The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 1, 1898, Page 1

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it i Papéfrxat-‘ { 10 be taken from ‘the Library’_f fee = Call VOLUME LXXXIII.— SAN FRANCISCO, —_— SPAIN YET REFUSES TO QUIT CUBA Alleged Reply to an Ultimatum Received From Minister Woodford. While the Madrid Government Is Pretending to Make Reforms by Releasing Starving Reconcentrados Hostilities Grow Nearer. NEW YORK, March 31— The Herald's Washington cor- respondent telegraphs: After waiting many hours for word from Madrid in reply to our rep- resentations, President McKinley to-night received through the State Department a long cable message from General Wood- ford, Minister to Spain. This message is not the final answer of Spain to our proposition, but its character is such that war is still regaried to be inevitable. BRI nuBVUBRURIRYIQR President McKinley was waiting for this message to-night, and invited a Jarge number of friends to remain and fearn any important news that might arrive. Assistant Secretaries of State Day and Adee, of the State Department, were at hand to translate’, ihe cipher Among the President’s callers w str McArthar, Second Secretary | of the American legation at* Madrid, Vice-President Hobart and Senators Al- arich, Spooner, Allison and Hanna. The party broke up at midnight, and all were reticent. Three or four Sen- ators, however, adinitted that the situa- tion was extremely serious, and that the question now was whether the Senate could be restrained from action in the Cuban matter if there was any prolonged delay in negotiating terms with Spain. Senator Hanna, when asked if it was| peace or war, replied that he did not | know. 1 learned late to-night. tha.*the mes- sage from General Woodford, which is a very long one, was not entirely trans- lated, and that while it did not give Spain’s final reply to our proposition, | contains the general opinion of Minister | Woodford on the whole situation gath- | ered from talks he has had with mem- | bers of the Cabinet as well as from commupications which have passed be- tween him and the Council. Spain |has not made a formal request for more time, but she is going to. Gen- eral ‘Wopdiord's dispatch refers to the Spanisty contention that there can be no cession pf territory by the Spanish Gov- ernment until the Cortes meets. This was fully explained in the Herald's| ‘Washington dispatches this morning, and the fact that this request for delay was coming was anticipated. The ques- tion as to the ability of the Spanish Gov- ernment to act goes further than this, the point having been raised that the Spanish Ministry could not grant inde- pendence to Cuba as demanded by President McKinley without the action of the Cortes. An hour after the Presi- dent’s callers took their leave every one | of them had been seen by the Herald correspondent. Not one of them was willing to give any definite news, but the manner of each indicated that it was highly unsatisfactory. They all declared that the cablegram from Minis- ter Woodford left the situation un- changed. A statement was semi-officially issued to-day that Spain was expected to nake a counter proposition to ours covering the following points: First—That Spain shall send the re- concentrados back to their homes and supply them with the means of sustain- ing life until the normal conditions can be restored. Second—That there shall be an ar- mistice between Spain and Cuba with the end in view of securing a settlement of the difficulties and the withdrawal of the Spanish forces from Cuba. Third—That in case of the failure of the Cubans and the Spaniards to come to an understanding during the armis- tice Spain shall submit the entire mat- ter to President McKinley as arbitratcr with the understanding that he will de- cide in that event for the entire indepen- dence of Cuba. There 15 reason lgr believing that these points in reality cover the sub- stance of the proposition of the United States to Spain. The first of these propositions has been anticipated by Spain. The reconcentrados have been ordered released. The second is mani- destly impossible, because the insurgents will not agree to an armistice. . The third commits Spain at the outset to the independence of Cuba and the re- moval of the Spanish flag from the island. It was probably in reply to an inquiry from Spain about ~ the third proposition, “whether the independence of Cuba was requisite?” that the answer “Yes” was sent yesterday. Senor Polo v Bernabe stated officially in conversation to-day that he did not believe Spain would consent to our de- mands. Representatives of all foreign Governments here cabled their home office to-day that the outlook was far more