The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 7, 1898, Page 1

SAN FRANCISCO, THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1898 — TWENTY PAGES. PRICE FIVE CE} THE MAINE'S DESTRUCTION AS THE CAUSE FOR WAR “Esmowen Pr L A JoshpHNE i The EL RIO, One of the Morgan Line of Steamships Just Purchased by the Government for Use The El Sud, El Norte and El Sol, Belonging to the Same Line and as a War Vessel. Exactly Like the El Rio, Were Also Bought for the Same Purpose. ereign and Josephine Came Into the Hands of Uncle Sam at the Same Time. §] UEEN REGENT The Yachts Sov- SEEKING NOW TO MAKE PEACE Working as Only a Woman Can to Avoid Plunging the Land She Loves Copyrighted, 1888, by James Gordon Bennett. MADRID, April 6.—0f all the | great surprises in the extraordinary | diplomatic struggle between the | United States and Spain, during which we have been on the verge of war twice during the last few days, 2 the greatest is yet to come. At the present time there is on foot a great | s and final attempt for peace which has every prospect of being success- ful. And I state this when all around ere talking war, when men of peace | have become jingoes, when troops are being hurried to Spamish ports, when hot haste is being made in dis- patching ships from various ports to unite at Cadiz, when, unless this plan I speak of succeeds, Spain will send forth the best fleet she can muster | end it will be one that will have to | be reckoned with. It is impossible for me to tele- graph you what I know. I might frustrate one of the most noble at- tempts at peace ever made in the his- tory of the world, and peace may yet be written in large letters of gold where those spelling war in letters| of blood might have been. I can merely say, as an indication, speaking in the name of all that is most holy upon earth, the beautiful | | message of peace to Cuba. Yest: where the fall was from 2 to 3 points. But, as every one is crying war, and pessimism is at its height, let me tell, on unquestionable au- thority, that the situation is far from lost and that, although diplomacy may appear paralyzed, there are ex- traordinary means, which are born in times such as these, have risen into existence in tne face of the| threatened storm and by which cizver heads and devoted hearts may yet eed in proclaiming peace. s may seem enigmatical, but vy word there is a vast deal I will go further and tell 1y, the face of all| j s and alarmists, bas not only one string bow, out two. Further, be it d, that none of the theories or so far advanced has any | erence to these possible means or's hicli are at present inviolable se- crets. | to-day from Havre at Ferrol. that if it comes, it will be from the| hands of a good and pious woman, | rday’s optimism is replaced | by an equal amount of pessimism, | and this was refiected on the Bourse, | The preparations for war continue. Into War. RRRERBRRRBEBRRNGS & PROSPECT FOR PEACE. & s 2 MADRID, April 6.—The family of United States Minister Wood- & ford started this afternoon for Biarritz, France. The staff of the United States legation has left Madrid and will probably remain in Paris for the y present. The hope of reaching a peace- ful settlement with the United s States is growing stronger. It is % reported that the basis of an ar- % mistice in Cuba has been ar- #3 ranged. If this be true a royal decree will appear in the gazette to-morrow or Friday announcing 4 the conclusion of an armistice. % 3 LURURRRURRIIRN Mr. McCalmont’s famous yacht, the Giralda, is being fitted out with rapid-fire guns, and will be used for a dispatch boat. The torpedo boat destroyer, after a perilous voyage— for the tempests have been terrible lately—has arrived at Cadiz, where she finds her traveling companions, which she lost en route. The Infanta Maria Teresa, Cristo- bal Colon and Carlos V are expected The warships are undergoing the final fittings of their armament, which was made on the journey in order to make good speed to Cadiz. The tor- pedo fleet at Cadiz has, by order of the Minister of Marine, been rein- forced by the Habana, the Barcelona, the Retamosa and the Orion. The first three will be attached to the second torpedo squadron, should it start. The Audaz and Osado, torpedo boat destroyers, are still waiting to make up the second squadron. The Vizcaya and Oquendo, which started out from Havana to meet the torpedo squadron, have been sig- naled back, and have gone to Porto Rico. The torpedo squadron, it is un- derstood, is at the Cape Verde Isl- ands. It is now decided that the Cris- tobal Colon and the Infanta Maria Teresa would go, in case of need, to Havana, and the Carlos V and the Pelayo would remain about the Span- jsh coast. The Cardinal Cisneros has | left her dock and is at Ferrol. Thc; Osada has left Queenstown for Ferrol and the Audaz, which is in dock there, is being repaired. From all parts of the country re- ports come in of patriotic subscrip- tions, patriotic bull fights and pa- triotic theatrical performances. & GRAVE DANGER ' - OF A RIOT IN CUBA’S CAPITAL Lee Making Every Effort to Get Americans Out of the City Be- fore the Storm Breaks. Copyrighted, 1838, by James Gordon Bennett. HAVANA, Cuba (via Herald-Call dispatch boat Sommers N. Smith to Key West, Fla.), April 6.