davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1898-02-20
MONEY FOR CRUISERS
Depends Somewhat on Results of the
Inquiry

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.--Whila the dis
in the House in favor of liberal appropria-
tions for the navy, and while it is undoubt-
edly true that the House in its present
frame of mind would not hesitate to vote
for two new battleships, the temper is
predicated upon the theory that the Maine
was blown up by external agencies. If the
result of the official inquiry should devel-
Op the fact beyond peradventure that the
ships magazine exploded from fire or other
cause within her, it is believed sentiment
in Congress will be created against the
expenditure of millions in the construction
of warshps that blow up at any time 1t
seems likely that a Congressional investi-
cation will follow the report of the board, if
it attributes the loss of the Maine to an eX-
plosion of her magazine. No resolution for
this purpose has yet been introduced in the
House. prominent member of the House
Naval Committee said he was amazed
when he learned that the Names coal
bunkers abutted the magazines, with only
a thin partition between.
when l learned of the fire in the coal
bunkers of the Cincinnati. which charred
the boxes in which the shells in her mag
Zines were stored' he said, II assumed of
course that it was the duty of the Navy
Department officials to effect such changes
as would remove that danger. The con-
struction of a second bulkhead, leaving an
air passage between the bunkers and the
The herald., 1898-02-20
EXPLOSION ECHOES
Notes and Comments on the Great
Disaster

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19-Secretary Long
has given orders that with the expiration
of Saturday there need be observed no
longer the order to all ships and commands
to display the national colors at half mast.
The secretary of the navy will ask con-
gress to authorize him by legislation to
continue for three months the allotments
of the salaries of the fifty-nine members
of the crew Of the Maine as made by them
to their families pending the decision con-
corning the relief to be given the heirs Of
the victims of the Maine disaster. He has
prepared bill to this end and will proba-
bly, send 1t to congress next week.
The twenty-knot torpedo boat to be
known as the Guenn was launched. all
completed, at the Herreshoffs' yard yes
terday. The boat was launched unfin-
ished several months ago and then hauled
out again to be completed. AS soon as sne
was put over today steam was gotten up
and her engines were set at work.
At dinner given Attorney General
Griggs at Newark last night subscriptions
of $l15O were made for the Maine sufferers.
The money is to be placed in the hands Of
Attorney General Griggs and Vice Presi-
dent Hobart and is to be used either for
bringing home the bodies of the New Jer-
sey victims of the Maine disaster or Is
to go to their families.
An anti-Spanish. free Cuban meeting at
Cincinnati last night was attended by near
ly 200 people, all of whom shouted until
after midnight for war with Spain. An
enlistment roll of volunteers was opened
and over 100 names were signed. Another
meeting will be held Monday night and will
be followed by street parade
The president of the United States has
presented loving cups. each duly inscribed
to Jose Mendez y Herrera, sub-leutenant
of Spanish marines, and Eugenio Montero
Reguerra, lieutenant of the Spanish
navy, in recognition of their humane serv-
ices to the captain and crew of the Ameri-
can brig Waubun, wrecked October rs,
1897. off the Cuban coast
Commander-in-C Street of the Union
Veterans union has offered to the presi-
dent the services Of 10000 men of the union
for the defense of the country. They could
be ready for action in forty-e eight hours.
The herald., 1898-02-20
NO DEAD FISH
Disproves the Theory of a Submarine
Torpedo

HAVANA Feb. 19.--Dr. Haas said at the
hospital today that all of the eight pa
tientS of the Maine under his care are do
ing well, and that even in the worst cases
he is sure there is some Improvement
Five bodies were recovered from the har-
Dor today, but only one of them-that of
''Tennis'-was recognizable.
Consul General Lee will reward the fire.
man, Ugarte. who, at the risk of his life,
made a gallant rescue Of a drowning sailor.
He will be decorated by his battalion chief
and by the municipality of Havana.
1t is commonly commented here that no
dead fish were found in the harbor after
the disaster and this Is looked on s show
ing that the explosion occurred on board
the Maine, and not outside, as in the latter
case many fish would have been killed by
the concussion.
Captain Sigsbee said today to the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent that the men
at work about the Maine are expert divers.
but that the work requires time and pa
thence. Most of the day was spent in get
ting the divers accustomed to the work.
and nothing of Importance was found. A
careful search will be made for the Maine S
log book, which will be of great import
ance to the court of inquiry.
The day has been tranquil one in Ha-
Vana,
The herald., 1898-02-20

