davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17
MISSOURI BOY ON THE MAINE.
John r. Morris, an Assistant En-
KineeF on the Destroyed Vea- :.
sell Escaped Injury.

sci. Escaped Injury.
Attorney Robert E. Morris, of Kansas
City, Kas., received a cablegram yester-
day afternoon from his brother, John r.
Morris. who was aboard the Maine at the
time of the explosion, stating that he es-
capped unharmed. TIE message lifted a
great burden from the minds of the young
mans relatives on the Kansas side, as it
WIS feared that he was one Of the VIC
tins of the ill fated ship.
John r. Morris was one of the assistant
engineers of the Maine. He is graduate
of the Missouri state university, and en-
tered the naval service in 1894, after serv-
ing four years in the naval academy at
Annapolis. His admission to the academy
was. secured through the influence of R..
p. c. Wilson, of Platte City, Mo.
Mr.. Morris, who is IS years of age, grad
uated' from the academy In 1894, and i'm
med:atelx became, member of the crew
on the Chicago, a member Of the Mediter-
raEeani squadron, After, two years serv-
ice on the Chicago. The .was stationed at
Washington and New York. In May of
last year he went aboard :fhe Maine and
has since served as an assistant engineer.
His relatives, who now reside on the
Kansas side, are widely known in both
Kansas Citys. Robert E. Morris. his
piclHeIp Is tHe Id" partner oI eA-SOHSTeSS-
man O.. l.. Miller. A sister and his moth
er aiso"live in Kansas City. Kas.
1t was reported yesterday that David
NJ. Carruthers, son Of David Carruthers,
of $50 Forest avenue, this city, was one
of the crew Of the battlesfip Maine. Mrs.
Carruthers showed a reporter for The
Journal last night letter. from her son.
written February l, at Dry Tortugas. He
was then on the ship Montgomery. on duty
off the coast of Florida. Carrpthers left
here last summer to go on the Maine. but
was transferred to the Montgomery.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17
furnish the officers and crew OF the Maine
with everything which they may need.
SPANIARDS EXPRESS REGRET.
General Blanco Informed the WASH
fngton- Legation by Cable -
of the Disaster.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE news Of the
Maine disaster was learned at the Spanish
legation with horror. and was the occasion
tor many expressions of the most profound
regret and coincidence. Early In the day
Senior Du Bose. the Spanish charsei daft
faires, received a message from Captain
General Bianco. which had been filed at
Havana at o'clock this morning. 1t read
as follows:
with profound regret I have TO inform
you that the American ship Maine. in this
harbor. blew up by an undoubtedly chance
accident, believed to result from an eXplo-
sion of the boiler of the dynamo. 1mmedi-
ately following the accident, all the dis
possible elements of the capital FASTENED to
the spot to extend every aid possible. These
included the force of the marine fire brig
ade, and all the generals in Havana. among
them my chief-of-staff. There have been
many deaths and wounded. l have sent
an aide e-de-camp to offer every assistance
to the North American consul that he may
wish for 1 will forward further details
as they become available. BLANCO.'
Senior Du Bose expressed the most pro-
found regret at the occurrence to the AS
ISOLATED Press reporter, TO whom he gave
a copy of the foregoing cable from General
Blanco. He said:
''Of course l look upon the horror as due
in every. respect and solely and simply to
an accident. That is the clear and un-
equivocal statement of the authorities at
Havana. and all the evidence thus far
available goes to sustain K"
Asked if the disaster possibly could have
any adverse effect upon the relations be-
tween Spain and the United States, he re-
sponded with a decided negative and the
statement that the affair was wholly an
accident.
Senior Du Bose hastened to the state
department soon after receiving the
Blanco cablegram for the purpose of eX-
pressing his deep coincidence to the au-
tEorites and of communicating the cap
tain generals dispatch to Secretary Sher-
man and Mr.. Day, the assistant secretary.
To both of them he expressed personally
and officially the most profound regret.
The members of the Spanish legation
called at the navy department in the aft
ernoon and left their individual cards as
an expression of their personal condolences.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17
LIST OF THE, RESCUED.
1t Include. All but Two of the once RS
and Includes Also Sixty
or More Men,


