The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-22

| of the Maine. A movement was started
| today TO drape the model in mourning,
after the manner that the model of the
! British ship Victory was draped at the
worlds fair. Secretary Long did not
| approve of this, however, as it suggest
| ed an OStentation not fitting the cir
| Gums tances; but he gave his assent to
lowering the miniature cOlOrS, and, ac-
| cordingly, the stars and stripes fly
ing from the stern of the Names min
| iature counterpart were lowered.
President Mckinley today received
Senor du Bose, the charge d'affaires Of
Spain, who had been commanded by
the queen-regent of Spain to bear in
person to the president her expression
of profound sorrow over the calamity
to the Maine. The message was brief
and heartfelt, expressing the sorrow
Of the queen and her people.
OPINION OF THE CABINET.
The only absentees from today's cab
met meeting were Secretaries Sherman
and Alger. During the meeting the
disaster to the Maine was the principle
topic of discussion. Although the
president and the members Of the cab
met await with interest the result of
the inquiry into the cause Of the dis
acter, there remains scarcely a doubt
in their minds that it was an accident
purely, and such as might happen at
any time. This view of the matter
however, will not influence the presi-
dent to stop short of a most searching
investigation into all the facts, present
and remote, that may have any possible
bearing upon the case or throw upon
it a single ray of light.
The president is receiving a large
number of congratulatory messages
commencing him for the course he
has pursued in this matter as we'll as
in the case of the late Spanish minis
ter de LONE.
A CABLEGRAM FROM GENERAL
LEE
General Lee was heard from in the
shape of the following cablegram at
LOS o'clock this afternoon:
Havana, Feb. 1S, 1898.
Assistant Secretary of State, Wash
ington:
There was a great popular demon
stration at the funeral yesterday Mil
itary, naval, firemen and civil organi-
cations were generally represented. The
bishop of Havana: Gen. Parade next in
command to the governOr-general; the
autonomistic cabinet; civil governor,
| mayor and other prominent persons
walked in the procession in part of
THE route, in accordance'wfthc custom, to
led. Many bodies are coming to the
surface of the water, but are now diff
ficuit to recognize. They will be buried
with religious services as collected.
[Sgned] LEE"
THINK TT WAS "A TORPEDO.
Jacksonville, Fla, February 1S.-A
special to The Times-Union and Citi-
zen from Key West says: 'The gem
eral opinion of many persons here is
that the Maine was hit by torpedo,
after which the magazine exploded In
an interview, Thomas Melville, of
Brooklyn, who was not injured and
was on watch on the quarter deck,
said that he felt two distinct shocks.
The first was not as severe as the Sc
cond, which blew up the ship. Other
survivors are of the same opinion that
it was foul work.
Madrid, February 1S.-The newspa-
pers here are urging the government
to adopt great precautions when the
American divers arrive and not to al
low them to descend alone and ex-
anime the Maine, 'as divers sent by
private persons might be bribed to re-
port at variance with the actual facts
and might even do something to the
hull which would serve as a confirma-
ton of the report
Havana, February 1S-The men
searching for bodies have also recover
ed numh"r of sad relics of the Maine,
including a medical chest, enlistment
records, a gold watch and chain, mark
ed ''P. T. Bartlett, Waltham, 331 ,134, -
and five portraits.
Approach to the Maine is now pro-
| hibited inside a distance Of 100 metres,
excepting in the case of boats of the
United States navy, or boats having
| a special permit. This action is taken
as a precautionary measure against
| any accident occurring during the in
| spection by American divers and to
prevent any interference with the work
ordered by Captain Sigsbee.
General Lee is receiving many tele-
grams from mayors and other officials
expressing sympathy at the loss of the
| Maine, and the foreign consuls have
either called personally or have sent
written expressions of their coincidence.
In addition, the theatres have suspend
ed their performances and there will
be no more music in the parks for the
present.
DEATHS IN THE HOSPITALS.
Patrick Gaffney, coal passer; Rob-
erts, a fireman, and McManus, ma
rine. are reported to have died at the
hospital.
The consul-general said today that
he had not heard of any S-inch hole
being found in the bottom of the ship
and that the court of naval inquiry
would have charge of all questions af-
fecting the loss of the Maine.
The Mangrove sails this evening for