The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-23
TAKEN UPON HEARSAY
SignaIman at Guantanamo
Was Queried as to Sherman
GOT THE RUMOR VERIFIED
By.Parties Who Should Have
Known But Didn't.

Santiago de Cuba, March 22.-Owing to
the supposed authenticity Of the report
received here from Captain Leigh, the
chief signal officer. regarding the alleged
death of John Sherman, the former Sc
rary of state, the weekly reception OF
Mrs. Wood, the wife Of General Leonard
Wood, was postponed yesterday afternoon
After the arrival of the American line
steamer Paris aat Santiago and the an
nauncement that there was no truth IN
the reports of the death of Mr.. Sherman
word was sent out that Mrs. Wood would
receive. 1t was too late, however, to OBJ
tain the service of the band. In spite OF
this, fully 200 passengers from the Paris
the Paris reached here those on board
of her noticed that the flag flying from
oAIrro castle, at the entrance of the har-
Dor, was at half mast and it was infer
red by the passengers that some impor-
tant parsonage was dead. Their surprise
was greaat when told, on being reached
by a tug, that a report was current that
Mr. Sherman was dead. The announce
ment of Mr.. Sherman's death obtained
so much credence here that General
Wood even had a cable dispatch written
asking the authorities at Washington
for Instructions as TO the special honoTs
they were DESTROYS of paying 10 the re-
mains of the distinguished statesman, but
before this message was sent the Paris
arrived here and everybody was pleased
to hear that Mr.. Sherman instead of be-
ing dead, was improving in health.
1t now turns out, respecting the I'M
fortunate report of Mr.. Sherman sdeath,
which is the main topic of conversation
here tOdaay-thaat the announcement was
made by the French cable company and
the signal corps within ten minutes Of
each other. When Captain Leigh, the
chief siganl off1cere, ascertained that the
report was erroneous he Immediately COM
municated with the Guatanamo station
to discover the cause of the blunder The
man in charge of the station replied that,
having received a message OF inquiry as
to Mr.. Sherman's health, and not having
any information himself. he visited the
manager of the French cable company.
who assured him that the report of death
was we'll founded. Thereupon he tele-
graphed confirmation of the rumor. hav-
ing no reason to doubt the assurance
given him. The French cable companys
officials here claim to know nothing re-
garding the matter. Mr.. Shermans re-
latives on board the Paris are naturally
very indignant that the men in charge Of
the Guantanamo signal Office were en-
tirely justified in accepting the statement
ger.
Mr.. Sherman's condition this evening
continues about the same. He rested
optic comfortably throughout the day and,
if anything is somewhat better. He ex-
poets to go on board the United States
cruiser Chicago tomorrow. Meantime,
the utorists are swarming over the city.
after having visited all the scenes of the
fighting which proceeded the capitu,ation
This evening, Mrs. Wood, wife of the
military governor, is holding her weekly
reception at the palace
Early this morning the gunboat Bara-
Goa, formerly of the Spanish navy, and
recently raised from the bottom OF the
Mayari river, arrived here under command
OF Ensign Isle.
Washington, March 22.-General A. W.
Greedy. chief Of the signal service corps,
tonight gave to the Associated Press the
following signed statement with reference
to the report that the signal officer at
Guantanamo had confirmed the report Of
ex-Secretary Sherman's death:
"War Department,
"Ofice Of Chief Signal Officer.
washington, March %. 1899.
ITO the Associated Press Captain Leigh
telegraphs me from Santiago that the in
formation regarding Mr.. Sherman's al
legged death came direct from the repre-
sentative of the French cable company at
Guantanamo, and that the responsibility
OF the signal corps IS limited 10 the tele-
graphic transmission Of the story. Yours