davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-11
VEST POCKET F|lA|
Engagement Precipatsd by the
Saucy Little Wins!OW.
THREE SHIPS AGAINST one
Torpedo Boat Runs for Its
MACHIhS TAKES A HAND
sheils Seat Skipping at Tiny tin,,boats at
&1SCardenan. 81, .niar,ls ON the Vessels
Mad ~ u NeHt of Hornets "
Over the News
MACHIhS TAKES A HAND

Copyright 1898, by Associated Press)
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS DISPATCH BOAT KATE
SPENCER, OFF CARDENAS, MAY 8,
VIA KEY WEST, FLA, May 1O.-The
little torpedo boat Winslow Yesterday
precipitated the first naval engagement
fought in Cuban waters. On a recon
noissance in Cardenus harbor she drew
the fire of three Spanish coast guard
vessels and 4 lively vest-pocket sea
fight followed With the tiny gunboats.
AS the NNinslow was decidedly in the
minority she ran for the sea, where her
big station mate. the gunboat Machias,
who had been called up for the fight,
took Il hand in the game with her four
inch rifles and tossed several shells
over the low sand spit behind which
the Spanish boats We're sheltered.
1t was impossible to see whether any
of these landed. The Winslow was not
touched. but she claims to have knock
ed several splinters out OF the larger
coast guard boat.
The most important result Of the
Winslow's reconnaissance was the dis
covery that Cardenas harbor Is mined.
II there We're any. batteries on shore
the Spaniards did not think it worth
While to disclose their position. That
there are mines in the channel is i'm
portant in view of the report that 1t Is
Cardenas and not Matanzns where the
landing of United States troops will be;
made. e4i
The fight with the Guardia Costas
occurred yesterday morning PHI
Cardenas is one of the largest bays
along the coast the little town OF the
same name. lying at the southern end.
From the western shore Icicas Point
reaches out like long index finger, al
most touching Predras Keys light.
which In peaceful days. beaconed the
harbor entrance.
The lighthouse has been in darkness
and deserted for many nights Feeling
safe in the desolation of the lighthouse
and the silence ashore. the little
WtnsloW crept quietly in, under the
early morning haze for a closer inspec-
ton of the harbor. There had evil
IDENTIFY been a lookout among the dunes
along the sand spit. for the Winslow
harbor, taking notes. of changed buoys
and flase marks designed to lead
hostile fleet on to the torpedo fields,
but suddenly. there was puff Of
,>.,t. from opoppfr the rna =, fyrove
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-11
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
The Venerable Bishop Keener Rele-
gated to the Superannuated List.
.-. flcy 1alapra nh

--- - ISy TeItSTATfl.J -
BALTIMORE. May 1e.-Almost all o.
today's session Of the General Con-
ference of the Methodist tiriSc3Pai
church. South. Was taken up in dis
cussing the adv'sabilily ':f separating
che offices of secretary OF the Erwor II
League and editor Of the Epworth
Era, both places having heretofore been
held by one person. Many animated
speeches were made on both sides and
the matter was finally left unsettled
and will be discussed further at i iu-
ture Session.
The Committee on Episcopacy report
ed favorably on the application "f III
shop j. c. lIeeHor to he retired, ana
the report was a1optel. thus re:"g;t
ing to the superannuated list this Ven
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-11

It is claimed here that this proves
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
DUE To AN ACCIDENT.
taken

Kansas City. Feb, 22.-Colonel Fred
Funston. OF lola, Kansas, late chief OF
artillery In the insurgent army Of Cuba,
talking TO a reporter gives II as his opin-
ion that the destruction OF the Maine
was due to an accident. Colonel Funs-
ton spent over a year In the Cuban army.
was In many engagements with the
Spaniards and returned home recently to
recover from wound In the leg.
ut might have been done by Spanish
officer using the battery connected With
the harbor torpedo mines" he continued,
speaking OF the Maine, "and It might
have been done by some foolhardy Span
lard. who attached a torpedo to the ves-
sci, but In regard to the accident theory,
feel certain that it win be shown to be
correct, us evidence of the explosion is
brought to the surface, / know the
Spaniards are trcacherous, out am not
prepared to believe that they would de-
hhcratcly destroy vessel Df the Ameri-
can nation. If they had wanted to do
that they would have destroyed her at
the entrance to the bay and IL they really
believed she was there for war, they
would never have allowed her to SCI
into the bay behind the city, where she
could have reduced the city at her pleas
ure,"
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
THE CHURCHES. TOO.


