The age-herald., 1898-03-24
JUDGE ADVOCATE
 AT JACKSONVILLE Carried a Mysterious Black Box and Was
 Closely Guarded. ACCOMPANIED BY OFFICERS Who Were on the Maine When the EX-
 plOSiOn Occurred. THEY WOULD EXPRESS NO OPINION Remark Attributed to Marix That the Only Out come of the Affair Was War Denied by
 That Person - Will Reach
 Washington Tonight
THEY WOULD EXPRESS NO OPINION

Jacksonville, Fla, March 23.-Judge Ad- vocate Mark left Miami at 7:3O this morn ing on the East Coast railroad, reached Jacksonville at 7;45 on time and left at 8 o'clock via the Florida Central and Penin- sula and Southern and will pass through Savannah, Columbia Charlotte, Greensboro, Danville Lynchburg Charlottesville, reach- ing Washington at s:25 p. m. (eastern time) Thursday night. The railroad wires have carried orders along the line to use all dis patch. This practically makes special of the Mark train and without unforeseen ac- cident Washington will be reached on the dot and the portentious document landed in the white house by 9:30 o'clock. The run from Jacksonville Is 772 miles, the schedule time being little over twenty four hours
 Ieutenant-C Commander Mark passed through the city this evening with the courts report. He was accompanied by the following officers of the Mine: Lieu tenant Hood, Lieutenant Jungen, Assistant Passed Engineer F. c. Bowers, Naval Ca- det A. Bronson and Carpenter George Helms.
 The party arrived in this city from Miami at 7:45 and went at once to the Pullman car that was awaiting them. The sleeper was attached to- the Florida Central and Peninsula train and in fifteen minutes the party was hurryng to Washington as rap idly as steam could take them
 Denied Saying It
 During the short time of the stay in this city, an Associated Press reporter secured the attention of Lieutenant Mark and showed him a dispatch from Miami that appeared in which he was quoted as say ing: "It looks like war; it certainly does."
 Before the words had been read to him, he exclaimed: Ut is utterly false. l have said nothing of the kind. don't talk about this matter"
 All efforts to get him to make an express sion of opinion were equally vain, so far as the present crisis or his relations to it are concerned. Other members of the par ty were equally rfon-eommfttal.
 During their transfer from one train to another, Lieutenant Mark was closely guarded by the members of his party He walked between two of his guards, carry ing a mysterious box or package covered with black cloth. Behind came his party following closely and the fact was appar- ent to all that there was no possible chance for an outsider to come between them. They walked rapidly and did not stop to speak to anyone until they were safely in the car, which was to take them to the capital.
 Soldiers VIII Re Needed
 When they had found their quarters they became more communicative and chatted concerning current topics. One officer of the police remarked to a member of the party that Florida was ready to send 5O,OoO men to Cuba when they should be wanted
 All right may be they will be wanted down there before long, was the reply.
 Beyond this expression not a word was utterel that could be construed as an ex- precision of opinion that war was possible or imminent. t'
 Lieutenant Mark was asked if the two officers of the Maine who passed through Jacksonville Sunday carried part of the Maine report to which he replied very sig nifcantly, that he could not say, but ad- mitted that the two officers were sent from Key West to Washington. .
 One of the officers had intended to go to Alabama on leave of absence and had pur- chased a ttcked upon leaving Key. West to take him there. but upon reaching Jackson vile tonight he was handed a telegram directing him to report to the navy depart ment.
 Col F. R. Osborne, agent of the Southern Express company in this city received . telegram in the afternoon requesting him to meet Lieutenant Mark at the train. It was learned that Colonel Osborne had been requested to furnish an iron safe In which to place the valuable documents while on the train.