serious than at any time during the pendency of the Cuban question. ° Most ominous was the statemient made by the President. to the Congres- sional committee late "this afternoon. He said that Spain had been informed that Congress would not consent to anything short of the absolute indepen- dence of Cuu Two™ (contitvencies might arise. Ejther Spain would reject the proposition lof the United States, in which case he would immediately com- municate with Congress. or Spain might ask for further delay and modifications, in which event he would want twenty- four hours’ further time to break off diplomatic negotiations. There has been much more of the warlike talk than ever. It is all over Washington, and it comes from conser- vative sources. The suggestion is thrown out that men in close touch with the President are talking in this manner for moral effect on Spain. While Spain is hesitating it would be wise to let her know just how serious the situation is. The effect of Secretary Gage's predic- tion and General Grosvenor’s outburst, when cabled to Madrid, would be to show Spain the full responsibility she may take. In other words, to convince her that the Government of this country is not trifling and that the independence of Cuba miist be assured or we will pro- ceed with armed intervention. The speech of Grosvenor was exactly in line with what the President to-day told the committee of eleven appointed by the Republicans. in the House who favor armed intervention to expel Spain from Cuba. The President is most persuasive and convincing. He persuaded the com- mittee to report to the caucus that all action ought to be deferred until Mon- day, and he convinced it that measures would be taken on Monday to secure the results they were aiming at if they had not been by that time conceded by Spain. So the committee went away satisfied and the caucus decided not to fire the train of gunpowder until Mon- day. Into the situation at any time may ap- pear proffered mediation of other pow- ers. The Herald on Wednesday pointed oui that France stood ready to use her 800l offices. She still does, but an in- vitation must come either - from the United States, Spaia or Cuba. The statement that her mediation had been tendered unofficially is tommy rot. Germany, Great Britain and Austria also stand in the same attitude. The United States will not accept the media- tion of any foreign power, but it is ex- pected that Spain may soon ‘ask France to give an opinion as to what should be done with Cuba. In that event Spain might be willing to do on the suggestion of France what she will not do under stress of our demands. It is believed here that at the critical minute when re- lations between the countries have reached a cracking point several Euro- pean powers will urge Spain to make further concessions. It was said at one of the ‘European embassies to-day that our requests of Spain were such that she could not ac- cept them unless middle ground is found. Spain, in the opinion of foreign diplomats, must fight. In proof that she expects to fight these diplomats point | to her massing ber fleet in the direction of Cuba, and the letter of the Queen Regent appealing to other European sovereigns for sympathy, and the sud- den change of policy in Cuba. This WASHINGTON, March 31.—The Com- mittee on Foreign Relations this after- noon reported to the Senate a bill for the purchase of a naval station in the West Indies. It appropriates $5,000.000 and authorizes rneégoliation for ‘the Danish islands, St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John,oranyone of them. While the United States Government does not want to purchase all the West Indian Islands owned by Denmark, it is prob- abe that the sale of St. Thomas, the most desirable and only one of the group desired by this country, will not be made unless the others are included. FRIDAY, APRIL 1, |IPLOMATS DECLARE WAR IS IM of the Town Out So At the request of the Navy Depart- ment the State Department has taken the matter of the purchase of a coal- ing station on the . fa1d of St. Thomas inte ts care, and, ‘t‘_\ak.lng inquicies Jn the subject. "1 ner¥ s iittle prospect, however, of a transfer to the United States of a coaling station site, unless the rest of the island goes with it, and a hint has been given to this Govern- ment that the islands of St. Croix and San Juan must be included in the pur- chase of St. Thomas. The Navy De- partment is by no means committed to the purchase of St. Thomas. It is held 1898 — TWENTY PAGES.’ PRICE FIVE CENTS. View of the City and Harbor of St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, Looking From the Heights on the North | uth to’ the Open Sea. by several prominent officers that in the event of war with Spain this coun- try could seize San Juan, Porto Rico and\use it as a base of naval supplies, *hus doing away with the necessi:y of obtaining at a big price another place not so well suited. In 1866 Mr. Seward, then Secretary of State, concluded a treaty with Den- mark by which this island with its neighbor, St. John, was sold to the United States for $5,000,000. The in- habitants, who were allowed to vote upon the question, were unanimous in its favor, but Congress refused to con- firm the treaty, the price being regard- ) PPEPEPEEPEEEOEPEOCO® ed as too high. Its value from a commerclal view alone has largely increased since that | time and thig port is now |the ren- dezvous and mail center for sl the in- sular Mnes of steamers, as wcil 2s those plying to South and Central America. The outbound mails are gathered and dispatched from here, and incoming | ones distributed to their various des- | tinations. It is in fact the distributing | point for mail and express for the whole | ‘West Indies and the neighboring coasts | of South and Central America. | It has cable connection, via Santo Do- | mingo and Porto Playa, with New York and Jamacia. | A BIG NEW YORK, March 31.—Willlam K. Vanderbilt, it was reported to-day has decided in the event of war with Spain to present to the United States Gov- ernment a warship to cost $5,000,000. This interesting information came from a most responsible source, with the explanation that Mr. Vanderbilt, impressed with the justice of the na- tion’s attitude in the present crisis, be- leved this to be the most direct and practical manner in which he could be of service to his country. Mr. Vanderbilt, if his decision is as reported, is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Commodore Cor- nelius Vanderbilt, who during the civil war presented to the Federal Govern- ment the large ship Vanderbilt, which was valued at $1,000,000. When Com- modore Vanderbilt placed the Vander- bilt at the disposal of President Lin- coln, the best vessel in his extensive fleet of sidewheel steamships was con- verted into a cruiser, and did highly valuable work during the war. When the vessel became the property of the Government all her upper works were cut away and she was armed with a battery of twelve 9-inch Dahlgren guns, six on each side, and two 100- pound Parrott guns, one each fore and aft. Her hull was also made solid for fifty feet from bow to fit her for use as a ram. For some time after equip- ment as a war vessel the Vanderbilt was employed in watching for the Mer- rimac. She later went in pursuit of the Alabama, but never found her, al- though if she had, Captain Semmes of the Alabama has since declared, her superfor speed and armament would have decided the battle in her favor. She afterward was employed to con- voy monitors to the Pacific Coast, and after the war she became the receiving ship in Mare Island Navy-yard. She was sold by the Government in San Francisco in 1872 and became the fa- mous sailing ship Three Brothers. MKINLEY WILL NOT ACCEPT MEDIATION. Determined That This Government Alone Shall Settle Its Differ- ences With Spain. NEW YORK, March 3L—The Her- ald’s Washington correspondent tele- graphs: President McKinley will not —— |~ | accept the mediation of European pow- ers to settle questions pending between How W.illiam K. Aid the United States in the Event of War. WILL PRESENT BATTLESHIP Yanderbilt Will the United States and Spain. If Europe thinks there should be mediation, let her mediate between Spain and Cuba. PO000000000060606060 0 NEWS OF THE DAY. ‘Weather forecast for San Fran- ofsco: Fair on Friday; westerly wind. Maximum temperature for the past twenty-four hous Sacramento . FIRST PAGE. ‘War Declared Imminent. W. K. Vanderbilt's Patriotism. Naval Reserve Increased. Damage Done by Temblor. SECOND PAGE. Preparing the Army. THIRD PAGE. Hot War Talk in Congress. Condition of Reconcentrados. FOURTH PAGE. Statesmen Delay Action. McKinley to Act Monday. Spanish Soldiers Excited. Teachers at Los Angeles. San Jose's Campalign. FIFTH PAGE. Tralling Train Robbers. Churchill’'s Disappearance, Northern Rush Abating. Suit for an Uncle's Gold, SIXTH PAGE. Co000000900000000000900002000000.:00000000900000900000009000000000000000000960 Editorial. The Earthquake and the Untruth. Reports of Crop Conditlons, The Dry Season. Market Street Paving. Tall Buildings and Earthquakes, Naval Appropriation Bill. Music and Musicians. Personals and Queries, SEVENTH PAGE. The Review at the Presidio, Cowardly Officers. A Brutal Assault. Gas Company Holdup. EIGHTH PAGR. Racing at Ingleside. NINTH PAGE. Births, Marriages and Deaths. TENTH PAGE. News Along the Water Front. The New Surveyor-General. Defended His Daughter, ELEVENTH PAGE. Escaped on His Wheel. Trying to Save Dowling. After Chinese Kidnapers. TWELFTH PAGE. The New Charter. NINETEENTH PAGE. The Commercial World. TWENTIETH PAGE. News From Across the Bay, Fire In a Cracker Factory. FEIX XXX XX 22222 X2 2 2 PP900900909999P909P090999P00099000O0PPPVIVPVVOVPPO0V0P900PPPV9P90OOS 9 NEW YORK, Ma--h 31.