The times., 1899-04-15
CURIOTfIES IN The
NATIONAL MUSEUM
Relics of the Spanish War a
Noteworthy Feature.
A Little Disabled by the Last Shot
Spain Fired.
Wonderful Curios From Japan Pre-
sented by General Grant-SeaI
of the Confederate states.

Washington Correspondence of New York Sun }
Relics OF the Spanish war will be a
noteworthy feature of the collections of
the National Museum. There is already
4 promising beginning and additions are
made almost daily. There is room in this
institution for quite as many more curl
Gus and historical articles as are now
displayed. The object has been to give
preference and prominence 10 everything
distinctly American, just as in the Zoo
logical Gardens the animals characteristic
OF this country are sought chiefly.
The New York visitor used TO the
Museum Of Art and the Museum of Nat
ural History notes the absence of light
and brightness in this institution. Except
under the dome, there is not light enough
for the fair exhibition of Its treasures,
while the tiled floors have a dusty look.
The cases containing the Spanish war rel
!cs are in this central part. The largest
contains pieces OF silver-plate from the
wreck Of the Maine-a soup tureen and
loving cup. Among the specimens of pow
der taken from the magazines of the sunk
en- ship are octagonal blocks of the brown
powder that were soaked with water and
never exploded. It is from the particular
magazine which, according TO the Span
iards, blew up the warship. There are
two powder tanks, showing the effects of
their stay in the water and compass.
which was wholly uninjured, even the
glass being uncracked
A plate from a partition from chain
fnrE rsf he N ed
Evans. shows the effects OF shots from
the Colon. There are four hits, three of
which perforated the plates. One is the
work OF large shell. Another piece OF
plate is from the winsIow. on which En-
Ggn Bagley, the first victim OF the war
was killed. II is taken from the coming
tower, near the spot where the young Of
Beer was struck. Although the plate is
Got more than three feet in diameter, IL
Uhowt thirteen distinct hits. three Of which
perforated the armor. This was all the
Gork of the land batteries al Cardenas.
The pinnacle lamp and compass box, both
fiddled with bullets, show what hot work
fhers was It will be recalled that the
Eineiow moved up TO a red buoy and
stopped TO IRE ct the batteries. II turned
gut that the Spanish Gunners had used this
Tor q target and had the range perfectly.
Another interesting article is a mine
13ettd up IN the harbog of Guantanamo by
he Garblehead at the time the marines
Eefe landed and made their brave stand
ASkihst an Invisible foe. The mine was
BOT exploded. because Of corrosion. Its
Surface is covered with tiny shells. In the
ssme case are specimens Of every kind of
powder.
Hardtack and Haversacks.
Among the many other relics is q rusted
Fspe-bolt from the vizoaya and piece Of
NJ settee IN the captains cabin of the
oad Francisco. The article was destroyed
by the last shot Of the war. fred from
N6rfo Castle. in Havana hsrbor There is
N electric fen used TO expel smoke when
. large gun was fred from the Massachu-
6itts. II was hit by piece of shell. which
h also shown. There are csntsens, hard
lacks, hats, haversacl1s, Mauser rifles,
mschetes captured Spanish flag ana an
Old battle axe from the Santiago arsenal.
Also the flag Of truce used by the Uneas
when Hobson Was exchanged. There is a
copy OF the first American newspaper in
Cuba, issued by Company F, Thirty third
Michigan.
The General Grant collection Of relics in
The National Museum is large and interest
lpg. Most persons know in a general way
that Grant received q great deal of atten-
zion from people and potentates when he
made his memorable tour of the world, but
clearer idea is obtained from an exami-
nation Of the relics. The largest article
Is a sideboard OF Mexican onyx presented
30 him by the citizens OF Puebla. On il are
two large cloisonne vases given TO him BY
Ii Hung Chang, and below pair OF
Chinese crackleware bowls of the reign of
Eien Lung, 1875, the gift of Prince Kung
The Regent OF China.
In one case are four elephant tusks- The
larger pair, sixty-five inches long and
weighing forty-six and forty-four pounds,
were given TO Grant by the King Of Siam;
the smaller pair. three feet long, were from
the Maharaja OF lahore. In the same case
tE the saddle used by General Grant from
February. 1862 TO April. 1866.
The freedom Of the city OF London is
contained in an elaborate gold box: of
Dublin in a box OF bog oak, carved and
3eweled; Of Glasgow, in a gold box. The
certificate Of Grants admission as burgess
and guild brother OF Edinburgh is in a sill
yer casket, Of Ayr in gold casket and of
Etratford Avon in a box made from
6hakespeare's tree. There Is a gold model
OF the Mclean table on which the articles
OF surrender were signed by Grant and
Lee at Appomattox- Among the many rieh
and costly swords Is the New York
sword" presented to him through the Ne
Gopolitan Fair for the benefit OF the san
stary Commission in April. 1864. All the
shoulder straps worn by General Grant
from the beginning TO the end Of The war.
his epanleis. coat. hat. etc. all his com
missions and complimentary addresses,
canes from historic trees. a Toledo blade
presented by the Spanish Republic the
Lafayette cane from the ladies Of Balti-
more the sword of DOnelson nuofher Of