The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-03

|
| the places made vac at by the Name
! disaster.
PAUNCEFORTE'S CONDOLENCES.
Sir Julian Pauneefote came to the
State Department to-day bearing one OF
| the formal expressions OF deep CONGO
| lenca and sympathy with the government
over the loss of the Maine that have
come now from every one OF the BRUSH
colonies. This latest message was as
| follows:
Sir:
",t the request of Sir Alfred Maloney,
Governor of the Windward Islands, l
| hove tho honor to convey the heartfelt
vnpathy of that colony with the govern
| mont and people of the United States
in tbe loss sustained through the eXplo-
sion ON board the Maine.
II have the honor. ETC.,
(SigneO JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE."
There is no unusual stir of activity
about the bureaus of the quarter master
general or the commisSary general of
the army, where more than anywhere
elese the preparations for war-hke
emergency would be apparent. The Of
ficers of these bureaus say no accumula
ton of additional supplies is taking place
and that no contracts for extra supplies
are in contemplation. In the Ordnance
Bureau the placing of Il large order for
pr0jectiles is the result of talks between
Secretary Alger, Senator Hawley, of the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs.
and Representatives of the House Mill
tary Committee. 1t was made clear to
the Secretary that it was a certainly
appropriations would be forthcoming,
and it was deemed the part of wisdom
to make the contract now as the sup
plies would not be in hand for some
months.
Although the Navy department. had no
reports from Havana or Key West. Il
dispatch announcing the departure of the
cruiser Brooklyn from Santa Lucia for
La Guayra had some indirect Signif-
canoe in further removing one of the
larger vessels of the Navy from what
has thus far been the common center of
Naval activity, ut Key West. The Brook
lyn will make a short stop at La Guayra
and will then proceed further south
ward.
Both the State Department and the
Department of Justice have received
considerable detailed information rela
tive 10 the alleged filibustering steamer
Dauntless. This is accompanied by the
suggestion that the vessel might be
libelled under the Navigation laws for
cOncealing her name, and under the neu-
tralty laws for carrying war material
to the Cuhans. The correspondence be-
gan on January II last, and covers
much data Dn the past record of the
Dauntless. 1T states that the middle
Of January Hast the DauntlesS was how
ering between Florida and Georgia ports
for the evident purpose of eluding de.
lection SO as to get away with filibus-
tering party in Cuba.
The intimation was conveyed to the
Department of Justice that this purpose
was so clear that it would be a wise
preeaution to place a deputy United
States Marshal or deputy collector of
customs on board the ship. A memoir
andum recites the basis of suspicion of
the Dauntless. 1t states that in the
case of the United States versus John
ID. Hart, recently approved by the Court
of Appeals, the testimony of one wit
ness was that the Dauntless had painted
out her name in order to avoid recogni-
ton, while taking supplies for the Gu
bans from the island of Navassa to Cuba
The testimony of this witness is given in
detail. He says the supplies were first
brought from the United States to
Nayasa on the ship Laurada, where they
were transferred TO the Dauntless. He
says he noticed that the word "Daunt-
less appeared on the buckets, handles
and yawls of the vessels, but that the
name on the bow was covered with Il
piece of canvass and the name on the
stern was painted out. For this alleged
OffeE,se against the navigation laws, it is
pointed ont, the Dauntless has never
been prosecuted and it is claimed to be
4 continuing offense for which she is
now subject TO libel. The memorandum
also cites another instance occurring last
May, when it is stated that the United
States cruiser AIarblehead oyerhauled
the Dauntless. Thcreupon, it is stated,
the Dauntless threw over her cargo, ''as
witnessed by the officers of the Marble
head" 1t is also stated that the Daunt-
less has been known to apply for clear
lnce from Florida ports when she had on
board cargoes consigned ito the Presi-
dent of the Cuban republic" This ma
terial, already in the hands of the au-
thorititls here, will be supplemented by
additional information bearing on the re-
cent movements OF the Dauntless, al
though it is said that the showing al
ready made suffices for action against
the vessel.
NO EVIDENCE OF CONSPIRACY.
Key West, + Ia, March 2.-The fact
is becoming more evident, as the days
pass, that any information direct from
members of the United States Court of
Inquiry into the loss of the battleship
Maine, and from those appearing be-
fore it, is guarded with unusual close
ness. Practically no information pre-
scented to the court has been disclosed.
Fhe restrictions are so severe that the
communications between the naval men
who have been before the court have
been most guarded.
Naval officers at this station who are
connected with the court express the
guarded view that very little testimony
has yet been heard tending to show
that the explosion was the result of a
conspiracy or as to the exact cause Of
the disaster.
The enlisted men were examined by
the board this forenoon, as was also
Commander Forsyth. 1t is understood
he gave testimony regarding the coaling
N,ff haf 49,