Mason amendment to the resolution pro-
viding for the return to the United States
of the bodies taken from the wreck. Sec
rotary Long and Capt. Sigsbee both eN-
planned that the return of the bodies will
be impracticable as many of them were
mangled beyond identification, and, more
over, that there might be sanitary reasons
why bodies from a fever-infested country
should not be brought to the United States.
Chairman Boutelle of the house naval COM
mittee said nothing would be done with
the senate resolution, as he had no doubt
the senate would promptly pass the house
resolution on Monday.
The contract for the work of saving por-
tions of the Maine and, if possible, raising
her was not yet closed today, although
representatives of wrecking concerns were
in conference with navy department offi-
cals throughout the day. Capt. Lemley,
who will frame the contract, said that
progress had been made toward under
standing the general plan of operation, but
a final arrangement had not been reached
Until today the Merriam & Chapman
Wrecking company and the Boston Tow
boat company have been alone in the field,
and the department understood they had
combined their interests. This would
have insured the government the double
facilities of these extensive wreckers, and
would have given them the contract. But
To-Day l0e LuCkenDdcn w TeCkllB tollpdHy
of New York entered upon the competition
for the work. and before the day closed 1t
had made q bid.
The other concerns did not bid today,
but expect to do SO Monday. The plan
proposed by them is to use the large wreck
ing tug Orion of the Merriam company. If
this plan is adopted, the Orion will carry
the wrecking material to Havana, and then
serve in transporting the heavy turrets,
guns and detachable parts of the Maine
back to the Norfolk navy yards, where it is
proposed to assemble the remnants of the
ship.
The Luckenbach company proposes a
different plan Its bid contemplates the
use of large barges, hauled by ocean tugs,
in bringing parts of the wreck to Norfolk.
In other respects, the plan of operations of
all bidders is to assume the entire work of
furnishing appliances, divers, etc, and de-
ivering such material as is saved to Nor
folk.
A government official is to make general
inspection of the work as it proceeds.
r. G. Packard, n wrccking engineer and
contractor, was present at the conference
and urged that the contract should be di-
vided into two parts-hrst. the saving of
such parts as can be detached, and, second.
the raising of the hull. He also made the
point that the removal of the Maine, as an
obstruction to navigation, was a duty in
cumbent upon this government. and that
the cost of that branch of the work would
be one-half much as the cost of saving
portions of the ship. The department is
desirous, however, of having the work done
as a whole, and bids will be accepted prob
ably on that basis.
The herald., 1898-02-20

States embassy at London: "The presi-
dent is deeply touched by her majesty 5
sympathetic message, conveyed through
her ambassador here and charges you to
express, through the proper channels,
grateful appreciation in the name Of the
government and people of the United
States.
THE touching message of the Prince
and Princess of Wales has been laid before
! the president, who charges you, in the
name of the American people, no less thar
| his own, to express grateful appreciation
of this tribute to their royal highnesses tt
this nation in its hour of grief.
please convey to the lord mayor of Lon
! don the presidents deep appreciation oi
his message expressing the sympathy o.
/ the citizens of London in the terrible be-
reavement that has afflicted the American
people.
IN their name the president return:
| grateful thanks.
THE president directs you to convey tc
! his royal highness, Duke of Connaught
deep appreciation of his sympathy and
The herald., 1898-02-20