and Includes Also Sixty
or More Men.
Washington Feb. 16-This afternoon Sec
retary Long sent the following dispatch to
Commandant Forsyth, at Key West: "Ad-
miral Sicard ordered to come to Key West
With ship and serve out clothing as ,neces-
Fsary. Should he not arrive before the
Olivette. you are authorized to purchase
the necessary articles and give out
Captain Sigsbee has reported in answer
to a cable message of inquiry that the
following officers and men were saved from
the Maine:
Captain Charles D. Sigsbee. Washington
Lieutenant Commander Richard Vain
wright. Washington.
Lieutenant 6: F. Holman; California;
Lieutenant Carl w. Jungen, New York
9 LIeutenants Gunior gEadel G. P: Blow. La
Mdi ssIie' H. John c. s'andin' Greenwood
Naval Cadets W. T. Cluyerius, Jr.. Louis
lena: Anon Bronson, Nebraska; D. F.
Va; Paymaster e. NJ. Ray, Washingtol;
Y: Passed Assistant Engineer F: c. Bow
ers. Brooklyn. N. Y: Assistant Engineers
J; R. Morris. Oregon: Mo; Engineer Cadets
Crenshaw. Alabama; Chaplain ]. P. Chad.
wick. New York city: First Lieutenant OF
Marines Radod Albert w. Gat Rock
Melville, Willis. Galpin, kushfda, Hoppin,
Turpin. Harris. Lutz. Jerlson. Holland.
Herbert, McDevitt. Foley. Hutchins, Rich
David, Michaelson. Sohman. Fox, Wilburn.
Waters. Anderson. Christianson. Koehler,
Ericcssion. Mack. Williams. J. White. Pauls,
Coffee, ]. W. Allen, Roe, D. Cronin. F.
Herness, ]. Heffron, Bloomer, johnson,
Bergaman. Mattison. A. johnson: Pitcher,
Holtzer, Lotus. McGinnis, w. Matiasen,
A.
brel. A. Hallon, Senetech, A. Kness. Ben
jamin, Mckay.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17

and the headquarters of the Red Cross So
ciety was called upon to send four stretch
ers and men were sent to patrol the scene
of the disaster and pick up the dead and
wounded.
The smokestacks of the Maine fell at
II 80 p. m.
Three sailors who escaped fell senseless
just as they reached place Of safety.
All the officers below rushed on deck, but
could get no further forward than the
middle superstructure on deck. Only very
pitiable few of the $50 jackies ever got
from below. The water rushed over them,
and many were stunned and drowned, but
not mangled. --t - -: .
The officers on deck narrowly escaped.
In the junior officers mess. all had to CLAIM
ber out through water and wreckage waist
deep. One ladder from the after torpedo
compartment was jammed with men strug-
Cling up for life. All agree that a double
explosion occurred from the natural result
of an underwater explosion of the maga-
zines.
Brass pipe angle iron, etc. fell in
shower on the decks Of the City of Wash
ington, which was lying 300 yards from
the Maine, SO injuring two boats that,
when lowered, they were useless. Out of
the dense smoke came anguished cries for
help. simultaneously with the cessation of
falling fragments, searchlightS were thrown
on the wreck and its load of agony. Span
ish boats from the shore Joined those of the
Washington alongside at once, but the
ferryboats, passing soon after the explosion.
did not stop to offer aid.
Captain General Blancos official cable
message was filed at midnight.
Half an hour after midnight thirty-six
of the crew of the Maine had been carried
to the military hospital of San Ambrosio.
They were all most seriously wounded.
Five others of the crew were taken to the
Alfonso XII. hospital.
On board the Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII
twenty-six of the wounded were treated and
thirty-six were succored on board the City
Of Washington.
The crew of the steamer Colon saved two
wounded men.
The Maine at the time of the explosion
was at anchor about 500 yards from the
arsenal and some 200 yards from the float
ing dock.
The explosion put out the street lights
near the wharf and blew down telephone
and telegraph wires in that vicinity.
Admiral Manterola and General Solano
put off to the Maine soon after the explo-
sion and offered their services to Captain
Sigsbee.
yurnel. Burkhardt, William McGuinness,
]. H. Bronner Alfred johnson, George Boil
semet and Charles Begnan were succored
at the San AmbrosiO military hospital and
James Roure. Francis kohet, Daniel Cro-
min and George Robert received attention
at sanitary headquarters. -.
The first explosion is said to have been
caused by over 600 pounds of gun cotton,
and the subsequent explosion is alleged to
have been caused by shells and cartridges.
The passengers of the City of Washing
ton gave up their state rooms to the in
jured men.
= An iron truss from the Maine fell on the
pantry of the City of Washington, break
ing the tableware of the steamer.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17
THE NEWS IN MADRID.
oniciaIs and Papers Express Deep Re-
Eret mt the Disaster to
the Maine.

