicans are authority for the statement that he is making a per- sonal canvass for recruits to sup- port him in resisting the anti-Span- ish sentiment, which is very | strong. It is said that he is mak- ing individual appeals to Repub- licans not to permit themselves to be carried away by sentiment and emotion, but to stand up consist- ently for the policy which has thus far been followed of holding the Cuban agitation in check. The Evening Star to-day says: The statement may be reiterated with confidence and positiveness that the administration has aban- doned the theory that the Maine was blown up by accident. It is asserted that the board could now, if no more testimony were taken, show clearly that the destructive agency was exploded from the outside, Further investigation is necessary, not to make this fact more clear, but to show con- clusively, if possible, what the external agency was, in what manner and by whom exploded. If the evidence of external ex- plosion is as manifest, upon in- spection, as it is behleved to have been found by the American divers, the hope is entertained that the Spanish divers will re- port this fact, and that the Spanish board will acknowledge the external explosion and the Spanish Government at once offer full reparation, Unless Spain, actuated by a false and dishonorable pride, actually desires war or prefers] war to the humiliation of confess- ing responsibility for the disaster, this. course will be followed by her if the Spanish divers make the discoveries which it is antici- pated they will. If Spain is not desirous of avoiding war, then it is likely that her divers and her Board of Inquiry will be afflicted with official biindness, which will prevent- their seeing what was gnade apparent by the American investigation. | defense of the coast, as laid down in [TS CONDITION DEFENSELESS Dry Tortugas Is Now a Positive Source of Danger. Could Be Occupied by an Enemy as a Base of Naval and Military Operations. An Old-Style Fort and Obsolete Guns That Could Not Withstand At- tack in Modern Warfare. Spectal Dispatch to The Call. | Copyrighted, 159, by James Gordon Bennett. | Call Office, Riggs House, | Washington, March 4. | In its preent defenseless condition, it | is pointed out, Dry Tortugas is a posi- | tive source of danger, as it could be occupied by an enemy as a base of | naval and milijary operations. The most essential feature of its defense would be the moving of guns, and with | these the harbor would give one of the | best roadsteads in southern waters. The main defenses are on Tortugas, meaning Turtle Island, and occupy practically the entire island, al- though a small narrow coral reef sweeps around it, affording additional shelter. The fort is known as Fort Jef- | ferson. It is a three-story brick struc- | ture, with casements, the walls being | four feet three inches thick. The gar-| rison quarters are located in these casements, the old plan being to place the artillery in the upper stories and the infantry below. The old defenses | consisted of thirty-two and forty-two | pounder guns and one or two Parrots | of 200 and 300 pounds. These four-feet three-inch walls and old style guns would be of little service in modern warfare, and such as remain are prob- ably out of practical service by the quarantine uses to which Fort Jeffer- son has been put in recent years. It is thought, however, that the old brick fort would serve temporary uses as a garrison and that the surround- ings would afford a good location for heavy guns to protect the roadstead. The fortifications board, headed by General Miles, some time ago reported that the Dry Tortugas Islands were | necessary as a part of our system of | coast defenses. The naval scheme of the plans by the naval war college last summer, also contemplated the Tortu- gas Islands as a base of operations, | while the board appointed by Secretary Long to select sites for drydocks last | summer also devoted considerable space in its report to showing the im- portance of the islands from a strategic | ably better than that off Key West, a point of view. The anchorage is prob- fact made evident by the preference for Tortugars harbor shown by Admi- ral Sicard during the southern ren- dezvous of the North Atlantic squad- ron now in progress. CLAMOR IN AMERICA, r CALM IN SPAIN. | Brothers Across the Sea Too Much Engaged in Distress at Home to Pay Attention to War. LONDON, March 5.—The Madrid cor- respondent of the Daily Mail says: In contrast with the clamor in America, | there is almost absolute calm here and that, too, even on the bourses, where the falls are due to foreign selling. The general opinion is that the United States dare not make the suspicion, | which is unsupported by evidence, and is abhorred by Evuropean opinion, the pretext for war. The distress in various parts of the country occupies the public mind far more than American relations. Not- withstanding the reduction in the grain duty, a famine threatens. The Social- ists are utilizing the dearth, under guise of electioneering, as a means of fomenting popular agitation, and it would require some overt act on the part of America to divert public senti- ment. CAN PURSUE ONLY THIS FIRM COURSE. If Spain Is Responsible for the Maine Disaster Uncle Sam Must De- mand Satisfaction. ! BOSTON, March 4—The Journal to- morrow will say: Joseph H. Beale, pro- fessor of law at Harvard, in response to the Boston Journal’s request for the legal view of the present situation with Spain, makes the following statement: “To the Boston Journal: If it should turn out that the Maine was de- stroyed by some cause for which the | Spanish Government could be held re- sponsible, the only course which the United States could pursue as a civil- ized nation would be to demand of Spain an apology and full indemnity in money. JOSEPH H. BEALE JR.” | all. BRAVE MEN BREAK DOWN Americans Sob at the| Graves of the Maine’s Martyred Seamen. WILL UPHOLD THE VERDICT- Administration Will Act According to the Naval Court’s Findings. Captain Sigsbee Tries to Speak, but Is Overcome by Emotion. President McKinley Anxious to Take Hold as Soon as Possible. During the Placing of Flowers in the Havana Cemetery the Cere- monies Are Most Touching. In the Event of Treachery Being Shown With Spain ‘Would Appear Unavoidable. a Conflict Special Dispatch to The Call. NEW YORK, March 4.