The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-03-31
KEY WEST EXCITED.
The Associated Press Bulletin About
Courts Findings Read by Crowds.
THE SPANISH INQUIRY REPORT.
says 1t Is scientifically and Practically
Demonstrated That the Explosion Was
InternsI"-The Navy and War
Departments Busy.

|
| KEY WEST, Fla, March 2G.-The AS
sociated press bulletin that the court
| of inquiry had found the Maine was
| blown up by submarine mine created
| intense excitement here. 1t was read
| by eager crowds. AS frequently stated,
| most of the naval officers at Key West
have held to the opinion, shared by all
the officers of the Maine, that the war
ship was blown up by external means.
The minority, who previous to yester-
day had expressed the conviction that
the court would be unable to deter
mine the cause. was hard to find. All
were glad to know the Names fate
was not due to the negligence of her
own officers. Rear Admiral Sicard
said: The court of inquiry brought
in findings according to what
its members believed. Nothing
could have made them do other
wise. If they had been able to fix the
responsibility, l feel sure they would
not have shirked this duty" The most
significant development that followed
the announcement of the courts re-
port-a development known to but few
was the sudden sailing of the light
licASC CChucIs IOEC, 1oI IdFdld
The Mangrove was lying quietly at the
dock, loading buoys, when orders came
about five o'clock yesterday afternoon
for her to proceed with all haste to
Havana, and take on board all the
American officials in that city, with the
exception of Consul General Lee. 1t is
feared here that the knowledge of the
courts report has excited Havana's pop
i. 4 L
sentiment to a climax. Officers of high
rank were still reticent A Washing
ton dispatch, however said that official
advices there did not bear out the sug-
gestiOn of pending crisis in Havana
and that there were no dispatches from
Gen. Lee of disquieting nature. AS
to the movement of the Mangrove, it
was said that her departure was mere
ly in line with orders issued several
days ago to go to Havana and return
with the remaining officers of the
Maine now there.
THE SPANISH INQUIRY REPORT.
MADRID, March 26.-The report of
the Spanish board of inquiry into the
loss of the battleship Maine says en-
phatically that the explosion was of
internal origin. The Spanish report
says it is scientifically and practically
demonstrated that the explosion was
internal" The United States minis
ter, Gen. Woodford, had a long confer
ence yesterday evening with the min
lister for foreign affairs, Senior Gullon.
Absolute reticence is observed as to
what transpired. Minister Woodford,
when interviewed at night with refer
ence to the report that he had received
advices from Washington as to the
findings of the Maine court of inquiry
and the proposed action of the United
States government, declined to divuIge
ything.
The impartial says: THE United
States are brutally forcing Spain into
a conflict. To send the Maine report
to congress is equivalent to throwing
a torch into barrel of gunpowder."
The government, despite such COM
ments, is pursuing a conciliatory pol
icy and, it is believed, will propose
that the Maine disaster be referred to
arbitration. Among the
wild rumors current yesterday was one
to the effect that United States Consul
Lee at Havana had slapped Gen.
Blanco's face and that Gen. Blanco
drew his revolver and killed his assail-
ant. The rumor was ridiculed and
Immediately denied officially.
NAVY AND WAR DEPARTMENTS BUSY.
WASHINGTON. March 26.-While in
terest was conferred at the white house,
the navy and war departments were
hurrying forward their work of prep
arations. The advance of the Spanish
torpedo flotilla continued to receive
the closest attention of naval officials
and while. SO far as could be ascer-
tanned, no definite line of action was
determined upon, the need of inter
cepting this fleet was urged by the
highest naval authorities From the |
standpoint of the Spanish govern
ment, this movement was not menace,
having been decided upon many weeks |
ago. Instead of stopping the iotilla, |
the present attitude of Spain tends |
toward reinforcing it with other Span
ish war vessels, not as "a menace. but |
from what the Spanish government |
feels is a require ment called for by the |
existing condition of affairs. Favora- |
BILE answers were received from the |
New York naval militia of their readi- |
ness on short notice to supply officers |
and men to man the single turreted |
monitors now called into service. Or
ders were issued yesterday to have all |
the warships painted black. a color |
that is better adapted to hostilities be- |
cause the vessels will not afford as |
good target.