davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
STORY OF A PLOT TO
BLOW UP THE MAINE.
In a Letter a Cuban Agent Says
Divers Were Sent Out With
Torpedo.

KEY WEST, Feb. 27.-The latest
story as to the way the Maine was
blown up is contained in letter for
warded by a secret Cuban club in Ha-
vana to J. M. Gown, a Cuban insur-
gent agent The club received 1t in
the ordinary course of the mail. 1t
was written in English. but was signed
"Maquinista" (Machinist). After q
long preamble, saying that the writer
knew that the Names fate was due to
a Spanish plot, the letter goes on to
say that in an old warehouse at Santa
Catalina, 200 yards from where the
Maine was moored, some diving ap-
paratus had been hidden and that
from this base two divers had worked
by night and filled the torpedo holes
of the Maine with the dynamite cart
ridges connecting with wire to the bat
terry on the land, from which the cart
ridges were exploded. According to the
letter the divers were to have been
paid large sum, which has not been
forthcoming.
The Cubans in Key West say that
the investigation in Havana has tend
ed to confirm the statements Of the
letter, which will go before the court
of inquiry. An officer of the Maine,
whose attention was called to the story
to-day, asserted positively to the cor
respondent that the torpedo holes of
the Maine had not been opened during
their stay in the harbor
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
CONVENIENT SUPPLY
DEPOT AT ST. LOUIS

NEW YORK, Feb. "a ST. Louis
special to the Herald says: The Gov
eminent has in stock in the supply de-
pot in ST. Louis equipment for 5000
men. Within twenty-four hours 1000
infantry, 1000 cavalrymen and 1000 ar
tillerymen could be fully equipped for
service. st. Louis is the base OF sup
plies for the West and Middle West,
and arms, clothing, saddles, ammuni-
ton and tents are kept here.
Major Booth, commanding the arse
nal, received a few days ago five car
loads of clothing, blankets, shoes, hav-
ersacks and every other kind of equip
ment for soldiers. The only short sup
ply Is overcoats. There are only 1000
of these on hand at the arsenal, but 1t
is said that no difficulty would be ex-
perienced in filling up the stock Of
these If it should become necessary.
The supply of rubber ponchos-cembi-
nation caps and helmets and extending
over the head and shoulders, back and
breast--is large, and these are of more
Importance in the Florida peninsula
and Cuba than wooden overcoats.
The various Western forts are full
and are in a position to move at once.
The majority Of them have been COM
pletely stocked recently, so that the
vast amount of supplies now at the ar
senal would be used for new companies.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28

specifications, the experienced builders
would now be on time were it not for
the interference of officials and endless
recommendations, suggestions and or
ders of changes in plans. 1t is only
fair to state that the bureaus of con-
struction and steam engineering have
but small share in this delay, but the
Government inspector at the works.
whether he be a contractor, engineer
or line officer, does, as a rule, feel it
incumbent to burden the bureaus and
the builders with suggested changes,
and time and money are thus lost with
out any appreciate increase of eff
cheney to the ship, but certainly a great
loss to the builders. This everlasting
time-killing and money-eating business,
without resulting in the production as
yet of a perfect ship-of-war, does not
cease with the delivery of the ship at
the yard for the alterations frequently
consume four or five months before the
ship goes on her first cruise, and with
the assignment of each new command
ing officer changes are made involving
the expenditure of many thousands of
dollars and loss of time.
An incident which occurred during
one of the spasmodic efforts in the
French navy some years ago points
the way out of the difficulty. An Off
Ger was assigned to the command of
an armor-clad lying at Toulon ready
for sea, but notwithstanding orders to
proceed with as little delay as posi-
bic the captain dallied, urging various
changes in the ship. At last the Min
lister Of Marine solved the trouble by
detachtng the officious captain and
turned the ship over to another officer
who sagaciously took the hint and
went to sea at once.
The result of these delays caused by
Government officials is that contractors
consider this factor as an additional
expense, which is included in the sum
total, but yet for all that Cramps, the
Union Iron Works and others have been
badly caught, and are seeking remun-
Grafton by claims on the Navy Depart
ment.
Cramps claim $4S0,231 90; for the Mass
achusetts, s4S3,75 40; for the Iowa,
s1S5,662 IS; Brooklyn, s1S3,246 81; New
York, $211,01S g. and the Columbia,
S192,235 79, making total claim Of
81, 1856, 1873 % on account of losses in
CURED through, changes and delays by
the navy officials. The Union Iron
Works have equally good claims for
extra compensation for delays on the
Olympia and Oregon, where the Ord
nance Bureau failed to deliver the re-
after the builders should have deliv-
cred the ships.
The appended tables show the con-
tract time in months and the actual
time before the ships were turned over
to the navy yards. The most conspic-
uous cases of delay attributable to
builders inexperience are the Mont
gomery, Petrol, Concord, Princeton and
Ericsson. The others may be fairly di-
vided between the. builders lack of
facilities and Government delay and
interference. The fact that this coast
drawsaits supply of ship building ma
terials from points $500 to 5000 miles
distant greatly hampers expeditions
work, and Cramps and other Eastern
builders have a decided advantage
over the Union Iron Works in this re-
gard:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
COLLECTING DATA IN
THE PACIFIC STATES
War Department Figuring on Trans
fer of Troops Should It
Become NECESSARY,

