Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-04-10

A special from New York says Faith
er John P. Chadwick, chaplain of the
battleship Maine, who has received a
commission as lieutenant from the
Navy Department, has been in this
city since Tuesday. While the grant
ing OF the commission, Father Child
wick asserts, is in the regular line of
promotion for chaplains in the navy.
the promotion is believed by his
friends to have been FASTENED by his
recent splendid attention to the wound
ed and dying sailors of the Maine.
After the priests arrival here he
went at once to St. Stephens church
where he had formerly been an assist
ant to Father Cotton, the present pas
LOT. The chaplain celebrated mass
yesterday morning, and after leaving
the altar chatted with the reporters
who were in the rectory awaiting him.
While affable and ready to talk of the
conduct OF the men of the Maine, he
was not inclined to discuss depart-
ment affairs.
La Lucna. a newspaper of Havana,
says that Capt Sigsbee was not ON the
Maine when the explosion occurred.
Is that true?" Father Chadwick was
asked.
mo, sir; it is not true. Cant. Sigs-
bee was on board the Maine. Just as
was every officer and men belonging to
the vessel, with the exception of four
men who were ashore on leave
Who were on shore?"
MI Bowers, the passed assistant
~ o1 l.;
Hill and Paymaster's Clerk McCar-
thy
Where We're you at the time of the
explosion, Father"
/ was in my room. | had just fin
ished my laborers for the day and just
started to read my breviary before re-
firing My room was on the port side
Of the Maine. | heard only one report
AID when | rushed upon deck | did
what | could and then waited for or
ders"
Have you any opinion as to how
the explosion occurred"
Il have explicit faith in the report
Of the board of inquiry. Its members
are all intelligent men. l believe full
ly their findings"
DO you think that Spanish Govern
ment officials are responsible for the
ezplosion?"
That is a matter no one can tell
with certainty. | have no opinion as
to who was the author of the eXplo-
sion. I don't think the Spanish gov
eminent had anything to do with ii.
The report from Havana that the
crew Of the Maine were in state of
mutiny the priest Indignantly denies.
Why" he said. only a few days
before the explosion Capt. Sigsbee
was speaking of this very matter. He
said then that he had an excellent
crew"
What was the situation in Havana
when YOU left there, Father
1T was very quiet"
Then the report that Americans
were unsafe there two weeks ago is an
eIaggeration?"
Yes
Father Chadwick was besieged with
callers Many of the women crowded
around him and shook hands with him
cordially. Father Cotton took him
10 the basement of the church, where
2.000 children Of the parish who attend
the parochial school were assembled
in charge Of the sisters. Then there
were affecting scenes The children
had been prepared for the chaplain s
coming In chorus they chanted the
tie Deum' Father Chadwick was
visibly affected by the sight of the
children, for all their eyes were cen
tered upon him. At the conclusion of
the anthem one of the older pupils
stepped forward TO the front of the
school room and waved the stars and
stripes. And while it swung back and
forth the 2.0C0 little ones, with arms
outstretched toward the flag sang
Hail, Columbia" and after that
THE Star Spanged Banner
Father Chidwick's voice was choked.
For several moments he could not say
word. Then he began in a low tone,
first saying that the prayers of the
children for the preservation Of their
friend had been heard. He paused a
moment and there was a burst of APP
plaUse The stars and stripes We're
waved again. and the speaker could
not continue The children cheered
for him and the applause was contin-
ued for several minutes.
When Father Chadwick resumed IT
was in voice more broken than be
fore. He told the little children OF
the true spirit of patriotism, and sald
that the love Of God and the love OF
country was inseparable. He was toe
much affected 10 speak long. and after
few words more took leave of the
children.
Father Chadwick received a letter
yesterday notifying him that the news
&per correspondents in Key West and
Havana had made him present. 1t
consisted of a handsome set OF white
vestments He was very much pleased
with this gift.
The Maine chaplain loved his sailor
b0ys as thoroughly as they loved him
and their loss has been keen one
but he does not seem to have been I'M
neryed His manner is calm his voice
pleasant gentle, refined. He is OF me-
dunn height and build. with somewhat
Wavy brown hair good features, ano
an open and most attractive race. Hls
manner bears no trace of suggestion
that he has risen to any puDhc I'M
portance or done anything but yer!
simple duty.