The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-05


tee Of the republicans appointed at
last nights conference to call on the
president reached the White house
shortly before 3 o'clock and soon were
closeted with MI. Mckinley. The csn-
ference broke up at $3.50 o'clock. The
committee reported to the conference
Of republicans at a meeting held after
the adjournment. They stated hat the
president made a frank declaration as
to what was taking place between the
two governments and concluded with
these words: II pray God that we may
be able to keep peace The impression
left with the delegation, hOWver, was
that he did not expect a peaceable ad-
justment. In strictest confidence, Mr..
Mckinley outlined the course of COM
municatiOns between Washington. and
Madrid. He stated that all now de-
pended on dispatches to be commune
Gated and received probably within
~forty-eight hours. The respOns of
Spain to a message cabled it by this
government was expected hourly and
surely would be received within tWeql-
" lDb lI'AAJ - AhLNOA - H'A ~
be necessary for this country to send
another cable note as a reply to Mad
rid. All this might be accomplished
in less han fOrty-eight hours. He,
therefore, minated that it would be
gratifying if congress deferred taking
action until next week. Mr.Hopkins, of
Illinois, who made the report for the
committee, said he felt it would be best
to abide by the presidents wishes.
Others who spoke at the meeting, in
Guiding Mr.. LOrimer and Mr.. JOY, ad-
ViSed p~OstpOnement. The president,
they stated, suggested that what was
related to them regarding the diplO-
matte negotiations should not be re-
peated until those negotiations were
closed; that if these secret and signifi-
cant messages were revealed at this
time and should become public proper
ty and be cabled back to Madrid the
publicity might hurt the cause and de-
feat the ends sought. Mr.. Hicks, Of
Pennsylvania, thought that in view of
the Dupuy de LONE letter no further
parley should be allowed and that
Premier Sagasta was acting in accord
with the policy that letter had reveal
ed. Others Ollowe in the same line,
hut it was finally concluded to defer
action until after the adjournment of
the house Monday.
Birmingham, Eng, March 31.-The
Kyochs, Of this city, AVE undertaken
to deliver 200 huge projeotiles weekly
to Sapin.
OUR WARSHTPS CLEARING FOR
ACTION.
Key West, March 31.-Every pre-
%paratiOn for action was k by the
warships today. All wood work was
stripped off exposed spots and SEN
ashore. The wood pilot houses On the
cruisers were taken down. To a GER
tain extent interior wood work was
also removed and sent ashore. Even
the sailors wooden boxes were remOV
ed from some of the ships. These pre-
cautions have been adopted to prevent
as far as possible, the danger of f1yins
splinterS in case of action. The Off
GERS sent their personal valuableS anC
belongings to be stored on shore.
The Castire and two torpedo boat!
left their anchorages after dark ant
steamed to the southwark, where the!
will patrol during the night. This pre-
caution was ordered by Captain Samp
son today. He is particularly anxiou!
to watch closely the V entranc,
to this harbor and also to afford ad
ditional safety for the Iowa, indiana
and New York, which lie unprotectet
six miles out.
The naval station officials have re
Ceived orders to overhaul their mariTt
engineering stock so that it could b
used instantly in case of emergency
Torpedo boats not engaged in patroll
ing the New York made another at
tack ON battleships. but all these meas
ures were guarded with the creates
secrecy. The establishment of a patrO
is considered by the few who knO o
ii as most significant. The entire flee
is now in readiness to move at fiftee.
minutes notice.
The gu4bOat Annapolis has left 70
Brooklyn. The five bodies from tn
Maine wreck brought here last nigh
were buried today with the usual sim
pie ceremony and without incident.
An important consultation was hel
this morning between Captain Sampso
and the other thief officers of the flee
on board the flagship New. York.
GERMANY'S DEMANDS ON SPAIN
Berlin, March 31.-Germany has com
menced diplomatic representations
Spain relative to the Cannamaba cas-
and the German cruiser Geier, on he
way to Bahia, has been ordered to &c
ready to proceed to Cuba if ~satiSfaC
ton is not quickly forthcoming. TIL
German version of the Cannamab
case is that some Cuban insurgent!
during the night of March 18TH, al
tackled a German refinery ait Canaan
aba (alSO written C~annamber) be
longing to the firm of Fischer
Schmidt, of Trinidad, province of Sar
ia Clara. The insurgents are said t
have ri1ed the safes, burned the build
igs, killed -four persons and wounde
ten occupants of the refinery.
THE SENATE FOREIGN RELA-
TONS COMMITTEE.
Washington, March 31.-The sena1
committee on foreign relations he
two sessions today. AT the mornir
session the proposition to purchase II
Danish island of st. Thomas was dr.
CusSed.
Captain Sigsbee, of THE Maine ar
Captain Parker, Secretary Long
naval aids who went to Key West aft
the explosion on behalf of the depary
ment, Were before the committee for a
hour at the afternoon sitting. Bot
were examined in detail i'm regard