New York, FEB. Alt Is a noteworthy
fact that at all Engllsh-speaking churches
in Paris reference was made 10 the Maine
disaster in the Sunday sermons. says the
Herald's Paris correspondent Il was 70
be expected that the preachers at the
American churches would dwell on the
catastrophe. but the unanlmity with
which the chaplains Of English-speaking
churches took 10 express sympathy cT-
cites remark. The English churches where
Sir Edmund and Lady Monson and the
embassy stan were, the Rev. Or. Noyes
said:
II take this opportunity TO eIpress what
am sure Is in all your minds. namely.
our intense feeling Of sorrowful regard TO
the calamity which has befaIlen the
American navy. We are more than allied
with Americans-we are relations-and
any pain felt by her causes sympa-
thetlc throb in the hearts OF the English
nation"
Similarly sympathetic references were
made at st. Georges. the Victoria jubilee
church and the English Wesleyan church.
At the latter "The Dead March in Saul
was played. the congregation standing. Al
81. Josephs church for Engllsh-speaking
Catholics. mass was said especially for
the seamen OF the Maine.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
ADMIRAL BuNcE's OPINION.

New York, Feb. I-The World says:
commandant of the Brooklyn navy yard,
and until few months ago commander
in-chief of the North Atlantic sQusdron,
to which the Maine was attached, studieG
pictures of the wreck of the Maine with
interest.
Can you tell from the pictures whether
a mine or magazine explosion caused the
wreck?' he was asked.
No" he replied 1--WE don't want to
know what there is above the water line.
What we want to know is what is below
that line"
do you think that the cause OF the
accident will be known as soon as the
divers have been sent DOWN
Il think it will be necessary to raise
the Maine before they can ascertain the
true cause OF the explosion. The water
in the bay of Havana is unusually dark.
| do not think a diver could see very far
under water; certainly he could not see
well enough to be able 10 ,ell what
caused the explosion. Electric lights
might be used, but do not think they
will furnish sufficient light to enable the
diver to see as well as he should see, in
order to ascertain the cause"
Admiral Bunce said that it would be
necessary to suspend Judgment and to
wait until the court of inquiry is com-
pleted, Until such time, the admiral said
nobody can tell how the Maine was
blown up.
other officers who were seen in the
navy yard agreed with Admiral Burce
saying 1t would be necessary to wait until
the Maine could be raised before form
ing an opinion as to the cause CT the
blowing up.
The officers called attention to the fact
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22

This report reaching Key West, Il Is
said. caused the members Of the court
Of inquiry to decide to proceed % Havana
and begin their investigation at once IN.
stead Of organizing the court here A.
any mte. the lighthouse tender Man.
grove with the court Of inquiry aboard,
left for Havana yesterday evening. Upon
reaching Havana the court will make n
personal examination Of the wreck ana
loss Of the vessel When the MaDgr0ye
sailed It had not been decided where tho
board would convene, but Admiral slcard
told your correspondent this evening that
4, would probably meet o.hsr on boara
the Mangroyo Or Fera. the supply ship
of the North Atlantic aoet. whlch Is row
IN Havana. The admiral added that the
court would. In all probability. hold an
other session In Key WeEt before IT,
final conclusions are 'eaghed
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA
should There Be War, the Columbia Win
Probably Be Protected.

At Fort Candy. at the mouth Of the
river. on the Washington shore. there is
at present but one company OF 81 men.
many OF whom are recruits. There Is
one B-lnch smooth-bore gun, five S-inch
rifles and 10 1O-Ineh smOoth-bore guns.
There are also several unmounted guns.
which could not not be used in case OF
sudden necessity. The exact amount OF
ammunition Is not known. but there are
plenty Of projectiles and shot.
Fort Stevens. on the oregon shore, near
the old fort of the same name. and the
fort at Scarborough Head. Immediately
opposite, on the Washington shore. are
still under construction by the govern
ment engineers. No one is allowed in or
near these works, and the officers abso-
lutely refuse to give out any Information
II is known that a large force Of men
have been at work on these Notifications
for more than year, and that about hair
a dozen large modern disappearing guns,
with their carriages, have come down the
river and have been discharged at these
two forts. 1t is believed they are not
yet mounted. At old Fort Stevens are
a number Of dismounted old-fashioneu
guns. There are no troops yet at either
fort but there has been rumor of troops
coming. 1t is also understood that from
these two forts tunnels extend under tho
river bed and mines are planted, but the
officers refuse to talk.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
ScouRTEsrEs ABANDONED.

