The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-08

was al the head Of the navy tle-
parcment information reached here
that the Greeley Arctic expe,i.tion
was in a perilous condition and that
relief was imperative without a days
delay and it is nOw matter OF history
that If the relief party had been TWEEN
ty-four hours later in reaching Greeley
and his men the latter would have
succ0mbed from starvation. None OF
the naval ships az the time were avail
able. The Bear was offered for sale.
however, and : Cretary Chandler clos
ed the contract for its purchase, stat
ing al the time that if congress failed
to ratify the purchase and make the
appropriation necessary for the pur-
Chase price he would hold himself per-
scnally responsible ID the contractors
The Bear was successful in its relief
mission and congress promptly ratified
MIR. Chandlers course 10y paying for the
snip. II IS said mat the same course
OF procedure would be followed in
case OF emergency at the present time.
ENSIGN POWELSON TESTIFIES.
Havana, March 5.-The Mangrpve.
with the United States naval court of
inquiry on board. arrived here before
noon and at once heid a session. En-
sign Powellson was examined concern
ing the work Of the divers, over which
ton was continued after the recess.
Captain Sampson, the president of
the court, said ha was very sorry, but
is was impossible to tell the cOrrespOn-
dent any part of the testimony or the
conclusion reached. Further, the cap
tain said he had no idea how long the
court would remain here adding that
no orders had been received for the
court to go to Washington at the close
Of its sessions here.
THREE BODIES RECOVERED.
Three bodies were recovered today
from the wreck of the Maine One of
them was identified as that of Robert
White a mess attendant, and another
supposed to be that Of a man named
Stewart. With the remains was found
a fine handkerchief, having on it the
letter r. The third body is supposed
to be that Of an oiler, as the clothing
was saturated with oil.
The Almirante Quendo and the Viz
caya, sister ships, are moored a few
hundred yards from coach other and
present a fine appearance.
Senator Proctor visited the h0spit ais
today and this evening he will take
"a boat to Sagua de la Grande, return
ing by rail in time to take the next
wednesday, steamer for home.
SPANS PURCHASE OF WARSHIPS
London, March 5.-Further inquiries
made ON the subject confirm the re-
port cabled yesterday, of the sale of
the two cruisers which the Armstrong;
have been building for Brazil, to Spain.
The inquiries further show that a rep
resentative Of the Chilian government
has been nagctiat ting with a representa-
tive of the Spanish gOVernne Mt for the
sale of the battle9hip O'EIiggins, built
by the Armstrong; for Chill, and it is
believed that the deal is practically
completed whereby theis splendid war
ship passes into SPANS pOsS esSiOn. 1t
is known that the Chilian representa-
tive made a definite offer to Spain re
Gently, but the price was considered
too high and Spain made a counter Of
fer. 1t is now understood that they
have come to terms. The ships which
Spain secured in France are too heavi-
ly armOred coast-dFfensa vessels which
Brazil ordered and which have been
building at the La Seyme works at
Havre.
Tfae statement made in Washington
that the AmaZOniuS, one of the yes
sells Spain has purchased from Brazil,
has already left this country for Bra
zil, is incorrect. She is still at the
Armstrong works.
MAN w fiO L IL II Ell II i
SUBMARIN MINES.
According to the statement of a man
whose cards describe him as being an
electrical engineer. whose name can
not be disclosed, but has been forward
cd to Washington he sold to Spanish
officers in London, several years ag1
large number of mines, eight or ten
of which were placed in Havana har-
Dor. He says they were made in a spe-
cial way and had q specially and pc
cuiiarly constructed cable, which he
contends he can positively identify il
the smallest piece is produced. Some
of the mines, the man continues, Were
fixed 50 they could be fired from a
fort, and two of them had bulbs, SC
arranged that they would explode upon
a vessel coming in contact with them
But the alleged electrical engineer adds
that he does not believe the bulbs
would be used in water as shallow as
that Of Havana harbor. He exhibited
the plans of one of these mines. which
he pointed out was the most likely tC
produce the effect described as cauS-
ing the wreck of the Maine. 1t was
numbered .'2' and was constructed Il
contain 500 pounds of gun cotton. Thi
is the story told by the man who gives
one the impression that he has beer
some similar position. He was ap-
parently thoroughly posted upon eiec
trical matters and submarine mines.
The man who made the foregoing
state ments is an EnglfShman and h
says he is willing TO go To the United
States as a witness.
| ANOTHER SPANISH WARSHIP AR
RIVES.
Havana March 5.-The Spanish first
class cruiser Afrnirante OqueIdo ar-riv.
ed in Havana harbOr this morning
from Spain. She received a hearty
welcome from the ferry boats and tugs
on board of which were the civil and
military authorities and different so.
cieties which had been waiting for rht
warship's arrival. The docks were
crowded with sight see-s,- rockets wer,
sent up and flags and other decora'
tforl5 were displayed from the vessel:
IN port, the public buildings and tht
palaces. The Almirante OQuendo mad'
a fine appearance as she returned tht
ssaTIrte from Fort CabanaS and ther