davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
A LAKE CAPTAINS VIEWS.
C. e. Benham Thinks che Maine Can be
Raised.

Washington, D. c., Feb 21.-While
the Maine disaster has practically
dropped out of public sight here, so far as
public interest is concerned, the talk
about raising her hull has excited con-
siderable interest among some lake navi-
gators, who have been here for some
time. Capt. G. =. Benham, who is to
be collector al Cleveland, laughed when
he saw an estimate OF $2,0OO,00O as the
cost of saving the hull and six months
as the time required for doing it.
IF that is the best ocean wrecking
companies can do quoth the captain,
they could do no business on the lakes
venture the assertion that | could in
sixty days from the time | got my rig
into Havana harbor, have the Maine in
drydOck. Of course / don't know how
badly shattered she is, but presuming that
her whole bow is torn away and her bilge
plates are all started, that estimate of
plate makes no difference. That is mere
ly weight. The displacement is there
and the necessary buoyancy will be
there when she is pumped out Ny
idea would be to 'Stave' her I'D;
that is, build her hull up with wood until
the temporary work is above water,
pump the water off her decks and then
pump out the hull Suppose her bilge
plates are started, it is not hard to stop
the leak after you have put in your
pumps and create current with them to
show where it is. I've fixed leaks of that
kind with hay and canvas. But ! don't
believe the wrecking companies on the
ocean are as well equipped to do the work
as lake wreckers are. For wrecking pur-
poses the Maine is practically on dry
land"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23

Maine, reported that those known to be
saved are as follows: Officers, n, unin-
jured; crew, 49, wounded at hospital and
hotel about 60. Out of 354, the total
number of the crew of the Maine, only
S6 were saved.
Secretary Long has taken immediate
steps to make an investigation. He tele
graphed to Admiral Sicard at Key West
to appoint a board of naval officers to
proceed at once to Havana, employ divers
and generally to make such inquiry as the
regulations of the navy demand shall be
made in the case of the loss of a ship.
1t is expected that this work will take
some time and while there are officers
who say that in their opinion it will not
be possible, owing to the probably disrupt
ed condition Of the hull Of the ship to
make out the cause Of the explosion. the
opinion of the majority is that the ques-
ton will be easily adjusted by the con-
dition of the ships hull plates in the
neighborhood Of the hole which sunk her,
whether they are bulged out, as would
be the case Of the explosion came from
the inside or whether they were driven
in as would result from the attack of
torpedo or the explosion of a mine be-
meath the ship.
The large majority of naval officers are
inclined to the belief that the explosion
resulted from spontaneous combustion of
a coal bunker; the overheating of the
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23

story that the cause Of the escape from
accident of nearly all the officers was
due to the fact that they were all on
shore, and the only two on board were
the ones who persisted. 1t is due to this
false statement that the rabid Spanish
paper, Eel Correo, published yesterday an
article, saying that if Capt. Sigsbee lost
all his clothes on board, how is it that he
wore his gaudy uniform at the funeral?
La Region of Matanzas published a
very sarcastic article on the Maine. say
ing no longer will the curious crowd of
admiring Cubans come to pace her decks
and in their wild admiration go so far
as to stick their heads into her cannon:
thai her steel bows which so haughtily
plOWed the bOisterous seas will forever
remain sunk in the prosaic mud of the
bay, and that the causes of her explo-
sion Will ever remain a mystery. The
word mystery is repeated twice.
Not only is the disaster of the Maine
most lamentable for the great loss of life
it has entailed, but also for the effect it
has produced on the Spanish masses, who
now ridicule the navy, saying Spanish
guns were not needed to sink American
vessels, as the carelessness and incom-
petence of their officers will do that.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
RECOVERED THE CIPHER.
Would Have Been a Rare Prize to the
Spanfardk.

