The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-24
MARK AND REPORT ON MAINE.
NAVAL OFFICERS NOW ON THEIR
WAY 10 WASHINGTON.

Party Taking Precautions 10 Pro-
tect Document From Theft-Iro,
Safe Put ina Their Pullman at
jacksonville by the Southern EN-
press COmpnny-COmmnnd Mark
Denies Admitting Ii Looks Like
War.
Jacksonville, Fla, March 23.-Judge Ad-
vocate Mark left Miami al 7:30 O'Clock this
morning on the East Coast Railway.
reached Jacksonville at 7:45 o'clock on
time, and left at O'Clock via the Florida
| Central and Peninsular and Southern, ana
will pass through Savannah. Columbia,
! Charlotte, Greensboro, Danvine, Lynch
burg, and Charlottesville, reaching Wash
ington at 9;25, Eastern time, Thursday
night,
The railroad wires have carried the mes
sage down the line to use all dispatch.
This practically makes a special of the
Mark train, and without Unforeseen acct
dent, Washington will be reached on the
dot and the protentous document. will be
in the White House by $3.50 The run from
Jacksonville is 772 miles, the schedule time
being little over twenty-four hours.
Lieutenant Commander Mark has the
| report of the court of inquiry in the Maine
| case, on which win depend so much the
| happenings of the next week of the worlds
| history. lie is accompanied by these Off
| GERS of the Maine: Lieut. Hood. Lieut.
| Jungen Assistant Passed Engineer Bower
| Cadet A. Bronson and Carpenter George
| Helms.
The party arrived in the city from Mi
! ami at 7:45, and went at once 10 the Pull
man ear that was awaiting them. which
was attached to the Florida Central and
| Peninsulr train, and in fifteen minutes
were hurrying to Washington as rapidly
| as steam could take them. They will ar
| rive in that city tomorrow evening.
During the short time of the stay in this
| city an Associated Press reporter secured
| the attention of Lieut. Mark and showed
| him a dispatch from Miami that appeared
in the afternoon papers, in which he was
| quoted as saying: 1T looks like war, it
certainly does
Before the words had been read to him
! he exclaimed: "It is utterly false. / nave
said nothing of the kind l do not talk
| about this matter"
All efforts to get him to make any cX-
! preston of opinion were equally futile so
! far the present crisis or his relations
| TO it are concerned Other members of
! the party were equally non-committal
During the transfer from one train to
| the other Lieut.. Mark was closely guard
| ed by the members of his party. lie
walked between two of his friends, carry
| ing a mysterious box or package. covered
\ with black cloth. Behind him the officers
of his party walked closely, and the effort
was apparent to allow no possible chance
! for any outsider TO come between them
! They walked rapidly, and did not stop to
/ how eDf. in.
the car which was to take them to the
capital.
When they had once found their quar-
ters, they became more communicative,
! and chatted pleasantly concerning current
topics An officer of the police remarked
TO one member of the party that Florida
was ready to send $1,000 men TO Cuba when
| they should be wanted.
"AlI right maybe they will be wanted
down there before long" was the reply.
Beyond this expression not a word was
! uttered that could be construed as an eX-
preston of opinion that war was possible
or imminent.
Lieut.. Mark was asked If the two Of
! fcers of the Maine who passed through
! Jacksonville Sunday night carried a part
of the Maine report, to which he replied
very significantly that he could not say,
but admitted that two officers were sent
| from Key West to Washington
one of The officers had intended to 90 to
| Alabama on leave of absence and had
purchased a ticket upon leaving Key West
| TO take him there but upon reaching
Jacksonville tonight he was handed
telegram directing him to report TO the
navy department at Washington.
Col r. f.. Osborne, agent Of the South
ern Express Company in this city, received
q telegram in the afternoon requesting him
| to meet Lieut. Mark at the train. II was
Iearend that Col. Osborne had been re-
quested TO furnish an iron safe in which 10
place the valuable documents on the train
| Following Is the dispatch from Miami
containing the alleged interview which
Lieut.. Commander Mark repudiates:
Miami, Fla, March 23.-Lieutenant Com
mander Mark Of the Maine court of in
quiry, with the following party, arrived
here this morning from Key West Lieut..
John Hood, Lieut.. c. w. Junger, Passed
Assistant Engineer II. A. Bower Cadets
Anon f. Boyd and A. Bronson Assistant
Engineer j. r. Morris and Carpenter g.
| NJ Helms.
A few minutes later they left by the
East Coast Railway for Washington
Lieutenant Commander Mark was very
reticent. The Associated Press CORE
| spondent said:
at looks like war"
| He replied:
at surely does"
Others Of the party, in answer TO the
same question, were more emphatic in
| their replies, one saying;
Il cannot see how It can be avoided"
Another, in answer TO the same qles-
ton, said:
There win be no war
His face was as genial and bright as
sunshine. but suddenly change came over
his countenance his eyes flashed and
when asked when their report would be
made, the reply was:
"As soon as we reach Washington; there
will be no delay"
The strong impression left here is that
the boards report viii be against the ac-
| cident theory
CUBAs EXPECTATION.