The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-25

| Admiral Sicard's health. 1t Is said.
| however. that there was no occasion
| for relieving him now: that the flag
! ship New York Is not IL leave Key
West, and even II she should. Captain
Sampson OF Captain Taylor can as
sumo charge of the squadron while
| the admiral takes the two weeks leave
! TO recuperate from his malarial fever.
which he was about to enjoy when he
voluntarily returned TO his place.
A formal order was made out this
afternoon for Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright TO take station at Havana
| and look after the governments in
! terests while the work Of raising the
| Maine progressed. 1t has been arrang-
| ed that he shall he subsisted on board
| one OF the wrecking steamers.
THE TERROR STILL AT NORFOLK
The big double turreted monitor Ter
ror remains under orders 10 stay in
Hampton Roads until further Qoticc-
1t is likely that she will be sent to-
take the place of the Maine in the
North Atlantic squadron. ir not needed
elsewhere Immediately. The officials.
however, are lHath to cucumber the
battleships and speedier craft with the
, Terror as she might retard the eNecu-
, tion of manoeuvres.
A HINT FROM CONSUL GENERAL
LEE.
Consul General Lee in the course or
friendly talk in Havana with Ameri-
cans may have expressed the view that
there are at present other places more
desirable as resorts for persons who
have no particular business there than
Havana. but the state department au-
thoriZes the announcement that II has
not yet been advised that he has either
, officially or semi-ofiicially delivered
himself OF any expression on the sub
ject The Spanish legation also dis
credits reports that General Lee has
given any such warming 1t Ia also
said at the department that no mes
sage has been conveyed to the owners
of American vessels at New Orleans
or elsewhere that it would not DE safe
for them to visit Cuban ports at this
time.
,, MORE WARSHIPS BOUND FOR KEY
WEST.
The battleship Texas and the gunboat
Nashville will leave Galveston. Texas.
today for Key West. where they VIII
rejoin the other vessels Of Admiral
Sicard's squadron at that point. No
orders for this movement were sent by
the navy department, as it is stated
that ii is in accordance with the orders
given several weeks ago by which the
two ships were directed to remain at
Galveston from the 18th to the 23rd
instant to participate In the Mardt
GraS celebration there and return to
Key Yves on the latter date. This WIS
before the Maine disaster 80 that the
present movement is said 10 have no
possible significance on the recent oc-
currence
Simultaneous with the departure OF
| the Texas and Nashville from Calves
| ton for Key West, the Marbehead viii
| leave New Orleans and the Detroit VIII
leave Mobile for Key West. These
movements are also a part Of the or
ders given early this month. before the
Maine disaster. The Montgomery is
also due at Key West. having left
San Domingo for Key West on the
18th. The result viii he to bring to-
gether again the large fleet Of vessels
under Admiral Sicard at Key West
and the immediate vicinity. These
| Will be the New York. now at Turtu-
, gas the Indiana, Massachusetts. Tex
as. Iowa, Marblehead, Detroit Nash
vile Montgomery, Ericsson and Cush-
ing. The torpedo boats Porter and
Dupont are in drydock at Mobile. and
! are not expected 10 be ready 10 go 10
Key West for several days. The
Brooklyn is also cruising in the West
| Indies. at present en- route from St
Thomas TO Vera Cruz.
The noon mail brought TO Secretary
| Long a letter from Admiral Sicard at
| Key West. The admiral wrote that he
has not recovered his health and VIII
| be unable TO go TO sea with the squad
ron. He will remain on shore at hfs
| hotel in Key West and retain command
| Of the squadron from that place so long
| as IL remains in harbor there relin-
| gushing II only when IL becomes neces-
| sary for the vessels to go TO 4,
| squadron. Should the squadron lie
obliged 10 go to sea with the admiral
| i'll at Key West and the senior officer
| Of his feet, Captain Sampson, engaged
| in the investigation at Havana. prob
ably the command the squadron
lor. now commandts the battle
| ship Massachusetts,. md commonly re-
| garded as one OF the brightest and
| brainiest officers in the naval service
At the Spanish legation affairs have
| again resumed their normal aspect
! Senor du Bose has received no reports
| OF any character concerning the Maine
i or the progress made by the Spanizhy
| authorities at Havana in investigating
4 the occurrence.
AID FOR FAMILIES OF THE VIC
| TINS
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt today
I received a postal order for 81 from The
| Evening Post Publishing Company OF
Bridgeport, Conn, with a statement
/ explaining that IL was sent by a na-
l triotic little girl OF Bridgeport. Conn.,
| who desired TO help some other little