davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1898-02-21
THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
MAKES BUT SLOW PROGRESS IN
THE SENATE
Henderson of Missouri Will Be One of
Hundred to Supply the
Needed Funds

WASHINGTON, Feb 20-In reply to an
inquiry into the present status and pros
poets of the national university enter
PRISE, eX-Gov John Wesley Hoyt, chair
man of the national committee says good
progress seems to be making in all quar-
ters, unless it be in the senate There on
position has occurred, of ecclesiastical
origin, in committee, and this, in connec-
tion with other circumstances, has delayed
action. The most notable of the many aids
actually rendered to the national univer-
sity IL the past are:
l. The voluntary gift of $500 by Mrs.
Phoebe A Hearst of California and Dis
trlct of Columbia, for the salary of the
chairman's secretary during the year Just
passed.
z. The support accorded by the George
Washington Memorial association, under
the lead of Mrs. Ellen A. Richardson. Mrs.
Phoebe a. Hearst, Mrs. ex-senator Brice
of Ohio and other distinguished women of
the country. The immediate object of the
George Washington Memorial association
is the raising of s25OOOO for the first ma
tional university building, to be erected on
and preserved for university purposes in
the pending bill.
D. The offer just now made by Gen. J. Il.
Henderson, eX-United States Senator from
Missouri and now of this city. to be one
OF one hundred to pay into the treasury of
the university $4,000 each when congress
shall have done as much. His object is
to encourage the creation of special
fund of 100000 for some shares in the
university, and there is no objection on
his part to the taking of any number of
such shares by any one contributor, while
prelerring, in the interest of the cause of
the university, that the distribution should
be as wide as the country itself The new
committee assumes that this example of
Gen. Henderson will be promptly followed
by liberal friends of the enterprise and that
the institution, when once established by
congress, Will, as Washington believed, be-
come so popular as a center of patriotic
gifts as to relieve congress from the de-
mands of government appropriations.
Persons wishing further information are
referred to eX-Gov. Wesley Hoyt, chair
man of the committee Washington. ID G.
The herald., 1898-02-21
MORE LEGAL OPINION
AS to Spain's Liability For Fanantics'
Actions

CHICAGO, Feb. 20.-The question OF re-
sponsihility which might attach TO the gov
ernment of Spain in case the Maine eX-
plosion was due TO a mine In the haroor
of Havana and was the work of fanatic
or an accident has become the subject OF
discussion among lawyers. international
law is Il matter largely of precedent, and a
mine explosion in fortified harhor in time
of peace has no precedent. All unite in
saying that if such an event was design
it would be cause for war, No less an au-
thority than Robert I. Lincoln, former
minister to England, is positive that in
case of accident or if the mine was en-
ploded by a Spanish fanatic Spain would
not be burdened with any legal RESPONSE
blity.
Mir. Lincoln said: In neither case
would the slightest liability attach to
Spain Assuming mine exploded by fa-
matte or by accident, that would be the end
of the affair. Giving international law the
widest latitude and stretching precedents
to their limit there would be liability
against the government of Spain 1t is an
elementary precedent of international law
that a government is in no way responsible
for the acts of private citizens. If 1t were
The herald., 1898-02-21
FOREIGN FLASHES

A dispatch from Helsingfors says the 2W
fishermen who were carried TO sea last
Wednesday on a tract of ice, have been
saved
The Capetown correspondent of the Lon
don Daily Mail says: The Transvaal gov
ernment is mounting guns at Johannes
burg and conveying Maxims, shells, rifles
and cartridges to that point In an offensive
and ostentatious manner.
The Swiss referendum has resulted in
popular approval Of the proposed state pur-
chase of the railroads of Switzerland at a
cost of about billion francs G200, 0O0, ,000.)
The government is projecting loan for the
purchase.
Robert yelling tapleton- Cotton,
Viscount Combermore, Is dead He was
born in 1S45. He was third viscount and
grandson of the celebrated Sir Stapleton-
Cotton, who served with remarkable dis
tinction in the Peninsular war.
Pere Favier, the head of the Roman
Catholic missions in China, and a resident
at Pekin of thirty years standing, was
yesterday consecrated bishop in the cathe.
dral with great ceremony. The Chinese de.
clare that this was owing to direct repre-
sentations made by the emperor to the
Vatican.
The herald., 1898-02-21

