The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-01

ports, and the native courts failed 10
give adequate redress. A naval expe-
ultlon was sent to japanese waters,
and this had the effect of securing the
1uLeSt apology and also an agreement
by which every protection was guar
anteed to American citizens and prop
erty in Japan. In the case Of Java the
secretary sent a large naval force 10
the waters Of Java to demand that the
native trial courts should give the full
est protection to Americans. The ex-
petition was successful in it's purpose.
ana ali the assurances desired We're
given.
The principal Of money indemnity
for the killing Of foreigners has been
recognized in several recent cases in
the United States. One Of these was
the killing Of Italians at New Orleans
by a mob. In thai ease, while the
United States denied the responsibility
OF the federal government for the act
or a mob, yet indemnity was paid
out of the federal treasury as a matter
OF interna tiOnal comfy and equity.
Similar action was taken in indemni-
Tying China for her subjects killed at
Rock Springs.
President Buchanan adopted the pro-
cedure of reprisal in 1859. This is a
measure just Short of war. Mexico
was charged at that time with assent
ing to spOliation along the United
states border. President Buchanan
asked congress for authority to send a
military force to secure indemnity as
diplomatic negotiations had failed TO
bring redress from Mexico. This course
was adopted by Ongres and the pre-
paratiOns for the military reprisals
soon brought about a satisfactory ad-
juStment.
DENIAL OF EXISTENCE OF SUB
MARINE MINES.
In view of the widely published re-
ports that the harbOr of Havana con-
tains a system Of submarine mines, a
statement around which was centred
the chief public interest in connection
with the disaster to the battleship
Maine, Senior du Bose, Spanish charge
d'affaires at Washington, tonight made
to the Associated Press the following
statement which, coming from such au-
thcrity, may be considered as an Off
cial denial:
Il wish to state on my own official
knowledge that no mine exists inside
or outside of Havana harbOr, nor is
there any submarine defense of any
kind. The report is so absolutely false
and ridiculous that it could only
have originated in the minds of those
persons anxious to incite the evil pas
siOns of both nations for their own
miserable end l consider the very
suggestion of such a thing an insult
to Spain"
THE TERROR WAITING ORDERS.
Norfolk, Va, February 25.-The
monitor Terror remains at anchor in
Hampton Roads. The men are being
held aboard her and she is constantly
under steam, expecting orders to leave
every minute. 1t is said that ammuni-
ton has been shipped to Fort WASH
ingtOn from the Fort Monroe arsenal.
New York, February 25.-The Mail
and Express this evening prints the
following, dated Havana today:
THE United States naval board of
inquiry continued today taking the
testimony of the divers who have been
working in the wreck of the Maine.
Those who were sent here from the
battleship Iowa, and the curiser New
York were examined. While, of course,
the MEMBERS of the court will not talk
for publication, l am Informed, or the
highest authority, that the evidence of
Dive Morgan as to the condition of
the Maine shows almost beyond the
possibility Of a doubt, in the opinion
of my informant, that the Maine was
blown up by an outside agency. Fur
thermore, Morgan's report was veri-
fled by the other American divers who
descended today. All the testimony of
the civilian witnesses of the disaster
was taken yesterday.
"A DECISION REACHED.
The court will finish its work here to-
morrow and proceed at once to Key
West to take the testimony of the sur
ViVOrS there. 1t has also been decided
not to return to Havana, all the in
formation as to the cause of the dis
aston nhto ina hln hpva h9UinO hppn Go
cured. 1t is believed that a decision
has been practically reached The wit
nesses yet to be examined will hardly
change the verdict.
THE COURT HAS DECIDED
AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT TO RAISE
THE RUINED BATTLESHIP. THE
MEMBERS ARE CONVINCED THAT
IT WOULD BE USELESS, AS SHE
COULD NEVER BE KEPT AFLOAT,
AND THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES
HERE WILL BE INFORMED THAT
IF THEY WISH THE WRECK RE
MOVED FROM THE HARBOR THEY
MUST ATTEND TO THE WORK
THEMSELVES.
This RECESSION gives a better idea of
the terrible havoc wrought in the
Maine than columns of description
could do. The Merritt Wrecking Com
pany, it was announced today, wanted
s.. coo, 900 to raise the wreck. The com
pany's representatives made this de-
mand after viewing the condition of
the ship. The wreckers today turned
their attention to saving The great
gums. These, at least, can be recover
ed in sufficiently good condition to war
rant the effort.
BODIES RECOVERED.
Twenty unknown bodies of the crew
were recovered from the wreck by the
divers at noon today. The bodies were
frigfhtfully burned and mangled and 1t
may be impossible to identify some OF
them.
Holzer, who made such a brave fight,
died in the hospital today. All the
wounded will leave here Sunday on the
Bache for Key West. The physicians
consider it safe to move them now.
DEPARTURE OF THE VIZCAYA.
New York. February 25.-The Span
ish cruiser Nizcaya got under way