The record-union., 1898-02-18
WHOLE NO.

story of the blowing up of the battle
ship Maine. and says:
| The quays and docks were damned
with spectators during these sad pro-
ceedings, and | am informed that some
jubilant sayings were heard among the
crowd and that some of the lower ele-
ments rejoiced over the Yankee mas
sacre,' as they termed it, Personally.
saw nothing but sympathy. 1t was too
colossal not to dwarf even international
Jealousy and apprehensive hate. Only
in the palace did / see signs of con-
| tent.
! Captain Sigsbee bears the calamity
like an American officer and Il gentle
man. He was not even outwardly.af-
fected by the calamity He received,the
| Spanish Chief of Police as calmly as
though his quarter deck was not Il
wreck and his men mangled and
drowned
| "Apropos of this, it is told Of Captain
| Sigsbee that he was writing a letter to
his wife in his port cabin when the ex-
plosion occurred. All the lights were in
stantly extinguished. Sgsbee. running
out, bumped into a perfectly disciplined
marine orderly, who amid shrieks.
grUans flames and horror and in the
dark, saluted and said: Sir, | have to
inform you that the ship has been blown
up and is sinking. The brave marine
Is named William Anthony. He said to-
me to-day when / spoke of it. oh,
that's nothing; any Yankee marine
would do that
Thls GOODNESS was noticeable every
where among the men, and when the
boats and their MANNED loads had left
the wreck for the hospital there was no
Jabbering, no excitement. The officers
who had something to do did it quietly.
The others said nothing.
The correspondents Of the Madrid
press have sent home foreboding mes
sages. and on the civil side of the palace
| there are grave apprehensons and scant
courtesy. When | asked Secretary Con-
sosto to aid me in talking to General
Solano over securing the re-opening of
the cable for the messages of the
Names officers, he codly said that it
was none of his business; that General
Solano was in sole charge. Fortunately
the General was courteous and the
message went
In view of his present attitude, I
shall now quote what Secretary Con-
gosto. then the Acting Governor Cen
eral, fulfilling the functions of that re-
sponsible position. said TO me the night
| before the Maine arrived Consul
General Lee had told him that after
noon that warship would come Con-
gosto bellgerently objected. General
Lee then said, Remember if any trouble
does occur l shall have the whole fleet
here in four hours.
Shortly after 1 saw Secretary Con-
sosto, and he was very mad. He was
also indiscreet. He said TO me- If your
people would only let us alone, it would
be all right. Spain has put up with
more than any other nation would have
done. / have warned you that there will
be trouble if the Maine comes here. Now
bring your. ships here. II you want war,
you can have it. You Will find Spain
has not forgotten how to fight
Il took these words al the time as the
angry utterances of an overtaxed diplo-
mat. Now they seem TO mean some
thing.
Two days ago a Spanish daily here
claimed that Senior De LONE wrote his
famous letter and caused its capture.
because he saw no gain in further de-
laying a break between the two Govern
ments."
VISITORS ON THE MAINE.
NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-THE Evening
World" has received from Sylvester
Scovel. its correspondent at Havana.
the following reply to the inquiry whe-
Their strangers We're allowed on the
Maine on the day of the disaster:
Yes, visitors were on the Maine all
afternoon of the day of the explosion.
A bomb might have been deposited near
the ma gaZine as | have already cabied
Gables are much delayed here"
This dispatch appears under date of
to-day.