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

at 1:37 O'Clock D.. m. bound for Ha-
vana- The nayy-yard tug Nina. on
guard off TompkinsvilIe, was saluted
by the cruiser with three lasts OF the
whistle, which the tug returned. The
Nina and the police boat Patrol &C
companied the cruiser down the bay.
The national standard of Spain fOated
at ha!f-mast from a small gaff on the
main mast Of the cruiser. The Vizcaya
did not salute the forts al the narTOws
as she passed out. 1t is said at the Of
flee Of the Spanish consul general that
the Eizcaya viii proceed to Havana
without stopping en- route.
THE WAR CRY POPULAR IN SPAIN
London, February 25.-According 10
a special dispatch from Madrid. re-
ports received there from the United
States to the effect that public opinion
in the latter country is becoming more
excited owing TO the impression that the
loss of the Maine is not due TO an aC-
cident. are restricting popular feeling
here Gin Madrid) and the opinion is
increasing in ministerial circles that the
worst must be expected"
Continuing, the special dispatch
says: The government has no choice
if the United States adopts a threaten
ing attitude, for the prospect of war
is popular with all parties, and the
more e~xcitable newspapers are already
urging the government to take meas
ures to enable Spain 10 strike the first
and decisive blow"
PREPARATIONS TO LAND TROOPS
IN HAVANA.
Tampa, Fla, February 25.-AIthough
the officials of the have not
SO stated publicly, pretty much every
body here understands that the Plant
system has completed arrangements
for the transportation of trOOpS n
munitions of war to Havana on short
notice. All of their ships have been
placed in condition for emergencies.
Should war be declared it is said hat
they have perfected plans to land a
large body of troops in Havana within
~thirty-siX hOurs after their arrival at
this place. Troops can be transported
from Washington and New York to
this port in from tWenty-fOur to thir-
ty hours. The company has also made
arrangements, it is understood, to land
promptly men and arms at Key West
INC all strategic points on the coasts
of Florida and at Mobile.
COAL FOR NAVAL STATIONS.
Pittsburg, February 25.-The Post
tomorrow will say: 1T was learned
today in Pittsburg, through an officer
of one of the largest coal corporations
doing business in this district that the
navy department had closed contracts
with the incorporated firm of Cashier,
Curran & Bullitt, of Philadelphia, for
the delivery at Key West, Sand Keys,
Dry TOrgugas, Savannah, Charleston
and Fort Monroe of go, 600 tons of PO-
cahontas coal, and with the Rhodes
and Biedler Coal Company, of Cleve-
land for the delivery of $4,000 tons Of
the Goshen coal of that company. The
stipulatiOns Of the contracts just
placed are that the coal SO ordered
shall be delivered at the designated
cOaling stations as soon as it is pos
sible to do so and that the utmOS Sc
crecy be observed about the matter. In
carrying out these contracts the rail-
roads play a most prominent part, and
for the purpose Of moving everything
as expeditously as possible, President
M. E. ingalls,, of the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad; Receiver Oscar G.. Muir
ray, of the Baltimore and Ohio, and
General Manager L. F. Toree, of the
Pennsylvania, vent to Washington last
week and consulted with Secretary
Long, of the navy, and Assistant Sec
rotary George d. Meikeljohn, of the
war department., on the matter. Con-
tracts and all arrangements for the
rapid handling and shipping Of the caOl
were made and the government, it is
understood, agreed to pay a bonus to
both the Goa miners n the railroads
if the 800, 900 tons were delivered with
in a specified time.
Norfolk, Va, February 25.-The ru-
NOR thai the government is securing
from railway companies estimates of
their capacity for moving troops and
munitions of war between Atlantic and
gulf ports and the interior is officially
denied by Vice President ST. John, of
the SeabOard Air Line, whose road was
mentioned in the reports. Mr.. St. John
said today hat he is ignorant of any
such move on the part of the var de-
partment and as to contracts for NOV
ing troops, he had heard nothing of
them.
Havana, February 25.-The wreck of
the Maine is slowly but surely sinking
into the mud. Before the null could
be raised it would be necessary to re-
move the guns and deck debris. For
lack of proper appliances practically
nothing in this line has been accom-
plished.
The cloudy weather and rain made
the work of the divers unsatisfactory
today and very little was done. 1t is
said that a hole has been made by the
divers in one of the forward matches,
and it is hoped that a number of bodies
will be recovered. The court of inquiry
sat longer than usual today, the six
divers being examined more in detail
than heretofore. The time of departure
of the MangrOve with the court for Key
West has net been determined. Cap
tain Sampson said today that it was
doubtful whether his vessel would sail
tomorrow; that all depended on the de-
velopments of the testimony.
The Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII has
been lowed to a buoy further within
the harbOr to make room for the cruis-
er Nizcaya which is expected here to-
morrow or the lex day from the
north.
AT the afternoon session Of the court
of inquiry, the examination of divers
was continued. \ civilian, whose tes-
timony is said TO be of some impor-
lance, was also examined. The name
of the witness and all the particulars
of his evidence are withheld.
Late today the p~aymaster's safe.