davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
NO BATTLE YET.


ritory had declared neutrality, except China
alone. The notice of Corea was given two
days ago, thus closing the port of Chemul-
pc. Japan gave notice to-day, thus closing
all Japanese ports, including Yokohama,
which is the most advantageous harbor in
Asiatic waters. and nearer the Philippines
than any other port. The British and
French DEGREES closed Hong-Kong and the
ports of British India and French TonQuin.
When Mr.. WI Ting Fang was seen at the
Chinese legation tonight, he said that hav-
ing received no notice of China's neutrality
he presumed none had been issued by the
imperial government. At the same time he
had noticed in the press dispatches that
a Chinese possession, owing to a declaration
of neutrality. The minister believes this
declaration, if made, was given by the local
viceroy and applies only to the province of
Canton.
As to whether the Emperor will decree
neutrality Mr.. WI is not able to say. 1t is
recalled. however, that no decree or neu-
trality was issued during the F~ranco-PruS-
sian war and that the Chinese have not been
in the habit of issuing neutrality DEGREES on
the outbreak of wars in other parts of the
world. Now, however, that China is Keep
ing in touch with the methods of interna-
tional procedure this former action may
neutrality. This would have been done dur
ing the Franco-Prussian war had not Presi-
about an arrangement by which French and
German ships at Asiatic ports refrained
from hostilities while there; While China
entertains the most friendly feellng 10
wards the United States Mr.. WI feels this
would not justify the Withholding of neu-
trality if il in any way operated to the ad-
vantage of the United States as against
Spain as that would array Spain against
China.
China has a large number of treaty ports
with fine harbors scattered along her coast.
They are we'll equipped with coal and other
supplies, and any one of them would be
most advantageous as a harbor Tor the
American feet in case of war in the FAR
East. 1t is said, however, that even with
out a neutrality declaration by china the
harbors could not be used as a naval basis
of operations. AT the most, they could only
be used for temporary refuge and for such
commercial and supply purpose as would
take the American feet TO the next port.
The United States would have been bene-
flied much by securing a coaling station
from China during the recent controversies
which led rma to secure kiaochau pay
as a coaling station, Russia securing Port
Arthur and England securing Wei-Hai-Wei
There is good reason to believe that the
friendly spirit Of China toward the United
States would have made 1t possible for the
United States TO have secured the harbor or
Mrs bay or some other advantageous point
on the Chinese coast. At the present time.
however. IL Is said that China could not
voluntarily Grant such a coaling station
without assuming a distinctly hostile atti-
ttfdeh toward Spain. It Is possible that
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
DULL DAY AT KEY WEST.
Only One Small Prize, a Fishing
Smack, Arrived in Port.


KEY WEST, Fla, April 30.-This has been
the dullest day Key West has known since
the beginning of the war. The only news
Of the fleet was the firing at Port Cabanas.
which was exaggerate in the fashion pc
culiar to this community. The Puritan trea-
son story was another subject for discus
sion. The last phase of the incident, ac-
cording to these reports, is that the eccen-
trio sailor has confessed to an attempt TO
blow up the big monitor. The officers of the
ship, including Captain Harrington, still
maintain, however, that Yglesias is kept
under restraint because it is unwise to al
low irresponsible persons to be at large on
a man-of-war, and that the treason story is
entirely baseless.
To-day's only prize was the little fishing
smack Lola, loaded with fish for Havana,
which was captured eff the Cuban coast by
the dispatch boat Dolphin, who sent her
in with q prize crew aboard. The captain
of the Lola hove to when q blank shot was
put across her bows, declaring that he
would rather be captured by the Americans
than enter General Blanco'S service, which
he would be compelled to do If he went into
HaVana
Lieutenant Gleaves, IN command of the
torpedo boat Gushing, is annoyed at the
stories sent from here that the blowing out
due to negligence. He says the boat has
been in service for a number of years, and
the receiver was too old to bear high-storm
pressure. The Cushing is not incapacitated
for service, and will be ready for action on
short notice,
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
IN HAMPTON ROADS.
No Vessels Allowed to Approach the
Flying Squadron After Dark.

OLD POINT COMFORT. Va. April 3d.
patrol boats of the flying squadron did
active work last night at the entrance to
Hampton Roads. and no vessels were al
lowed to approach the squadron after dark.
The patrol from the Texas stopped a tug
with a tow trying to run in about 8 o'clock.
1t proved to be the light ship from Cape
Charles. which broke from her anchorage
in the two days storm and drifted out to
sea. Permission was secured from the army
officials to pass the boats through the
lines Of torpedoes. The light ship people
reported having had a very rough time, but
the vessel is not very badly damaged. 1t
Is improbable that she will be anchored
again near the capeS for the reason that the
government has decided that after May
several of the -lightships shall be remoVed
so as not to be Cf use To an enemy.
The collier Merrimac arrived here last
night from Newport News and reported to
Flag Lieutenant Sears that her orders were
to proceed TO Key West. She was given the
necessary permission and this morning
passed out TO sea under Commander Miller.
She is very fast.
The Dixie and Yosemite, auxiliary cruis-
ers, will be ready for service possibly by
Wednesday. 1t is the general belief here
that just as soon as these coast defense
cruisers are ready the Columbia and Min
neapolis will rejoin the flying squadron and
then Commodore Schley's command will do
active work.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
ROBBED DEPOSITORS.
President of a Bank Gone with $751;
o to 100000.

