Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-02-17
THEY READ THE OPTIC.
The Consolidated Las Vegas Daily
Was in Every Hand Last Night.
Terrible Explosion Of the Battieship "Maiue''
Was Its Leading Festufe.

THE OPTfU made every effort In its last
evenings edition to secure all the news
obtainable of the terrible calamity tbnt
bsfell the battleship "Mafns" at Havana.
1t gave Its readers . complete account of
the affair, publishing all the details that
could be secured from Washington.
That the graphic description secured By
the efforts OF THE OPrIc were appreciated
by the reading public was evidenced by
the great numbers of The OPrIC that were
printed and sold last night. Nswsboys
went in every direction. shouting their
extraordinary offers Of Dsws--every one
wanted to read OF the regretable Incident,
of the loss Of SO valuable machine of war
as this great ship that has attracted the
attention OF the world since its launching,
and mourn for the terrible fate Of their
fellow -countlymen.
The news was Viewed with exceptional
interest in face OF the pc cuiiar relations
now existing between the home Of that
ship and Spain. The fact that the catass
trophe took place In the vicinity Of the
scene Of the existing active trouble height-
sned the rcd color OF the horror.
The frst announcement OF the accident
that came over the wires to THE OPTIC
Office recalled to many the fate OF the
English '.Victoria," aboat four years ago,
when she was struck by tho "Camper-
down." The sMaine's' fate was little
less terrible in one point Of view, and
even much more regrettable from another.
To be sure, England has need Of all her
forces at all times. The peaceful relations
of the United States in past years have
permitted the American people to live in
more security. But now OF late years,
when our country has wound herself into
almost iuextricable complications with
more than one foreign power, every
American feels that his nations interests
and dignity require every protection for
their maintenancs. Then again II has
been q bitter struggle for the champions
of our navy to secure all the requisite pro-
visions lathe way Of appropriations to
insure the continuance Of the graceful,
digniied. aud unstained wAvs1of the
American ensign on every sea. To ses In
one brief moment and by a single unfors
tunate stroke, the irrsprivable loss OF
81, 500, 900 Of the difficulty secured appro-
priations, must indeed be disheartenipg
blow to those who have toiled and swsated
for Il. srsa.Sf 4s.ss.'.
But In the regrets and consideration Of
this, our country,s loss, the material and
money foss Is but as a grain of sand on the
mighty farstretching shores of tho world.
For when we think of 900 brave souls, who
had plighted the pledge and taken the
sailors Vows 60 down to inexpressibly
regretted death for the sake of our country
| the material loss vanishes from our sight.
IL they were lost In glorious battle for
the cause Of the hag, some Ct our regrets
| might be mingled into extravagant en-
thusiasm OF praise. but when We are
Iforced to think Of our brother countryner
4 as being sacrificed to either b biunder OF
trsschsfy, the blow is singularlys hard
4 We mast think OF the acrifcsd-sacrihced
not In the saving Of those needing succor
lsacriliced without killing enc enemy to ths
stars and stripss, saoriiced, sacrificed, tt
no end but TO that OF faithful service In the
true discharge OF duty.
The loss Of these Americans and Of thi.
splsndid ship must be chargedson the debi
islis Of ihs account Of Fault or the account
Of Frsachery in the great ledger Of oul
fseysnss
| ffitis ths fault Of our own naval rcpre'
Iseutativss, the court martial edict should
mot be sperinR. II It is Spain--if her agent
lare impllcated--if this snsruhisflc method
Of warfare tx to be part Of our inplica
leo is with The rest 10 ost heartily 10 ferret
ing out ths truth--the whole truth-to th'
end that the EXTREMIST revenge be par
TOT the near future.
New Mexico az . whole Is deep II sorrow
Fith the borrowing Rpd fall of rqadeispc'
'ieT sps ~ s4sls'