—The Herald'y Washington correspondent telegraphs: Although uncertain as to the exact data when the court of inquiry investigating the Maine disaster will submit its find- ings, the authorities are growing mora confident that the decision will ba against the accidental theory. Presi- dent McKinley shows his anxiety to take hold of the Maine matter at the HAVANA, March 4—Wreaths were placed upon the graves of the dead seamen from the Maine in Christobal Colon Cemetery to-day, and appropri- ate services were held there. Nearly every American now in Havana was present, and all stood with uncovered | heads in a circle around the rude| mounds of clay while Captain Sigsbee placed the flowers, and as they listened to the touching prayer uttered bY | earliest date y i possible by a dispatch Chaplain Chidwick. The demonstra- | sent to Admiral Sicard to-day by Sec- tion was spontaneous. Many Ameri- | retary Long at the request of the Pres- cans now about to leave Cuba could not bring themselves to depart without first | paying a tribute to the dead heroes, and last night the movement took definite form when George C. Mages, a Chi- cago tourist, drew up the following me- morial: “American citizens: Havana placed the first wreath of flowers on the graves of the heroes of the battle-ship Maine. May Amerlcans in Havana in future years continue this custom year by year. May they keep sacred the memory of those whose lives were sac- rificed upon the altar of their coun- try.” This was placed upon the desk at the Hotel Ingleterra and was quickly signed by all Americans in the hotel. A procession of fifty carriages start- ed from the Ingleterra for the ceme- tery this afternoon. Consul-General Lee and Captain Sigsbee rode in the first carriage. In the second were Chaplain Chidwick and a priest sent by General Blanco. Then followed Amerfean tourists, residents and news- paper correspondents, probably 200 in Arriving at the cemetery a group | quickly formed about the graves. Cap- tain Sigsbee intended to make a short | address, but his feelings overcame him | and sobs choked his words. The situ- ation was most distressing and tears | streamed down the faces that had not known tears before in many years. Mr. Mages went to the relief of Cap- tain Sigsbee, and in a few words told of the occasion of the gathering. Then all listened while Chaplain Chidwick in a voice breaking with emotion ut- tered the following prayer: ident, inquiring as to when the findings of the court might reasonably be ex- pected. This reply received to-night signed by Sicard leaves the President still in the dark on this point: “I have talked with the President of the court of inquiry and agree with him that it is not yet possible to fix the date of the findings. Much depends on the progress of the divers and the wrecker and the results they obtain. Every ef- fort is being made to advance the in- quiry. The court returns to Havana by the Mangrove this evening, having about finished the examination at Key West.” On the strength of the information received at the State Department from Consul-General Lee as to the progress made by the divers in the absence of the court in Key West, Assistant Sec- retary Day said yesterday that a re- port was looked for by the middle of next week. But as it is manifestly the purpose of the court to get e¢very scrap of evidence obtainable, a fortnight may yet elapse before the final conclusions are received in Washington. The re- port that the stenographer of the court was on his way to Washington from Key West cannot be confirmed here. The possibilities of a complication growing out of thé Maine disaster are thought here to be somewhat enhanced by the probability, as indicated in the dispatches to the Herald this morning, that the report of the Spanish court of inquiry would be diametrically opposed to that of the report of the American court. It has been realized all along that if a hitch occurred it would be “Almighty, all-merciful God, whose providence is to have mercy and save, we humbly beseech thee, have mercy on the souls of thy children, that al- though their dust lies in this conse- crated spot, their souls immortal may live and reign with thee in company of the blessed forever. Remember, God, they are thy creatures, made by thy over the refusal of Spain to meet our demands for an indemnity. With a re- port from the Spanish court of inquiry showing that an accident caused the disaster and a report from the United States court showing that it could not have been caused by accident, it is appreciated that it would be difficult for the Governments to arrive at an hands; that they believed and hoped in thee. Bless, we beseech theej their most fruitful faith. Look forgivingly upon this last awful sacrifice in which they ended their lives. Give