The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-24
OFFICIAL CIRCLES ASTlR
THE MAINE REPORT EXPECTED
TO ARRIVE TONIGHT.
LIEU TENANT MARK CLOSELY GUARDED.
impression is that Report Will Be Against
Accident Theory Report Expected to be
Transmitted to Congress Next Week,
Probably on Monday.
Probably on Monday.

Washington, d. c., March 23.-Tlit
feeling was universal throughout officia
circles to-day that the culmination OF
the Spanish crisis was near at hand
With the report of the Maine Court OF
Inquiry only little while off, with the
White House the center of long and
earnest conferences between the Presi-
dent and the party leaders of Congress
and with the exceptional activity to-
ward emergency preparations in the War
and Navy Departments. there was
abundance of evidence that definite re
suits regarding the Maine disaster and
the Cuban question IN general were
about to be reached. Among the Presi-
dents callers were Senators Cockrell
Tnrpie and Foraker. General Dan
Sickles, former United Stateys Minister
TO Madrid, and Representative VIM
Alden Smith, of Michigan, who has re-
Gently returned from trip to Cnba.
The. call of Messrs Cockrell and Tur-
lfie was regarded as particularly signi-
ficant, as they are representative Demo-
lowed that of Senator Gorman yester-
day. 1t was generally understood that
in tlle present emergency the President
desires patriotic unity without reference
TO party. Secretaries Long and Alger
also conferred with the President dur
ing the day. Secretary Long said later
that the Maine report woaIld probably
reach Washington tomorrow night. If.
:. Il 1.r.f
O'Clock Thursday evening. Mr.. Long
said ihc wonld probably not receive il
until Friday morning when it would he
laid before the President Immediately
The Secretary did not think the Presi-
dent would give the document any con
kiderftion until at late hour tomorrow
night 1t was more probable, he
Thought, if Lieutenant Mark arrived nj
a hate hour that he would take the
report to a hotel for the night.
There has been no change in the plan
OF sending the report TO Congress ear.
iy next week, probably Monday, accom-
panied by Il message from the President.
1t is definitely settled, however, that
the message and the papers accompany
ing it will relate exclusively to the
Maine disaster. 1T will not take up the
fearful condition of affairs in Cuba, a.
shown by the reports of United States
Consllfs, these beng reserved for snbse-
qlient action and later message to
Congress.
MARK SPEEDS TO WASHINGTON
His Especial" Given the Right of Way
for the Big Black Package Contain
ing the Report.
Jacksonville, Fla, March 23.-Judge
Advocate Mark left Miami at 730 this
morning on the East Coast Railway.
reached Jacksonville at 7:3O D. IN. on
time and left at s o'clock via the Flori-
da Central and Peninsula and Southern
and will pass through Savannah. Colum-
hia, Charlotte. Greensboro. Danville.
Iynchburg and Charlottesville. reaching
Washington at 9:25 p. m. eastern time
Thursday night The railroad wires
have carried the message down the line
TO use all dispatch. This practically
makes a special of the Mark train AMI
without unforeseen accident, Washing
ton will be reached on the dot and the
portentious document will be in the White
House by 9:30. The run from Jackson
vile is 772 miles, the schedule time be-
ing a little over twentyfour hours.
Lieutenant Commander Mark passed
through this city this evening. having in
custody the report of the Court of In
quiry in the Maine case, ON which will
depend so much of the happenings of the
next few weeks of the worlds history
lie, was accompanied 'by the following
officers of tho Maine. iQutpnant Hood
Lieutenant Jungen, Assistant Passed
Engineer +. G. Bowers, Naval Cadet A
bronson and Carpenter George Helms.
lhe party arrived in the city from
Miami at 7:45 and went at once to the
Pnllman car that was awaiting them
which was attached to the Florida Cen
traf and Peninsula train and i'm Is min
ntes We're hurrying to Washington az
rapidly as steam could take them. They
will arrive i'm that city tomorrow even.
ing.
During the short time Of the stav IN
this city, an Associated Press renorta,
secured the attention Of Lieutenant Mn.
rix and showed him dispatch from,
Miami that appeared in the afternoon
papers in which he was quoted as saw
ing 1T looks like war; it certainly does >
Before the words had been read to him
he exclaimed: ''It is utterly false.
have said nothing of the kind / dom
talk about this matter"
All efforts to get him to make any ex
preston of opinion were equally futil,
so far as the present crisis or his rola
tiOns to it are concerned Other mem
Continued on Second Page.)