TACOMA, Wash, Feb. 27.-It is an
nounced here that the War Department
is collecting data which will show how
and in what time troops can be moved
through and out of the Pacific Coast
States and probably all Western States
kilograms asking for this information
have been received by Governor Rog-
ers, and reports forwarded by mail.
Though hundreds of men are going to
Alaska, there are thousands left in
Washington who, according to specials
from every county printed to-day. will
quickly enlist If volunteers be called
for.
The greatest interest is manifested
throughout the State, and news dealers
report their sales Of papers, particular
ly San Francisco papers containing
complete reports from Washington and
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28

Ian went down to the foot of Washing
ton, on the Potomac River, where they
inspected the new Notifications and the
two ten-inch guns which have been
mounted in them. One of these guns
mounted nearest the water front COM
mands the approach up the river. The
other gun on the crest Of an elevation
behind the old stone fort has a range
not only down the river but up stream
as well as far as Alexandria. A test
was made with the upper gun. The
gun was first raised and lowered sew
eral times in order that the delegation
might see the working Of it, and then
all the men were called into their pit
and the actual test began. Twenty
men were required to work it, and ev-
cry one of them knew just what to do
and when to do 1t. They worked with
the smoothness of veterans, and the
officer in charge informed the visitors
that they would fire the gun up the
river. He chose a spot about one mile
below Alexandria and about six from
the fort where he said the shot would
fall. 1t was not fired straight up the
river owing to a number of sailing YES
sells which were in the vicinity and the
officer was compelled to have the shot
drop in shallow water. After the gun
had been properly loaded and the ele-
walton had been figured to a nicely one
OF the officers touched an electric but
ton, and the ponderous gun slowly be-
gan to rise and after getting about
halfway up it began to:g go faster until
it reached the top, where by the pres
sure of another button 1t was fired.
The gun was fired three times, and
each time the elevation was so changed
as to send the shell in different local
ity. Those who did not know of the
nicely with which the course of the
projectiles could be computed feared
that one of them would strike some of
the craft in the river. In fact, when
the first shot was fired 1T looked as
though it was going directly through
large three-masted schooner which was
sailing majestically up the river under
full canvas. After the shot was fired
the officers could plainly see, with the
aid of field glasses the CONSERVATION
caused by the screaming and kissing
of the shell as it passed over the boat.
The crew all ran to the bow and
watched carefully to see If they could
discover what was causing the unusual
noise on the usually silent river. They
gave 1t up in disgust apparently, but
when second shot was fired the men
went below. The gun while being de-
pressed falls so lightly that one of the
men placed his finger under 1t to show
that it would not even bruise 1t. The
recoil is lessened by numerous oil
chambers.
Chairman Hull of the House Commit
tee on Military Affairs stated that the
test Yesterday was sufficient to demon
strate the need of materially increasing
the artillery branch of the army. These
high power guns require twenty men
to work, and all have to know exactly
their positions.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
WOULD RATHER FIGHT
THAN DIG GOLD.