Havana, Feb. 21.-Divers have recov-
cred the cipher code book, the log of the
Maine and many official and private pa
pers.
In Capt Sigsbee's cabin were several
copies of the navy department signal code
and secret cipher, with the key to both.
1t is obvious that at this time they would
be of great value to the Spanish authori-
ties.
If they fell into their hands it would
necessitate an entire change of both by
the navy department.
This explains Capt. Sigsbee's deter
mined stand in the matter. which at the
time appeared to be trivial matter.
New York, Feb PA dispatch to the
World from Havana says: Capt Sigs-
bees state documents have been rescued
from private drawer in his cabin. The
keys to the magazines were found just
above the hook over the head of the
captains bed, their usual place. They
had been foated upward by the rising Of
the mattress.
Chaplain Chadwick of the Maine has
recovered considerable sums of money,
with letters and other personal property,
from the bodies taken from the wreck.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23

partitions between the boilers and the
magazine or from the explosion of a
boiler. though the last theory finds little
support.
The naval constructors say that it is
by no means certain that the Maine can
not be raised and again carry the flag.
They say that while she is big ship.
others as large have been raised. and at
Havana the new floating drydock would
receive her if she could once be got above
water. Capt. Sigsbee evidently is tax
ing an interest in the future of the ship,
for he sent a telegram to Commander
Forsythe at Key West that was promptly
transmitted to Secretary Long, suggest
ing that lighthouse vessel. or some 9th
er small craft, be stationed in Havana
harbor to watch over the wreck. The
latter, even if beyond resurrection, con-
tains valuable ordnance and other prop
erty that doubtless can be secured by
divers.
The Maine, though a type of construc-
zion last improved upon, was one of the
best vessels of Americas new navy. She
cost, all told, 1000, 600.
Capt. Charles ID. Sigsbee is one of the
most popular officers in the navy. His
record since he was graduated from An
napOlis in 1868 is fine. He is by no
means stranger to the smell of powder
and he knows what a ship looks like
when it is in action. He served in Mo-
bic bay, was an active participant i'll the
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
WHEAT TOUCHES $1.oo.
Highest Point Reached During the Re-
cent Squeeze.

Highest Point Reached During the Re-
cent Squeeze.
Chicago, ILL.,, Feb. 19.-For about
thirty minutes today the wheat market
was the scene of more excitement than
has been witnessed since the bull cam
paign in wheat started months ago. May
wheat at one time sold at S1.09, the
highest point reached during the recent
December squeeze and an advance of
so cents over yesterdays figures. July
showed equal strength, bringing 94A
cents when May was at its highest point.
The market was strong from the start on
confirmation of the reported sales in Eu-
rope of 100000 bushels of Letters
wheat and on reports of the shipment of
100000 bushels Letter wheat at Duluth
all rail to the seaboard.
About an hour from the close an at
tempt to protect weekly calls brought out
the fact that the market was practically
bare of offerings. Prices began to ad-
vance rapidly under anxious bidding. At
the same time Allen & Grier, Letters
brokers. crowded July. Calls for mar
gins came in and the pit, from a condition
of comparative quiet, became a perfect
bedlam. Il was impossible to buy wheat
and prices jumped y cent at time as
shorts tried to cover. At the top, longs
realized heavily and prices broke sharply,
but shorts had been so thoroughly fright
ened that fluctuations were rapid and viO-
lent to the close. May wound up at 81 .06
bid, an advance for the day of % cents.
July closed 31a cents higher at 921s cents.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
PATRIOTIC HOWARD GOULD.
He Offers the Government His $500, Zoo
Yacht.

New York, Feb. 21.-Howard Gould.
the owner of the 100000 pleasure craft
Niagara, which has been launched at Will
mington, Del, says that if necessary he
would gladly turn it over to the govern
ment.
Il don't know just what service it might
be able to do" said Mr.. Gould, ''but if the
government wants the yacht [ guess it can
have it. AS matter of fact I believe
that the war rumors have been exaggerat-
ed, and l certainly hope that there will be
no need for the Niagara or any other YES
sci.
THE Niagara is not fast enough for
dispatch boat, and / do not know just
how it might be used for government pur-
poses, but if needed it will be on hand"
The Niagara not only is the largest
steam yacht ever built in the United
States, but represents the highest type of
naval construction as applied to a pleasure
craft. In point of tonnage it is equaled
by only three or four yachts in the whole
world.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
BIG MAGAZINES INTACT.
Such is . Report Which Comes from

Havana, via Key West, Fla, Feb. 21.-
Capt. Sigsbee and the other officers of the
Maine have been very reticent in speak
ing of the cause of the explosion, and
have not even limited that they thought
it merely an accident. 1t is now known
that the magazine of the 10-inch gun
under the forward turret has not ex
ploded, as the top of the turret is still
there Had the magazine exploded the
top would have been off. The other large
magazine in the after part of the ship is,
of course, intact.
No definite conclusion, however, can be
arrived at until the divers make a careful
examination of the inside and outside of
the ship. First they will begin the work
of recovering the bodies that are inside the
vessel and search for important docu-
ments. and personal effects of the captain
and the officers will be made.
Every day the Spanish papers invent a
new story as to the cause Of the disaster.
They have mentioned that there was n
fire on board, which was kept secret: that
at the time of the accident they were
cleaning and handling torpedoes that the
boiler exploded, and many other such
tales.
The Spaniards have also circulated u
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
COURT OF INQUIRY LEAVES.
Worried About Reports Concerning the
Magazines.

