The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-18
AT SPANS CAPITAL.
Officials Lament the Disaster to
the American Battleship.

MADRID, Feb 1.-THE disaster to
the United States battleship Maine is
sincerely lamented here, and particu
larry by the Spanish officials, whose re-
greet is mingled with apprehension lest
the accident augment American hos
tility. The Queen Regent was visibly
affected, and displayed emotion and
pleasure at the friendly conduct of the
Spanish sailors and authorities at Ha-
Vana.
General Stewart l.. Woodford, the
United States Minister, is receiving pri-
vate as we'll as official expressions of
sympathy. The Government is conf
dent that the able policy of President
Mckinley and the good sense of the
majority of Americans will maintain
peace
lei Liberal" commenting to-day on
the loss of the Maine, says: such
catastrophe to humanity claims indie
feasible rights, and the lncor of pol
tiles are silenced. Every great calam-
ity brings home to the two peoples
divided, though they be by animosity
and rivalry, that they belong to one
and the same family. Our noble
hearted people seeing the victims, for
bears TO think of its differences with
the United States. Tomorrow X will
return to the defense Of it's rights
| against all. But for to-day it feels
only sincere and loyal compassion for
the immense misfortune. Happy in
deed were the Spaniards, who by saw
ing the lives Of the crew of the Maine
at the risk of their own, We're thus en-
abled to prove the sentiments Of all
| Spaniards and the tradition Of Spain.
We do not know what may happen
tomorrow. We are prepared for any
event. But to-day let us pass the
sword, which we have been forced to
| keep drawn, to the left hand, and let
US stretch out the right hand not to
those who insult US. but to those who
| weep"
A Spanish Minister VII declines to
have his name used. said to the cor
respondent of the Associated Press here
to-day: ''All the official dispatches
agree that the loss of tie Maine was
due to an accident. We keenly regret
that the jingo element. with palpable
bad faith, are endeavoring to make
capital out of the catastrophe"
/ The United States Minister, General
Stewart L. Woodford, accompanied by
4 y
of the United States Legation, Lieuten-
ant c. L. Dyer, called at the Admiralty
to-day to thank the Government for
the assistance of the Spaniards Of Ha-
vana in saving the survivors of the
Maine.
DETROIT, Feb. IA special to the
News from Bay City, Mich, says:
A letter was received to-day from
he
dated February 18th, in which Neil
strup wrote that he would not be sur
prised if they should be blown up any
day; that the ship was surrounded by
torpedoes and could not leave the har-
Dor without consent a1C the direction
of the Spanish authorities. Meilstrup's
letter says:
| The Spaniards have a couple of gun
boats and cruiser, and there are two
German gunboats. The guns of Moro
Castle are pointed at US as l write.
The whole bottom of the harbor is COW
| cred with torpedoes, so that if they did
not want to let US out we would not
| be able to go very well. We are lying
between the Spanish and German man
of-war and they have picket boats out
| all night, watching u.s."
| In a letter of February 18th Moilstrup
says: Don't look for any trouble un-
| less something very unexpected should
| happen.
| In letter of January 10Th Meilstrup
tells OF an accident aboard the cruiser
Marblehead, when five men were in
jured Il shot Commenting, he says:
1t IS a wonder some of the ships don't
| blow Gp. they are SO careless.
ir.tt ,II ba
writer's mother Mrs. James Meilstrup.