The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-04


harbor would make an enemy anxious.
She lies mostly under water with a
turtle back of steel varying in thick
ness from 21a to inches, and The
theory of her designer, Admiral Am
men, was that this armor plate could
not be struck directly by a shot from
another vessel, and that any such shot
would be harmlessly DETECTED by the
sloping steel deck. In action the con-
ming tower and srnokeStack are aboutaH
of the ship that would present mark.
The former is made of steel IS inches
thick. The Katahdin is a ram pure
and simple, having in the way of
weapons of offense nothing except her
sharp steel beak and a few small rapid
fire guns to keep off boarders or tor
pedo boats. When she was designed
her speed was placed at a very high
mark, but she did not realize expecta-
tiOns, owing to her peculiar conslruC-
tive underwater model. Her person
mel will be as follows: Captain, Com
mander Wilde, at the present naval
secretary Of the light house board; ex-
ecutive officer, Lieutenant Lowe; nav
igatOr, Lieutenant Culver; Chief Engi-
neer Beig, and Ensign Campbell. The
two vessels have crews respectively Of
$50 and 80 men.
WHY THE MAINE WAS TIED TO
A BUOY.
1t was just learned at the navy de-
partment today why the Maine was
tied up to a buoy in Havana harbor in
stead of anchOring, a fact that has
been the base for some of the theories
as to the cause of the disaster. 1t is
stated that, not only is a man of war
at a buoy in much better place for
quick service than when anchored, but
1t appears that if a ship casts her an
chOr in Havana harbOr, SO foul and
polluted with yellow fever and other
disease germs is the mud that adheres
to it when it is hoisted, that the ship
must go into quarantine upon her re-
turn to any Florida port.
THE COURT CALLS FOR EXPERTS
An indication that the court of in
quiry is either far from having reach
ed any conclusion or else is disposed,
with view to meeting future criti-
cism, to collect all possible evidence,
whether it be deemed essential or not,
is the call to their assistance Of ex-
perts. 1t has already been a matter
of comment that, With all the ability
comprised in this court of inquiry, it
has one weak spOt, namely: The lack
of practical experience of the conStruc-
ton of ship in its members. This
is no part Of the duty of a line officer,
so that no reflection is carried by the
statement. To remedy their short
comings the court has called upon the
department to send to tn ir aid con-
structOr and a carpenter, and in COM
pllance with the request Secretary
Long has directed Naval Constructor
Hoover and Carpenter Helm to report
to the court at Key West 1t is ex-
pected that they will go to Havana
when the court returns there, and from
their familiarity with the structure Of
the Maine, on which both of these men
worked when sine was built in the New
York navy yard, they will be of great
assistance, not only in suggesting easy
methods of work for the divers, but
also in identifying portions of the
wreck. The latter consideration is one
of the greatest Importance in view of
the statements that have come from
Havana to the effect that some of the
ships bottom plates have been found
in the debris above water. 1t is said
at the department that if this is true the
fact will he of Importance. But, it is
added, it would not be necessarily con-
elusive evidence as to the source of the
explosion, for it is conceivable that as
the deck was blown up it might easily
have pulled UP with it some of the
frames and bottom plating which are
rigidily attached by rivets.
Without doubt the two experts will
be much better qualified than the line
officers or divers to identify any such
pieces of plate.
NO TIME LIMIT PUT ON SPAIN.
Concerning the published report that
TIE limitation of time suggested by the
United States to Spain for the pacifi-
cation of Cuba expired today, March
lst, aid that the Spanish government
was now earnestly negotiating at
Washington to secure a two months
extension of the time, an official whose
position makes him completely familiar
with al such negotiations said:
TThe report is absolutely false i'm
every particular. No time limit ex-
pires today or at any other specified
date, and for that reason there are no
negotiations in progress or cOntem-
plated for a two months extension or
for amy other extension. The report is
an invention throughout"
RECIPROCITY NEGOTIATIONS.
Recent negotiations between the
United States and Spain have been con-
fined to the proposed commercial ar
rangementS between this country and
Spain. and also between this country
and Cuba These negotiations We're
carried we'll along by Minister Wood
ford and Senior Polo y Bernabe, the
new minister of Spain. The latter sail
ed from Gibraltar yesterday and it is
understood that he has with flim the
draft OF the new arrangement with
Spain. There will be two distinct con-
Ventons, one between the United
States and Spain concerning their COM
merical exchanges and the other relat-
ing exclusively TO the trade between
Cuba and the United States. Under
the autonomous plan granted to Cuba
the Spanish government has given the
Cubans the right to frame their own
tariff arrangements with the United
States. subject to the approval OF the
imperial government. Under this au-
thority the autonomous cabinet has
named a commissioner to come to
Washington and conclude the arrange
ment. He is expected about the time
that the new Spanish minister arrives.
so that the negotiations of both
agreements will proceed together. AS
the United States cannot deal direct
ly with Cuba owing to her colonial