Key West, Fla, Feb. 21-The New
York Herald correspondent learns from
what may be considered a semi-oficial
source that the divers sent down on be-
half of the United States to examine the
wreck Of the battleship Maine have
made a preliminary report of the result
of their work.
Incredible as it may seem, he is as
sured that after partial examination of
the magazines of the Maine the divers
report that the one in which the explosion
IS supposed to have occurred is intact
According to his informant, the con-
tents of this magazine are unframed
Therefore, if this report be true an en-
tirely different aspect is given to the ter
ritic explosion which brought death and
destruction to the Maine
This report reaching Key West, it is
said caused the members of the court of
inquiry to decide to proceed to Havana
Sunday and begin their investigation at
once, instead of organizing the court
here. At any rate. the lighthouse tender
Mangrove, with the court of inquiry
aboard, left for Havana last evening.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
M AlNE IS IN RIBBONS.
But it is Thought There will be Enough
Evidence Left.

New York, Feb. PA dispatch to the
Tribune from Havana says: The Maine
is actually in ribbons. but enough of the
vessel remains to make possible deter
mination of whether the explosion came
from without or from within. The officers
of the Maine do not publicly discuss the
theory of a submarine mine which may
have been set off by explosion, but it evil
IDENTIFY has weight with thel1. They are
particularly anxious for points to be gath
cred from the examination of the plates of
the hull. Their belief is that these will
have to establish whether the explosive
force came from without or not. The ma
ture of the damage to the port side has
not been fully settled, but the weight of
opinion seems to be that the hole was
made by an external explosion.
Capt. Sigsbee thinks that the investi-
cation to be made by him will be COM
pleted in three days and the result laid
before the court of inquiry
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
DISORDER IN ALASKA.
Law1ess Element in Complete Possession
of SkaEuay.

Washington, D. c., Feb Secretary
Bliss is in receipt of a letter from Gov.
John @. Brady of Alaska. descriptive of
the lawless condition of affairs at Skag-
uay and Taiya. 1t was referred to at
the cabinet meeting today when Alaskan
affairs were under discussion and was
considered sufficient justification by the
members of the dispatch of the addi-
tional military force already authorized
to be sent to Alaskan territory. The let
ter follows:
News from Skaguay by the steamboat
now in port is serious. The United States
deputy marshal has been shot dead in the
discharge of his duty. Another man was
killed at the same time at the same place.
Recently the steamers have been carrying
great lists of passengers, many of these
being gamblers, thugs and lewd women
from the worst quarters of the cities
from the coast. They have taken in the
situation at Skaguay and Taiya and ap-
pear 10 have combined to carry things
with a high hand. The best people at
these places are powerless because they
have no municiDal form of government
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23

work of the North Atlantic blockade
squadron in 1865, and helped in the at
tacks and in the final assault upon Fort
Fisher.
Capt. Sigsbee's Report.
The secretary Of the navy received the
following telegram from Capt. Sigsbee:
Maine blown up in Havana harbor, $40
and destroyed; Many wounded and doubt
less more killed and drowned. Wounded
Ward line steamer. Send lighthouse tend
ers from Key West for crew. A few pieces
Of equipment still above water. No one had
other clothes than those upon him.
Public opinion should be suspended till
fnrther report. All officers believed to be
saved.
Jenkins and Merritt not yet accounted for.
Many Spanish officers, including represen-
tatlves of Gen.. Blanco, now with me and
express sympathy. SIGSBEE.
The officers referred to in the above
dispatch are: Lieut.. Friend W. Jenkins
and Assistant Engineer Darwin w. Mer,
rift.
List of Those Saved.
Capt. Sigsbee has reported in answer
to cable message of inquiry that the
following officers and men were saved
from the Maine:
Capt. G. D. Sigsbee.
Lieut.. Commander r. Wainwright.
Lieut.. G. +. Holman.
Lieut.. ]. Hood.
Lieut.. ]. w. Jungen.
Lieut.. G.. p. Blow.
Surgeon S. G. Henneberger.
Paymaster G. NJ. Ray.
Chief Engineer G. p. Howell. II
Lieut.. J. j. Blanden.
Chaplain j. p. Chadwick.
Passed Assistant Engineer F. c. Bowers.
Lieut.. Marines A. Catlin.
Assistant Engineer ]. Z. Morris.
Naval cadets. II. Holden, w. T. Gu
verius, r. Bronson, p. Washington, A.
Crenshaw, J. Il. Boyd.
BoatSwain +. E. Larkin.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
THE MAINE BLOWN UP
United States Cruiser Totally
Destroyed at Havana.
Many Of Her Grew Lose Their Lives
The Cause Unknown.

