Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-24

OF several survivors of the Maine and
their extended conferences with the
president and Secretary Long furn-
ished the most interesting feature of
Saturdays developments in the Span,
ish situation. Four officers came on
Unexpectedly from Key West Their
visit is said to be purely voluntary,
as they are now waiting orders and
are free to go where they please.
Their long conferences at the navy
department and later at the white
house led to much conjecture. 1t is
stated positively, however, that they
did not bring with them the report
OF the board Of inquiry either as
whole Or its general conclusions.
Their talks were confined entirely to
graphic narrative of their expert
ences on the night of the explosion.
In the course TO their narrative, how
ever, individual opinions as to the
cause OF the explosion found an ex-
PLANTATION. These opinions were
strongly favorable to the theory of all
ton of the Maine.
The diplomatic aspect of the Span
lsh question developed no new phases
saturday. In connection with the re-
lief measures being extended to Cuba
the suggestion was made that relief
supplies should go exclusively to pro-
Spanish sufferers, and not to those
within insurgent lines. This has been
suggested as the possible cause for
dlHerence, as it is said the authorities
here feel there should be no discrimin-
alton among the sufferers because of
their political affiliations.
Commodore Farquhar, formerly chief
OF the bureau of wards, yards and docks
OF the navy department and now in
command of the Norfolk navy yard.
was in conference with the naval Of
hcIals Saturday. 1t is reported that
the finishing touches have been put on
the monitor Puritan and that she is in
fine condition for sea service. It is ey-
pected that the Puritan will leave
soon for Port Royal, S. c., at which
partme1t will locate a feet OF torpedo
boats, which will be called on for as
slstance either by the fleet at Hamp-
ton Roads or Key West, should neces-
sity arise. The monitors which are
said will compose the fleet include the
Amphitrite, Terror, Miantonomah and
Puritan. The Brazilian battleships
recently purchased will probably be
taken to New York. The battleship
Oregon has left San Francisco for a
trip along the southern Pacific coast.
She steamed directly to Callao, Peru,
where she will wait orders
Both the navy and the war depart
ments continue active preparations for
an emergency and contracts for all
branches of armament are being made
daily by the various bureaus. The
0aVal bureau of ordnance has Just con-
tracted for 100000 pounds of brown
powder, which is probably the largest
single order ever given. This is di-
vtded between the California powder
company and the Dupont Powder COM
pany. The order is sufficient in the
aggregate to give 200 rounds for every
gun afloat in the American navy, and
with this large supply on hand the
navy for the first time in years will
be amply supplied with powder.
Some senators Saturday visited the
officials of the state department whom
they found celebrating upon the line
Of policy to be pursued in case the re-
port of the court should have the effect
of entirely eliminating the Maine in
cldent from the situation. So strong
ly was the contingency dwelt upon that
the inference was drawn by some OF
the senatorial visitors that the de-
partment has been led to believe or
had even been informed that the re-
port would fail to connect the Spanish
authorities or Spaniards with the
tragedy. Still the state department
officials did not make any positive
declaration that this information was
i'll their possession.
| Another interesting arrival Saturday
was Constructor Hoover, the technical
Z SApSlL SSuL W I1dNdud W lu6uIlly Lu6
twisted plates in the Maine wreckage,
with a view of learning whether the
explosion was of internal or external
) origin. Hoover maintains a deep 81
| lence concerning the wreck. He made
no report to the secretary of the navy,
as he was sent to Havana to learn the
facts and then embody them in testi-
mony before the naval court of inquiry.
! The prospects are now much brighter
for the acquisition by the United
States of two exceptionally fine war
ships, namely the armorsd cruiser San
Martina, belonging to the Argentine
Republic, and the battleship Gen.
O'Higgi1s, belonging to Chilli. The
hope Of getting these ships had been
almost given up, but cablegrams just
received from Commander Browns NJ
row in Europe, MAKE the outlook N re
encouraging. The actual purchaae
has not been concluded, but a high
official said the negotiations were get
ting every hot" The San Martina has
a displacement OF 6.S40 tons, speed
of .9S knots, armament of two eight
inch rapid-fire guns, ten six-inch quick
fire guns, six 4.7-inch quick fire guns
and % smaller quick fire guns The
General O'Higgins is battleship Of s.,
500 tons. Her speed is 21A knots.