WASHINGTON, April 3O.-The controller
of the currency to-day received a telegram
from Bank Examiner Ewers, stating that
he had taken charge of the Hampshire
County National Bank of Northampton.
Mass. The president, who, the examiner
says, is a defaulter to the amount of $75,O 900
to 500, 900, is reported as missing. The
president of the National Bank is said to
be also president of the Hampshire Saw
ings Bank, and the discovery of the de-
falcation was made through a ruse. The
through the state xamin for an investi-
CATION of the two banks at the same time.
They are located in the same building, and
by this scheme it was made impossible for
those in charge to transfer funds from one
to the other to cover up shortages. In its
last statement the officers of the National
Bank reported capital $350,00, deposits $780,
600, surplus $4,000.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
T A PRIZE.
Concluded from First Pnge.p

Is known to be incorrect, as neither France
nor Austria has a consul at Matanzas.
Furthermore. diplomatic officials say there
was no Commandment in the sense under
stood in International law, but simply a
Smelling of the earthwork defenses outside
Admiral Sampson, in his dispatch con-
corning the shelling Of the Matanzas bat
terIes, gave no Information whatver as to
the reported attack upon CardenaS yeSter-
day. The impression prevails at the depart
ment among those who are not taken into
me secrets OF the naval war board that
these moves of Admiral Sampson are of a
strategic character, and not as significant
happenings as might be supposed from
their apparently spontaneous character.
Key West evidently is to be made a base
of the first order of Importance, so far as
tue fleet is, concerned, otherwise Secretary
Long would never have called or an officer
of such high rank as Commodore Remy to
the station. The commodore has
been relieved at the Portsmouth navy yard,
New Hampshire, by a retired officer of
equal rank. Two more retired officers of
a hlgh order OF ability are to be called into
NSSaHvyaii c cSGHiGg MG90f r. W. W STE Steele er a0d % Sf
J.. Mintoyne.
The board Of bureau chiefs is now en-
gagged in preparing advertisements calling
Tor the construction of torpedo boats and
d~estroyerS. By a special provision of the
naval bill these advertisements will run
only three weeks, instead of three months,
as IS usual. TIL department will describe
only the general characteristics OF the torpe-
40 boats, leaving to the bidders the submis-
'AOAA VI pans iOI Tie COIlSlLQCllOIl OGIlCL
Constructor Hichborn said to-day that
when the department placed contracts for
the vessels authorized by the pending naval
appropriation Till the government will have
under construction at one time a greater
number of vessels than it ever has had
building since the war, and a greater tom
mage in the aggregate than at any time
during the civil conflict. There will be no
less than thirty-siX vessels altogether thus
placed under construction-three battle
ships, sixteen torpedo boat destroyers,
twelve torpedo boats, four coast defense
monitors ana one gunboat on the lakes.
The honor of being fleet engineer of the
numerous vessels of the mosquito fleet,
which is expected to be one of the main
stays in the defense of the Atlantic coast
cities, has fallen to a retired officer-ChiCf
Engine" Alexander Henderson. who is no
a prosperous business man in New York,
but who has consented to sacrifice his per-
sOnai interests to fight in the navy. More
electricians are wanted in the navy, and
The secretary to-day directed that a special
recruiting station be opened at the Wash
ington navy yards at l O'Clock Monday to
recruit the electricians.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01

oners of war, the officials say, only in the
loosest construction Of that term and will
be guaranteed full protection by the United
States authorities. They are in a class dis
tinct and different from persons who may
have been taken from a steamer which was
engaged in belligerent operations. They are
not -exchangeable for any prisoners which
might be taken by the Spaniards from the
ships or the army of the United States.
Should it be proved fully to the satisfaction
of the authorities that the intentions of the
passengers were belligerent this may alter
the situation very materially, but evidence
in support of such claims, it is suggested,
might be hard to obtain.
KEY WEST, Fla, April 30.-The passen-
gers on the Spanish steamer Panama, which
was captured by the lightous tender Man,
grove on April %, were examined by United
States District Attorney Stipling to-day.
Twenty-four of the t~wenty-nine are able
obdied men whose passage was paid from
New York to Havana by the Spanish consul
in New York. One man admitted that he
was going to join the Spanish army, but
the others declared that they were going
to Cuba to secure employment.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
ENDED In A FIGHT.
Attempt to Wrestle Between
YOusOuf and ROeber.