BOSTON, Feb. 27.-Some folks would
rather fight than dig gold. A Klondike
party made up of residents of Rhode
Island headed by Quincy Andrews, has
delayed departure, owing to the Span
ish trouble. There are about fifteen
solid men in the organization. Each
has a rifle and a first-class outfit for
camp. They have just voted not to
leave next week for Alaska, as con-
templated, but to offer their services to
the Government If occasion demands.
The members of several other similar
expeditions slated for an early depart
ure signify their intention Of follow
ing the example of the members of this
party.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
HOW PARTISAN PAPERS
VIEW THE SITUATION.
Believe War on the Point of Break
ing Out-Uncle Sam Advised
to Think Twice

NEW YORK, Feb. PA Paris cable
says: LIE Temps says of the Maine
disaster: Not only do the facts which
have leaked out so far point to a sub
marine mine as the cause of the dis
aster, but there is also argument in
support of its being due to design. If
such is the case Mckinley will have
great difficulty in preventing a con-
flict.
Patrie thinks war on the point Of
breaking out between Spain and the
United States, but advises the latter to
think twice before engaging in the con-
fiict. SPANS army and navy, it saws.
are composed of seasoned and tried men.
whereas this quality is absent in the
forces at the disposal Of the United
states. The American fleet is organized
only for defensive war. AS for the
American army, 1t is still to be brought
into existence.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
Shipment of Big Guns.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 81. = There
were a number of alarming stories as
to heavy shipments of ordnance from
the Washington Navy Yard to New
York for arming the auxiliary of the
new navy. 1t is said that the depart
ment that so far none of these guns
have been shipped to-day, but that a
few for the Chicago, probably four
teen 5-inch rapid-fire guns, Will be
dispatched Monday or Tuesday. With
these guns in place the Chicago would
be pretty well modernized In the mat
ter of armament. She will carry still
her four big S-inch guns in sponsors
on the spar deck, while on the gun
duck these fourteen 5-inch rapid-fire
guns will replace eight 6-inch guns of
oil
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
Secretary Long and His
Assistants Labor
Constantly.
Spain's Representative at Washing
ton Gives Out Assurances That
the Public in General Is
Not Inclined to Share.

Havana, to have doubled and trebled.
Several men,, including Colonel Will
liam Fife, have given up going to Alas
ka that they may be ready for
service if war comes. Colonel Fife
has asked the War Department to per-
nit him to offer the first volunteer regi-
ment, already partly organized, II
troops are called for. officers Of the
National Guard believe that northwest
ern troops will pass through California
en- route to Florida if hostflities are
commenced otherwise they could be
rapidly sent East over two trunk lines
which traverse the State. The State
National Guard is being recruited to its
full strength
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
TEST OF BIG COAST
DEFENSE GUN.
General Flagler Entertains States
men With an Interesting Ex-
hihiti0u IN tho Pofomac

+ NEW YORK, Feb. IA Washing
ton special to the Herald says: Cen
eral Flagler, Chief of the Ordnance
Bureau of the War Department, treat
ed number of Senators and Repre-
sentatives yesterday to practical IL
lustration Of what can be done with the
new coast defense guns. At his invi-
.tation Senators Hawley, Carter, Petit
grew and Mitchell and Representatives
Hull, Hemenway, Pitacy and McClel-.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
Frantz Gets His Trophy.

SAN BERNARDINO, Feb. 27.-Private
A. D. Frantz of Company K of this city
has received the General Last trophy,
which he won at the recent State shoot
Three men tied his score of IS. made at
the last of the three shoots, SO Frantz
holds the medal only until some time in
March, when the four will shoot off the
tie at Los Angeles to see who retains the
trophy
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL
NOT BE FOUND WANTING

BOSTON, Feb. 27.-The Journal to-
morrow will publish the following:
NASHUA, N. H., Feb. 27.-War is al
ways terrible calamity. I do not believe
1t will come out of the present complica-
lions. IT 1t must come New Hampshire
will be found ready and willing. as in the
past, to do her full share In maintaining
the honor Of the republic.
GEORGE A. RAMSDELL,
Governor Of New Hampshire
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
Falls Dead After an Installation.

