Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-02-26
his PLANS FULLY MADE.
President Meklnley's Course In the
Maine Case Decided Upon.

There win no No Days Of Grace for spain
If Maine Was Destroyed by Tor
pedo Indemnify wili 10 Im-
msdiately Demanded.
wAsnISaTos, Feb. 24-The arrival
Of u mail In Washington from Key
West yesterday afternoon bringing
several private letters from naval Off
GERS lately attached to the Maine,
caused wave of excitement to run
over the departments and the capitol.
for there were all sorts OF rumors rs to
the contents c. .hese letters, very few
OF which runners, in point Of fact, had
any sound basis. The only feature, SO
far rs could be discovered, OF real i'm
portance rs throwing any light on the
cause OF the explosion contained In the
letters was tho statement that the two
after boilers in the after boiler space
we're all of the eight boilers OF the
Maine that were under steam ut the
time OF the explosion. This fact had q
negative value, for It disposed Mt once
Of the theory that boiler explosion
had caused the wreck. The experts
oil say that, by no possibility, could
the after boilers explosion have
wrecked the fore part Of the Maine and
left the after part almost unframed.
Much interest was shown In dis
patch received shortly before three
o'clock from Adm. Sicard, giving the
recommendations of Capt. Sampson, OF
the court of inquiry, as to the raising
of the wreck. Various interpretations
were put on the expression, forward
half completely destroyed This was
regarded rs partial confirmation OF
the theory that the forward magazine
had exploded, as that Is one OF the
most important positions of the for
ward half OF the ship. At the same
time 1t was held by some naval au-
thorities that the destruction OF the
forward half OF the ship did not neces-
sarily mean that the forward maya
zine had exploded, rs this might be
still intact, although a part OF the
general wreckage. In the absence OF
an explicit statement rs to the for
ward magazine, there was disposi-
ton not to accept any implied state
ment us to its destruction.
Evidently the president Of the court
OF inquiry is fearful Of the effect upon
the public of ill-judged attempts to ac-
count for the destruction of the Maine,
for yesterday afternoon he telegraphed
Secretary Long, doubles having in
mind certain publications Of yesterday
morning, as follows:
HAVANA. Feb 23-Any reported interviews
with divers IRE untrue. Every precaution has
been taken. Officers always present.
This brief statement disposes OF all
the allegations that have been made,
pro and con, Us to the blowing up OF
the forward magazines.
SPAIN WILL HAVE TO EXPLAIN.
CHICAGO, Feb. 24.-Walter Wellman
telegraphs us follows from Washing
ton to the Times Herald:
II the finding Of the court Of inquiry should
be that the battleship Maine was destroyed by
o submarine mine or torpedo President Nc
Kinley will demand an explanation OF the
Spanish government This demand for On cx-
PLANTATION will be made instantly upon receipt
Of the verdict Of the court II Will then do
yolve upon Spain to give such Information as
may be in her possession concerning the means
by which the ship was destroyed Everything
that the administration has learned concerning
that deplorube disaster has been given to
the public Every intelligent reader OF the
ak.Ass NhA
president or the secretary Of the navy. But
there Is q feeling here that Gen. Blanco and
the other Spanish authorities In Havana know
n good deal more than we do For one thing,
they know whether or not the harbor was
planted with explosive mines They know
whether or not such a submarine torpedo was
under the Maine. and they must know. too,
who had access to the electrical wires connect
ed with that bomb.
EVERY SURVIVOR TO TESTIFY.
HAVANA, Feb. 24.-The United States
court of inquiry into the loss of the
Maine met at ten o'clock yesterday
morning and examined DIR. Honeber-
ger, Paymaster Ray and Chief Engi-
neer Howell, of the battleship. Sew
eral witnesses, whose names are not
obtainable, were examined during the
afternoon. Another visit was made to
the wreck by Capt Sampson, president
of the court. The captain says he has
no idea of the length OF time the court
will remain in session here. 1t all de-
ponds upon the testimony, and new
features requiring further investiga-
ton may develop at any time. He
added that, sooner or later, every sur
vivor OF the Maine will be examined
by the court, which seems to imply
that sessions for that purpose will be
held ut Key West.
HALF THE MAINE DESTROYED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a. - Secretary
Long yesterday afternoon received
the following telegram from Adm.
Sicard:
KEY WEST, Fla, Fob. 2L-Lon2. Secretary
Navy: Right Arm arrived ut Havana yester-
day morning Capt Mngee seems TO be IN ex-
perienced man who will be able to give good
advice Capt Simpson wires me condition Of
wreck Is such as TO require most powerful up
planes the government can secure. Court
recommends contract with best equipped
wreeling company TO remove material and lift
ship without delay. Forward half completely
destroyed. after half apparently intact except
In minor matters. SIcARn
THE SITUATION GRAVE.
NEW YORK, Feb. PA dispatch to
the World from Havana says:
The situation in Havana Is more grave than
10 was week ago. Although the officers OF the
naval board OF inquiry preserve IN impenstra-
bic reserve. It Is learned that some OF the best
naval experts now believe that the explosion
was the result OF treachery. They do not be-
lleye that the Spanish oficials were part OF the