Madrid. Feb. I6.-The United States min
lister. General woodford. did not receive
news of the loss of the Maine from Wash
ington. His first intimation of the news
came from the Spanish rear admiral, who
called at the United States legation to ex-
press. in behalf of the Spanish govern
mont, regret for the disaster which had
befallen the American warship. The de-
tails then reached General woodford in the
dispatches of the Associated Press.
The impartial published an extra edi-
tion. saying that the news had produced a
deep impression in Madrid. The premier.
Senor SaGasta. personally informed the
queen regent of the loss of the Maine. The
Epocha says: Whatever the relations be-
tween Spain ard the United States. Chris
tinn feeling and humanity compel us to
regret the catastrophe. The spectacle of
so many lives suddenly launched into eter-
nifty inspires compassion"
The lIeraldo remarks: Although the
Americans try 30 represent us as a people
devoid of virtues. must face this hor-
rble misfortune sincerely and express feel
inGs of compassion"
The Hcraldo adds: In the face of pro-
yocative Americans. we shall always re-
main a proud people: but in the face of
men in misfortune. of whatever national
fly. our hearts are always full Of pity.
The captain general of Cuba, General
Bisnco. has cabied the authorities here
and has sent similar message 10 Washing
Ton. saying that the disaster to the Maine
was indisputably due to accident.
Madrid. Feb. l6.-The following semi-offi-
cidl note has been issued:
.'rl,a rpxys of tho diSaSfpr nf tho Tai
has caused a painful impression in Mad
nd. II was at first feared that there had
beea some act of irnprudence TO which the
catastrophe was attributable. Afterwards
as the details arrived the fears took the
form of feelings of sympathy and sorrow
TO- tine misfortune which has occurred
The captain general. the .eommaudant
ofrthe ARSENAL. the sailors of the cruiser
Alfonso .,SII... thscrews OF ths merchant
vessels and all the available forces hast
ened to succor the injured y .I.t-
The government has expressed to sMis-
lister Woodford the regret it feels at the
catastrophe, more especially as it oc-
CURED In waters within Spanish jurisdc-
tion.
An admiral in full uniform, in the name
of the minister of marine, and the entire
Spcnish cabinet, called on General Wood
ford to-day and informed him that the
government had telegraphed to the au-
thorities in Cuba TO DIP tbeg utmost to re-
Lave the distress or the injured and to
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17
SENIOR De LONE LOVES US.
The Ex-Minister Says the Maine Dis
aster Forced Him to This
DecIaraffon

The Ex-Minister Says the Maine Dis
aster Forced Him to This
Declaration.
New York. Feb. 16.-Senor De LONE heard
the news of the disaster to the Maine at
the Hotel st. Mare this morning. At first
De LONE refused to credit the news, but
when the truth dawned upon him, he said:
1T is terrible. 1 pray God. the news has
been exaggerated. You may be sure of one
thing. however no Spaniard did this.
The Spanish ministry and the Spanish
people have been greatly misunderstood in
this country" continued Senor De LONE
They all desire peace; they all want peace
with America and Americans, not only
from motives of policy. but because they
love America.
Il am forced to say now, by this terrible
affair. what 1 should have been precluded
from saying before. There is no country
love the country and the people. 1t is with
the keenest regret that I take my leave as
a result of my unfortunate letter incident
Nearly all prominent Spaniards and men
of influence in my country share my views
in regard to America.
Spain cannot afford to have a war with
the United States. If only from motives
of policy. they are determined not to have
any war. There can be no war between
this country and Spain. Such thing is
out of the question.
"If the Maine has blown up in Havana
harbor. 1t is the result of an accident.
That is absolutely certain. There will be
no war;
Senior De LONE sailed on the steamship
Britannia for Liverpool to-day. Compli-
mentary resolutions were presented him on
board by delegation of Spaniards. There
was no hostile demonstration of any kind.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17

