The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-22

stored in the In spite Of the
British reflections upon the discipline
on American warships, the officers here
do not hesitate to say that in the mat
ter Of careful inspection OF the coal
bunkers, the magazines and the like.
our navy is second to none in the
world.
Captain-General Blanco today cabled
to Senior du Bose, in charge OF the
Spanish legation, giving the formal ac-
ton Of the insular government of Cuba
expressing TO h president or the
United States profound sorrow over the
catastrophe to the Maine and the re-
su1ting loss of life 10 Americans. At
the same time, the alcade, or mayor Of
Havana, sent resolutions OF h muni-
cipality, expressing TO h president
the grief of the authorities and the
people OF Havana. Senior du Bose pre-
scented the dispatches 10 Assistant
Secretary Day, who laid them before
President Mckinley.
NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF
MOURNING.
In execution of the decision of the
president last evening, to have a ma
tional observance of mourning. the fol-
lowing order was today communicated
by telegraph from the war department
to commanding officers of the army:
LAS appropriate honors to the de-
ceased in the recent disaster to the
battleship Maine, the president di-
reefs that flags at all army h~eadquar-
ters, military posts and on army build
ings be displayed from sur rise TO sun
set at half-mast until further orders.
SAMUEL BRECK,
"Adjutant General"
Secretary Long today directed that
dispatches be sent to the commandments
of naval stations and the chief officers
Of the United States vessels through
out the world to display all flags at
half mast until further orders, as a
mark of respect to the officers and men
drowned from the battleship Maine.
Admiral Sicard telegraphed Secre-
tary Long from Key West, this after
noon as follows:
In the opinion Of Lieutenant John
Hood, of the Maine, who has just ar
rived from Havana, the Maine can
never again be utilized as a ship. He
describes the whole forward body Of
the ship as completely collapsed, where
the shock of explosion was heaviest.
Photographs of the wreck will be sent
to the department today"
The state department this afternoon
| received the following despatch from
| Consul General Lee:
Havana, February IL. 1888.
assistant Secretary Day, Washing
tom:
Merritt was in Junior officers mess
| room, Jenkins in ward room meSs-IToOm
at the time of the explosion. The lat
ter left before an officer who was saw
| ed. He must nave gone the wrong
| way. The lights went out Immediately
and water rushed in. Merritt got got
| to a hatch With Naval Cadet Boyd.
The ladder was gone. Boyd climbed
through and tried to pull Merritt UP
but the latter let go his hands, fell
back and was drowned. The bodies OF
these officers are not yet found; posi-
| bility they are in the wreck. The sail
| ors' funeral occurs today at 8 O'Clock
| 1t will be an immense procession"
PUBLIC FUNERAL OF THE VIC
TINS.
The following message was received
at the navy department at 1885 O'Clock
p. m, from Captain Sigsbee, at Ha-
vana:
'1Secretary Long, Washington:
General Blanco called on me per
sonally at the hotel last night and also
i the mayor of the city. They have re-
quested me to permit the government
here to give a public burial to the dead
Ealready found, in order that public
sympathy may be expressed thereby
and due honor shown the dead. Ground
for the burial has been secured. 1t i:
assumed that L am expected by tbs
department to bury the dead here? Ir
fact it would be impracticalble to trans.
| port the remains to the United States
Means and facilities are lacking.
have accepted the offer of the author.
tiles and there will he q, public funeral
at 3 O'Clock today. All here from the
Lain VIII go, also a delegation from
the Fern. Fifteen bodies were recov.
cred during operations Operation.
prevented by rough weather."
UNAEATJED INTEREST AT THE
CAPITOL.
There was unabated interest in boti
ends of the capital today, in the Maine
disaster, but expressions generally
take the shape of inquiry for new ligh-
Upon the subject and of demands fol
most rigid investigation. The presen
disposition, especially about the senate
appears to be to allow the matter t.
rest where it is until more light car
he secured than at present.
The disaster to the Maine has arous
ed a feeling mons members of the
house in favor of extreme liberality il
appropriations for the naval and mill
tary establishments, tine practical re
suit of which is likely to be the &C,
ceptance by the house, with little con,
test, of the senate amendments in,
creasing the appropriations for forti
fications about 81, 900, 900, the authori
cation in the naval appropriation bill
of two battleships instead of one, anC
possibly the authorization of the entirt
drydock scheme recommended by tn,
drydocks board appointed by the secre
tary Of the navy. The recommends
ton of the secretary of the navy wa.
for only one addition to the navy thi
year, a first class !battleship, but tn,
loss of the Maine makes it likely tina
appropriations for two ships will 10,
reported by the naval committee. TIL,
subject has not yet been considered
by the ava committee, but most O
the individual members OF the commit
tee yesterday n today expressed
themselves in favor of building a shiy
to replace the Maine and also of au
thorizing the ship recommended by tn
secretary of the navy.
A parliamentary complication ha:
arisen in connection with the question
of including provision for drydocks il
the naval appropriation which ma.