Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-23

mysterious terror seized the Spanish
divers when they were attempting to ex-
anime the wreck of the i'll fated battloship
Maine at the bottom of Havana barbor.
They never remained under water moro
than 10 minutes at time, and their work
was SO hasty and incomplete that the cir
cumstances may become matter Of off
cial recognition. Captain Johl Magee,
Jr., of the wrecking tug Right Arm states
that the Spanish government had the
greatest difficulty in securing and keeping
divers They never seemed to have the
same divers two succeeding days. At first
tho excuse of incapacity was given out as
the reason, then that their divers were
sick and then that their equipment and
apparatus were out of order.
No one ascertained the real cause until
just befora the Right Arm left for New
York. The first Spanish diver only re-
NAMED down about five minutcs-not
longer than tbat-when he pulled to be
hoisted. If he had met the devil face to
face under the water, he could not have
looked more frightened and terrified than
he did-so those say who saw him when no
came up. He complained of being sick
and refused to 60 down again.
His secret must have been carried to the
other divers, for there was great trouble
in getting them to go down for the next
two days. 1t is reported that Juan Alvarez,
the first diver, had seen the ghosts Of tho
dead marines and other horrible, awo in
spring and terrifying objects.
The second diver is reported 10 have said
that he had as good nerve and rs much
courage as any man, but that he preferred
to deal with live people on the ground
rather than uncanny, Shiny and hostile
wanderers from the other world under the
water
One of the Spanish divers believes that
he is perpetually haunted by the spirit Of
Lieutenant Jenkins. 1t is said that no
cannot sleep without seeing the same ap-
partition night after night. He is said to
see it both in his waking ard sleeping
hours. 1t is that of q commissioned Off
Ger, in full uniform of lieutenant. enyel-
oped in a dark shroud, tho face pale ard
the burning eyes of fire illuminating tho
pallid face and raven black hair. He is
said TO be so haunted that ho takes no in
terast in life and intends to leave Havana
upon the first ship with which he can sign
articles
These Spanish divers and seagoing men
about Havana are an UniDteliigent, igno-
| rant and superstitious lot of men. Why.
there is a report there that the harbor is
haunted and that a spectral ship eiides in
and out of Havana manned with spirit
sailors.
The first diver was Juan Alvarez. a
tramp seaman, who has been in almost
| every port in the world and sailed under
every flag. He told some OF his intimates
that>he had seen ghosts, apparitions and
! specters surrounding the Maine. He said
that the ships hulk was infested with the
ghosts of the men who had died in her
| The other divers claimed that they, tee,
| saw apparitions; that shadowy ferns in
| sailor rig or the uniform Of Yankee ma
| rines followed them about, beseeching by
| mute pantomime for n proper burial. This
| explains why the Spanish divers did not
| spend one tenth the time under water that
the American divers did.
While superstition. is rampant in Ia.
vana patriotism prevails in New York
| 1t is said that four syndicGtes are form
| ing among Wall street brokers 20 ct out
privateers to prey upon Spanish commerce.
| There is rich fotilla which goes through
| the strait of Malaeca and another which
| plies between European points and the
| Argentine. The outgoing Spanish ships
! for the Argentine arc not worth captur.
| ing, but the homewari bound fleets are,
/ for they carry the returning enigrant:
with money.
1t has been estimated by the Wall street
| syndicatcs that in regard to the feet which
goes through the strait Of Naiaeca thC
capture of one merchaEtnan would pay
the entire cost Of the outfit Of enc rriva
teer.
Many formerly in the naval service Of