warrant removal and In all likelihood that
will be done. If the explosion were more
disastrous than Is now thought to be the
case. If the hullis so wrecked as to be be-
yond repair, then as much of the material
as can be secured will be brought home
and placed in new Maine.
ut is to be remembered that great ad-
vances have been made in ship building
since the Mine was built, and finer ship
bearing her name could be built today, but
1t would Take time and IL any considerable
portion Of the ship is good with modern
Fed ~p9ttery and improvements in rebuild
fng tie destroyed portions, a magnificent
vessel can be quickly secured"
Chief Engineer Melville has decided views
in favor of the proposition to rebuild the
Maine. Even suppose this costs 81. 900, 900"
said he, "a new ship equal to the Maine
would cost nearly $5. .000, ,005 The repairs
coulc be made, and the ship put in service
again in a year at the furthest. To build
new ship like her would take at least
: three years. With regard to the practi-
cability of raising the vessel 1t is to be re-
marked that largo vessels have been
raised which were at sea, where they were
exposed to waves while the Maine is in a
perfectly quiet harbor. one end resting in
the mud and part of the end above water.
THE Maine is In shallow spot as pro-
tected as a millpond. and she is only a
e600 ton ship. The British armor-clad
Howe Of over 10, 900 tons was raised off Fer
rol, Spain. in the open ocean, and H. NJ. S.
Sultan, of over 5000 tons, was raised
and saved after she sank in the Comino
channel
NAVAL RECRUITS NEEDED
Orders have been issued for the enlist
ment of 900 men for the navy to fill the va
cancies caused by the destruction of the
battleship Maine and to complete the legal
quota. The new men will be sent TO re-
ceiving ships, whence they will be sent to
ships in commission wherever needed.
The herald., 1898-02-20
SPANISH CLAMOR
Cannot Conceal the Evidence Pointing
to Crime

NEW YORK, Feb. ia copyright ca
blegram to the Evening World from Syl-
vester Scovel, under todays date from
Havana, via Key West. says:
THE consensus of opinion of those who
have studied the wreck closely is now thai
the explosion was caused by a submarine
mine. The forward magazine, ii is now gen.
orally supposed, is intact; also the forward
six-inch magazines.
This leaves only few salutng charges
and few small caliber shells in the pilot
house which could have possibly exploded
aboard the ship.
AT the same time the fearful damage Is
too big for any but an extremely large tor
pedo. If it were torpedo the divers will
find the torpedo fragments; but if 1t were
a submarine mine no trace will be found
"All the American officers were internal
ly boiling. There is not one of them, from
Capt. Sigsbee down, who is not fairly con-
vinced government submarine mine
did it.
'The Spanish dailies are loudly clamor.
ing accident accident when even now
the fact is known that the whole middle
deck, which was blown straight up, never
had an ounce of ships powder under it, and
that was the first flame seem"
The herald., 1898-02-20
A FALSE ALARM
Mackay-Bennett Steamer Mistaken
For a WarShip

NEW YORK, Feb 19.-At 10 o'clock to.
night the observer at Sandy Hook reported
that a warship was passing there bound
in, and it appeared to him to be an Amer
lean vessel.
AT 1920 the observer reported that the
supposed American warship had anchored
in the bay.
The warship is anchored about half a
mile off shore, between the point of the
Hook and the government dock. The OBJ
server says that she stands high ou; OF
| water and is well lighted up. She looks
like a cruiser.
The Sandy Hook observer says that the
weathe is SO thick he can see very little
but from her general appearance he thinks
it to be the Brooklyn.
2:3O a. m.--The cable steamer Mackey-
Bennett is anchored in the bay off Sandy
Hook 1t is probable that she is the ves-
sci which was believed to have been an
American cruiser.
The herald., 1898-02-20
BOLD DUBOsC
Feels Sure the Vizcaya Is Perfectly
Safe

WASHINGTON. Feb. 19-The Spanish
legation has been advised of the arrival of
the Spanish cruiser Vizcaya, and Senor
Du Bose has communicated with the Span
ish consul general at New York and Lieut.
Sobrat, the naval attache of the legation
who is now at New York, concerning the
movements of the ship. Mr. Du Bose feels
no apprehension over the presence of the
ship in American waters. but he has given
instructions for such precautions as may
seem to be justified under the circum-
stances. These will be in the hands of the
consul general, and Mr. Du Bose and his
staff have no present intention of going
to New York. The precautionary meas
ures are merely those of maintaining an
efficient patrol about the ship.
Aside from the instructions going
through Mr.. Du Bose, the Spanish authori-
ties at New York are in communication
with the minister of marine at Madrid
in view OF the feeling that there need be
no apprehension. it is understood by the
Spanish authorities here that there will
be TO restrictions on visiting the Vizcaya
beyond the necessary precauton of pre-
venting indiscriminate crowding by the
public at large.
Up to this noon Mr.. Du Bosc had not
heard from the commander of the Nizcaya
what his plans are as to the duration of
his visit at New York and his subsequent
movements His orders will come direct
from the naval department at Madrid
Mr.. Du Bose called at the state depart
ment at noon and officially notified the
authorities of the presence Of the Vizcaya
in American waters.
1t Is expected that Gen Merritt conn
manding the department of the east at
New York, will make q formal call upon
the commander of the Spanish warship
now lying in the harbor. While the strict
letter of naval etiquette would be satis-
fed by call from our naval authorities
upon the ships commander, the usual
course is for the highest military official
of the neighborhood to call, either in per-
son or through Il member of the staff to
s1nd his com rlirnnn1ntc
The herald., 1898-02-20