rine mine or topedo, caused accidentally or
. otherwise. This suggests the thought that
the outrage was perpetrated by Spanish
conspirator or Cuban insurgents incensed
against the United States.''
The Times, editorially, expresses pro-
found sympathy with the United States.
: With reference 10 certain oninous- opin-
ions heard in America it says.
Fortunately for America and for the
world, the United States is not governed
b. persons Of this type. So far. not only
the governments, but the people of Amer
lea and Spain, have acted with good sense,
good feeling and dignity 1t is fervently
TO be hoped that tho investigation will
prove the cause of the disaster an acci-
dent, although the conditions which can
have led up to such an accident in such
e., cirC umstances are rather obscure"
The Daily News says: -'f'-@ 80 -
r THE disaster reaches the very extrem-
ity of horror. The public feeling of the
world, shocked by this dire calamity will
do well TO initiate the restraint imposed
upon that Of the United States by both
the Washington government and the cap
tain of the Inflated ship. For suspicious
of foul play there seem to be absolutely
10 warrant, though naturally they haunt
the minds of many Americans. They
should be entertained only on absolute
compulsion. spark Of misdirected ma
tional feeling might cause terrible mis-
chief.
THE attitude of Spain at this agonizing
moment Will either efface the memory of
p The DeLome incident forever, or revive it
with added circumstance ef bitterness and
exasperation that cannot be contemplated
without shudder. The calamity sends q
panS to every British heart"
The Morning Post, in an editorial of pro-
found sympathy, expresses the hope that
certain American senators who have al
lowed themselves to talk rather wildly
. will suspend Judgment. The paper does not
believe in the torpedo theory. and thinks
the disaster the result of an accident, but
1t fears the real cause will never be known.
The Daily Chronicle says: British sor-
row and sympathy are little less vivid than
if the casualty had happened to one of our
own ships
1t thinks the theory that the boilers
burst absurd, and, after expressing the
opinion that there is no apparent justifica-
tion of foul play, it suggests that some
new and dangerous explosive which was
on board with view to experiment, should
an occasion arise, exploded spontaneously
after suffering the process of chemical de-
composition and so fired the magazine The
theory, that the" officers were overhauEng
the torpedos at that time of night. the
DAly Chronicle dismisses as "preposter-
GUS"
: The Daily Mail says editorialIy: THE
suspicion of Spanish treachery exhibited by
a section Of American, opinion looks I'll
beside the accounts of the splendid gaIlan-
try OF the suspects in saving drowning
Americans. and 1t Indicates an ugly tenn
per toward Spain" -.s.-.' - -.--
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17
A CUBAN OPINION.
Counsel for the New. York Junta Sure
- the, Explosion Was Not -.
an Accident

an Accident.
New York. Feb. 1SEAn evening paper
quotes Horatio 8. Rubens, counsel for the
Cuban junta. in this city. as saying: TAX
ing everything into consideration. am
vana harbor was the work of the Span
iards. ,7.i
II do not believe, as has been suggested,
that IT was the result of an explosion of
gun cotton. Too many of our boats have
been in that climate, and such an accident
never occurred to any of them 80
1T is well known that, there has been
a very bitter feeling among the Spaniards
in Cuba against the Maine. Canalejas'
own. paeer,. the Heraldo,- has repeatedly
stated that the presence OF the Maine was
menace to peace. and it, WAS to the same
editor Of this paper. it will be remembered,
that DeLome wrote his famous letter. =
AT bull fight in Cuba a week ago
Sunday the Spaniards openly insulted men
from the Maine, and the feeling against
them has gradually grown to be very Bit
ter. .-
1T would have been a comparatively easy
matter to plant torpedo, under the Maine,
because our men are constantly passing
back and forth in those waters at night,
and escape the surveillance of the authori-
ties. Now. IL our men could do so, why
could not the Spaniards? II the act was
malicious one. it was not the work of any
one man, for no one person could get to-
gether sufficient explosives to blow a ship
of that sort 10 pieces.
IF any Spaniards did it. they certainly
acted in ,connivance with the Spanish au-
thorities. l feel certain It was not the
work of Cubans. because If they had wanted
10 blow anything up. they would have di-
rected their force toward Spanish vessels
or that beast. Weyler. long before this.
Il have received no official communica-
tion as yet from Cuba7in regard, to the
matter-'
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17
20 SAILORS IN HOSPITAL.
Only Four of the Fifty-nine Injured
VIII Die-Dead Bodies Will
BE Recovered.