—Havana is in grave peril from within and without. Any fool can start a riot the consequence of which will be remembered for a century, and Morro’s walls may crumble to pay the price of his folly. Soon after the Smith dropped anchor | alongside the Fern yesterday the Bache and Mangrove steamed into Havana harbor and the stars and stripes stood out stoutly in the breeze from the stafis of four vessels—a welcome sight, truly, to the eyes of the Americans ashore, who may have grave need at any time of ships of refuge. Americans with whom | talked, while the gravity of the situation lay full upon thsm, did not forget to speak in high terms of the forbearance of Havana's people up to the present time and to add that, while the Prado was filled with drilling boys and while raw recruits and veterans aiike have the breath of war in their nostrils, no foreign citizen had yet been molested. This was all the more note- worthy in view of the fact that the Havana press had not hesitated from day to day to inflame the rabble by reference to *Yankee pigs,” while the lowest element had been fed on inflammatory circulars calling on the more bloodthirsty of the patriots to resist and avenge Spain at the expense of the strangers within their gates. Consul-General Lee told me a man who saw him within the hour was heavy with anxiety for Americans, who looked to him for guidance, especially the women and chil- dren. It _was felt that the Palace would do its utmost in the emergency to protect foreigners. As the Smith left Havana | learned that Dr. Pea had been suspended or removed because he was said to have facili- tated the movements of American steamers. 1 could not learn the exact nature of the charge made against him. The positions of the Fern, Bache and Mangrove in the harbor of course made it impossible to leave without the consent of the authorities, but no one in Havana be- lieved Americans would be in much danger if once on board these vessels, as the street mob seemed the chief peril with which for- eigners were confronted. That reminds me that the Spanish Consul in Key West is said to have agreed with the British Consul there to take charge in his stead, fearing trouble himself in case Consul-General Lee should meet with harm in Havana or news to that effect should reach Key West. Havana has at last awakened to the stern reality that it is threatened with war which will be no opera bouffe affair. The war fever has been increasing since J_friday last but. contrary to expectation, t'e streets have ceased to clamor for blood and the rabble has taken a quiet turn. On Mon- day night the Parque Centre and the Prado were crowded with a gesticulating mob filled with excitement yet refraining from any attempt at a demonstration. On both sides of the Prado uniformed volunteers were drilling, surrounded by interested friends. One company, organized Monday night, is composed entirely of boys, the oidest of whom is not out of his fifteenth year. In the hands of these infants have been placed rifles and to them cartridges will be dealt out. They present the most dangerous phase of the situation in the city. An attempt has been made by the local papers, under instructions from the Palace, to convince the city that the Pope’s media- tion has been accepted by the United States, which means, diplomatically, a victory for Spain. For once, however, the public has refused to be hoodwinked, and the announce- ment that the American Government has sent the Bache and the Mangrove here to take away its citizens, native-born and naturalized, is looked upon as the last step before the storm. In Obispo street I saw four small boys, whose combined ages would not excced twenty years, parading, each carrying a toy gun and a tin sword. Their operations were directed by an offi- cer of the regular army, while not less than 200 spectators gravely watched and com- mented upon their maneuvers. The Spanish officials in the palace are now convinced that war is inevitable, hostilities being postponed simply for the convenience of both governments. One whose intelli- gence and understanding are of high grade talked with me yesterday on the situation. “War,” he said, “is unavoidable. It s a shame it is so, for the Americans and the Spanish people have no reason for being enemies. Our interests do not conflict. We have always admired you, and certainly Americans have something for which they should thank Spain. Well, it is now too late to discuss the right and wrong of the mat- ter. War is at hand. By it right is to be determined. 