them the reward of their faith, fulfillment of their hope, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Most merciful Father, mindful of the passion and death of thine only begotten Son, who offered himself, holy holocaust upon the cross for our salvation, grant these thy ser- vants through his sufferings forgive- ness for their sins and life everlasting. Regard the comely figure of thy well- beloved Son. Behold his body torn and lacerated and crucified and dead and buried. Grant that these humiliations and pains will not be for naught for our beloved dead, but that they may come into posession of their great re- gard, which was purchased by Christ’s precious - blood. Jesus Christ, our leader and our captain, who died to teach us how to die, to teach us the nothingness of death and prove life beyond, may thy wounds be a source of food and drink and eternal life for our dead. May thy cross be their glory, thy death their everlasting life, thy resurrection their comfort and so- lace, and thy eternal presence their abiding jov forever. Eternal rest grant them and may the perpetual light of the Lord shine upon them. May their souls through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.” At the conclusion of the prayer Con- sul-General Lee tried to speak, but seeing distress on every countenance, Miss Willard’s Bequests. CHICAGO, March 4#—The will of the late Frances E. Willard was offered for probate to-day. Most of the estate is left to Miss Anna Gordon, but Miss Willard's home in Evanston is left to Miss Gordon and Mary B. Willard during their lives and will revert eventually to the benefit of the National Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union. The estate is estimated at $17,000, of which $16,000 is in reai prop- erty. amicable settlement. It may be ac- cepted as a foregone conclusion that the administration will stand by the verdict of the court of inquiry, what- ever it may be, regardless of any deci- sion reached by the Spanish officials. It is equally certain that if our naval court finds an explosion from the out- side caused the destruction of llw‘ Maine, demands will be made upo:) Spain for an indemnity. If Spain should undertake to exonerate herself by en- deavoring to produce the real culprit, or if she disavowed ail knowledge of the affair with the suggestion of in- demnity, this administration would be willing to grant her reasonable time. It can be stated, however, that if Spain suggests that the examination made by our officials is an ex parte one and they have reached a verdict of de- liberate explosion in order to shield their own alleged laxity of discipline and carelessness, it will dangerously strain the relations between the two countries. Upon the court’s decision the whole question hinges. Its verdict will be accepted by the people of the United States. If they say that the ship was blown up by an accident there may be still a lingering doubt in the minds of some, but there will be no official or popular protest. The incident will be considered as closed. If, on the other hand, they conclude that the ship was not destroyed by design, the American people will expect Spain to acquiesce in that decision. If she does not there is likely to_be trouble. Railroad to the Yukon. JUNEAU, Alaska, March 1, via Port Townsend, March 4—That the Roths- childs will attempt to build a railroad to the Yukon is now believed a cer- tainty. The steamer Walcott, which arrived here last night, landed a party of over forty men and equipment for railroad building at Pyramid harbor, near the Pyramid harbor salmon can= nery, last Sunday. Threw H “That's easy,” Is often heard when a supposedly difficult thing is readily accomplished. So quickly and so com- pletely does Hood's Sarsaparilla cure rheumatism and other complaints caused by acid or impure condition of the blood, that when we hear of such cases we feel like saying: “That's easy!" For illustration we might cite thou- sands of testimonials like the follow- ing: Hood’ J ADVERTISEMENTS. is Crutches Away benefited my wife very much. She had nervous prostration, and could not sleep nights or at any other time. I got her to take Hood's Sarsaparilla, and she soon began to sleep better and look bet- ter. Her nerves became quieted, and it “I want to tell the great good Hood's Sarsaparilla has done me. I am get- ting to be quite an old man and became all used up in the army during my three years and nine months’ service. I have been Troubled With Rheumatism besides the wounds received in the army and also with pains in my stom- ach. Finally I had to go on crutches. I took all kinds of medicine prescribed, without much help. Three years ago I thought 1 would try Hood's Sarsapa- rilla. Before I tock one bottle, I be- gan to feel better. Before I finished the second bottle, I could get around the house without the aid of my crutches. Before I tried it I was in such pain I Could Not Sleep nights. Now I can go to bed and rest better and am free from pain. I know that Hood's Sarsaparilla has helped me and I know it is the bestmedicineIhave taken. I am telling all' the folks how much better I feel, and recommend it to others. Hood's Sarsaparilla has also arsaparilla’ has helped her greatly. I shall recom- mend Hood’s Sarsaparilla to all be- cause of the good it has done us.” DELANO LEIGHTON, . Dexter, Me. N. B.—Be sure to get Hood’s. Is America’s Greatest Medicine because it accomplishes wonderful cures when all other medicines fail. Scid by all | druggists. $1, six for $5. Prepared only by C. I. Hood & Co., Apothecaries, L owell, Mass,