The destruction of the United States
battleship Maine in the harbor at Ha-
vana, ON Tuesday evening, February IS
at $40 o'clock, is regarded as the great
est naval disaster of modern times, with
the possible exception of the sinking of
the British warship Victoria by the
Camperdown, in which disaster nearly
400 lives were lost. The cause of the ex-
plosion is not definitely known, and the
cries in regard to it are plentiful Some
ct them seeM reasonable, according TO
certain viewpoints, but many Of them are
not only extremely sensational. but are
absurd. Many officials of the administra-
ton and the navy are of the opinion thai
the explosion was due to nothing but an
accident, while a few allow a suspicion
to haunt their minds that the destruction
OF the Maine was the design of treacher-
Gus Spaniards. The high government Of
hcials are trying to annihilate all senti-
ment in the latter respect
The theory that torpedo was eXplod-
ed beneath the Maine is not seriously en-
tertalned by naval officers. inasmuch, they
aver, as a torpedo explosion beneath the
water would not have shaken the city of
Havana as reported.
Capt. Sigsbee refuses to talk at length
about the calamity He saws ONLY an in
'NStASdS1OI1 VIII 1CfCd1 " uctHtI luc OA llO-
sion took place within the hull of the
Maine or without. However, one theory
that is adhered to by many is that while
the Maine was coaling up at Havana an
explosive of some kind was hid in one of
the bunkers in the bow of the boat which
supplies the donkey engine. In fact, there
is a countless number of theories But,
after all, a person in authority in the navy
department says all speculation in regard
to the cause of the explosion is idle.
navy department that the dead number
$50. Capt. Sigsbee, commander of the
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
LETTERS BIG PROFITS.
His Coup OVershadoWs All Other
Deals in Past Twenty
Years.

Chicago, ILL.,, Feb. 19-[ Special lit is
stated on absolute authority that since
last Monday Joseph Letter has deposited
IL Chicago banks as proceeds of wheat
sales a fraction over $6,OOO,OOO, and that
it is now impossible to prevent him max
ing profits that will make those of all
grain deals of the past twenty years APP
pear insignificant by comparison.
There is confirmation of the sale of the
wheat. Within forty eight hours ocean
tonnage has been taken at very low rates
on 100000 bushels to the leading Eng
lish ports.
Favored people who had the tip on the
heavy deposits with the banks were get
ting all the wheat possible on soft spots
yesterday.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
4 BEAUTIFUL GIRLS AFFLTCTTOT.!
From the Republican, Versailles. Ind.

from the Repu0t1cdn, Versailles, Ind.
The fuckers of Versailles, Ind, like all
fond parents, are completely wrapped up
in their children. Their daughter Lucy
has given them much concern. She is
fifteen, and from a sG>z5s, healthy girl,
three years ago, had become weak and
kept falling off in flesh, until she became
a mere skeleton. She seemed to have no
hfe at all. Her blood became impure and
finally she became the victim of nervous
prostration. Doctors did not help her.
Most of the time she was confined to bed.
was very nervous and irritable, and seem
ed on the verge of St Vitus dance.
"One morning." said Mrs. Tucker, ''the
doctor told us to give her DR.. Williams
brought with him. He said he was treat
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
What gen, Mules Gave Up,

Maj Curtis. father of the late ex-
ploded candidate for mayor of Boston,
was the brother of Nelson Curtis. who
founded the fortunes of the family in
Boston by successful building contracts
and for whom his nephew, Gen. Nelson
Miles. was named. 1t is said that Mel
son Curtis offered to leave his large for
tune to the general if he would leave the
army and return to Boston to manage it.
but Gen. Miles preferred glory to great
riches and stayed on the ladder of promo
tion.-Springfield Republican.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
Kindness in Animal Training.