of the Havana defenses to aid foreign in
Vestigation Some persons believe that
plot was carried out by Weyler's partisans
and that the secrets We're disclosed to con-
spirators by the officials who were with
Weyler and who, during his ncumbency,
through their official position became pos
sessed of the information. All this is pure
speculation, without basis of fact. Its only
significance is that the matter should be
discussed at all. The Names officers,
while not denying the possibility of an ac-
cident, continue to show that many theo-
ries on which statements of accidents are
based are untenable. They do not share
the Spanish admirars offhand confidence
that the explosions came from within. 1t
is well for everybody TO await the official
investigation before accepting that con-
clusion.
Capt. Gen. Blanco and the palace officials
show every official courtesy. Their sin
cerity is undoubted, so great is their anx-
iety. A special effort is being made to dis
courage the talk of the explosion being
otherwise than accidental The newspa-
pers give prominence to dispatches saying
that it is recognized in the United States
that the casualty was purely an accident.
Prominence is also given the Madrid dis
patches quoting Sagasta and other Span
ish statesmen to the effect that their sym
pathy and sorrow has caused friendly feel
NotWiths landing these assurances from
abroad painful impression is caused in
Cuba by the knowledge that considerable
element among the Spanish classes re-
joices with little secrecy over the disaster.
If instances were isolated ii would not be
important. Unfortunately the verified
cases are too many TO support this charit-
able view. In several places Spanish army
officials have drunk toasts that other YES
sells of the American navy may follow the
Maine. In MatanZas, where mutterngs
were heard at the time of the Montgom-
ery's visit. the intransigent newspaper La
Region, published an article saying in sub
stance that the calamity to the Maine was
a judgment on the United States for send
ing a ship to Havana as IAN affectionate g
sign of sympathy toward the suffering and
heroic Spanish nation"
The tone is one of mingled sarcasm and
mock condoeucc.
In a frequented restaurant in Havana
last night, on the bill of fare was Chicken
a la Maine" This indicates the feeling of
a part of the pOpuace, and especially Of
the volunteers. While aware of these man
ifestations Capt. Sigsbee and Consul Cen
eral Lee concur in advising against sending
further warships to Havana a present
The herald., 1898-02-21
STATE NOTES

The Graves brothers. the Trinity-county
miners, whose rich strike several months
ago caused a rush to that part of the state.
arrived in San Francisco yesterday with
sixty-two pounds of gold, valued at $4,000
the product of a pocket recently found
III lower level of the Blue Jay mine, the
same property in which their first phe-
nomenal find was made.
II. Burnham. a pioneer, died yesterday at
his home in Oakland, aged II. He came
to California in 1858. He located in El
Dorado county and made fortune in the
mines. Thirty years ago he removed to
Oakland, and after serving two years In
the internal revenue service. established a
planning mill.
The herald., 1898-02-21
fagIeSoll &Co.
1l2 So. Spring Street
Opposite the Nadeau.
OFF FOR ALASKA
Staunch or Unseaworthy All the
Steamers Are Crowded

SEATTLE, Wash. Feb. 20-The steamer
North Pacific. bound for Alaska, which
was abandoned by number of passengers
at Port Townsend on account of her al
legged unseaworthiness, continued her Voy-
age this morning, new crew having been
secured. The twenty-three passengers who
refused to go to sea on the steamer have
returned to this city. A member of the
old crew gives as the reason for the crews
desertion the bad quality of the food fur
nished and the crowded quarters.
The largest party arriving here on their
way TO Alaska reached here today on the
Northern Pacific in two special tourist
cars. The party is from Lancaster aud
other Wisconsin towns and numbers fifty
four. With the party were eighty-seven
dogs which filled a baggage car.
The steamer Farrallon sailed tonight for
Alaska with sixty passengers.
The Oregon Railway and Navigation
companys ship Victorian will be placed in
the Alaskan trade. The Victorian is one
of the finest steamers in Pacific waters.
The herald., 1898-02-21

service in honor OF the Maine. A commem-
orative discourse was delivered by Rev. Mr..
Dickle.
Yesterday the queen regent of Spain gave
u farewell audience to Senor Polo Ber-
nabe, the new minister to the United
States Today she will receive Minister
Woodford, who will present President Nc
kinley's dispatch of thanks for Spain's
expressions of sympathy with the United
States in the misfortune that befell the
Maine.
The Spanish government is now con-
vinced that the Maine disaster instead of
estranging. will tend to improve relations
between Spain and the United States
The lighthouse tender Mangrove, carry.
ing the members of the court of inquiry
into the Maine disaster, left Key West
for Havana yesterday afternoon. The
Mangrove will stop at the Tortugas to
take on board Capt Henry c. Kyler of the
Indiana. She carries also air pumps, cleo
trio lights for divers and other diving ap-
paratuS,
The herald., 1898-02-21
TORN TO PIECES
But Enough Remains to Tell the
Story

