Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-21
STORIES OF THE DAY.
What Fighting Bob Evans Is Said to Have
Told Secretary Long.

tUtu oCSsctdSy LVUy.
Around official Washington a story is
told concerning an interview between
Captain Evans and Secretary Long of
the navy the day after the Maine was
blown up. asserts the Chicago Inter
Ocean. Naval officers-those who take
the initiative-were inclined 10 be-
leve that Admiral Sicard should have
knocked at Morro's door as soon as he
could steam To Havana Sieard was at
Dry Tortugas with his squadron. He
had two courses before him. One was
to Key West. where he would find tele-
graphic communication with Wash
ington. The other was to Ha, ana.
where there WAS also Geographic COM
munication, but perhaps more difficult
to obtain. Slcard. dying the signal of in
quiry laid his course to Key West and
asked for Instructions What they were
is we'll enough known. There was a
protest on the part of many officials
naval and military, as we'll as civilian.
Long and other Cabinet chiefs heard
the criticisms, and in quiet way felt
the pulses of the departments.
Captain Evans. who was member
of the lighthouse board WAS a caller at
Secretary Longs Office
What do you think OF Sicara ae-
tom" asked the secretary. so the
story goes. Il hear many critic!sa ii. =
We'll. he acted in the line of his
duty" replied Evans, systematically.
but | think | know men who would
have done otherwise"
In what respect"
They would have headed their
squadron for Havana. and reported TO
you that they had assumed control Of
affairs. pending an examination and
would hold the city TO indemnify this
country in case the inquiry fixed the
responsibility for the damnable affair
upon the Spanish government or au-
uhorities.
Such proceeding would have been
high handed and in violation of inter
national law The administration
would have been very angry with Ad-
miral Sicard and would have Gisci-
plined him severely If he had taken
such action. objected Long.
No doubt the administration would
have been very angry. and doubtless
also Sicard would have been severely
disciplined" Captain Evans Is re-
ported as saying. but he would have
been the next President"
SHERIDAN AT THE MILLINER'S.
General Sheridan. as he became older
conquered his shyness. At the time of
the Commune, says the New York
Evening Sun. he was in Paris with his
aide de-camp. There was also stop
ping at the same hotel a charming
American women with whom ne was
slightly acquainted. The prisoners had
been liberated and We're rushing madly
through the streets. The order had al
so been given that all windows and
shutters must be kept closed. Shut up
in her dark room and hearing the noisy
rabble below. the woman became great
~ alarmed.
There is but one thing for me to do
she cried, Ito insure safety. / will put
myself under the care of the American
general"
She therefore sent her card to Sheri-
dan. who at once called and offered
his services. He also advised that she
should join his party in the morning
and get away to London. Stin she
appeared distressed Finally she cried
1T is my bonnets at Virot's. They
were to have been done today. How
can | go and leave them?''
The general grasped the situation
and offered his arm to escort her to the
milliner's. Happily. it was not far off
Ever afterward he delighted to tell of
his pleasure at seeing such an array of
dainty headgear. He had never been
at milliner's before.
WHAT HE WAS CHARGED WITH.
The fame of former Governor Peck as
a humorist is SO for abroad that
people no longer expect him to have the
temerity to appear at dinner or to
make an address without a series of in
cidents and pithy personal experiences
at his command. says the Milwaukee
Evening Wisconsin. The funny part
of it is that he does not in the least
consider himself story teller, and
really very seldom repeats a funny
story. What he tells are things that
really happen to him, and which his
ing make irresistibly funny There is
one story, however, which he has liked
to repeat outside of his own experience
And l have told it," he says. frankly,
until the family says. For heavens
sake don't ever tell that story again.
but it has struck me as one of the fun
nest that l ever heard. l know every
body has heard it by this time, so I
don't dare tell it any more. much as 4
would like to- The story is this:
There was a man on trial once
whose name was Smith, and who STAN |
mered most terribly. The first thing
the judge did was to ask him his name. |
The man did his best
'S-sss-s-ssss- S. he began obetlient- |
~. Why, stop making noise like |
that said the judge. We can't allow
that. Give me your name
'S-sss- sssssss-ss-' sputtered the
man earnestly.
Heavens said the judge. Sir
he continued, turning appealingly to
an Irish policeman who had brought
The man in, WHAT is the man charged
WITH
! should think, yer Honor return
ID the officer soberly that he is charged
"a - ~ ~ *