davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

in that condition very few minutes after
the explosion. The forward part w.s com.
pleteiy demolished. Upon the evidence OF
a concurrent external, cause the finding oi
the court IS rs follows:
The Cause External.
'At frame II the outer she'll OF the ship,
from = point eleven and one-half feet from
tie middle line cf the snip and six feet
above the See! when in its normal position,
has been forced up so as to be now about
four feet above the surface OF the water;
therefore about thirtv-four feet above
where it would be had tie ship sunk un-
Injured.
The outside bottom platinGis bent into
a reversed shape. the after wing OF which,
about Is feet broad and 50 feet in length
(from frame II 10 frcme 25l. is doubled
back upoa itself against the continuation
OF the sane plating extending forward.
AT frame the vertical keel is broken
in :wo and the fiat keel bent into au angle
similar 20 TIE angle formed by tie outside
bc;:ora plates. This trca.: is now about
& feet haiow the surface Of the water and
Ghon, 80 fcas above It's normal position.
In tne opinion of the court, this effect
could have been produced only by tie ez-
plcSion OF a mine situated under the bot
tom OF the ship. at about frame IS, and
somewha: on the port side OF the ship,
The conclusions OF the court are:
Conclusions Of the Court.
'.Tha. the loss OF the Maine was not in
any respect due TO fault or negligence on
the part Of any OF the officers Or members
OF hey crew: that the ship was destroyed
Sy the explosion oi a submarine mine,
which caused the partial explosion OF two
or more OF her forward magazines,
and that no evidence has been obtain
able fixing the responsibility for the
destruction o. the Maine upon any
person o. persons
| bayc di5rctei that tho finding OF
The CoGrt oi Inquiry and the views
81 this Government thereon be COM
nun!cGtai to the Government Of her
majesty. tie Queen Regent. and I do
nos permit mysel; TO doubt that the sense
Of justice OF the Spanish nation will die
tate 3 coarse OF action suggested by honor
and tie friendly relations OF the two Gov
clnmeptS.
It will be the duty OF the Executive to
advise the Congress ot the result, and in
the meantime deliberate consideration Is
invoked.
(Sicned) WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, March %, 1898.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

bent into a reversed V-shape. the after
wing OF which, about fifteen feet broad and
thirty feet in length (from frame II to
frame 25), Is doubled back upon itself
against the continuation OF the same plat
ing extending forward.
At frame IS the vertical keel Is broken in
two, and the fiat keel bent into an angle
similar to the angle formed by the outside
bottom plating. This break is now about
six feet below the surface OF the water and
about thirty feet above its normal position
In the opiricn OF the court this etfec.
could have been produced only by the ext
plosion Of a niue situated under the bot
tom OF the ship ut about frame IS and
somewhat on the port side OF the ship.
Destroyed by q Mine.
6. The court finds that the loss OF the
Maine, on the occasion named. was not In
any respect due 20 fauit or negligence on
the part OF any OF the officers or members
Of the crew OF said vessel.
z. In the opinion OF the court the Maine
was destroyed by the explosion OF Il sub
marine mine, which caused the partial eS-
plosion OF two or more OF her fcr.Elri
magazines.
s. The Court has been unable to obtain
evidence fixiaS the responsibility for the
destruction Of the Maine upon any person
or persons. A. NAEIT,
Lieutenant Commander L. 5. ". Judge
Advocate.
W. T. SAMSON.
Captain q. S. N, President.
The court having finished the inquiry It
was ordered to make, adjourned at II q. m,
to await the action OF the couveninS au-
thority.
W. T. SAMSON,
Captain U. s. ", President.
A. MARK,
Lieutenant Commander L. 5. N, judge
Advocate.
United States Flagship New York,
March 22, 1898, OI Key Vest, Fla.i
EThe proceedings and findings OF th
Court OF Inquiry in the above case are ap
proved. u. SIcARp, Rear Admiral,
Commender-in-C Chief OF the United States
naval force on the North Atlantic Sta
tion.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07
SPANS ANSWER.
OTcial Summary of the Proposif5ous
Which This Nation Nade. 4

