The herald., 1898-03-14

ment to Fort Monroe, where 1t will be
tested, within few days. The inventor
of the device has been here several weeks
experimenting the construction. The Otis
Steel company of this city is also filling a
government order for deck plates for
cruisers.
THE OREGON COALING
SAN FRANCISCO, March 13-The battle
ship Oregon is lying in the stream with
scow schooners all about her. From two
of the scows coal is being discharged; from
another powder is being hoisted on board,
and from fourth shells for the big guns.
The ultimate destination of the Oregon is
presumably the. Atlantic coast. She is TAX
ing in HOO tons of coal, which will, it IS
figured, carry her to Callao. As already
stated, she will await orders at Valpa
raiso.
DIVERS DISCOVERIES
CINCINNATI, Ohio. March 1S.-A spe-
cial to the Commercial-Trlbune from
Portsmouth, Va. says: The Merritt
Wrecking companys tug Right Arm. hay
ing been relieved at the scene Of the Maine
wreck by the tug /. j. Merritt. left Ha-
vana last Monday and reached Norfok
today. Capt. John Magee. who is in com
had seen. The crew was more commun!-
cative and every man said it was an open
secret among the divers that the big mag
azlnes were intact and that the Name had
been destroyed by torpedo mine.
QUIET AT KEY WEST
KEY WEST, March 13.-The torpedo
boat Porter has arrived from the Tortugas.
This afternoon the British warship Cor
a1i 10 led for I'm No hoe
been the most quiet day in Key West since
the day following the Maine explosion.
PROCTOR'S OPINION
WASHINGTON March 1S.-To a Post
reporter, Senator Proctor said.
Concerning the cause of the Maine dis
aster feel free to say that such informa-
ton as 1 have obtained indicates that the
explosion was from the outside. 1t does
not show that the Spanish government OF
any officials in Havana were participants
in the crime In the first place, lido r.9t
think there were any mines in the harbor
1 have not the slightest knowledge of what
the decision of the naval court of inquiry
will be. or when it will reach Washington
Such information as have is entirely of all
unofficial character"
IMPROVED APPLIANCES
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, March 1S.-J. w
Greer. a mechanical engineer of this city,
is now negotiating with the war depart
ment for the purchase of an automa ic
machine gun for fortifications and floating
batteries which he has invented and pat
ented The department is now making
test with a gun constructed on the lines
of Mr.. Greer's patent, which will fire 800
three-inch projectiles per minute. The
fastest machine gun heretofore invented
throws but eleven three-inch shots per
minute. The Greer automatic guns can be
constructed for still heavier ammunition
and will fire four inch proiecti,es at the
rate of $50 per minute.
A feature OF the gun which commends it
at this time is that the invention can be
employed on the guns now in use by the
department and can be manufactured in
very short time
THE FLORIDA MILITIA
TALLAHASSEE, Fla, March 13.-From
all reports coming into the adjutant gener-
ais office here and letters from command
ers of companies, it is learned that the
Florida state troops are now recruited up
TO the full standard, with offers of enough
men 10 put 5000 more in the field in a week.
ORDERED TO MOVE
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, March 1S.-Light
Battery X, First artillery, was today re-
called from the target range at Kerrvilie
and ordered to Galveston. The order was
issued by Gen. Graham, commander of the
department, on instructions received from
Washington today.