CHICAGO, Feb. N.-Charles A. THE
man, grand president of the Arbiter Stet-
zung Verein CWorkingmen's Mutual Aid
Society, dropped dead on the platform OF
the lodge hall to-day He had just finished
the work of installing officers. More than
200 persons were present. Several women
tainted and panic was narrowly averted.
Thieman was SO years old and Well known
among German workingmen.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28

A foul breath was one of this mann
symptoms. and now 1t is as clean and
sweet as possible. The Hudson. Medical
Institute, that alone supplies "Hudyan."
is at the corner of Stockton, Market and
Ellis streets. from where all people can
get quite free circulars and testimonials
telling all about "Hudyan." ..3O-dav RIood
cure" circulars are also free to those who
have blood faint or poison in their svs-
TENS in any way. No matter what tba
stage. the cure is as certain as sunrisa
DOCTORS Advice is free, too. Ask for It.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28

DEFENSE OF WEYLER,
HATRED OF LEE.
Copyright 1885, by James Gordon Bennett

ralor OF
II
speak then natter msg
eacHberas b tense h
thoroughly o
1t woud b eQ for
Lee ashavng
cwnhC h Ag other eblh
feeling here erybr hr yr Anred Ito
him M e il the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28

AS to vessels not yet launched-the
battle-ships Kearsarge and Kentucky.
contracted for January 2, 1896, to be
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28

what George Seaman could do. and
with no apparent effort. Yet the man.
was weak in some way. One is in
clined to believe that with muscles we'll
developed each man is a tower Of
strength. II is not SO. Some apparent
" healthy men are weakIings in the true
sense Of that term, and Seaman was one
of them The muscles Of his legs were
in splendid condition, but in constitution
generally he was weak Some accused
him Of dissipation and Others OF tollles
in different ways. It was not I'LL he had
been carefully examined at the HUDSON
ian institute that twas clearly discovered
what afflicted him. II seems that like
many Youths he had been reckless, and
nature had refused to supply him with
that strength which is essential TO per-
feet manhood He was much depressed
before his examination, but when assured
that with few weeks treatment by
+" Hudyan" he would be in the very best
Of health again he became tntle more
buoyant After a weeks experience at
the Institute he was like different man.,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28

and he proposes
to 60 now to the
land Of snow to
teach the people
how to jump.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28

An athlete who
can jump six feet
is not met every ,
day in the week
yet this is Just
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28

| Location
Newport News, Va.
Philadelphia, Pa
San Francisco. Cal.
Bath. Ne.
Baltimore, Md
Wilmington, Del.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Elizabethport. N. ].
lChester. Pa.
Camden, N. J.
Philadelphia. Pa.
Bristol, r. /.
San Francisco. Cal.
Seattle, Wash.
! Portland, Or.
New York, N. Y.
Arizona republican., 1898-12-22
Arizona Day by Day
 Live News Taken From Territorial Exchanges.
width of the ledge is net known,-

