The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-05
MORE SHIPS.
A Fresh Spanish Squadron Get
ting in Readiness
To Sail From CadiZ For havana
at Once
THIS WILL INCREASE
The Spanish Fleet in Cuban
Waters by Four 1rOncIadS'
Five More Torpedo Boats VIII
Be Dispatched Also.
GUNNEROF THE MAINE
Talks Freely of the Explosion
at Atlanta
In Spite of All the 'COrking
Up" by the Government.
This Man Expresses the Real
Feeling of Maine Survivors.

Feeling of Maine SURVIVORS
London, March 5.-A letter just re
ceived here from Madrid says it is def
nitely reported there that a fresh Span
ish squadron, destined for Cuba is be-
tng organized at Cadiz. 1t consists of
four iron clads, the Carlos V. Pelayo,
Alfonzo XIII and another, several gun
boats, and a transatlantic steamer.
Active work is also proceeding upon
the torpedo boat destrOyers Prosperina,
Audaz and Osada, and upon the torpedo
boats Habana, Retamosa and Barcelo
which form the second torpedo boat
hotiua, which Spain is sending to Cuba.
Atlanta, Ga, March 5.-One of the
survivors of the Inflated Maine, Second
Gunner L. E. Trail, is in Atlanta today.
When asked if he was on the boat at
the time of the explosion, he said be
was, and showed the reporter a lame
arm and bad scalp wound, saying that
he received them in the explosion. Mr..
Trail said he was just out Of the hOspit-
al at Key West, and was on a sixty day
furlough, which he had in his pocket.
He also had a big roll of money. In
speaking of the explosion, he said:
L
not want to talk about it, but yiu can
say this, that unless the United States
should declare war against Spain
they will never get an American sal
lor to put his foot on the deck of their
war vessels again. You can state that
as fact and bet on it. We would be
the laughing stock of the world and
would be held in contempt in every port
we entered.
Money won't wipe out the outrage or
replace the lives of 25S Of as good men
as ever walked a deck. We don't want
money and we must have war. Just
think Of what an awful slaughter that
was by these sneaking Spaniards, and
you can depend upon it that the Span
ish government knew all about it.
What could an American sailor ex-
pect if the United States should fail to
declare war against Spain or if she
should accept indemnity for the loss of
25S Ives2" continued Mr.. Trail. But
I believe we viii have war, and if we
do we viii whip Spain in a little or no
time, although III tell you she has got
some mighty fine boats"
To what do you attribute the de-
struction of the Maine?" was asked.
To submarine mine explosion, of
course. 1t could have been nothing
else, and 1t was a trap set for US by the
Spanish with full knowledge of the gov
ernment. Our magazines We're not ex-
plOded. 1t was impossible for them to
explode and all this talk about lack of
discipline is silly. We had the very
best discipline and every precaution was
taken against accident"
Trail was questioned as to his posi-
tion at the time of the explosion. He
said:
I was aft, and the first I knew of it
there was a terrible shock and it looked
like million sl1yrockets We're shooting
In the air from all around the boat. 1t
was terrible moment and nobody
knew anything for some time. When
l recovered my senses the ship was set
Ting and l lost no time in getting off
as best I could when assistance ar
rived
Mr., Trail is a tail man. apparently
about SO years of age. He was born
in Atlanta and expects to spend the
larger part of his furlough here.
Havana, March 5.-The Spanish first
class cruiser Almirante Oquendo ar
rived in Havana harbor at S:45 O'Clock
this morning from Spain. She received
a hearty welcome from the ferry boats
and tugs on board of which were the
civil and military authorities and diff
1erent societies which had been waiting
1or the Warship's arrival The docks
We're crowded with sight seers. Rock
cts were sent up and flags and other
decorations were displayed from the
vessels in port, the public buildings and
the palaces
The Almirante Oquendo made a fine
appearance as she returned the salute
from Fort Cabanas and then saIuted the
fort and admiral.
Capt. Joaquin Lasaga is in command
OF the Almirante Oquendo.
Inc papers here say the newly ar
rived vessel is of the same class as the
Nlzcaya. The same ceremonies were
observed on the arrival of the Amiran-
te Oquendo as were followed out when
the Vizcaya reached this port from New
Fftzhugh Lee. jr.. son of the consul
general was among the passane-ars 1I1bo
arrived here today on board the Oil
The United States light house tender
with the United States naval court of
inquiry.
The smokestacks of the Maine have
peen removed. The divers hope to re-