NEW YORK. Feb. 21.-A dispatch to tho
Tribune from Havana says: The Maine is
actually in ribbons but enough of the YES
sci remains to make possible a determine
tion whether the explosion came from
without or within. The officers of the
Maine do not publicly discuss the theory of
submarine mine which may have been
set off by explosion, but it evidently has
weight with them. They are particularly
anxious for points to be gathered from the
examination of the plates of the hull Their
belief is that these will have to establish
whether the explosive force came from
without or not. The nature of the uainacc
to the port side has not been fully SEQ 4
but the weight of opinion seems to be that
the hole was made by an external expo
sion.
Capt. Sigsbee thinks that the investigl-
ton TO be made by him would be completed
in three days and the result laid before
the court of inquiry. Special pains seem
TO be taken to gather facts which would
help to establish whether or not the de-
struction could have been caused by a sub
marine mine. The Spanish authorities have
an advantage on this point. for they know
whether the torpedo system in the harbor
has actual existence and whether subma-
rine mines We're laid but it could not be ex-
pected that they would disclose the secrets
The herald., 1898-02-21

rines will go on duty and stand by until
o'clock tomorrow afternoon, when the
naval tugs will take up the same positions
which they assumed this afternoon. These
are the plans so far arranged by Lieut..
Dougherty and they are not likely to be
changed All the vessels mentioned will
remain off Tompkinsville until the Vizca-
va leaves her anchorage and points out o
sea. In case the cruiser comes through
the upper bay and anchors in the North
river the patrol boats and tugs will accom-
pany her and the same arrangements VIII
obtain.
Upon receipt of telegram stating that
the Vizcaya had anchored off Tompkins-
vile, Senior Don Manuel de Suarez. sec
retary of the consul-general of Spain in
this city, accompanied by representative
of the Associated Press. proceeded to the
warship on the tug Lohman, to deliver
mail and kilograms to the officers. The
Vizcaya was guarded by the navy tugs
Nina and Narkota, and the police boat
Patrol The three were slowly circling
around the big cruiser and the Lohman
was warned off. After n lengthy eXpla-
nation, she was given permission to pro-
ceed. An officer and guard of four marines
received the secretary of the consulate,
and a card to Capt. Eulate led to an in
vitation to proceed to his quarters, aft
on the main deck. There a very friendly
reception awaited Senor Don Manuel de
Suarez and the reporter.
In an interview with the Associated
Press representative, Capt. Eulate said
that while his ship was in port his officers
would accept no invitations of any kind.
The Spanish warship had come here on a
visit of courtesy and friendship, and when
the dreadful accident to the Maine was
learned the flags were put at half-mast,
and there they would remain until the ship
took her departure. He likened his visit
to that OF one intimate friend to another
when disaster had oVertaken the latter.
The same delicacy dictated what to do
to mourn with the friend and to avoid all
festivity. No invitations of social char
acter would be accepted. This he wished
to have understood.
Referring TO the catastrophe, he de-
clared that he and his officers were great
ly shocked, and that the sympathy of all
was with the bereaved families.
First Lieut.. de Fuentes gave graphic
account of the Nizcaya's trip from her
first anchorage, inside of Sandy Hook, to
that off Tompknsville. At II o'clock to-
day the anchors were hauled in. 1t was
very foggy when the ship got under way,
so foggy that they had incessant difficulty
in finding the buoys. The heavy draft of
the Vizcaya, the fog and the tortuous chan
mel made matters interesting.
Capt. Eulate, when asked how long the |
snip WOulu Ttlfldlll III lbil Stii'' iS iieiu ilo
orHers from his government but he evil |
IDENTIFY expects to be here for some time. |
He was eloquent in his praise of his ship
during the hurricane met between the Ber-
mudas and Cape Hatteras She rode the
heavy seas without an effort. and although |
Jhe storm lasted thirty-four hours no ac-
cident of any kind occurred.
The Nizcaya has a full crew of engineers,
marines and torpedo corps. and carries ten
torpedoes, marine artillerymen, quarter
masters and other officers and diver
total complement of 492
The herald., 1898-02-21
SCATTERED SHOTS
Fired at the Target Made by the
Maine

