The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-15
A MESSENGER OF MERCY.
The Fern Relief Expedition Returns
to Key West From Cuba.
TO RETURN AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY.

"Gladness of the wretched Cubnne
stifled by OverpowerinR Dread, 3"
Said an Ofhcer of the Fern-No Mines
Yet Placed at Key West.
Key West Fla, March 15.-The Uni
ted states dispatch boat Fern arrived
here yesterday afternoon from Matan-
zas. The Ferns trip was uneventful.
She reached Matanzas on Saturday
and at once began discharging prOvis-
ions into lighters. on shore a few per-
sons had gathered, but there was no
demonstration of any kind. The share
OF provisions for Matanzas was got
rid of in business like way, and the
Fern then sailed for Sagua La Grande,
where the same program was gone
through on Sunday, the operation of
landing the stores occupying about six
hours.
United States Consul Barker board
ed the Fern upon her arrival at Sagua.
He was overjoyed to see an American
ship once more, even though it was
only the little Fern. The consul said
there were about $4,000 starving recon-
centrados in his district. An officer of
the Fern said to the correspondent to-
day;
1T seemed as if the gladness of the
wretched Cubans at our arrival was
stifled by the overpowering dread that
hangs above the people Of Cuba, and
that could not be dispelled even with
the coming of food, for which they
longed. Naturally we saw little. Ours
was no exploring trip. But we saw
enough to convince us that the stories
emanating from Matanzas, and especi-
ally from Sagua La Grande, are not
exaggerated"
The Fern will probably go back with
more provisions about Friday.
The torpedoes and shells which ar
rived Saturday were transferred yes
terday at Fort Taylor, and consider
able local excitement was raised over
rumors that they were being placed
in position. An officer who would be
connected with such work, however,
denied this report, and said:
when you see these mines or tor
pedoes being placed you can make up
your mind that war is more imminent
than it is at present. They will not be
put in position until the last moment,
for, however good the mine, it is al
the action of the water. We are not
going to risk the usefulness of expen-
sive explosives by premature submer-
sion. All these torpedoes can be laid
in "a hours. If we laid them now they
would not only be liable to corrosion,
but everybody on the island would get
an idea of their positions.
THE delicate nature of these de-
been realized by theorists as to the
Maine explosion. 1t is Incompetent
sible to me that the Spanish govern
ment, in times Of peace, allowed high
power torpedOes to lie at the mercy of
the water in Havana harbor. 1t would
be against the judgment of all experts
and the practice of all governments,
for nowadays these weapons can be
laid at the shortest possible notice. AL
though / do not think Havana harbor
was mined, know there are torpedoes
in MORO Castle, and a naval arsenal
that can be put in position very quick
ly."
The return of the court of inquiry
is wearily awaited, especially by the
officers of the Maine, who will have
been here a month tomorrow. They
have been expecting to go to their
homes on every boat Of late, and now
the hope deferred, added to the fact
that they are still without adequate
wardrobes, makes them thoroughly
discontented. Their orders, which are
here awaiting the courts pleasure,
provide that they shall return to their
homes and await orders, which prob
ably means a months leave. The i'm
preston is growing here that the re-
port of the court of inquiry will not be
presented for some time yet.