The Portland daily press., 1898-03-28

has speed that would place her out of
the reach of any ordinary steamer in
short order. The Rex has steamed q
measured mile in two minutes and six
seconds and can do 25 knots in an hour
with the utmost ease, while on spurts
she can rival the worlds record. If the
government wants torpedo boat for
service in the south the Rex would be
likely to fill the requirements better than
any boat on this coast.
ORDERS TO THE GUARD.
office is sending out sealed orders to the
Maine National Guard, the instructions
contained in them relating to the course
to be pursued If there should be call for
troops. Should there be no war the states
soldiers may never know he deeds of
valor they were expected to perform.
FOR SiGSBEE.
A Floral Ship Given. by His Admirers in
Havana.
Havana. March 26.-No one privileged
to be present will ever forget the sceno in
the cabin of the Olivatte just before that
boat sailed for Key West today. On the
centre table stood a large floral piece, in
tended to represent q ship. 1t was not
good as model, but It'll was beautiful in
color and fragrance. Near the flowers
stood Consul General Lee. At his left was
Captain Sigsbee, while grouped around
were all the naval officers OF the Maine to
the number of score.
American ladies were there, too. They
were few in number but they were good
representatives, in face, figure and cos
tune, of their country ry-Women. There was
sadness in all of the faces for the time
had come to say goodbye to Capt. Sigs-
bee and his officers. In u voice trembling
with emotion, General Lee, III behalf of
the newspaper men, presented the cap
tain with the flowers, saying: They
are given as token of high regard and
deep love, regard for your superb quail
ties as an officer and seaman, love for
the magnificent attributes OF heart and
hand which have made you pre-eIninent
among your fellows"
With wet eyes-those who looked on felt
the moisture, too-General Lee bade
Capt. Sigsbee and his companions adieu,
wishing them ''good fortune now and
always" to which there was d deep
chorus of assent as Capt. Sigsbee stepped
forward into the circle. For moment
he could not speak, but he recovered his
voice and then expressed his thanks in
the simple, manly manner SO characters
he must be silent and the language of
flowers was silent. The captain could
not trust himself to speak of his ship;
but he could say, and gladly, what ne
had put into cipher dispatches to the
navy department., that all the newspaper
men in Havana had treated him with alb.
solute good faith, had never intruded
upon him and never taken any advan-
tage of the confidence placed in them. On
his par5, he added, he had never refused
to see newspaper men, a remark which
brought forth cries of ''You never did. "
Continuing, Capt.. Sigsbee said he recog-
nized that they had orders as stringent
aud difficult to carry out as those gwen
him, though differing in their tenor.
Then, turning to Gen. Lee, Capt. Sigs-
bee paid him a high tribute. He said:
"We all love him (Cries of Right, cap
tain, we do.') as sbeing, bravery, gent-
ality and good Judgment personined.
The captain also said: ''The United
States has no better representative abroad
than gallant Bitzhugh Lee, its consul
general at Havana" cloud applause
Capt. Sigsbee then thanked the donors
for the flowers and they all left the Oil
vette as the whistle blew after giving u
parting grip of the hand TO Capt. Sigs-
bee, CHER Engineer Charles z. Howell,
Paymaster Ray, the Rev. JohE P. Child
wick, the chaplain; Surgeon l.. u. Hene-
berger, Naval CaQeD u. "A. dOlueu anu
Naval Cadet W. 4. Culverius.
When the parting was over Comman.
ders CowIes and Wainwright went on
board the Fern. AS all those bound for
the shore left the ship, cheers and good
byes were shouted and handkerchlefs were
waved from the hurricane deck. While
the Oliyette steamed out of the harbOr,
Capt. sigsbee looked sadly on the gaunt
wreckage of what was once, little over
hi
Nine bodies recovered from the wreck
of the Maine, including that OF Lieut..
Jenkins, were taken to Key West on board
the Oliyette. The remains of the lieu
tenant are to be sent on to Pittsburg.
The Mangrove arrived here this morn
ing and will take care of the valuables
which may be recovered from the wreck
as we'll as The high explosives, which the
merchant vessels do not like to carry.
Mr.. Albert Miller arrived here toCay
to arrange for the coming of the steamer
Utstein from New Orleans, bound for
Matanzas with 700 tons of clothing,
provisions and medicines, contributed
throu III the efforts of the Kansas City
Star. The Utstein will reach Consul
Brioe at Matanzas next Tuesday Mir.
Miller has made all the arrangements
necessary to lighter her cargo. Trains
carrying $50 to 800 tons to far towns on
the coast and interior leave tonight in
charge of a committee appointed by Com
missioner Klopsch. All the errahge-
ments have been made for the dlstribu
tiol.
Consul General Lee said to the corre-
spondent of the Associated Press today
with reference to the present status of the
relief work:
~ am happy to know that now all mat
ters pertaining to the reception and distri-
button of American supplies to the poor
of Cuba are progressing successfully.
The people OF the United States in assis-
ting to support some 200, COO destitute peo-
pie have undertaken colossal task. The
modes of procedure and the details con-
some features OF the outset; but now
most of these difficulties have been over
come. Everything is in good working Or.
der.
He spoke highly of the WORK performed
by MIR. Louis klopsch and DR.. and Mrs.