River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-03-31

fact brought embarrassment to the gov
eminent at Washington. He took the
ground to the department that 1t was I'M
known etiquette to call on the civil mem
bers of the colonial government other
than the governor. Without waiting for
such an order Capt. Sgsbee made visit
afterwards. and as he states was pleasant
ly received and his visit promptly returned
by certain members of the council. Later
party of ladies and gentlemen called and
the president of the council made speech
which Capt Sigsbee could not understand
but which was interpreted to him briefly, to
which he replied.
my reply" said Capt Sigsbee, was aft
crwards printed in at least two papers In
Havana, but the terms made me favor au-
tonomistic government in the island. am
informed that the autonomistic govern
ment in Havana is unpopular among
lurge class of Spanish and Cuban residents.
| have no means of knowing whether my
apparent interference in the political CON
Germs of the island had any relation to the
destruction of the Maine"
AnimOsity Ahont.
When asked whether there was any dem
crstration of animosity by people afioat
Capt. Sigsbee said that there never was
on shore, as he was informed but there
was afloat. He then related that on the
first Sunday after the Names arrival d
ferryboat crowded densely with people
y
fight in Regla, passed the Maine and about
40 people on board INDUCED in yells
whistles and derisive calls. During the stay
in Havana Capt. SigSbee took more taan
ordinary precautions for the protection of
the Maine by placing sentries on the tore
castle and poop, quarantine and signal
buoys on the bridge and on the poop.
A corporal of the guard was especially
instructed to look out for the port gang
way, and the officer Of the deck and quar-
termaster were especially instructed to
lcok out for the starboard gangway: q
quarter watch was kept on deck all night;
sentries cartridge boxes were filled, their
arms kept loaded, number of charges of
rapid-fre ammunition kept in the pilot
house, and in the spare captains pantry
under the after superstructure were kept
additional charges of she'll close at hand
for the second battery; steam was kept up
on two boilers instead of one and positive
instructions were given to watch carefully
all the hydraulic gear and report defects.
Suspected Treachcry.
He said ne had given orders to the mas
ter-at-arms and the order to keep a care
full eye on everybody that came on board
and to carefully observe any packages that
might be held on the supposition that dyna-
mite or other high explosive might be en-
ployed, and afterwards to inspect the routes
these people had taken, and never to lose
sight of the importance of the order. He
states that very few people visited the
ship, Lieut.. Commander Wainwright be-
ing rather severe on desultOTy visitors
There were only two visits of Spanish mill
tary officers. once a party OF five or six
Spanish officers came on board, but accord
ing to the captain they were constrained
and not DESTROYS of accepting much
courtesy. This visit was during the alb
sence of the captain. lie SAID he made
every effort to have the Spanish officers
visit the ship to show good will according
81 iv,a'1 xr{ef tn, lay