Washington, Feb. 2i.-rhe social cour-
tcslcs which the government intended to
extend to the officers Of the Spanish
cruiser vlEcaya have been abandoned on
account OF the Maine disaster.
As resul, the stay Of the vizcaya In
New York will be materially shortened
and she Is likely to sail within the next
three days, probably on Thursday next
The ship probably will proceed direct
TO Havana, not stopping at Charleston
or other ports. as had been suggested
during the earlier preparations
The vlscaya will not coal at New York,
according to the understanding here, nor
will 1t be necessary for her 10 take eoai
before reaching Havana. This determina-
ton gives relief to the authorities as the
taking OF coal in time OF public excite
mcnt is attended with more or less risk,
the coal affordlng opportunity to extrem-
lists FOR the secretion OF explosives. de-
spite the utmost precaution that may be
taken.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
TESTIMONY Is SECRET,

Havana. Feb ?l,-Tho board OF inquiry
into the Maine disaster met on the light
house tender Mangrove az 10 o'clock this
morning with Captains Sampson ana
Chadwick and Lieutenant Commanders
Potter and Mark present Captain Samp'
son presided, and Lieutenant Commander
Mark, recently executive officer OF the
Maine, acted as recorder,
Captain sigsbec, commander OF the
Maine was the first witness lie was
under examination untu pm at when
hour adjournment was taken, 1t Is prob
able that no further witnesses Will be
heard today. but the board will make a
careful personal inspection Of tho wreck
near which the Mangrovo Is anchored
Captain Sampson received an Associated
Press correspondent shortly before the
morning session OF the board, lie sara
In the course of an interviews VI wou'o
be glad to give the Associated Press news
but owing to the delicate situation the
board has decided to make nothing what
ever public. | do not know what tesllmo-
ny will be developed, or whon' and 1t Is
only fair to the Spanish government no'
to tell the public the testimony until al
has been received and the findings have
been considered,
"You may say that this rule Is apso'
lutte. Due care viii be taken for the
rigid enforcement of 1t and all stories
purportlng to come from the court shou''
be set down as false. have no idea as
to how long the court will remain here
No one Is authorized to fix the time' as
the members themselves do not know
! ! shall give the Associated Press suef
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
SENSATIONAL DISCOVERY.

New York, Feb 9l,-A dispatch TO the
Herald from Key West says;
It is learned from what may be con-
sldored semi-oiliolal source that divers
sent down ON behalf of the United States
TO examine the wreck of the battleship
Maine have made n preliminary report
of the result of their work
Incredible as It may seem, 1t says that
after u partial examination of the maga-
zines Of the Maine's the divers report that
the one In which the explosion is sup
posed to have occurred is intact. Ac-
cording to the correspondents informant,
the contents of the magazine is unin-
jured. Therefore, II this Is true, an en-
tirely different aspect is given to the ter
rife explosion which brought death ana
destruction to the Maine.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
L. S. TO MAKE ITS OWN kXAMINA-
TON.

New York. Feb. p. a dispatch to the
World from Havana says.
The Madrid goyernm mt hos teen noti-
fed officially that the American govern
ment intends to make IT, oVn e1amina-
tion OF the wrecked jattleship Name in
Havana harbor and make 1t wholly hde-
pendently Of any other examination.
This information comes through the reg
ular diplomatic channel. beins contained
In the adyices OF tne SDal'sh charge
d'aTalres at Washington. Senor DuBosc.
to the foreign office here. 1t is also an
nounced in these adyices that the Uniteo
States government will waive for once
the principle OF extra-territorality as ap-
piled to war vessels, In orGer t'at SPAN
lsh divers and officials msy examine the
wreck at the same tlma
The Spanish admiral commaI 'ias AT
Havana cables that Spla 81 inquiry into
the cause Of the disaster would have been
finished before This had she rot been
awaiting the American exploration OF
the wreck and for the American consul
generals permission to CaptSin sigsbee
and the officers Of the Maine to testify
before the Spanish court OF inquiry.
The Imparcial dwells UPON the import
ance OF the pending investigators ncting
that II the catastrophe IS proved hot to
have been accidental. the United States
will probably claim indemnity for the loss
Of the vessel, while II it is shown that
the disaster was an accident, grave re-
sponsibillty will fall upon The Names
commander and his officers.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
NO. As.