NEW YORK, April 3O.-The wrestling
bout between Yousouf, the Terrible Turk"
and Ernest Roeber, the American champion,
ended in a fight tonight at the Metropoli-
tan Opera House, and Referee Hermon
Wolff declared the match mo contest"
When the men had been wrestling eighteen
minutes Roeber sprang to his feet and the
Turk started after him.. Yousouf showed
Roeber twice with great force in ROBBERS
corner, and Martin Julian. one of ROBBERS
seconds, called foul" Some of the specta-
tors caught up this cry. In the meantime
Yousouf followed Roeber and again showed
him. Roeber struck the Turk on the
shoulder. and Billy Brady, who looked
after Yousouf's interests, then claimed a
foul for the Turk. Bob Fitzsimmons, time
keeper for Roeber, caught hold of Brady.
Four police captains interfered. Trouble
was threatened in various sections of the
building, but the disturbances were quelled
when the referee announced that under the
circumstances he was obliged to declare the
event mo contest"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
SPANISH C%ONSPIRACIES
SUSPECTED spy SOUGHT BY THE AU-
THORITIEs OF TAMPA.
Attempt to Explode n Powder Maya
zine-St. Louis Agents Warned-Sus-
piciOus Letters to Be Withheld.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, April 3O.-A spe-
cial to the Times-Union and Citizen from
Tampa, Fla, says: "Chief of Police Burke,
OF the Tampa force, and General Wade
held a lengthy consultation a few evenings
ago, the subject of which has Just come to
light. Spanish Consul Soils left here about
ten days ago, and Vice Consul Bruguis left
about two days later. The vice consul said
that he was going to Jamaica by way of
New York, and on the evening prior to his
departure he was given a farewell party by
his Spanish friends. A few evenings ago a
Spanish women told two of her American
girl friends that something would happen
soon. Her significant remark in connection
with the many rumors of Spanish plots in
circulation aroused suspicion. On Thursday
night as Chief Burke was returning from
Yarbo City he was surprised to see Bruguis,
who he supposed was on his way to ia
maica, at the Spanish woman's house.
Major Connolly, of the Florida State troops,
has also been informed by a Cuban resident
that Bruguis is in town. 1t is also reported
that the Spaniard had been seen at night
disguised. A Spanish boarding house and
another house owned by Soils, where Bru-
guis is supposed to visit, are being watched
by the police tonight, and if BruguiS is
seen he will be arrested.
Another plot is in course of development
that will be nipped. 1t is to the effect that
there is d soldier here with the regulars
who speaks Spanish whose term will soon
expire. 1t is asserted that he has been APP
preached and urged to r%e-enlist with the
intimation that he might makes $3.50 a month.
An attempt was made last night to ex-
plode the powder magazine of knight &
Wall, wholesale hardware men.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01

authorities his belief that a British war ship
should be sent there to protect British in
~terests. 1t is probable that the British
third-class cruiser Palace, now at Port An
tonic, this island, will be sent to Santiago
de Cuba.
Senior Felipe de Castro, late Spanish con-
sui at San Francisco, arrived from New
sui at Port Antonio in the place of Mr..
Gideon, an Englishman, who has resigned.
An English vessel, name unmentioned, is
Santiago de Cuba with refugees for some
Jamaican port. 1r-A
Mr.. Evans, the colonial secretary, refused
to-day to allow an American dealer in
metals here to ship twenty tons of lead to
New Orleans, defining it as contraband of
war.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
Movements of Steamers.

NEW YORK, april 30-Arrived: Paris,
from Southampton; Lucania. from Liver
pool. Sailed: Bolivia, for Mediterranean
ports: Mobile. for London; La Normandie,
for Havre: Umbria. for Liverpool: Kaiser
Wilhelm III. for Naples. etc; ~Spaarndam,
for Rotterdam; Anchoria, for Glasgow;
T~hingvalla, for Copenhagen.
= LIVERPOOL, April 30.-Arrived: Cam
pania and Cevic, from New York. Sailed:
Etruria, for New York.
QUEENSTOWN. April go - Arrived:
Scythia, from Boston, for Liverpool.
BREMEN. April 9c.-Sailed: Friedrich der
GIosse, for New York.
BOSTON, April 30.-Arrived: Pavonia.
from Liverpool.
HAvRE, April 00.-sailed: La Touraine.
for New York.
ANTWERP. April So.-sailed: Friesland,
for New York.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
Warned Against Spanish Spies.