New York, Feb. ia special cable to
the Evening World from Havana says:
II have just seen twenty-nine sailors Of
the Maine silently enduring the torture
caused by powder-skinned faces and bodies.
broken bones and mangledE flesh. Theyfare
being we'll cared for in the military hos
pital at San Ambrosio here. The less Sc
verely injured men are yet on the steam
ship City of Washington.
THE severely wounded men will have the
best of attention also from the men and
women of the American colony. All the
injured men show great grit. You can not
hear whimper from one of the twenty
nine swathed forms in San Ambrosio hos
pitaI nor from those anywhere else.
THE heavy rainfall which Immediately
followed last nights horrors still continues
in dreary, dismal drizzle. Out in the bay
lies the wreck of the once proud Maine.
Her steel upper deck forward has been
completely lifted and turned over on her
starboard side. None Of the big guns in
the turrets is visible. The Maine is slight
ly listed to port. and all forward of the
massive cranes for unloading ships boats
has completely disappeared. The big fun
nels lie fiat upon the twisted and gnarled
iron braces and pieces Of the steel deck.
From the tunnels aft the ship seems to be
covered the top of her superstructure and
the stern searchlight and the rapid fire
gun look over the water just below them.
Most, if not all, of the bodies will be re-
covered. Two bodies were recovered this
forenoon. The authorities say they are
those of Lieutenant Jenkins and Assistant
Engineer Merritt. vigilant lookout Is be-
ing kept for bodies.
Out of the fifty-nine injured, not over
four are likely to die. All but five of the
officers went to-day to Key West. All the
slightly wounded and all the able-bodied
men will go also. with the exception of a
few who will be kept here to identify bodies
when they are secured by the divers The
officers remaining will stop at the Hotel
Inglaterra.
'The following sailors are in San AM
brosio; all but three will live; one man
could not give his name:
Dan Cronin, New York; William McGin-
Miss, Boston; John Soffey, Boston. A. Hal
len, Brooklyn: James Rol, New York;
Francisco Cahill, Massachusetts; Joe
Koena. Boston: Fred Gernee. New Bruns-
wick, n. j.; Charles a. Smith. Jeremiah
Shea. Alfred Henrs. Norway; j. H. Bloom
ward Mattson, Sweden; George Fox. Grand
Rapids, Mich; B. r. Wilbur. L. Ericsson,
Sweden; John l.. White. Brooklyn; John
Heffron, Brooklyn: Fred c. Holzer, New
York; William Matteson, Bay City. Mich;
II. Judson, St. Louis; w. Allen. Brook
lyp
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17
WICHITA WILDLY EXCITED.
with-A Company to March
to Warrington.

Wichita. Kas.. Feb. 1S.-(Special) The
citizens of this city are highly incensed
over the blowing up of the battleship
Maine. Every one attributes the disaster
to the treachery of the Castilians. The
PopuIist orators of '96 were on the streets
urging loyal citizens to march to Wash
ington. demanding that the Cubans be Civ
en- belligerent rights. The more radical
wanted the United States to declare war.
County Attorney Amidon and Judge Dale
expressed their opinions in the most posi-
tive terms in favor of war. Mr.. Cash Hen
derson. the largest dry goods merchant
here. telegraphed President Mckinley as
follows:
I'VE are ready to go to Cuba by thou
sands. Report of the destruction of the
battleship Maine creates an impatience for
immediate action one way or the other.
CASH HENDERSON AND 100 OTHERS"
Ajax Johnson has succeeded in get
ting thfrty-seven men to agree to Join a
company to march to Washington to per-
suade congress and the president to accord
belligerent rights to the Cubans c
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-17
Whiten, George NJ.
White. Robert, =.
Wilbur. Benjamin r.
Wilbur, George w.

Whiten, George NJ Wilbur. Benjamin r.
r White. Robert Wilbur, George W.
Zegler. John II.
The detachment of United States marines assigned
to the battleship Maine. according to the muster
roll OF January. comprised: First Lieutenant A. w
Cattlin: First Sergeant Henry Wagner: Ssrgeanrs
Michael Meehan and ]. W. Brown: Corporals ). Il.
son; Drummer J.H. Dierhns: Fifer C. H.Newton.
prirates.William Anthony. John Bennett. W H.
'etlins. George Brosman,- John Cofey. NJ. G. Down
ing. c. P. GaIpin. C. V. German. c. Z. Johnson w
j. Jordan. f. T. Rean. Frank Kelly. G. NJ. Lami-
cite. Paul LOTUS. P. A. Lesko. Joseph Lutz. John
McDermott William McDeyitt, William McGuinness
Ed Mckay. J: p. Lonshan. T. j. Newman, J. H..
Roberts r. Z. Stock, James Strangman. Z. b..
Suman. f. -. FimPany. H. A. Van Horn, Il. v.
Warren. L. L. Wills.