Vicious horses are generally the result
OF violent, barbarous training, and
when the greater number of the horses
IN any country are tricky and hard to
manage, it means that they belong to 8
brutal population. From time immem0-
rial the contrary has been the case among
the Arabs, where colts are brought I'D and
exercised with almost maternal solicitudc.
The child amuses itself by petting and
playing with the colt Of which he is some
day to be the rider. and the horse and
his cavalier grow up together. The ear
Hest education of the young animal begins
in the family, in the same tent. The
colt is constantly looked after and
caressed, and is never chastised except
for acts of malice or disobedience He is
given the choicest dainttes of food and is
gradually accustomed to make himself
useful. When the bit is put in his
mouth the iron is covered with wool, so
that it shall not bruise his lips, the wool
having been dipped in salt water to give
it a pleasanter flavor and make him like
it. The animals education is thus al
ways carried on with constant discretion,
and even after it is completed the train
ers never indulge in blows or hard words
By such association a real bond Of friend
ship is formed between the beast and his
rder-From Education in the Animal
Kingdom, by NJ. G. Letourneau, in Apple
tons Popular Science Monthly
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
WESTERN RATES CUT,
First-C1ass Fare from Chicago to Tacoma
is SCI so.

Tacoma, Wash, Feb. 19-The North
ern railroad announces a big cut in pas
senger rates to become effective today.
The rate from Tacoma to st. Paul, Du-
luth and points III Minnesota, North Da-
kota and Manitoba Will be cut in two.
Heretofore the rates to the above points
have been $50 frst-class and $40 sec
ond-class In effect next Saturday the
rates will be $50 frst-class and SO sec
ond-class.
The rates from Tacoma to Chicago will
be $31.5G irst-class and S265O second
class. To points in Ontario and Que
bee as far east as Montreal and south of
the line of the Grand Trunk railway,
Port Huron to Montreal $40 first-class
and $50 second-class. The same rates
will prevail from the East to Tacoma.
Seattle, Washington, Feb. 19.-The
Great Northern has announced Il cut in
eastbOund rates. The cut is the same as
that made by the Northern Pacific.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
FRANK TUCKER.
MRS ER MI THHG
When Victor Hugo Lived on $50 a
Month.

AS to our expenditure, it must be kept
within the narrowest limits, as the future
looks very doubtful, and the surest sour
ces Of income may fail altogether, or, at
all events, payments may be delayed. [
myself manage to exist on 100 francs
-four pounds) per month. This is my es-
innate per diem: Rent l franc; breakfast
(cup of chocolate), so centimes: dinner. 1
franc, p centimes; fuel, % confines; to-
tai, 3 francs. That makes up 80 francs
per month. The surplus, 10 francs. is for
washing and pourboires.-Letter to His
Wife while in Exile
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
Gunner ]. Hill.
Carpenter j. Helm.

Gunner ]. Hill.
Carpenter j. Helm.
PaymaSter Clerk 3. Mccarthy
Men-RedOn. Larson, Hallberg, Bullock
Melville, Willis, Galpin, Kushida, Noppin
Turpin, Harris, Lutz, Jertzon, Holland
Herbert, McDevitt, Foley. Hutchns
Swartz, Richards, Teackle, Flynn, Dress
Ter, David, Michaelson, Sohman. Fox. Will
Der, Waters, Anderson, Christianson Koch
Ter, Ericsson, Mack, Williams, ]. White
Pauls Coffee, j. w. Allen, Roe, D. Cronin
G. Shea, Herness, J. Heffron, Bloom, John
son, Bergman. Mattison, A. Johnson,
PIlcher, Hotter, LOTUS. McGinnis, W.
Mattiasen. Furness, Good, Darkins, Rau,
McNair, Gabriel A. Hallon, Senetch, A.
Knese Benjamin, Mckay.
At the navy department it is stated
that the paymaster's latest report showed
354 men AID officers on the Maine
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
SITUATION Is GRAVE.
London Standard Alarmed Over
Recent Events in West
Africa.

London, Feb. 19.-The Standard today,
commenting editorially on the news from
West Africa. says: 1.-The dispatches read
by Mr. Chamberlain are of the very gray
est Importance. A French officer has es-
tablished with a large force a station at
a place we regard as within our sphere.
1t must be recognized that the time has
arrived to face the situation. The pros
venture to purchase peace by abandoning
what is considered an unimpeachable
RIGHT -