The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-28
KEEP MUM.
q. s. Board of Inquiry Begins
Its Sessions at Key West.
Not a Word of Their Opinions
Made Public.
RUSH PREPARATIONS.
They Continue in All Parts of
the United States.
Governor of Washington Puts
Militia on War Footing.
WORK BEING HURRIED
On FOrtificatiOns on Atlantic
and Pacific Coasts.
Report That Forty Telegraph
ers Must Go to Key West.
This is Denied by Western I'm
ion Authority.
Governor of Washington Puts
Militia on War Footing.
WORK BEING HURRIED
On FOrtificatiOns on Atlantic
and Pacific Coasts.
Report That Forty Telegraph
ers Must Go to Key West.
This is Denied by Western I'm
ion Authority.

Key West, Fla. Feb. 28.-The United
States court of inquiry into the loss of
the battleship Maine in the harbor of
Havana on February Is, began its ses-
sion here this morning
Those officers and civilians here who
believed the reports from Havana say
ing the court had already decided that
the loss of the Maine was due 10
treachery, have apparently changed
their minds. for today the universal
question is: What has the court found
Out?' while yesterday one heard all
around: when will war be decIared?'
Brought face to face with the court,
men realize for the first time how un-
likely it will be for the court to allow
any inkling of it's conclusions to be
known out of due season. An unusual
hustle pervaded this little town from
early morning hours. The torpedo boat
Cushing went over to the New YOrk
and brought to shore Capts. Sampson
and Chadwick and Lieut.. Commander
Porter. Lieut.. Commander Mark, the
Judge advocate who is staying on the
island with Commandant Forsyth was
already at the federal building directing
the preparation of the United States
district court for the sessions of the
court of inquiry. A small crowd gath
cred outside eagerly watching for de-
VelOpments.
Long before the officers were ready
to go to the court room, the unlisted
men saved from the Inflated vessel
were up and waiting at their temporary
home in the army barracks
1t was not known whether any of
them would be called, but all prepara-
tons were made so that the court
should not be delayed in it's work.
Port Townsend, Wn., Feb. 2S.-The
work of fortifying the three conspicuous
points contiguous to Port Townsend,
which has been going on in a desultOry
fashion for some months is now being
pushed forward under special orders
from Secretary Alger and now double
forces are at work at Points Marrow
stone and Admiralty, and are being
worked night and day to finish up, and
already preparations are being made
for placing the heavy guns which are
due to arrive any day.
Tacoma. Wn., Feb 2S.-Gov. Rogers
has ordered that the y companies COM
posing the National Guard of Washing
ton shall be Immediately recruited to
their full strength. Recruiting is being
carried on actively. Gov. Rogers is Civ
ing personal attention to the Tacoma
and Seattle companies with the object
of bringing the state militia up to the
highest point of efficiency.
Phoenix, Ariz.. Feb. 2S.-A movement
is underway for the formation in Ari-
zona of an Independent cavalry regi-
ment composed mainly of frontiersmen
well skilled in the management of
horses and arms and embracing a large
number OF cowboys. Companies are
being organized at Prescott Flagstaff,
Phoenix, Globe. SOlomonviIle. Tomb
stone and Tucson and other cities. The
intention is to be in noWise a part of
the territorial militia, but an independ-
ent command ready to go to the front
at once. The enrolment is expected to
reach one thousand
Paris. Feb. 2s.-The Echo de Paris. to
day expresses the hope that a Euro
pean statesman will be found to inter
vene with the view of the maintenance
of peace between the United States and
Spain" Continuing the paper says it
regards the dissolution of the Spanish
cortes as an encoura ging symptom
Chicago. Feb. 2S.-Reports that 40 of
the swiftest telegraph operators in the
employ of the Western Union telegraph
company at Chicago were to start for
Florida, within the coming week. prac-
ucauy under government sealed orders
and that 50 men had already left New
/ ork city Tor Jacksonville, and Key
West were denied today by William j.
Lloyd. assistant superintendent of the
Western Union company.
This story is all nonsense" said Mr.
Lloyd. Some of our eastern officials
told me incidentally yesterday that
seven men had recently been sent from
New YORK city to Key West on account
of the heavy increase in business at
that point resulting from the destruc-
tion of the Maine. From this the story
probably originated No men have
peen sent from here and such move
IS not contemplated. We could not use
that number of men there ANYWAY
There are no wires for them to man
London, Feb. 2S-There is no truth in
the report circulated in the United
states that Lloyds' underwriters are
asking slight war risks upon Spanish
steamers bound for the island of C11I1s
New York Feb. 2S-The United
states monitor Terror passed at Quar-
alilIns an me Al LOU TINS morning. The YES
sci left Hampton roads Saturday after
noon, where she had been lying for a
week. fully prepared to put to sea. Her
commander, Capt. Nicou Ludlow. re-
SelVed instructions from Secretary
Long to remain in New York harbor
@Ht4A further orders, which is taken to