The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-01

war department regarding the transfer
of troops from Fort Mcpherson or any
other place TO Key West
The United States cruiser Marble
head is in the narbor.
The wounded sailors brought from
Havana by the Bache were left by her
at the quarantine station at Tortugas.
They viii stay there about ten days.
After undergoing the proper quaran-
tine surveillance, all the men OF the
Maine viii be brought here Some fear
of fever is expressed by the navy Of
f1cials here. The Bache also brought
some small arms from the Maine. The
survivors here will be put 10 work for
two hours a day, in order 10 clean the
rifles, etc, recovered from the wreck.
A dispatch from Havana says that,
despite the rumOrS 10 the contrary
that are in circulation. nothing is yet
known as to the conclusions reached
thus far by court Of inquiry.
The dispatch also says the the hoist
ing of the wreck Of the Maine from
the mud in which il has become i'm
bedded is considered almost an i'm
possibility and that eighty bodies still
remain in the wreck.
CONSUL GENERAL LEE THREAT
ENED.
A report is current in Havana that
United States Consul General Lee has
been threatened with assassination. but
he is not at all alarmed. Havana is
quiet.
The Detroit. the Nashville, the
Montgomery and the Marblehead are
at the dry dock cOaling, and the New
York and Iowa are about six miles out.
The battIeship Texas arrived at the
l.; 81
ably remain there. The Detroit will
leave on Monday with provisions for
the fleet. The torpedo boat Ericsson,
now here, will join the fleet tomorrow.
The Montgomery and the Nashville,
after cOaling will wait for orders.
TO ENLIST MORE MEN.
Washington, February 26.-Chairman
Boutelle, of the house naval affairs
committee, has receivd a letter from
the navy department, together with a
draft of bill providing authority for
the enlistment of 1,500 additional men
to man the Columbia and Minneapolis,
which have been Ordred into commits
sion. The letter is signed by. Acting
Secretary Roosevelt. 1t is known that
the subcommittee on naval affairs has
recommended in the naval apprOpria-
ton bill, an increase in the enlisted
force of the navy men and boys of
1850.
A GUITEAU IN MADRID.
Madrid, February 26-The Nacional,
in a para graph headed iMadman of
Spaniard," says: We are Informed
that a distinguished officer of the COM
missaI recently called at the residence
of a representative of a nation which
has been greatly prominnt since the
war in Cuba. The officers manner
aroused the apprehenSiOnS of the diplO-
mat, who refused to see his visitor and
informed the authorities, who inter
Vened and sent the officer to a military
asylum, declaring him doubtless pa
triOtically mad"
The diplomat referred to in The Ma
ciOnal is eveidently United States
Minister Woodford.
THE COURT LEAVES HAVANA.
Havana, February 26.-The court of
inquiry was in session today, fbut did
nothing, simply waiting to see if any
new developments resulted from the
work Of the divers. The court this
afternoon re-examined Captain Sigs
bee, Surgeon Heneberger, two divers
and Consular Clerk Drain. They then
verified the testimony by the stenog
rapher's notes and made preparations
for their departure at about o'clock.
The MangrOve got under way about
$50 o'clock. Captain Sampson said he
had no idea when the court would re-
turn here.
1t is reported from Spanish sources
that Captain Sigsbee and the other Of
ficrs of the Maine who are here, will
be called before the admiralty court
in Havana next Monday to give testi-
mony regarding the loss Of the Maine.
&c e tLo o1 ic caIiI y nd
has been expected.
The divers will continue work on
the wreck next week under the direction
of Captain Sigsbee.
Seaman Frederick o. Holzer. after a
most sturdy fight for life, died this af-
ternoon.
Three bodies have been recovered to-
day. One of them came to the surface
and the others were brought up by
divers The one which rose has been
identified as that of John W. Johnson,
and the other will probably be identi-
fed tomorrow.
Senator Proctor contemplates a run
into the country, probably visiting Ma
tanzas and other principal cities.
ADVISED BY LEE TO LEAVE HA-
VAN7A
Tampa Bay Hotel, Tampa. Fla, Feb
ruary 26-Mrs. Bruner and five chill
dren are here from Havana. She is
the wife of United States Health Off
GER Bruner at Havana and says Con-
sui General Lee advised her to hus-
band to send her away at once. Other
Americans have also made the same
statement, after being here a few days.
HANNIS TAYLOR'S VIEWS.
Mobile, Ala, February 26.-Mr. Han
MS Taylor. eX-miniSter to Spain, when
asked for his views as 10 the probable
effect of the Maine disaster upon our
relations with that country said:
1T is a critical moment and l am
full of anxiety lest We should be drawn
into war in a way that will put Us at
a great disadvantage. Even if the
court of inquiry reports that the catas-
trophe was the result of tan explosion
il will never be possible TO prove that
the Spanish government is either di-
rectly or indirectly responsible for II.
The end to be attained IS the estab-
lishment of peace in the island with
out acts upon our part that will force US
to declare war upon Spain upon unten-
able grounds. There can be no peace un
til the Spaniards aredrivensout and that
must be done by the insurgents them
selves. We must help them 10 do 50