The record-union., 1898-03-20


There had been no announcement of
their being detached from Captain Sigs-
bees command in Havana, and their
coming was a complete surprise, except
to a few officials.
With them came Naval Constructor
Hoover, who was sent by Secretary
Long flom Washington a few weeks
ago to make a technical inspection of
the wreck of the Maine. he was en-
gagged in actual work on the Maine
while she was on the stocks. so that
he is in position to Know every plate
remaining OF the Inflated ship. The
divers had found great difficulty in
identifying some of the twisted and
battered plates from the bottom of the
Maine. and it was believed that Con-
structor Hoover's technical knowledge
would be able TO make this identifiea-
tion complete.
The conference between Lieutenants
Blow and Catlin and Secretary Long
lasted for some time, Captain Crown
inshield OF the Bureau of Navigation
and ether officials being called in i
was stated authoritatively after the
conference that the main subject of
conversation was the explosion itself.
comprising detailed narrative Of the
officers and q narrowing description Of
the calamity. Whether the cause of
the explosion was under discussion
could not be learned. 1t was naturally
Inferred that these officers with their
complete personnel of information of
the explosion and their subsequent Wis
its to the wreck, would give Secre-
tary Long the benefit of their personal
views on the cause of the disaster. At
the same time the court of inquiry hav-
ing complete jurisdiction on this sub
ject, 1t was felt that the subject of
cause might be open to much reserve
as between these naval officers and the
Secretary Of the Navy. So far as Off
cial warrant was given to the pur-
pose of the conference, it was said to be
confined strictly to narratives of the
story of the wreck.
Constructor Hoover refused absolute
ly to talk about his trip to Havana, or
| to give any information concerning the
work Of the board of inquiry or tho
condition Of affairs in Cuba He said
that his lips were sealed by the condi-
tions imposed upon him. He will leave
tonight or tomorrow for New York.
HARBOR AT FORT JEFFERSON TO
BE DREDGED.
A contract was let by the Bureau of
Yards and Docks of the Navy Depart
ment to-day for dredging about 300,000
feet Of the harbor Of Fort Jefferson, on
Dry Tortugas Island. which Will en-
able large naval and merchant vessels
to anchor very near the shore to take
on coal. The Alabama Dredging and
Jetty Company of Mobile was awarded
the contract at 3S cents per cubic yard
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
The diplomatic aspect of the Span
ish question developed no new phases
to-day 1t is stated positively that no
concrete propositions on the enlarge
ment of the present plan of autonomy
or settlement based on independence
by purchase or otherwise OF a mutual
cessation Of naval and war preparations
have been under negotiation. These
subjects are continuously coming up
for abstract discussion, more in the line
of argument pre- nd son. as to what
might be done toward a solution. But
beyond this none Of these propositions
have advanced to the stage where it
may be said TO be a question of Off
cial negotiations between the two Gov
ernments. The Cuban commissioners
/
with the United States Government to-
wards securing an enlargement of the
present plan of autonomy But the
Spanish Government thus far has not
entertained the suggestion of enlarg-
ing the plan, as this would necesstate
an appeal to the Spanish Cortes. and
also would inject the question into the
i Spanish elections now about to occur
in the peninsula.
Messrs. Anguelo. Valeria and Cade-
mas, the three commissioners named by
the Cuban Cabinet to act with Minis
ter Polo in framing a commercial
/ treaty, will be presented to Secretary
Sherman and Judge Day on Monday
next. They expect to take up the ne
gotiations with Commissioner Kasson.
after the ceremony of presentation is
concluded.
CUBAN RELIEF SUPPLIES.
In connection with the relief meas
ures being extended to Cuba, the sug-
gestiJn was made to-day that the re-
lief supplies were going exclusively to
the pro-Spanish sufferers. and not to
those within the insurgent lines. This
/ has been suggested as a possible cause
for difference, as it is said that the au-
/
no discrimination among the sufferers
because of their political Affiliations.
WAS A MISUNDERSTANDI
A slight misunderstanding which
grew uD out of an Invitation extended
by Weep President Hobart to Secretary
Ouesada of the Cuban Junta has been
satisfactorily cleared up. The incident
at no time attracted serious considers4-
i ton When, however, it came to the
attention of Mr. Hobart that political
significance was being given to his re-
+ ceiving Senor Quesada as a guest. the
i Vice President speedily informed the
State Department that his invitations
were purely of q social character, and
+ that there had been no purpose in the
1 remotest way to give any political OF
official significance to Senior Quesada S
i presence at his house. 1t appears shat
! the Spanish Minister, on learning the
4 foregoing. dismissed the matter as OF
no Importance so that the incident, such
as if was. is closed.
THE MONITOR PURITAN.
/ Commodore Farquhar, formerly Chief
of the Bureau of Yards and Docks OF
! the Navy Department. now in comma and
of the Norfolk navy yard. was in cnn-
i ference with the naval officers to-day.
i He reported that the finishing touches
have been put on the manitor Puritan,
and that she is in fine condition for SER
vice. It is expected that the Puritan
win leave soon for Port Royal. South
Carolina, at which place it has been Re
hported the Navy Department viii To-
cate a fleet Of torpedo boats. which may
be called on for assistance either by the
] fleet at HAMPTON Roads or that at Key