The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-28

Minister de LONE called at the state
department. about 3 O'Clock this afternoon
in pursuit OF Information concerning the
movements Of the Maine. He asked and
was freely permitted to see the orders
sent TO Admiral Sicard. directing the
Maine to proceed 10 Havana. The fact
that the Spanish minister was shown the
orders is regarded as an indication that
there Is nothing of q threatening or bel
lcOSe Latur in them.
The navy department received infor-
nation during the day that the squadron
had sailed from Key West to the Tortu-
gas. this being in accordance with the
original programme when IL was ordered
south.
THE BATTLESHIP MAINE.
TIE commander of the Maine. Captain
Sigsbee. is a favorite in the navy de-
partment. For four years he was chief
Of the photographic office and by his
energy brought the office up TO a high
standard. He was lucky to get so i'm
portant a ship as the Maine, considering
his actual rank. which is that of a COM
mander. but Immediately he justified the
departments Judgment in the selection
by running his ship straight into a dock
in New York harbor to avoid running
down a packed excursion boat. This was
a display of quick Judgment, nerve and
pluck that pleased the department. 50
highly that the captain was sent a COM
plimentary letter. His officers are also
a good lot. including Lieutenant Com
mander Richard Wainwright, Lieuten-
dIHLS VI. t. IlOIIiIdI. jill IlcOA daId y.
w. Yungen; Lieutenants Gunior grade)
G.. W. Blow, J. T. Blandin, F. W. Jen-
kins; Cadets j. II. Holden, w. T. C4au-
verius, Anon Bronson and D. F. Boyd,
Jr.; Surgeon l.. g. Heneberger, Paymas-
ter c.. w. Littlefield, CHIEF Engineer c.
p. Howell, Passed Assistant Engineer
F. G. Bowers. Assistant Engineers j. r.
Morris and D. r. Merritt; Cadet En-
gineers Pope Washington and Arthur
C~renshaw, Chaplain j. P. Chadwick and
Lieutenant of Marines A. w. Cattlin.
The Maine is a battleship of the second
class and is regarded as one of the best
ships in the navy. She was built at the
Brooklyn navy yard and is 38 feet long,
81 feet broad. ZIG mean draught and
6,6S2 tons displacement. She. has two 10
inch vertical turrets and two military
masts and her motive power is furnished
by twin screw vertical triple expansion
engines IT. ing a maximum horse power
of 1928, capable of making a speed of
1745 knots. She carries four 10-inch and
six 6-inch breeGn-lOading guns in her
main battery and seven 6-pounder and
eight 1-pounder rapid-firing guns and
four Gatlins in her secondary battery
and four Whitehead torpedoes.
1 While administrator officials miss no
opportunity of declaring confidence in
the promise Of the maintenance of peace,
it may be noted as Il matter of interest
that the United States now has assem-
| Eled near Key West the most formidable
fleet of Warships that has been gotten
together in our home waters for many
/ tdIp II 10 hddo up VI llC A>Oll III AL
1 lantic squadron under of Adj
miral Sicard, composed of the New York,
| fiagship): the firSt-class battleships
| Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts. second
| class battleships Maine and Texas. cruis-
ers Detroit and Montgomery, dispatch
boat Fern, and the torpedo boat ~flotilla,
composed of the Cushing, Ericsson, Du-
| pont and Porter, which will be re-enforc-
ed in a few days by the F'oote. The big
protected cruiser Brooklyn, almost equal
to "a battleship herself, is fitting out at
the New York navy yard. Captain Cook,
| WthO commands the ship, was at the navy
department this morning and expects to
| sail THE Eatter part of this week to join
\ Admiral SicardS squadron. The gunbOat
Nashville and the training ship Essex
| are at Port Royal, S. c., within easy call
and the entire navy may be said to be
in a state of preparedness hat is graft
flying to the officials, in view of the linn
tied resources placed in their hands by
| congress-.
CONGRESSMEN EXPRESSING GRAFT
IFTCATION.
| The first intimation the members of the
| senate committee on foreign relations
had of the orders to the Maine was
| given in the Associated Press bulletin.
| They received the information with evil
| dent satisfaction.
Senator Foraker was particularly
pleased to hear the news. He said he
wished the Texas and the other vessels
of the squadron would be ordered to fol-
| low the Maine.
Senator CuEom said: Il am glad. to
hear it. I hope the Maine will be follow
ed by other vessels"
Senaor Teller said he would like to see
the harbor of Havana filled with Ameri-
| can ships.
Senator Daniel said: Il am glad to hear
of it. 1t ought to have been done two
| years ago.
There was qualification expressed
among members of the house committee
ON foreign affairs, especially by Messrs.
I Sm1th a ND Pearson pnIlhIiH GA MS who had
expressed some unrest at. the non-action
of the committee or the house in the
matter of Cuba.
Key West, Fla, January 24-At $50
O'Clock this morning the United States
fleet, including the Maine. sailed from
this port. The announced destination
was Tortugas and until news, came from
Washington this afternoon it was not
generally known here that the Maine
was destined for Havana. Two torpedo
boats are left in this port, to be used as
dispatch boats to communicate with the
| fleet.
The torpedo boat Dupont sailed at 6
o'clock tonight for Tortugas with official
dispatches and mail for the squadron.
GENERAL LEES RESIGNATION RE-
PORTED.
Jacksonville, Fla, January PA dis
patch to The Times-Union and Citizen
from Key West, says: Great excitement
prevails here over a report that Con-
sui General Lee has resigned. The Maine
and the rest of the fleet left here at 8
O'Clock this morning for T~ortugas. The
torpedo boat Dupont sailed at sol O'Clock
this afternoon with important dispatches
for the fleet.
Washington. January 24-Assistant
Secretary Day said tonight: There is
absolutely no truth in the report that
General Lee has rendered his resignation.
He is in perfect accord with the admins
tration and the administration with
him."
New York, January pat the head
quarters of the Cuban junta in this CITY
there was some surprised expressed al
the explanation given by the state de-
partment for the ~dispatching of the bat
tleship Main to Havana. As far as hos
Utilities We're concerned. it was affirmed
by Delegate Palma and others. that the
condition. of affairs today was precisely
the same as When the war broke out
The interpretations generally put at the
Junta on the state departments actions
was that it might be an Offset to the &C.
tion of Germany in sending two warships
to Havana.
"A thrill of terror is experienced wher