be available until the court has begun the
formal inquiry. The divers now at work in
the wreck are understood to be employed
in securing dead bodies and in removing
the ships papers and small articles of
value, so that it is unlikely it would give
any heed to the bottom of the hull, buried,
as 1t probably is, deep in mud. The Of
ficals here intimate that the discovery Of
pieces of torpedoes is not to be taken in
itself as evidence of an outside attack
upon the vessel. for it is fully explained
that of the eight in the Maine some were
more or less ruptured and scattered by
| the explosion which destroyed the ship.
The herald., 1898-02-20

navy department, determined upon long
before the incident occurred.
Rush orders have been received at the
fort direct from the commander, Col.
Woodruff, to send a detachment Of one
corporal and eight men to Fort Winthrop.
where they will get eight-inch converted
rifle guns to the dock in readiness for ship
ment. The guns are to go to Mobile, Ala.
where carriages from New York have been
sent to mount the rifles on. The big guns
will go all the way by rail. 1t was learned
today that the orders received some time
ago from the department at Washington
bearing on the equipment and efficiency OF
the men tire being carried out al the navy
yard, and that every marine remaining
there has been inspected, his equipment
increased to that of active service and ex.
ira drill is being held daily.
The apprentices on the Wabash, as we'll
as the regular seamen and recruits, are be-
ing given practice at the guns and with
cutlasses.
The herald., 1898-02-20

mandors of the Massachusetts and Indi-
ana, who will be members of the commits
sion to inquire into the disaster to the
Maine. Rear Admiral Sicard came ashore
from the New York
a passenger on the steamer Olivette, from
Havana, which arrived here tonight, re-
ports that shortly after the vessels de-
parture from Havana, when she was about
eight miles off shore, two terrific reports
were heard. The sounds rescmble6 the dis
charge of heavy cannon or large cXplo-
SionS.
1t is reported that an important eXpedi-
ton has landed at Beracoa, near Mariana,
in the province of Havana.
The herald., 1898-02-20
DIVERS AT WORK
Confine Their Attention to Recovery
of Bodies

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Secretary
Long wired Admiral Sicard today, after his
consultation with President Mckinley,
telling him briefly what answer had beHi
returned to General Lees application In
behalf of the Spanish government for per-
mission to examine the Maine. He also
instructed the admiral to press forward
as rapidly as possible the work of survey
upon the Names hull, and to have the
court of inquiry proceed to Havana as
soon as possible. 1t is scarcely expected at
the department that any information of
value as to the cause of the explosion will
The herald., 1898-02-20
PUSHING WORK
Getting the Monitors Ready For Ac.
tive Service

NORFOLK, Va. Feb 1o.-Orders have
been received at the navy yard to keep the
force working on the monitors Puritan and
Terror and torpedo boats Foote and Wins
low tonight and all day tomorrow. These
vessels will be ready for duty by Wednes-
day.
1t is unders tood that the Terror was ex-
pected last night to go into ordinary, but
this morning she was ordered to get ready
to go to Hampton Roads.
Her crew and officers will be here in a
few days. Over fifty extra men were taken
on a the yards this morning.
The herald., 1898-02-20
NO WAR LIKELY
But the Soldier Is Grinding His
Sword

