The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-18
COOL IN TIME OF PERIL.
Conduct of the Officers of the Maine
Senior COngOstO Indiscreet.

Conduct of the Officers of the Maine
Senior COngOstO Indiscreet.
NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-THE Evening
World to-day contains a copyrighted cable
gram from Havana, signed by Sylvester
Scovel, which repeats graphically the story
of the blowing up of the battle ship Maine
and says: THE quays and docks were
jammed with spectators during these sad
proceedings, and 1 am informed that some
Jubilant sayings were heard among the
crowd, and that some of the lower ele-
ments rejoiced over the Yankee massacre,
as they termed it.. Personally l saw moth
ing but sympathy. 1t was too colossal not
TO dwarf even international jealousy and
apprehensive hate. Only in the palace did
L see signs of content. Captain Sigsbee
bears the calamity like an American officer
and gentleman. He was not even out
wardly ruffied by the awful calamity He
received the Spanish chief of police as
calmly as though his quarter deck were not
a wreck and his men mangled and drowned
Apropos of this, it is told of Captain Sigs-
bee that he was writing letter to his wife
in his port cabin when the explosion oc-
Cured. All the lights were instantly ex-
tinguished. Sigsbee, running out, bumped
into a perfectly disciplined marine orderly
who, amid shrexs groans, flames and hor-
rcr, and in the dark saluted and said
Sir, have to inform you that the ship
has been blown up and is sinking
This GOODNESS was noticeable everywhere
among the men, and when the boats and
their MANNED loads had left the scene for
the hospital there was no jabbering, no ex-
citement. The officers who had something
to do did it quietly The others said moth
ing. All stood this Samoa Of fire as coolly
as others once gave three cheers for the
British war ship Calliope at the Pacific
Samoa of hurricane.
"rhe brave marine who displayed so
much GOODNESS is named William Anthony
He said to me to-day, when / spoke of it,
oh, that's nothing; any Yankee marine
would do that
'The correspondents of the Madrid press
have sent home foreboding messages, and
on the civil side of the palace there are
grave apprehensions and scant courtesy.
When 1 asked Secretary Congosto to aid
me in talking to General Solano over Sc
curing the reopening of the cable for the
messages of the Names officers he coldly
said it was none of his business, that Cen
eral Solano was in sole charge. Fortunate
~. that gentleman was courteous and the
message went. In view of his present at
titude, I shall now quote what Secretary
Congosto, then acting governor general, or
fulfilling the functions of that responsible
position, said TO me the night before the
Maine arrived. Consul General Lee had
told him that war ship would come. Con-
gosto belligerently objected. General Lee
said:
" Remember. if any trouble does occur 1
shall have the whole fleet here in four
hours
Shortly after I saw Secretary Congosto,
and he was very mad. He was also inds-
Greet. 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 If
you want war you can have it. You will
find Spain has not forgotten how to fight
II took these words at the time as the
angry utterances of an overtaxed diplomat
Now they seem to mean something.
1.-TWO days ago a Spanish daily here
claimed Senior De LONE wrote his famous
letter and caused it's capture because he
saw no gain in further delaying a break
between the two governments