1 recognize that the Cuban affair has been exasperating to America, but 1 do not believe it should have brought about war. You are a brave people. - Some Spaniards ~ think otkerwise, but | know it is so. You overestimats your strength because you do not recognize your lack of military organization. The Spaniards are brave. The opposite impression prevails in America because of our lack of success in Cuba. “ft is with a keen sense of shame that Spain realizes that her defeat is due to the corruption of her officers. Our soldiers are Continued on Second Page. l POOOPOOPOPPVO00IP009P0P90PPPOVOPOPOOPOOP 90 @ PP009P9PPPPPPPVIP099PVPPPOOPOPP9990 CONGRES S WILL HOLD SPAIN FOR THE GREAT CRIME Through Fear for the Lives of Americans at Havana the President With- holds His Message. Queen Regent Seeks to Compel Spain to Yield, While Both Countries Continue Preparations for Conflict Which Seems Inevitable. NEW YORK, April 6.—The Herald’s Washington corre- spondent sends the following: As time passes it is be- coming more evident that the | destruction of the Maine is toiI figure as the principal count in the indictment which Con- gress will make the basis of its action against Spain. This was not only devel- oped in conference this after- noon and inthe conversations | of Senators and Representa- tives, but it was told by members of the House Com- mittee on Foreign Affairs that the explanation which Sigs- bee had given to that com- mittee of the mechanical testimony before the Court of Inquiry had served to con- vince the committee that the evidence proved the ship had been destroyed by Span- ish treachery. The feeling over this is so PPO0O00000OOOOOOOO NEWS (F THE DAY. Weather forecast for San Fran- clsco: Cloudy on Thursday; south- westerly winds. Maximum temperature for the past twenty-four hours: San Franclsco. .54 degrees .54 degrees .64 degrees .60 degrees .60 degrees Sacramento FIRST PAGE. The Maine a Cause of War. Queen Regent Wants Peace. Fear of Riot at Havana. SECOND PAGH. Senators Not Satisfled. Excitement at Havana. May Reject Intervention. House Radicals Talk Revolt. Disappointment in Congress. English Comment on the Crists. Pienty of Money for War. THIRD PAGE. Plans a Naval Demonstration. Testing New War Machinery. Only a Spanish Lie. Lee to Stay at His Post. Troops Not for Display. Strike of Gold at Dyea. Klondikers Pay for Latters. FOURTH PAGE. Something of the Whalers. st. Helens Shows Smoke. Attacks Husband With Ax. Rain Helps the Crops. San Jose Gang Tactics. Murderer Hill Dies Game. Japanese Fear the Powers. FIFTH PAGE. News Along the Water Front, SIXTH PAGE. Editortal. Now for the Penalty. Repaving Market Street. Suppression of Poolrooms. California Ready. An Impertinent Junta. Music and Musicians. SEVENTH PAGH, News From Across the Bay. Australans Well Fleeced. EIGHTH PAGE. Christian Women in Session. Death Not Due to Accident. ‘ NINTH PAGE. Births, Marriages and Deaths. TENTH PAGE. New Laws for Hawallans. Notes From Local Diamonds. Racing at Emeryville. ELEVENTH PAGE A Notable Engagement. A Countryman Robbed. Woman Fights a Thief. Latest Army News. More of the Paving Scandal, TWELFTH PAGE. Proposed City Charter. NINETEENTH PAGE. The Commercial World. TWENTIETH PAGE. A Bride of the Sea. Officials Slow to Investigate. 0PV PPV0Vc 0000009000000 000060000606 TO BUY A PRIVATEER TO SWEEP THE PACIFIC. Copyrighted, 1888, by James Gordon Bennett. VALPARAISO, Chile, April 6.