The published statement that Sen
ator Proctor of Vermont, who is
now on his way to Florida, was
going to the interior of Cuba as a
special agent of President Mckinley, to
report on the conditions in the island, was
denied last night at the White Hoy;e.
1t was said that Senator Proctor has not
even decided that he will go to Cuba; that
he might take "a pleasure trip that far, if
he succeeded in finding some congenial
companion, but his visit, if made, would
be entirely on his own responsibility.
The Machias, en- route for the United
States from the Asatic station, has ar
rived at Madeira.
Workmen at the Norfolk navy yard were
engaged all Sunday on the repairs to the
monitors Terror and Puritan. A draft of
men for the latter vessel has arrived.
Naval officers will not discuss the rumor;
of trouble.
United States Ambassador White and
the American colony In Berlin were pres
ent at the church yesterday at requiem
The herald., 1898-02-21
SPANS LIABILITY
Torpedoing a Vessel Is Not a Casus
Belli

Belli
NEW YORK, Feb. 20-The Herald TO-
morrow will say:
Frederick r. Coudert, formerly counsel
for the United States before the Bering sea
commission. and well-known authority
on international law, was interviewed re-
garding the matter of an indemnity. If II
can be shown that the Spanish at Havana
failed to take proper precautions to in
sure the safety of the American warship
Maine.
spain should pay indemnity for the loss
of the Maine,' Mr.. Coudert said provided
the accident is found to be due to the neg
igence of Spanish officials. The vessel
went to Havana on a friendly visit, and
was entitled to full protection. 1t was
proper that extraordinary precautions
should be taken to insure her safety.
1T was we'll known that there were in
dividuals belonging to the Spanish nation
who had ill feelings toward the United
states. II any danger was known to ex-
ist in Havana Mirbor. it was to be expected
that Spain would inform the captain of
the Maine of the fact and use every means
to prevent any accident to the vessel
IF. on the other hand, a man with n
basket of dynamite should have come
aboard the Maine and blown up the vessel.
the fault plainly would have been with
the officers of the vessel. 1t was their duty
to keep the strictest watch over every
body who came on board.
THE destruction of the Maine by acci-
dent. or by the act of irresponsible indi-
viduals. would not justify declaration of
war. Carnot. for instance, was assas-
sinated by an Italian, yet France did not
blame Italy. Italian subjects were killed
by mob several years ago in New Or
leans. Italy was justified in demanding an
indemnity. which she received, because the
men, when slain, were in charge of officers
of the law. who should have made every
effort to prevent their prisoners being
killed. But it did not result in war"
The herald., 1898-02-21
COAST DEFENSE
Has No Connection With the Maine
Affair

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-Referring to
General Miles recent order to General
Merritt commanding the department of
the cast, to Immediately send men and Off
GERS to all coast defense points where mod
ern guns are mounted, it was said at the
war department today that while the order
was issued as reported, it was nothing
more than following out the plan of the
war department formulated several years
ago when the present system of coast de-
fense was inaugurated. The order calls
for at least twenty men and the necessary
officers to take charge of such coast de-
fense implacements as have been COM
pleted and turned over TO the war DEPART
ment. These defense points are planned
and constructed by the engineer corps and
the guns furnished by the ordnance de-
partment.
AS soon as they are completed they are
turned over to the war department and
men are at once detailed to care for the
works and ordnance. 1t is said that de-
The herald., 1898-02-21
NAMES MAGAZINES
Claimed to Have Been Found to Be
Still Intact

