The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-25

its present condition Il is a iangero~s
oosta-';c tion to navigation aITd IL is n<1
'relaeved that any opposition will u. S<-
fered to its removal.
TO USE THE NATIONAL GUARD
Representative Marsh. chairman or
the house committee on the mRftla
caVed upon Secretary Alger today ssnst
urged that in event OF ho&tilitieSs the
recourse OF the government for soldiers
be the state militia. who should L., IN
Vited to volunteer for the cOuntry's de-
fense. Secretary Alger was very much
interested in the argument made ny
Mr. March and while not committing
himself on that subject. seemed to- re-
gard the suggestion made 10y him ass
practicable. Afterwards Mr. Marsh
called on President Nick inley and re-
peated the statement he had made bo
the secretary.
During the morning Secretary Aigcr
was also in conference with Generaz
Miles, comanding the army. respecting
the military occupation OF Fort Jeffex-
son on Dry Tortugas island The de-
termination to garrison this fort has
been reached by the secretary and ehs.
question now to be met are those sx
what improvements in the fortiffcxs-
tions now there may be necessary
Santander y Trutos. the shop OF Hx-
vana, has consecrated tsle central rre-
lief station and also the Lee -orphanaTs>
He paid high tributes 10 Louis Klnpsci1.
the special commissioners, for his Sys-
tenn of relief work and seemed greatly
pleased with all the arrangements
made to help the poor as We'll al the
orphans.
La Lucha in an editorial under tfse
captain of expectation in the world
maintains the American court Of iu-
quiry, owing TO the shoIt time ii w7xs<
here, could not give a scientific reTurt
on the Maine disaster. "Americaxs
naval officers" says La Lucha." arc
not likely 10 decide against brother v4-
ficers. The divers could not give ex-
pert testimony, owing to the fact that
the machinery was imbedded four feet
in the mud. 1t is greatly to be regret
ted that more time and care were IlO1
given to the preparation OF a report for
which the whole world waits and which,
is likely to change the entire feeknss
Of part OF the American people bD-
ward Spain and Cuba" La Lucba
publishes also an interview with Gcts-
eral Lee, which quotes him as saying
that he knows nothing of the nature of
the report, but is satisfied that Gcri-
eral Blanco never conceived the disas-
ter until he heard the shock in the hac-
Dor.
DIVERS LEAVE 4kS.A>
Gunner Morgan left for the feet al
Key West today. With him went the
naval divers Fisher, Rundquest and
and Schluter and Hanz, the helper
This leaves two navy divers and FIVE,
civilians on the contract work.
The body of a white man was found
in the forward part of the wreck to-
day. 1t will probobly be identified by
marks on the clothing when the latter
has been disinfected. The body was
sent to Key West on the Olivette.
BEARING THE IMPORTANT DOCE-
MENT no WASHINGTON
Jacksonville, Fla, March 23.-Judsr
Advocate Mark left Miami at 7-a
o'clock this morning on the East Coas.
railway, reached jacksonville at !-Gs
o'clock p. m. on time. and left at 3
O'Clock via the Florida, Central ani
through Savannah, Columbia, Cnar-
1otte, Greensboro, Danvlle, Lynch
burg and Charlottesville, reaching.
Washington at 9:25 O'Clock p m. east -
ern time. Thursday night. The raI-
road wires have carried the mess1Gx
down the line to use all dispatch. This
practically makes special Of the Mark
W "
Washington will be reached On the doz
and the portentous document i'm the
White house by $50 O'Clock. The rum
from Jacksonville Is 772 miles, the sc4,e-
dule time being a little over twenty
four hours
Lieutenant Commander Mark passed
| through thfs city this evening. having
in custody the report OF the court II
| inquiry in the Maine case. on winch
| Will depend so much Of the happenings
| of the next few weeks Of the worlds
| history.
During the short time of the stay I'm
| this city, an Associa ted Press reportS-
secured the attention OF Lieut.nane
| Mark and showed him a dispatch from
Miami that appeared IN the aftoernouk2
papers in which ne was quoted AS sag
| ing: 1T looks like war; it certainly
| does" Before the words had been rez<1
| to him, he exclaimed: 1T is utterly
! false. i have said nothing Of the kind
don't talk about this matter" A2
efforts to get him to make any exppes-
sion Of opinion were equally futile 10
far as the present crisis or his reia tons
to it are concerned. Other members "a
the party were equally on-commfttzi
During the transfer from one train
to the other, Lieutenant Mark wxR
closely guarded by the members OF LIS
party. He walked between two OF Lin
friends, carrying a mysterious box -
package, covered with black cloth. Be
hind him the officers Of his party walk
ed closely and the effort was apparvu4
to allow no possible chance for aux
outsider to come between them. Thrx
walked rapidly and did not stop q.
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