that divers alone could not tell how the
Maine was lost Ho said that the divers
who were accustomed to working around
wrecked steamships had no experiences
In looking into wrecked warships. espec-
lalIy warships Of the modern class It
was said that II might be necessary for
some of the members Of the cpurt of In
qulry to make the descent and 10 see for
themselves. Nearly all the naval officers
who attended the torpedo school at New
port learned diving. II was pointed out
that an ordinary experienced diver would
be unable to testify with any degree OF
accuracy az to the immediate cause OF
the explosion.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22

Washington. Fcb q si-Today's develop
ments In the Maine disaster were ot q
negative character. greatly to the lisap-
polntmcnt of a considerable number OF
persons who were looking Tor some
startling discovery by the divers working
In the sunkcn hull.
The state department after learning
that Licujcnat- Commander sobrat was
no longer recognised as an attaehcc ot
the Spanish legation decided 10 ignore
the interview attributed TO him. whlcn
II was at nrut disposed TO resent It n
now learned that Secretary Long latc
ON Saturday called upon Assistant Sec
rotary Day OF the state department ana
laid before him newspaper clippings con-
,alning the reported interview Acting
Secretary Day agreed with Secretary
Long that there was warrant ror look
lng into the matter and called the attcn-
tlon Of tho Spanish charge danaircs to
the publication The charge danalrcs,
however declared that the naval officer
was no longer an at,aehc OF the lego-
tlon, his successor having been appointed
and gazcttcd December a. lie further
explained that Il was owing entirely to
more important and pressing matters be-
fore Il that the legation had overlooked
sending to the proper authorities notin-
cation Of the change to the state depart
mcnt
For very obvious reasons, Captain slgs-
bee at Havana Is making most strenuous
efforts to hasten the recovery OF the boz
dies, probably hundred in number,
stnl imprisoned in the wreck OF the
Maine,
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
THE TOWNSEND ARRIVES.

Port Townsend, Wash, Feb. A.-The
steamer Townsend in tow Of the tug Re
lief arrived this morning from Portland
with 81 passengers. Fifty men from
Wisconsin have been here four weeks
awaiting the arrival of the steamer ana
now that she has arrived it is thought
that it will be necessary to put in new
boilers before she can make the trip to
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
THE RES2ONStGLfrY.

Chicago, Feb I.-rhe question OF re
sponsibllity which mlgnt attach to fhe
government of SPAN in case the Maine
explosion was due to a mine in the har-
bor of Havana ana was he work OF Il fa-
matte, or an acc,ieIt, nls become SUD
ject of discussion among the lawyers
International law IS na-ter larEely d
precedent, and mine explosion in for
titled harbor in time of peace has no pre-
cedent. All unite il saying that II such
an event was by design, II would be cause
for war. No less al authority than Rop'
ert It. Lincoln, former minister to Fms
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
DIVERS AT WORK.

New YorS Feb. gl.-A dispatch to the
World from Havana says:
The divers have made only ,hree de-
scents to the wreck Of the battleship
Maine. Captain Sigsbee's state docu-
ments were rescued from private
drawer in his cabin. The Keys to the
magazines were found Just above the
hook over the head Of the captains bed.
the usual place. They had been floateo
upward by the rising of the mattress.
About 100 of the Names heroes are yet
In the wreck.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22