Sword
CHICAGO, Feb. 19.-Since Friday morn
ing Fort Sheridan, where the Fourth in
fantry and the First cavalry are stationed,
has been in a state of the utmost activ-
tty.
Soldiers have been polishing their
weapons. arranging mess kits, grooming
horses and preparing generally to march
at a moments notice. Colonel Robert A.
Hall, in command of the fort, yesterday
received one telegram among the many
messages delivered to him daily which
caused him to take action. He at once or
dered that general preparations for pos
sible summons be made. Accordingly
every man at the fort was set to work
Every man of the 200 soldiers at the fort
busted himself arranging his army be-
longings.
Every man has been supplied with am
munition sufficient for 100 rounds of shots,
This is in both the cavalry and infantry.
Oredrs were issued to the soldiers to turn
defective weapons into the ordnance de-
partment and new ones have been supplied.
Today final preparations in compliance
with the orders We're completed and those
stationed a the fort were in readiness TO
receive orders Of any character.
Fort Leavenworth, Kan.--In accord
ance with orders received from Wash
ington the troops of the garrison
here were inspected today in heavy march
ing order, and it is stated the articles of
war were read. The heavy marching in
spection is unusual for this time of the
year. 1t is remembered that a similar
inspection was ordered just prior to the
moving of the troops to Chicago during
the great railroad strike.
Junction City, Kan.-The fact that the
troops at Fort Riley were busy all day
yesterday preparing their equipment and
packing personal effects and that all fur
loughs to officers and men are refused,
pending further orders, has given rise ia
the reports that orders have been received
TO be in readiness to move on short no
tice.
The herald., 1898-02-20
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Seamen and Recruits Are Practicing
For Exercise

BOSTON, Feb. 19.-The Evening Herald
says In compliance with teegraphic or
ders received at Fort Warren last evening.
a detail of one corporal and thirteen men
has been sent to reinforce Lieut. Ketchum
in command of the mortar battery at Grov-
ers cliff, Winthrop. 1t is explained that
this movement has no particular sgnifi-
cance but is part of the routine of the
The herald., 1898-02-20

magazine, would have removed this danger.
Now ! find that nothing was done either
to correct the defect in the Cincinnati or
any other ship. We undoubtedly will as
certain how many of our ships are subject
to this danger. but do not know whether
it is advisable to have a Congressional
innuirNn
The herald., 1898-02-20
M'KINLEY'S THANKS
Extended to the Britons Who Have
EXPRESSED Sympathy

WASHINGTON. Feb. ia citing Secre-
tary Day has sent the following telegram
TO Mr.. White, secretary Of the United
The herald., 1898-02-20
SALVAGE CONTRACTS
Not Yet Closed Though Bids Have
Been Made

WASHINGTON, Feb 19--Nothing will be
done in the house with the senate resolu-
tion approprating 100000 for the salvage
OF the wreck Of the Maine, because of the
The herald., 1898-02-20
WOUNDED MEN
Getting Good Care and Some Will
Recover

NUCUVET
KEY WEST, Feb 19-The condition of
the injured at the marine hospital and the
barracks is slightly improved. The injured
men who arrived on the Magrove today, in
care of DR.. Clendennin. from the barracks,
are suffering mostly from burns. They
are being nursed. Eleven seriously in
iured, who are in the hospital in Havana,
will probably be brought here in a few days
by the steamer Fern.
The battleship Iowa came up from the
feet today She had on board the COM
The herald., 1898-02-20

coincidence b, reason of the appalling dis
aster that has befallen the government"
Condolences continue to reach the presi-
dent from prominent persons all over the
world.
The herald., 1898-02-20
To Cure n Cold in One Day

Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets.
All druggists refund money II 1t fails to
cure. 25c. The genuine has L. B. @. on each
tablet.
Smyrna times., 1898-09-21

COFFEE DRINKING. Tho fact that
Americans have become the greatest
coffee-drinkers in the world, says the
Chicago Times Herald, will naturally
invite the attention of our capitalists
to the possibilities of culture in our
newly acquired possessions in the East
and West Indies. Porto Rico and
Hawaii have for years grown a fine
grade of coffee. Cnba formerly pro-
duced coffee in large quantities before
it was impoverished by Spanish wars,
while the Philippines produce grade
of coffee which, it is claimed, is equal
to that which the Dutch raise in Java
The Netherlands Trading Company,
which is only another name for the
government of Holland, derives rev
enue of $4,000, 900 a year from the
Island of Java, after paying all expen
ses of government. A large portion OF
this revenue comes from the coffee
plantations.