— + 4 to-day that the United States bat- < + AR R R R B on the best authority that $1,000,000 has been subscribed within a few Practically all of this money came from the Spanish colonies in this and other important Chilean cities. Instead of buying or building a man-of-war, however, as was first intended, the sum raised will be devoted to the purchase and equip- ment of a fast steamship for use as a privateer on the Pacific Coast Spaniards in Chile have responded liberally to the plan recently pro- posed of buying a vessel for the use of Spain in the event of war with the United States. I am told weeks for this purpose. of the United States. gon arrive. Spain and the United States. NS ST SO S S SSUA Up to a late hour to-night the United States gunboat Marietta, en route here from Callao, has not teen sighted. here will let her commander -hoose his anchorage when he enters. The United States Minister, Mr. Henry L. Wilson, has taken tem- porary headquarters here and will remain until the Marietta and Ore- The talk of war between Argentina and Chile has subsid- ed, and now all attention is centered on the pending conflict between LIMA, Peru, April 6.—Tt is stated tleship Oregon will sail from Callao on Thursday. The port authorities D R TS T T T SRR RS PSP PPP0VOOOPODOOIOPOIRCOVODIOVVODOVVPIOROOD intense that,should the Presi- dent succeed in any way in reaching an agreement with Spain as to the general Cu- ban question, it is doubtful{!@ |® I from declaring war onaccount | & if he could restrain Congress of the Maine affair. BALTIMORE, Md., April 6. —United States Senator G L. Wellington was in Balti- more to-day, and said in re- sponse to an inquiry : “I do Inot think it will be possible to hold Congress any longer | in relation to the Cuban affair. “] expect things will break loose to-morrow and that some definite action will be taken on the subject. I had hoped that war might be averted, but | see no pros- pect of that at the present time, and unless there is a decided change in the situa- tion war in a very short time is inevitable.” —-———— WAR PARTY IS CHECKED FOR A DAY Real Reason for With- holding the Presi- dent’s Message Until Monday Next. NEW YORK, April 6.—The Herald's Washington correspondent telegraphs: Another day of uncertainty and per- plexity. One day nearer war in the opinicn of Congress; one day gained for those who are seeking delay to secure peace by forcing Spain to yield to the de- | mands of the United States. Officially the reason assigned for the failure of the President to send his mes- sage to Congress to-day is a sensational PP 900009000000000000000000900000000080000060000000P00000006006090000068 9 PPP00PPOQCOPOIOPIOIOISIOIIOIQMI cablegram from Consul-General Lee de- | @ CO000000000000000606 @ SPAIN TAKES THE MAINE. Copyright, 1898, by James Gordon Ben- nett. HAVANA, April 6.—Ensign Powelson, who is attached to the Fern, while spending some time on the wreck of the Maine yes- terday was peremptorily ordered away by the commander of the Spanish gunboat Le Gazpe, who took the position that Mr. Pow- elson had no right there since the United States flag had been hauled down fro: the wreck after the departure of Licuten- ant Commander Wainwright. Powelson at first demurred, but afterward left the wreck and returned to the Fern. > @ L4 4 @ @ ® ® [OIOIOISROTOTO T2 A 2 joJciclofofofoJoXoXoJooToXoYololoYo) scribing a riotous condition of affairs in Havana, and urging that the message be withheld for three or four days so as to give him time for getting all Ameri- cans out of the island. When this cable- gram was received official announce- ment was made that the President’s message would not go to Congress be- fore Monday next. These kaleidoscope changes in policy are puzzling. When the Cabinet left the White House last night the definite | statement was made that the message would be sent to Congress at noon to- day. When Congress assembled word came from the White House that there would be two or three hours’ delay. Later there were hurried conferences between the President and the leading members of the two houses, and then word came that the anxiously awaited document would not come to Congress before Monday. The Senators and Representatives who conferred with the President brought word back to their colleagues that the Chief Executive was justified in holding this message in the light of the present condition of affairs in Ha- vana reported by General Lee. There is no reason to doubt the sincerity of the statement of the President and his official advisers that the safety of two thousand Anrericans under the protecting wing of General Lee was the immediate cause for keeping back the messag’e. Yet there is no denying that the ad- ministration authoriti¢s consider that the delay may not only be the means of protecting these Americans, but that conditions may so change between now and Monday as to possibly avert war. In any event they argue that from the military standpoint there wiil be gain rather than loss by the delay. The President has not yielded one inch in his determination to urge upon Congress the necessity for im- mediate forcible intervention to put