land. % positive that In case of accident
or n the mine vas exp JGed BY q Spans n
fanatic. Spain woml rot be burdsi 90
with any legal respoE4'bh'tI lIr Idn-
coin said:
I'm neither eass would the sHpltest
liability attach to sp'in. NsfanBg a
mine exploded by fsnJtic o. oy oci-
dent. that would be the end Of he mir.
Giving international liw ihe lGsst 'ati-
iude and stretching precendeli 10 the
limit. there would be NJ liabIlIty on the
government Of Spain. 1t is an elementary
preceden, O. 'n.e-r4ll,1al las that gov
eminent Is IN 20 way responsible fo. tbs
acts Of private citizens n it we're noJ
80. complications woh'l b. arising con-
iinually which you'd kceJ nati9ns in a
turmoil and arbitra.lng continuci9ly.
~ is another primary D-tuiple thar
nation Is responsible ior octs. as 10 the
right Of a nation to fortify It's harbors as
Il sees At there canlIt be the slightest
doubt. This right Is conceded ore ana
II exercised by all nations.
Whenever a yessel. ther.t,t enters
the harbor Of a foreign p0Ey.. II Nlth
notice Of such defenses and with an as
sumption Of the cnanses they lnyo.ye.
It would no, do 10 say that one natlJn Is
bound TO give the snip u another hcuce
Of where and how Is harDor defenses ore
arranged as the result Of such q rtie
would be obvious. In euteriag the har-
Dor Of Havana. the Maine DID 20 Whh fun
knowledge that it was a fortified harbor
and took all the chances Cf accident or
the acts which might be dore by those
for whom Spain is not responsible"
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
THE AMERICAN WINS.

London, Feb 2i.-In a 20-round bout be-
tween Spike" Sullivan, the crack Amer.
lean lightweight, and Harry Greenfield,
the English boxer, at the National Sport
ing Club this evening, Sullivan won In
the 18th round, Greenfield being out
pointed from the start.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
FRISCO HoNoRs DOLE.

San Francisco, Feb, 21,-Hon. Sanford
b. Dole, president of the republic of Ha-
wall, was rendered public reception this
afternoon at the Chamber of Commerce
and met with cordial and flattering
rnrnrnltinn
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-22
Explosion Due to an Accident Sensational
Discoveries Hole Made from Ex-
terror Feeling in Havana
--Wlll Make Our Own
Examination.

routine news Of the proceedings as Is
proper"
captain sigsbec. on board the Man
grove. told correspondent that he was
quite pleased with the examination and
that he was able to answer all questions
asked. not only as to his own acts but
40 TO those OF his mbordlnates on the
Maine. ... .-..
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-08-28

!" HE boast of Tesla that ne coulu
devise an engine of war capable
of blowing an enemy's ship out
of the water at the first attempt
NAV be true and would not be at
all singular For, even II true, Tesla
would have to yield precedence TO one
who has not only invented but had pat
ented such powerful device
This wonderfully destructive agency
was born in the fertile brain OF ex-
Lieutenant. Graydon OF the Oniteo
States navy, and was given most
thorough and satisfactory test In the
summer of 1886 before number or
press representatives of this city and
a few capitalists who were desirvus TO
control it's manufacture
Graydon. who had resigned from the
United States navy to enter the Chinese
service during the Franco-Tonquin
war. had at that time but re-
Gently returned to this coun-
:, laden with honors and wealth,
and though his money soon melted like
fog before the rising sun, he still re-
tanned his great prestige as military
genius.
Then, as now, the only method IN use
for the discharge OIL QyHdIHlte-Idueii
shells was the use of compressed air IN
pneumatic guns "a mode which I'M
its the throwing capacity to Few
miles and reduces to the lowest mini
mum the possibility of hitting the OBJ
iect aimed at providing one can be said
10 .aim" at anything by pointing a gun
in the air at an angle of 40 degrees.
For the scene of the experiments
quarry at Lake Temescal, in Alameda
County. was cho.en, and thither went
Graydon and his guests one bright
summer morning.
on arriving at the scene there were
found a number of targets, each COM
posed of a series of layers of two-inch
oak planks-the alternate layers of
plan. s being crossed to prevent split
ting.
The "oun,' was an improvised one
and of the simplest pattern, being moth
ing more complicated than bar of
Swedish steel with an inch and a half
bore.
The dynamite was then prepared by
Graydon in the presence of the assem-
blage-which included an expert on ex-
plosives-sec-ecy bein maintained only
as to the character of the last ingredi-
ent added.
The gun was charged through the
muzzle with a pound and half OF