WASHINGTON, D. C. (special).-An oficisi
summary OF the propositions submitted by
the Cnited States ind Of Spain's reply was
given ont. The Official abstract OF Press-
dent Nckiuley's propositions 20 Spain wass
"Etess-That Spain shall send tho reconi
centridos back TO their homes and permir
the United States 20 aid in supplying them
with means OF sustaining life until norman
conditions can be restored. 4
"Sccond-Tlat there shall be an armisi
tica between Spain and Cuba, with the end
in view Of securing q settlement OF the otfi
licuities and the withdrawal OF the Spanish
forces from Cuba.
"Third-In case OF failure OF the
Cubans and the Spaaiards to come TO q
understanding daring the armtsrfee Sp1
will submit the entire matter to Presiden(
Mckinley as arbitrator. with The unoefi
standing that he will decide in that event
for tie entire independence OF Cuba"
3 THIS IL the oG,cia. abstract OF Spain's re-
ply:
"Spain Informs the Government Of the
United States that General Btarco has re-
voked the bardo relating TO the rcconcen-
trados in the western provinces OF Cuoa.
which are understood to be the provlneeso of
Matanz3s. Santa Clara, Habana and PinaH'
del Rio: that the Spanish Government has
piHCcu li.c ctSpSS1t w siO hOsVAHNAH
General the credit of 100000 pessta$
(s6e0. .0oo) 70 The end that the colntr1f
people may return o. orcs end With suo<
cess to thei- labor. -
"The Spanish Government viii aceePt
whatever assistance TO feed and suceor tA8E.
necessitous nav be sent from the Unite4;.
States in accordance with the plan now
operation, y
"Snain proposes to conade the prepara{
tioa Coz IN honorable and stable peace t8'
the Insular Parliament, without whose con4'
currence the Spanish Government wouldE
not be abe to arrive at the fual result. be-
ing understood that the powers reservedf
BY the central government are not lesseneG
OF diminished. &t
"As the Cuban Chambers viii not rie&l'
until the fourth Of. May, the Spanish Got9:
ernment will not, on its part, object toe!
suspension o; hostilities If asked for by thq
Insurgents from the General-in.C Chief, ~
whom it will belong to determine the durt3
t;on and the condition OF ths suspension!
It was after the receipt OF this reply tha4
President Mckinley decided to pat th9
whole matter in the hands o: Congress. F
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

That relations between France and
Germany are really becoming much
letter is Enthusiastically proved by the
firmly re-established mutual relations
in the art world of the two countries,
writes Wolf Won Schierbrand. s'Stars"
from the French and from the Ger
man art armament are now fitting to
and fro. Here in Berlin We have had
nearly all the leading names in the
atricals, for instance, and just to men
ton those during the last month there
we're, or are, Maurel, the best opera
singer in France; Nine. Richard, of
the Grand Opera; Colonne, the famous
leader; Cocquelin, ieune; Reiane, and
now, too, Yvette Guilbert. Thelatter
receives $3.50 for half an hours sing
ing every night which is an enormous
sum for q German speciality theatre to
pay. But it must be profitable, for
she draws crowded houses ever night,
and when she appeared ct the annual
Presse ball, given for the benefit fund
of superannuated writer's and news
paper men, she demonstrated her
quickly acquired popularity by t:s
amount of attention shown her by her
hosts.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07
ONE MILLION For DEFENSE.
New York Legislature Puts That Asroune
in Governor Blacks Hands.

New York Legislature Puts That Aroune.
in Governor Blacks Hands.
For the second time in the history Of the;
State Of New York its Governor felt cailed
to ask the Legislature for an appropriation
for war purposes. Governor Edwin D.
Morgan, of New York City, was the frstt
and his call came during the Civil War.
Governor Frank 8. Black, OF Troy. is the
second. Governor Black asked for but
81 ,oC0 900, and that as an emergency fund
to obviate the expensive necessity for re-
conveninS the Legislature should the situI
alton require.
Almost at tho very opening Of the clos
ing day OF the session Governor Black senr
the following message to the Le2isiature3
sTo the Lesislature:-Events are now
transpiring Of so grave and general import
that the attention OF every enlightened
people is fixed upon our own. The crisis
which our national government now meets
involves those deep considerations which
affect the future Of the race. To aid that
government by approval and support, to
sustain its hand when raised for justice
and fair play, isthe duty Of every Statet
No hour has ever been SO full OF peril that
New York has faltered while 1t passed. Bel
cause OF her past history and her present
greatness she should be the first to UNDER
stand the meaning OF to-day. After iapg rel
fection, and with an earnest desire to do that
which ought to be done and to refrain from
that which ought not to be done, I recoRs
mend that before you adjourn you take
such action as your wisdom shall decidS
upon TO provide against such urgent needs
as the future may disclose.
"I hope the day Is still remote which,
shall consume the means you set apart
But IL the time should come when forbearl
ance and national self-respect can no long
er stay together, there can be but one
answer to ths duty thus arising.
81 believe you will. not in haste or anger
toward any other people, but in the deiib-l
crate purpose to defend your own, and as
sign Of hope to the struggling and dis
tressed, realizing that patriotism without
preparation is as fragile as dream, so act
that the enlightened sentiment OF the world
will Justify you. FrANK S. BLGcK.n
The reading OF the message was received
by both branches with an Immediate rej
quest for action. Not q voice was raised In
opposition, aud when the necessary bill was
introduced the vote taken showed a full
roll call Of yeas. The Assembly passed the
bill in three minutes. The time taken by
the Senate to pass the bill was less than
fifteen minutes.
The bill was eugrossed at once and transi
mitted to the Governor, vino affixed bis
signature to 1t at 1.3o O'Clock. The meas-
ure will be known as Chapter ls1, Laws Of
1893, and it passed both houses OF the LegA
islature, was epgrossed and signed by the
Governor in one hour and twenty minutess
which beats all legislative records.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