—A Washing- ton speclal to the Herald says: Meas- ures were inaugurated by the Navy Department to-day to place the naval militia of the country on a war footing. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt sent let- ters to the Governors of varfous States having naval organizations, urging that they recruit them up to their greatest possible strength. In addition they were requested to inform the de- partment at the earliest possible mo- ment of the number of yachts and tugs available for use as scouts to be manned by the naval militia organiza- tions. Returns received by the department show that the total organized strength of the naval militia is 4445, and it is believed it will not be difficult to in- crease this number to 10,000 officers and men. It is proposed by the depart- ment to utilize the naval militia to as- sist regular vessels to defend certain | places on our coast that have no great commercial importance and conse- quently do not enter into the scheme of coast defense by the War Depart- ment, though they would be of vital importance to the fleet in time of war. To put these places in a state of de- fense requires mines to be lald, masked batterles to be constructed and manned, men to defend the mines and a floating force to assist the de- fense. The naval militia will detail a certain number of their force to con- struct, officer and man batteries for the protection of the mine fields at na- val bases. GENERAL SCHOFIELD TAKES FORMAL CHARGE. Placed in Command of the National Volunteer Reserve of the United States. NEW YORK, March 31.—General John M. Schofield to-day took formal charge of the National Volunteer Re- serve, and plans for speedily obtaining an avalilable standirg army of 1,000,000 were made at a meeting of the military committee. ‘Among those who met General Scho- field to-day were Generals Grenville M. Dodge, Alex McD. McCook and Martin T. McMahon. General Schofield suggested that Congress at once be asked to put the new organization on a permanent offi- cial basis, anid this work will be under- NAVAL MILITIA ON WAR FOOTING Steps Taken by the Navy Depart- ment to Increase the Strength of the Reserve. taken forthwith. It will be in charge of an executive committee consisting of General Nelson A. Miles, ' General Russell A. Alger, Colonel Washington, General McCook, General Molineaux, General McMahon, General Pierson, General Ripley and General Wilson. —— — FLYING SQUADRON IN READINESS TO SAIL. Heavy Pressure of Steam Kept Up on the Brooklyn and Massa- chusetts. NEW YORK, March 31.—A Newport News (Va.) special to the Herald says: Commodore Schley, commander of the flying squadron. received orders from the Navy Department this afternoon to have his fleet ready to sall at a mo- ment’s notice. Since receiving the order | heavy pressure of steam has been kept up on the cruiser Brooklyn and the bat- tle-ship Massachusetts, which are an- chored in the harbur here, and they are ready to weigh anchor at any time. The order was communicated to the| commander of the Columbia, which is| lying at Old Foint Comfort. The battle-ship Massachusetts is in- capable of making her maximum speed | of 17.5 knots an hour. Her bottom is | covered with sea growth. A diver who was sent down to make an investiga- | tion says the ship should go to the dry- dock, as her bottom is literally covered, NAVY-YARD SEVERELY DAMAGED Havoc Caused at Mare Island by the Shocks. It Will Take From a Half to Two Million Dol- lars for Repairs. At the Navy Hospital the Seis- mic Force Causes Great Destruction. OTHER BUILDINGSINJURED The Temblor Also Felt on the Main~- land, and a Catholic Church at Vallejo Suffers. Spectal Dispatch to The Call. VALLEJO March 31.