width cf the ledge is net known-
 Journal Miner.
 i Dlcd, it Camp Verde, Arizona, .Ds- camber F, 1898, Julian Lcpcz, 2: na-
 tive Of Mexico, 2g-d S5 y5ars. This
 cid man was s "a he" white Mexican o.
 SpanisEd who livcd in Csl'fc. nia t7hel it vas annexed to ths United
 States, and fer the past twenty-five
 years has ben Q member Of the family
 of Wales Arnold, who with lis wife
 cared for him the pas six CT e:ght years at their CWn eXpsnss until TWO
 or three years ago and while John Weed was supervisor he got tGen an allowance of s dollars per month t2 pay fir n dic2l atteldance, as they preferred to keep him rather than sse the old man go yo the poor hoIs3.- Journal Miner.
 The PcoP,e of Prescott are SC accus- tened to home mining news which in other sections would keep the wires hot
 with teiegrams and cause sensational headings in city papers, that litle CT no attention is paid to mill runs and shipments of rich ore. This fact was rather fOrcibiy illustrated last evening when tke reporter was informed by . mining man who had jus come from the Senator mine that the Senator mill had completed q run Of fOrty-One tons Of ore from the Senator mine, which fCrty-One tons of ore yielded $30,000 in geld. The Senator mine is located ten miles and 9 half sou Invest Cf Pres colt. The ere is said to have been taken from the ?00-fCOt level. It is the intention Of the company to sink 200 feet deeper in the mine.-Presectt Courier.
 Of the prospectoT, Sam Davis says in the Chautauquan: To tEe brave and rugged DrcspecJor, with his cheap out- and his great hope, is due the rapid de- vel0Dment cf the west At the zap of h-s pick, the doors Of natures treasure vaults open, but their wealth is not for him. The stock sharks, the s1ccuIa- tors and the promoters rcb him of his interests, and Jne snow is no soonsr sinking from the slopes of inc foot hills than the poor fellow is vending his way into new territory. He ap- pears in the rocky fastnesses Cf the mountains, and, with TO companions bat his pick and frying pan, is lost to m 5nCry. Suddenly comes the news of another discovery, and 8 city rises like | a pillar 0f fame in the wilderness. ! Lucky Bill' has struck it rich, gambled ! away his pile and pushed on. The ! bodeS Cf hundreds Of the advance cOur- i iess of civilization blaze the path of ! progress in ne west, CT moulde- in for ! gotten graves, while in their wake are . cities they have founded and l the ccaseless murmur of the money seeking multitude whose fortunes they ! have Duiidcd. '
Arizona republican., 1898-12-22

bow, the last little maid had darnof her cloak and rabbcra and hold ID hcl chubby f2cc for . partin,-- l-i-s, when | Wanda began to make psep;.z,;st ions for ] her d9I3;:-t.rc. She generally vvas the | tardicst U leave. as her cavalier. Bob l SlOcuE1, had chores, to tl3 It home which deprived I2ic-l of the felicity of escorti1G taochcr hone.
 She lad i-:st put the finishing touches to the crrGa cro1acnt of her v-hitc }voo!cn hood. in which her sweet fee atoac forth too be~itchingly for description, when skc heard . gentle tapping &t the schOol-roon door.
 Come iai'' she said, chccrfoll-J-. q,ite expecting to see some N5Cc Eitc appear to claim her sympathy aad rcdres1 for havinr been u,;ncrcifulI- snoHbalicd, so the stcrt she Ccvc when -tlphOnsc Damic1ls. hat in hand, presented him self. night bo readily excused.
 ''I left the tea-1 and AEr. Arundel at Stewards, Hiss Wanda, and walked up here, hoping you would allow me to ace 3Iai3aay yoa homc,' he said, with great Gcforencc.
 Thank you. shall be ready in one moment, 8Ir. DaInicns," sllc replied, ca~clcssly, though her flushed check be lied the serenity of hor IT amer. If she only knew tho wild turmoil cf passion which thrilled his soul she would have been even loss at ease.
 He scarcely hears her, as she adds another coil to the wrap round her white throat.
 Now am ready" Wanda says, and thcv pass out into tho lonely roatI with the frozen river on enc side or 1t and the snow burdened pines on tAo ether.
 T would net be PresuIaptuoUs, Miss Arlington, but may i scy that this lit tie walk is glimpse of Heaven to mc?'' he faltcrs.
 He feels the soft hand on his arm trcnblc, he sees the fearless misery which comes into the eyes and aims them.
 "Let-let Us walk faster, she whis- pers scarcely above her breath.
 Go f1sterl'' he echoes bitterly. ''Ycs, I had almost forgotten myself. There should be q short cut to the left here. Arc you cold?"
 No. she says, but there is tremor in her voice, which she strives hard to render light and careless.
 ''Go faster!'' he says with Q despair ing shrug Of his shoulders. ''Ah. if these hours of torment would only 20 faster. Do you remember the day that first saw you? You were standing at Mrs. Evesham's cottage door orc July evening and the wind blow my straw hat to your feet. You picked it up and gave 1t to me
 II do not rcmcnbcr-I have forgot ten," Wanda says indistinctly.
 CContlnued Tclnorrow.l