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

me to be true. The wit OF
man has not yet devised any imple
ment Of destruction which accident
may not turn against friend with an
effect equal to that which il was in
tended TO produce upon an enemy
SECRETARY SHERMAN TALKS.
Secretary Sherman spent some time
at the capitol today. He talked freely
with senators concerning the situation
in Havana in view of the Maine dis
aster. He told them that no important
addition TO the information previously
received had reached the department
for the past few days, but stated that
the situation was being considered with
the view Of having policy developed
in case the naval court now taking an
inquiry into the disaster should find
that it was not the result Of an acci-
dent. To this he added the statement
that he thought an indemnity would
certainly be demanded, and that if IL
should be, a good round sum would be
asked. What that amount should be-
would, however, depend largely upon
circumstances. The secretary did not
think the Spanish authorities had been
aware of the intentions of amy one who
may have caused the explosion, but he
advanced the opinion that whether
they were or not, the Spanish govern
ent would be liable for indemnity if it
was shown that any Sraniard had
caused il.
WALL STREET TO BACK THE AID
MINISTRATION.
New York, February 26-The Evening
World says that Senator Hanna was in
conference last evening with a number
of representatives Of prominent fnan
Cial institutions. and that he was given
to understand by them that the ad-
ministratiUn could depend on all the
money support necessary to carry out
any plan Of action that might be de-
termined upon. According to The Eve
ming World, a series of bond issues,
aggregating $500 600, coo, was suggested
as a possibility and was acquiesced in
by the assembled financiers.
RUSSELL SAGE'S OPINION.
Russell Sage gave out the following
authorized interview today:
From all the information received
there is little doubt in my mind that
our warship was blown up by outside
agencies and if the naval commission
so reports, the time for action has
come. There should be no WaVering.
This government must demand the
fullest reparatiOn and that without de-
lay. Whatever action, war or other
wise, President Mckinley may take,
he should and will have the fullest
support from both rich and poor, re-
publicans and democrats. There is no
question as to where the rich man
stands In the civil war when it broke
out, ! bought government bonds and 1
did the same in 1864. So did other rich
men. We had confidence in our gov
ernment. If the necessity arises now
I will do the same again generously;
so will other rich men I know of. |
am an American first and last, and
propose to stand by the flag. Party
lines win be dropped. AS for the stock
market, that has got to take care of it
self for the present. The ticker is
now a secondary consideration. The
honor of the government comes first.
I speak not only my own views ON
this point but those of other moneyed
men with whom I have talked. Another
thing-The families and dependents of
every sailor killed on the Maine must
be taken care of. That is bill Spain
must be made to settle. If the citizens
of this country enlist to defend our
flag and all that it means, We are duty
bound to see that their families are
provided for if they are killed. With
that understood by the people, there
will be no lack of soldiers or sailors
when the need arises. l think the
president has been wisely cautious in
this matter, but 1 am confident that
now he will act promptly in the Maine
matter"
THE BIG FORWARD MAGAZINE
UNEXPLODED.
A copyrighted cablegram to The Eve
ming World from Sylvester ScOvel, at
Havana, says:
Divers working forward yesterday
found absolute proof that the forward
big magazine, which alone could have
so damaged the ship, is surely uneX-
ploded. The sides and floors of this
magazine are practically intact and in
such shape as is impossible had an ex-
plOsiOn within occurred. Many divers
have so sworn today to the investigat-
ing board.
1T is now believed by experts that a
big torpedo or mine, aided by 500
pounds of saluting powder in the re-
serve magazine next to the big maga-
zine, might have produced the actual
results, both as regards extent and di-
rectiOn found in the wreck.
Collapsed powder cases found about
the magazine have hexagOnal marks
in the thin copper where the external
pressure forced it into its contents of
hexagonal powder
Kew West, February 26.-The United
States coast survey steamer Bache ar
rived here this morning from Havana
She had on board four of the Names
wounded. Two of them We're well
enough to walk.
Admiral Sicard today explained the
departure yesterday of Commander
West for Havana as follows: There
is nothing particularly significant about
it, ne said. Commander West asked
my permission to run over to Havana
to talk with Captain Sigsbee and the
officers of the court of inquiry. Com
mander West, as chief of my staff,
has all the papers in the case and We
keep in close touch with what is going
ON at Havana"
Regarding the movements of the
fleet, Admiral Sicard said: The boats
at TOrtugas are doing some target
practice, but the elaborate plan of
manoeuvres which 1 had laid out has
had TO be postponed, pending develop
mentS. / brought the New York in here
because l wish to be in close and con-
slant communication with the navy
departme ent."
Referring to the land naval station
here. the admiral remarked: Only