The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-05-06
MANY Startling RUMlRS
Reported Blowing Up Of a Big Moni.
tor and Detection and Goa
viction Of a Spy.
ALL LATER PRONOUNCED 10 Be UNTRUE.
The spanish Fleet Finally Leaves 1t. Win.
cent, but n Collision Among the v.--
sells Compeis "A Return to Port Conn
modore SIMPSONS Report of the Ma
tanxas sombardmcnt

tnnxas bombhrdmcnt-
WAsnINGroN, April 30.--Yesterday
was IA day of alarming rumors run.
ming all the way from the blowing up
of "a big monitor To the detection and
punishment of traitors: but fortunately
all of them turned out, on inquiry. Ia
be without foundation. Actual events
Of Importance were few in number.
The news Of the day of most interest
was the departure from Cape Verde
isles of the Spanish fleet, the stay of
which at st. Vincent had becna source OF
anxiety on the part of the officials
here, because it seemed 10 indicatc that
the sympathy of Portugal for Spain
might lead her to wink at "A violation
Of neutrality laws in favor of Spain.
Late in the afternoon a cablegram
came to the state department from
st. Vincent, bearing no signature. an.
nouncing that four battleships and
three torpedo boats had started north
and some of the transports for Cuba.
and hat the northern feet return ed
shortly, having been in collision.
Because there was no signature at.
tached, the Off cials did not know what
Importance to attach to this message.
as these are not times to accept what
appears to be information without
close scrutiny.
Capt. Sampson sent "A telegram rela-
tive to the firing at the Matanzas forts.
but it was disappointingly lacking in
detail, but the few WORDS con med in
h dispatch went to confirm the OFF
Ella view that the affair was nothing
more than a naval reconnaissance.
No news came from Admiral Dewevs
squadron now on its way To the Phil.
ippines to do battle with the Spanish
fleet. One officer pointed out that il
Admiral Dewey succeeded in defeating
the Spanish feet. the Spanish officials.
who control the cable connecting the
island with the rest of the world,
may suppress the news or distort the
facts into Spanish victory.
Presuming that the admiral is bound
directly for Manila, the calculation
made at the navy yard shows he would
arrive about two o'clock this (Satur
day morning. Manila time. which is
about IL hours earlier than our own.
The pressure continues unabatcd on
the war department for changes in I he
plans already announced a. to mobili.
cation of the volunteer troops. and,
very much against its will and iudg.
ment, the department is making some
concessions in this matter.
large lumber of callers are bring.
ing forward candidates for the many
plums within the gift of the president
and Secretary Alger in the shape OF
appointments to grades above regi-
mental in the army.
Gen. Lee and Gen. Dodge spent a
good part of the day in conference with
officials. giving color to the reports
that they are among those selected for
appointment as major generals.
The Announcement that the State OF
Texas. laden with supplies for the re-
concentrates, is destined for Sagua
has led To the surmlsc that it is proba-
bly, this port insteadof Matan1as when
has been selected for the landing place
of the first attack of the United States
troops.
Regarding the harmless growls that
appear in the European papers, and
threats to interfere TO prevent the
United States forces from b%lockading
the Philippines, it may be stated that
this was fully expected. During the
civil war there were IA great IN my at
tempts on the part of the European
nations to disregard our blockade and
threats of interference. all of which
came to naught from the irfu attltui lie
assumed by the secretary of state.
In the present ease the conditions OF
the Cuban blockade are much more lib
eral towards the powers than ever i'm
posed before. In anticipation of the
action of the German commercial IN
~tcrcsts. in comb ining to secure exemp'
tion from search for their mail steam
ers. it is pointed out that the president,
in his proclamation declaring the cX-
istcnce of war, explicitly announced
that the voyages of mail steamers are
not to be interfercd with, except on
the dearest grounds of suspicion OF a
violation of law in respect to contra
band Of war.
viscount De San.o Thyrsol. the Por-
tuguese minister, locked over the cable
dispatch from Lisbon giving the sub
stance of the neutrality decree ga
zetted there yesterday, and said it was
evidently accurate and covered the
entire subject. lie had not. how
ever, up to a late hour. re-
ceivcd an official notification
of the neutrality decree. lie says
that article :, which permits belliger-
cnts to make n short stop at Portu-
guese ports, probably will be better IN
derstood by saying that belligerents
will not be permitted TO make long
stays at Portuguese ports. Under the
rules of international law the stay
il likely to be confined to a day or two
Argentina win be Neutral.