ST. LOUIS, April 30.-Local representa-
tives of powder manufacturing concerns
were warned to-day that two Spanish spies
were in town and were planning to blow
up powder mills and magazines near st.
Louis. The information was laid before
Chief OF Detectives Desmond, and he imme-
diately detailed men to investigate. The in
formant is Captain Alfred H. ]. Bales, of
the Cuban insurgent army, who has been in
ST. Louis about a month. His statements
are positive, and he says these men have
been gathering every possible bit of infor-
nation about st. Louis. A third was with
them, but he has gone to New York. The
other two, Captain Bales said, visited JEFF
to-day. The powder magazines of a number
of st. Louis companies are situated at Eu-
reka, and kilograms of warning have been
sent there.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
SUSPICIOUS MAIL MATTER.
Postmaster Have Been Instructed to
Detnin Certain Letters.

Dctu1n CeEIuIh LettcESs
PITTSBURG, April 3O.-Second Assistant
Postmaster General w. S. Shallenberger ar
rived in Pittsburg to-day from Washington
EN- route to his home at Rochester, Pa.
Mr.. Shallenberger said that orders had been
sent out from Washington directing post
masters throughout the United States to
watch the mails passing through their Of
fees closely, and instructing them to seize
any mail matter that excited suspicion.
When letters of this character are picked
up, Mr.. S~hallenberger said, it was the duty
of the postmaster to summon the nearest
commanding army officer. Should the sus-
pected mail prove to be to the
Nation the Secret-service Department would
at once be notified and the proper steps
taken to effect the arrest of the culprit. If,
on the other hand, the intercepted matter
was of a proper character, it would be for
Warded TO the department head at Wash
ington, and from there would be returned
to the original sender with an explanation.
Mr.. Shallenberger stated that when mail
was stopped in transit at d country office
where no administrator official was within
reach the postmaster should send the same
to the nearest office where direct m
cation, as indicated, could be had. 1t was
also learned that the recent stories regard
ing reasonable mail matter being picked
up by the department were substantially
correct. 1t was furthermore stated by Mr..
Shallenberger that it was the duty of all
good citizens in a crisis of the present kind
to call the Postoffice Departments atten-
ton to any individual seen mailing letters
whose actions they regarded as suspicious.
Thus every person becomes an officer of the
government. He said that a special effort
was making to keep track of all persons
receiving mail from Spain, and that where
much of this matter was delivered to one
individual it would be regarded as a sus-
picious circumstance. He stated that many
letters had been received from Spanish
towns and provinces and the letters turned
over to the proper authorities that con-
tanned much interesting information which
the officials gladly received.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01

China's neutrality decree may be Issued
any day. and yet the delay is In no way ex-
serclsinB the authorities here, owing to the
to Commodore Dewey's feet.
The Portuguese minister. Viscount De
Santo-Thyrso. called at the State Depart
tugal's neutrality. Afterwards the viscount
expressed regret at the published reports
attributing delay to Portugal, and a dispo-
slt1on to favor Spain as against the United
are unwarranted and that an official dis
patch he received from Lisbon last night
shows the authorities at Lisbon acted with
p~romptness. The dispatch states that the
notice OF a declaration of war was received
on the 18th, w~hereupon a meeting of the
council of state was called Immediately fer
the following day. This is not the regular
CABINET, but Is a political organization
which must be convoked of distinguished
persons widely scattered. The council met
on the 9th and framed the decree. 1t was
presented to the King on the 18th and re-
celved MS signature, and as the Off1cill Ca
zette appears only once daily the official no
tice OF the decree appeared in the first is
sue Of the Gazette thereafter, on the 18th:
dispatch. His dispatches from Lisbon stated
that the war ships of the belligerent pow
ers would not be allowed to make more than
a brief stay in the ports of Portugal. AS
pedo b~oats'to the Cape Verde islands, be-
cause of injuries resulting from a collision,
the minister says such injuries, If bona
fide, permit wal ships to remain long
enough to repair damage. This cannot be
made an excuse for extended stay, how
ever, and the minister says that the Portu-
fides of the injury to all ships is fully es-
tablished before they will be allowed to
remain. The viscount desires to nave it
fully understand that P~ortugal's desired
serve the ~Strictest neutrality between the
United States and Spain.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
STEAMSHIPS.
%KLONDIKERS EXCITED.
Not Over the War, but About Fresh
Discoveries Of Gold.

SAN FRANCISCO, April S0-The Alaska
Commercial Company, of this city, is in re-
ceipt of advices from it's agent at Dawson
City confirming the report of a new. rich
strike at the south of Ainsley creek, eight
cen miles up the Yukon from that place.
The correspondent says that the whole coun-
try in the vicinity of Dawson is crazy with
excitement over the new strike. The men
who made it sank a hole forty-ive feet deep
on an island at the mouth of Aainsley creek.
almost in the middle of the Yukon river,
aged from 81 10 IS per pan. The report Of
the strike is officially confirmed by two Ca
madam officials Mr.. McGregor, the mining
Inspector, and Mr.. Wade, the crown at
torney.