NEW YORK, Feb. ga dispatch to the
Herald from Key West says:
1t is learned from what may be consld-
cred q semi official source that divers sent
down on behalf of the United States to
examine the wreck of the battle-ship
Maine have made a preliminary report of
the result of their work.
Incredible as it may seem, it is said that
from . partial examination of the maya
zines the divers report that the one in
which the explosion is supposed to have
occurred is intact. According to the cor
respondents information, the contents of
these magazines are unharmed. Therefore.
if this report be true. an entirely different
aspect is given to the terrific explosion
which brought death and destruction to
the Maine.
This report reaching Key West, it is
said, caused the members of the court Of
The herald., 1898-02-21

not so complications would be arising con-
tinually
1T is another primary principle that no
nation is responsible for accidents.
LAS to the right of a nation to fortify its
harbors as it sees fit there cannot be the
slightest doubt. This right is a conceded
one and is exercised by all nations.
Whenever u vessel, therefore, enters the
harbor of foreign power it is with notice
of such defenses and with an assumption
of the chances they involve. 1t would not
do to say that one nation is bound 10 give
the ship of another notice where and how
its harbor defenses are arranged, as the
result OF such a rule would be obvious.
In entering the harbor OF Havana the
Maine did so with fulls knowledge that it
was a fortified harbor and took all the
chances of accident or the acts which
might be done by those for whom Spain
is not responsible"
The herald., 1898-02-21

inquiry to decide to proceed to Havana
and begin their investigation at once, in
stead of organizing the court here. AT
any rate, the lighthouse tender Mangrove
with the court OF inquiry aboard, left for
Havana yesterday evening.
On arriving in Havana the court will
make personal examination of the wreck,
and will then take testimony regarding
the loss of the vessel. When the Man
grove sailed it had not been decided when
the board would convene, but Admiral
Sicard told your correspondent this even
ing that it would probably meet either
on board the Mangrove or the Fern, the
supply ship of the North Atlantic fleet,
which is now in Havana. The admiral
added that the court would, in all proba-
blity, hold another session in Key West
before its final conclusions are reached
The herald., 1898-02-21

Following is the condition of our
wounded in Havana hospitals: Apprentice
Koebler, slight improvement condition
still very grave; Holzer, same; Allen, slight
Improvement, condition grave: Heffron,
Shea, Mattison, favorable; Lotus, conva-
lescent; Cahill, grave; Mack, Waters and
Weber, favorable"
The report on the same subject from
Capt Forsyth at Key West says: Maine
survivors are in good condition this morn-
ing; surgeon reports wounded doing well.
The following telegram was received by
Secretary Long from New York: when
arrived at New York l heard of the Maine
disaster We feel very deep sorrow and
send our condolences for the dead and
their families. (Signed) EULATE.
"Captain Spanish Cruiser Nizcaya.'
The herald., 1898-02-21
ANTI-IRRIGATIONISTS
Need All the Water in the Arkansas
River

WICHITA, Kan, Feb. 20.-An assembly
OF farmers and business men from several
counties along the Arkansas river was
held here to discuss means whereby the
Rockyford and other irrigation companies
in Colorado can be compelled to cease TAX
ing water from the Arkansas river for ir-
rigation purposes.
Several communications from places
along the river from far as Little Rock
Ark, were read. Committees were APP
pointed to take different methods of ac-
tion under advisement and j. f. Houston
was retained as legal counsel.
Should the action be successful much
land in Colorado that has been cultivated
under irrigation would be rendered utterly
useless 1t Is believed there is small
chance for success, but every stone will be
turned to bring this about
The herald., 1898-02-21

tail of twenty men, so far from being an eff
fective lighting force, is barely sufficient
to properly care for the property. There
have been a number of these coast defense
works completed recently, but the order
detailing men to care fer them is merely a
routine matter. In addition to detailing
the men, a special board is now in session
in Washington preparing plans for perna-
nent quarters at the various new posts.
and work will be begun on these as soon as
practicable.
The men who are stationed at these new
points will be drilled in the use of the
guns and will form the nucleus of a perma-
nent heavy artillery force which will be
augmented from time to time.
The herald., 1898-02-21
A NORTHERN STORM
Generally Precedes a Rainfall in
Southern Sections

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 2O.-A storm
which had been blowing up from the south
west all day broke into rain at darkness.
and the precipitation has continued at in
tervals during the night. Reports from
interior points indicate that the rainfall
has extended throughout the greater part
of the state.
SACRAMENTO, Feb. 20.-It commenced
raining here this evening. and the indica-
tions favor good heavy storm. The grow
ing crops in this section have been doing
splendidly since the January frosts ceased,
but the ground would stand good soak
ing and everything would be benefited.