Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-14

Democrat, leading German paper of
this city, will say tomorrow: "As Amer
lean citizens of German extraction, We
cannot but deeply deplore this unfortu-
nate quarrel between me country of our
choice and that OF our birth. But what
ever comes, there remains but
two roads to follow; either We must rally
around the starry flag and defend it with
our lives and our fortunes, or We have to
shake off American citiz enship by emf
grating from this country, and since we
came here TO stay we will stand and fall
by our fag-our country-rignt or wrong.
SAN FRANCIsCo, March All manner
of disturbing RI nors were prevailed here
today, regarding the Samoan matter.
One is 60 the effect that the naval author
tiles Of Mare Island had received con-
tirma5iOn OF the reported sinking OF the
NIpsic, ard was intensified by statement
that the Germans had seized the Ameri-
can mail steamer Alameda. 1t
Is also asserted that the secretary of the
navy had telegraphed to the Union Iron
Works, Of this city, asking how soon the
steel cruiser Charleston could be placed
in readiness for armament, and that the
Southern Pacific railroad had received
notice TO be prepared to handle guns and
other naval stores. Based on these ru-
mors, newspapers put out bulletins
zclaring that the sinking of the Ameri-
can war vessel had been confirmed. The
news spread rapidly throughout the city,
and the most intense excitement pre-
vailed. Tremendous crowds sur
rounded the newspaper Offices
until late in the eveniRg. The story re-
specting the steamship Alameda has been
proven untrue by the receipt advice of
her arrival at Sidney, and the denial of
other reports from Washington has had
the effect of somewhat quieting the ex-
element.
New YORK, March 9.-General Tracey,
secretary of the navy, was interviewed by
an Associated press reporter on his way
from Washington to his home in Brook
Ign at 1880 tonight. He was shown the
latest San Frscisco bulletin re-
apecting the alleged destruction at
Samoa of the Nipsic by the Ger
man Corvettee olga, together with
the remarks thereon of Commodore
Walker. The secretary said that on the
journey from Washington to New York,
ne was not in Geographic communica-
| tion with anybody, or any place, and
could not be expected to know more than
Commodore Walker, who was in Wash
iDgton. He fully subscribed to the state
ment of the commodore, who stamped
the story as an absurd fabrication. He
had not sent any private information to
any one.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-Secretary left
Washington for New York this after
noon. Commodore Walker, who acts as
secretary during the absence of the head
of the department., was tonight shown
the latest San Francisco bulletin, re-
pecting the alleged blowing up of the
Nipsic. He had no hesitasion in
stamping it as an absurd fabrication, as
he denies that any orders have been sent
to San Francisco looking to the 5mme-
date equipment of the new cruiser.
Charleston. To show the utter i'm
probability of the story, Commodore
Walker says that Geographic news reach
ing San Francisco from Samoa must cross
from Auckland to Australia, then across
the Dutch East Indian islands to Asia, up
through Europe to England, and across
the Atlantic ocean to the eastern coast of
the United States, where it is taken up
by land lines and transmitted to Califor
MA. 49," said the commodore, cit is
evident Gndt Sucn news cOuId not possibly
| reach San Francisco before it is known
| IN the east, as the navy department has
an officer stationed at Auckland for the
very purpose of forwarding information
respecting Samoan events, and 1T is not
to be supposed that he would overlook
matter like the sinking of the Nipsic."
WASHINGTON, March 9.-It is learned
that the reported destructi of the Nip
sic was not even mentioned at the cab
met meeting this afternoon, which fact
is additional proof that none of the exc
cutive departments are in possession of
information which would confirm the
rumor.
WASHINGTON, March 9-Secretary Blaine
was seen tonight and said he had received
no information whatever in regard to the
reported sinking of the United States
steamer Nipsic