—Therele another holiday in sight for a great number of the men on the navy-yard at Mare Island, for it is a problem how long it will take for the island to recover from the shaking up it received last night. Estimates of the damage vary, and it will not be until the nu- merous boards appointed and to be appointed shall report that anything like even an approxi- mate estimate can be made. At present it is belleved the damage can be repaired for $500,000, but that will be only the rebuilding of what has been badly damaged or destroyed. Some of the buildings show no outward ef- fects of the shock, but shafting has been twisted, corners sprung, and it may be that all but two of these buildings will have tv be rebuilt before last night’s earth- quake shall have ceased to leave ts mark. Should the buildings have to be rebuilt $2,000,000 will not represent the damage. oJoJoJojoJoJofojololol~Io) PEO® PPPEREIPRPEOOO® ®® The shock seemed to be heavier on the island than on the mainland, and where the seismic force wrought its greatest harm was at the Navy Hos- pital, a massive building of brick, standing on the north slope of a hill on the southern end of the island. Originally the building cost $175,~ 000. It was Dbuilt in the most solid manner, and the thickness of its walls can be measured in feet. It has stood twenty-nine years, but last night’s shake has split it in a hundred different directions, and daylight filters through some of the rents in its walls. There were two water tanks, one in each of the towers, beside the main en- trance, and both of these were filled each with eight tons of water when the building began to rock. The walls rumbled and lurched from side to side, throwing some of the patients from their beds to the floor, rousing all the nmates and driving them half-dressed out to the lawn in front of the build- ing. There were fifty patients, besides the attendants, but all escaped unin- Jured. A board will investigate and report on the building to-morrow. The re- port will probably recommend that the building be torn down. Both towers are twisted fourteen inches out of plumb, and cracks run up the front walls from the foundation to the eaves. A partition wall four feet thick Is cracked from basement to attic. the granite lintel over the main entrance is bent down several inches and a big crack runs through it and on up through the bricks to the roof above, the arches in the hallways are split and seamed, corners of rooms are cracked from floor to ceiling and the whole building is like a house of .cards; massive as it s, it seems as if a strong wind would tumble it in ruins. The patients and attendants will be moved at once. ] The sawmlill, where the shock played its most spectacular freak, is a con- fused heap of bricks and rafters. There was $100,000 worth of machinery in the building and it will cost almost its value to save any of it. There was also a lot of work under way, and this, too, will be lost. The building was not strongly built, and it was on made ground—two facts which seem to have materially contributed to its complete destruction On the upper story was but owing to the strained relations be- | tween the United States and Spai this| cannot be done. This heavy growth is| suposed to have been taken on while | the ship was at Dry Tortugas on the | southern cruise with the North Atlan- | tic squadron. ! Several divers went down to-night to scarpe the bottom of the vessel and work will be continued until the ship is made seaworthy. Otherwise the Mas- sachusetts is in splendid condition and is capable of going up against the most powerful battle-ships in the world. The cruiser Columbia is short of men, lacking about .eighty to complete her complement, and I understand the ne- cessary quota will be enlisted here. The ship has on board the most deadly supply of ammunition ever placed in a cruiser. As yet there are only three of the ships composing the squadron in these waters. The Minneapolis, the fastest cruiser in the navy, is expected to ar- rive here not later than Saturday night. She is now at League Island. The Texas will join the fleet as soon as she leaves the Brooklyn pavy-yard. BT FEarl of ‘Suffolk Dead. LONDON, March 38lL—Henry Charles ll;!oam.rd, Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire, I where the plans of ships were laid out, and some valuable instruments were destroyed. Some estimates make the sawmill loss $150,000, but others place it at not more than $100,000. Beside the sawmill was a little paint storehouse, and it is now ‘a liberal education in the mixing of colors. Paints are strewn in every di- rection and walls and roof and floor- ing are mixed in an indiscriminate mass. Next to the hospital and the sawmill the most extensive damage apparent is to the big brick chimney of the con- struction and repair department. It is over 100 feet high and nearly 30 feet square at the base and 310,000 will hardly build another, but it seems as if that will have to be done, for the shaft is cracked clean around about sixty feet from its base, and up ana down the sides the cracks run in some places for at least twenty feet. There is another big chimney in the steam engineering department, but it escaped injury. It was different with the brick buildi-.gs on either side, how- ever. One is a foundry and the end is thrown clean out and the root. is

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