The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-14
TO THE LIARS.
An Appeal in Behalf of the Women at
Home.

| An Appear III benaII OIL LAC NOAIoh a.
| Home.
Havana, March 12.-In an interview
had by the correspondent of the Associated
Press with Commander Converse of the
cruiser Montgomery regarding the report
that the cruiser had been injured the
officer dictated the following: "The re-
port is false. No damage of any kind to
the hull or machinery has been done to
the Montgomery during the months she
has been under my command. Would it
not be well for the sensation mongers to
wives and other relatives of the officers
and crew at home before causing deep
alarm by such stories?
There is general Indignation here over
the story. The correspondent was re-
qested to deny two rumors telegraphed
from here which he saw today for the
first time. These are that Captain Samp-
son is indisposed and that Consul General
Lee and DR.. Bruner. the United States
sanitary ply sioian, are on bad terms.
Both stories are declared on the authority
of the men named in them to be without
the color of truth. Captain Sampson
seems TO be all right.
The court of inquiry did little work to-
day. The members examined two divers,
went over the drawings, plans and photo
graphs in the cabin of the Mangrove and
read over the stenographer's copy OF some
past testimony. The water was very
rough, making the work of the divers
difficult. The wreoking tug Merritt is
anchored cable length from the port side
of the Maine, sending down divers.
The Montgomery was visited by several
Spanish army officers accompanied by
two ladies. all coming on the governor
generals barge. The usual naval and
official courtesies were extended by every
body to the officers and sscrew of the
Austrian training ship Dona. The mem.
bers of the court of inquiry were deeply
interested in the account given by this
correspondent of the interview had by
him with Capt. Peral, president of the
Spanish court of inquiry. Eacn member
asked questions in order to make the
points of Captain Peral clear, but of
course made no comment whatever.
The date for the function to be held at
tho Tacon theatre for the benefit of the
Spanish navy has not been fixed. 1t is
believed that the entertainment will
produce $50, 900 in gold. Boxes are selling
at $3.50 and small lodges $50 each.
A grand ball was given tonight in the
Casino Espagnol in honor of the officers of
the Vizoaya and Almirante Oquendo.
Next Wednesday the officers of the same
ships will be given a banquet at the
palace OF Capt, Gen. Blanco.
Additional advices received from Ma
tanzas show that 1900 pounds of quinine
of the Fern cannot be distributed without
orders from the government and fears are
felt that the work of distribution will be
delayed because the Red Cross society did
not make proper arrangements before
hand. However, all have confidence in
Consul Brice, who will have the food and
other supplies packed in storehouses in
different localities and distributed direct
from them, the governor OF Matanzas
concurring.
The great damage done by the attempt
to smuggle jewelry into Havana is shown
in the delay in transit by the strict ex
aminations. The officials say they will
act as quickly as possible. The Fern, rs
soon as the slow work of unloading in
boats is finished. will take the same
amount of stores, 55 tons, of the same
kind to Sagua La Grade. The Fern
hopes to reach here tomorrow. She must
unload there, as at Matanzas, by means
of lighters. At Matanzas she has to use
her own crew TO transfer freight. No ade-
quate provision for stevedores has, been
made by the Red Cross society. The news
that there was food IN Matanzas spread
through the town and hundreds of per-
sons crowded to the wharf with sacks and
boxes only to be disappointed and told
they must wait. A report, which has not
been verified, is in circulation that the
stores sent to Matanzas by the Red Cross
ten days ago are still in the railroad
warehouse and that none have been dis
tributed.
The visiting Senators and Congressman
who went TO Matanzas by the sea this
morning with Miss Clara Barton, Mr..
Elwell and others, spent much time in
visiting the governor of the province. The
party was photographed and after dining
paid visits to the hospitals.