From Sydney comes o curious story
of the wreck OF the brig Minora and
the saving OF the captains life, though
he was the only man on the vessel
who couldn't swim stroke. The
other FIVE made gallant struggle for
life, but they went down exhausted,
while be clung to plank for twenty
four hours and was picked up in an
exhausted condition. His case fur
nishes no argument against the value
of a knowedge of swimming; it simply
serves to show the irony of fete, which
often dooms to death the man who is
the best equipped for saving his life.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07
Therefore. leas. liable to accident caused
by movements IRON those on board.

ShereiOre. least flaDio 10 acc1dent caused
by movements from those on board.
Explosions.
8. Tbs destruction OF the Maine occurred
ut $40 p. m. on February Is, 1893, In tho
harbor OF Havana, Cuba, she being at the
time moored to tho same buoy to which
she had been taken upon her arrival. There
were two explosions OF a distinctly differ.
ent character, with very short but distant
interval between them, and the forward
part OF the ship was lifted to marked de.
gree at the time OF the first explosion.
The first explosion was more in the nature
OF q report like that Of a gun, while the
second explosion was more open prolonged
and OF greater volume. The second ex-
plosion was, in the opinion OF the Court,
caused BY the partial explosion OF two o,
more OF the forward magazines Of the
Maine.
Condition of the Wreck.
4. The evidence bearing upon this being
enable the Court to form definite conclu-
sion as to the condition of the wreck, al
though it was established that the after
part OF the ship was practically intact and
sank in that condition very few minutes
after the destruction Of the forward part.
The following facts in regard to the for
ward part OF the ship are, however, estab-
ished by the testimony:
That portion OF the port side of the pro-
tective deck which extends from about
frame so to about frame II was blown up
at aad over to port. The main deck from
about frame so to about frame II was
blown up aft and slightly over to starboa-d,
folding the forward part Of the middle su-
perstructufe over and on top of the after
part.
This was. in the opinion Of tho Court,
caused by the partial explosion OF the for
ward magazines OF the Maine.
5. At frame II. the outer she'll OF the
ship, from point eleven and half feet
from the middle line OF the ship and six
feet above the keel, when In its normal po-
sition, has been forced up so as to be now
about four feet above the surface OF the
water; therefore about thirty-four feet
above where It would be had the ship sunk,
unipiured. The outside bottom plating IS
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

:. The worlds railway mileage a he
present time is equivalent to mo.o
than seventeen times the length 0; the
equator. In more exact figures, tie
worlds railway mileage, according 10
the latest verified returns, aggregates
4SS, $50 miles, or $3.50 miles moro
than in 1891. This enormous mileage
Is distributed amFg the various sub
divisions of the globe in the following
manner: Europe, 155,2S4 miles;
Asia. a6,Sso miles; Africa, S169 miles;
America, 229, 722 miles, and Australia,
1889 miles. From the foregoing
table it appears that America not only
heads the hist in the building of rail-
ways, but that the mileage represent
ed by the various railway systems on
this side of the globe more than equals
the combined mileage of the various
systems on the other side. But while
America is credited with the greatest
railway mileage, the greatest percent
ags of gain belongs to Africa. Since
1891 the railway mileage OF the dark
continent has increased 25.2 per cent.
With respect to the other subdivisions
tho showing is as follows: Europe,
81 per cent; Asia. 22.1 per cent;
America, s per cent; Australia, 1917
per cent. For the entire world the per-
centage OF gain is 9.S per cent. Sixty
years ago the worlds railway mileage
aggregated barely more than one
thousand miles, and Jet to-day the
globe is inserlaced with perfect net.
work OF iron rails. What surprising
wonders has the nineteenth century
drought to passl
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

