The record-union., 1896-05-10
State Department Exerting Itself in
Behalf of Milton.
Meanwhile Admiral Bunce's North
Atlantic Squadron, Lying at
Anchor in New York HarbOr, is
Being Kept i'm Readiness to Take
Up Anchor and Steam Out of the
HarbOr on Two Hours Notice.

WASHINGTON, May 9.-It is stated
here that the enforcement of the death
sentence on the men caught on the fill
buster schooner Competitor is liable to
bring about a crisis in the relations be-
tween Spain and the United States. 1t
is understood that this Government will
Tot allow the executions to take place
without a vigorous protest.
Secretary Olney several days ago sent
Instructions of no uncertain tone to
Consul General Williams. These formed
the basis for the representations made
by Williams to the court-martial yes
terday. Every effort is being made to
prevent the execution of the sentence
until this Government can make
thorough investigation ON which to base
Its appeals or demands.
1t is understood the friendly offices
which the State Department is exerting
in behalf of Owen Milton of Kansas,
sentenced by court-martiaa to be shot
in Cuba, are limited to the complaint
that the difficulty was reached in a
summary manner, without giving any
opportunity for defense and too hastily
to examine into all the circumstances
of the cases. The effort now being
made at Madrid and Havana is there
fore to be in the line of securing delay
of execution for a sufficient time to
permit such an investigation of the
Competitor incident as is demanded in
the interests of humanity.
1t is not thought that any attempt
will be made to secure civil trial for
Milton or any of his associates who may
be found to be bona fide Americans,
the treaty under which such transfer
of jurisdiction have been hitherto made
appearing to have no bearing in the
present instance. The first article of the
protocol between the United States and
Spain, signed January l., 1877, concern
ing judicial procedure, provides as fol-
lows:
mo citizen of the United States re-
siding in Spain, her adjacent islands or
her ultra-marine possessions charged
with acts of seduction, treason or con-
spiracy against the institutions, the
public security, the integrity of the ter
ritory or against the supreme Govern
ment or any other crime whatsoever
shall be subject to trial by any excep-
tional tribunal, but exclusively by the
ordinary jurisdiction, except in the case
OF being captured with arms in hand. y
Under this article many Americans
resident in Cuba in the past year had
their cases transferred to civil courts
through the intervention of Consul
General Williams, but there does not
appear to be the slightest ground OR
claiming Milton to be resident" OF
Cuba, and the article cannot therefore
be made to apply to him.
The same protocol, however. which
was negotiated by Caleb Gushing, sur-
ther provides that thoseg taken with
arms in hand, as exceptedfin the article
quoted, shall be tried by ordinary coun-
Gil of war, shall have counsel to de-
fend them and the right to compel the
attendance of witnesses. This clause
also relates only to residents.
MILLIONS MISSION TO CUBA.
JACKSONVILLE Fla.), May 9.-In
reference to Milton, the Kansas boy
condemned to death by the Spaniards
the following dispatch was sent to Sec
retary of State Olney to-day:
Jacksonville Fla), May 9th.
"Hon. Richard Olney, Secretary OF
State Washington: Milton, who was
captured by the Spanish authorities on
board the Competitor and condemned
to death, left Key West as a news
paper correspondent hoping to consum-
mate plans for furnishing reliable news
to the correspondents of the FLORIDA
"Times-Union' at Key West, who in
turn were to transmit such reports by
cable to the Southern Associated Press
and the United Press through the me-
dunn of this paper. He must have hac
with him at the time of his capture
credentials showing his connection with
the Times Union as its duly author
ized representative. Such letter was
furnished him by me-
II send you this information to assist
YOU in your efforts in behalf of young
Milton. I. T. STOCKTON,
Gen. Man. Florida Times Union"
wARSHIPS IN READINESS TC
SAIL.
NEW YORK, May 9.-Admira
Bunce's North Atlantic squadron ly-
ing at anchor off the lighthouse sta
ton at Tompkinsville, S. L., is being
kept in readiness to get up anchor al
two hours notice.
Fires are kept banked on all the cruis-
ers and steam can be raised within ar
hour Never before have ships of 8
fleet been kept to such a high stand.
ard of efficiency
This statement Is vouched for by the
officers of the flagship New York, who
however, are still kept in ignorance OF
the meaning of it all.
Admiral Bunce has been keeping close
watch of the drills of the different ships
noting the efficiency of the officers and
men He has encouraged the command
ing officers. but has given his conf
dence to none so far as his plans oil
those of the Secretary of the Navy ol
President Cleveland are concerned.
The drills have gone on day after
day at sea and in port in ordinary rou-
tine drills, with the rifle and cutlass
during the morning watches and with
the big guns of the main battery dur
ing the remainder of the day. Many g
time during the night watches officer.
and men of the ships have been aroused
to fight an imaginary battle.
More cipher messages from Washing
ton have arrived for the Admiral, bu
their purport has not been disclosed
The other officers of the fleet eagerly
scanned the Washington dispatches IL
the newspapers to learn if there were
any news of the rumored movemen
toward Cuban waters.
Two more of the cruisers of the Norti
Atlantic squadron arrived in port yes.
terday, making four ships now at an.
chor off the lighthouse station at Tomp
kinsville. They were the Cincinnati
and Montgomery. and they came from
Newton. Conn, where they have beer