The magazines and shell-rooms were al
ways locked after having been opened, and
after the destruction Of the Maine the
KEYS were found In their proper place In
the Captains cabin, everything having
been reported secure that evening at
p. N.
The temperature OF the magazines and
shel.rooms was taken daily and reported.
The only magazine which had an undue
amount Of heat was the after ten-inch
magazine, and that did not explode at the
time the Maine was destroyed.
The torpedo war heads were az slowed
in the after part OF the ship, under the
ward room. and neither caused nor parti-
cipated in the destruction OF the Maine.
The dry gun cotton primers AID detona-
tors were slowed in the cabin aft, and re-
moved from the scene OF the eNploslon.
Waste was carefully looked after on the
Maine to obviate danger. Special orders
in regard to this had been given by the
commanding officer. Va-nishes, dryers,
alcohol aad other combustibles OF this
nature were slowed on or above the main
ieck, and could not have had anything 70
10 with the destruction OF the Maine.
The medical stores were stored aft under
the ward room and remote from the scene
OF the explosion.
No dangerous stores OF any kind were
stored below in any OF the other store
ROOMS.
The Coal Bunl,ers Al Right.
The coal bunkers were inspected daily.
OF those bunkers adjacent TO the forward
magazines and shell rooms, four were
empty, namely: "B 5, 3 4, 3 5, E g."
"a l5' had been in use that day and "A
16" was full Of New River coal. This coal
had been carefully inspected before rsceiv.
Ing 1t on board. This bunker in which It
was slowed was accessible on three sides
at all times, and the fourth side al this time
on account OF bunkers ''B (" ana ''B 6'' be-
Ing empty. This brn&e-. "A 16' had been
Inspected that day by tie engineer officer
on duty.
The ire alarms in the buakars were il
working order and thece had never been II
case o. spontaneous combustion OF coal on
board the Maine.
The two alter boilers Of the ship were in
use at he .:2ee Q. ths disaster. but for
auxiliary purposes only, with @ conpara-
tiveiy low pressure Of steam and being
tedded by reliable watch, these boilers
could not have caused the explosion OF the
saip. The four forward boilers have since
been found By the divers and are in fair
condition.
Cn the night Of the destruction OF the
Maine everything had been reported secure
for the night at 8 p. n. by reliable persons
through the proper authorities to the COM
manding oficer. At the time tho Maine
was destroyed the ship was quiet. and.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07
OFFICIAL REPORT ON THE MAINE.
Submarine Mine Blew Her Up. But Spain
Is Not Blamed.

Submarine Mine Blew Her Up. But Spain
Is Not Blamed.
WASHINGTON, D. C. (SpeciaD.-The fol-
lowing is the full text OF the report OF the
Court Of Inquiry
U. 6. s. Iowa. Is. Rate.
EET WEST, Fla.. Monday, March q, 1893.
After full and mature consideration OF
nll the testimony before 1t, the Court finds
as follows:
/. That the United States battleship
Maine arrived in the harbor OF Havana,
Cuba, on the 25th day OF January, 1898, and
WAS taken TO buoy No. in from Eve and a
half to six fathoms Of water, by tho regular
Government pilot.
The United States Corsal-General at
Havana had notified the authorities at that
place, the previous evening, of the intend.
cd arrival OF the Maine.
2. Tae state OF discipline on board the
Maine was excellent, and all orders and
regulations in regard TO the care and safety
of the ship were strictly carried out.
All ammunition was stored in accord.
nnce with prescribed instructions, anc
proper care was taken whenever ammuni-
ton was handled.
Nothing was stored in any one OF the
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07
ENcLAND's ATTITUDE.

Cordial Greetin. For Colonel Hay-Fcr-
NAL Eows For Spanish Ambassador.
Europein diplomacy often indicates an
important political attitude by social
method. Tho entire Diplomatic Corps was
at tho Queens levee, in London, bat a sig
niacant Interpretation was put upon an in
cident which the pniuitiated observer
might regard as of NO consequence. When
Colonel Hay, the United States Ambassador,
passed before tho Duks OF York and the
other British royalties, all OF them ad-
vanced and cordially shook hands with
him. The Spanish Minister Immediately
followed Colonel Hay and was rscetTed with
formal bows.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07
MESSAGE AND REPORT IN CONGRESS
Read and Referred to Foreign Affairs
Committees In Both Houses.

WASHINGTON, D. C. (SpeciaD Except on
the occasion OF the inauguration o.
President, no such crowds as surSed
through the corridors and stormed tho
galleries for admission on the day the
Maine report was sent in have been seen ut
the Capitol in a quarter OF a century. At
daylight people were ALREADY seeking en-
trance to the Capitol and hours before
noon, when the two Houses convened, tho
marble stairTays were choked with push
ing, iostling people pressing toward the
galleries. Not an inch OF space remained
In the public galleries 1T O'Clock. though
long lines Of people stretching down the
stairways 10 the lower corridors continued
to press forward. Within Few minutes
after tie reserve galleries we-e thrown
open they, too, were completely filled with
the exception OF those reserved ior tne
Diplomatic corps and tho families OF the
President and Cabinet. Admission 10
these galleries was strictly by card. Many
distinguished personaSss vera in the gal
leries.
In tho Senate the reading of the journal
was dispensed with, and at two minutes
past tweiv" me message from the PTesi.
dent was delivered by M. Prunen, ore OF
his secretaries. At l2.l2 Mr. Morgan, Oh
Alabama, asked that tho Presidents mes
sage ha laid before the Senate. The Wee
clerks proceeded to read it. Wien they
got through with It NJ. Davis moved that
the message, report and testimony be Of
dared printed ans! refecrai 20 ths Commit
tee on Fcreiga Relations. The motion wls
agreed 20.
II the Hoasa a. Exactly 12 o'cl,cs the
Speaker asccnici t:es rcstrarn and cai!si the
body 70 order. Amid the impressive sil"aee
tAaE foi:oHra the blind chaplain delivered
a solemn prayer, which rang through tne
ball Ike o warning. Hs referred TO the
stern clouds that hung ove- the country
threatening to break II eny time. After
the journal came the reading oil the Prest-
dents message. There Was m outhCrst OF
applause in the galleries and on the hoor
when the reading o. the message was cor
cludod. The Presidents message was rsts--
red 10 committee without debate. This was
the Committee on Foreign Affairs ualer
the rules. No motion WAS made. lnmedi-
ateIy after the announcement OF Eepresea-
tatiye Simpk,n's death the House at l2.lS
P. u. adjourned for the day.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

A Chicago paper complains that
$3.50, 100000 worth Of property in
that city is held by absentee land
lords. And the worst OF it is that
many of these absentes landlords
make their home in New York, thus
helping to swell the population of the
latter city. How to keep Chicago
people in Chicago is apparently live
question in the Western metropolis.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

The statement is madeby Chief Bon
ner, of New York City, that recent
fire only confirms the theory that there
are no such things as fre-proof build
ings. Considering the number of
these high structures his suggestions
as to what must be done in the way OF
preparing for blazes in these giant
piles ought to be attended to at once.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07
GERMAN DEMANDS Oh SPAIN. .
Wanted For Damages Dons(
by Insur gents.

Germany has begun di2,ona.ie reprcssay
tations to Spain relative 10 sie Gamma uaba
case, and the German c:aise- Gsier. on her
way to Bahia, hes been or.e-ei to set
ready to proceed to Caba il satisfaction
is not quickly fort Ico-n;as-. !
The German version of the Caasmaba,
case is that some CUb3u insurgents, during
tie night OF March IL, attacked u German
refinery OF CarnanaSa, (s.so written Cam
nanaber.) belonging to the firm OF Fischer
& Schmidt OF Trinidad, Province Of Santa
Clara The insurgents are said to have,
riflet the safes, burned the buildings, killed.
four persons, and wounded ten occupants
OF the refinery.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

The Queen Con.ratulatcs Captain siEsbes-
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British Ambas-
.sador, paid personal call on Captain
'Sigsbee ct the Navy Department. Washing3
ton, and left with him a note of congrctus
latio1 10 behalf-of the Queen and Govsrn-
ment o. Great Britain for his escape from
death in the Maine disaster AID his con-
duct o. that occasion.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

There can be no doubt that the In
dians who granted the San Carlos
railroad franchise as soon as the pro-
Hoters had stocked their tepees with
beef, -four and coffee, are getting
civilized. Some of them will so to
the Legislature yet, predicts the San
Francisco Examiner.