The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-28
<INLEY REPLIES TO SAMPSON.

M'KINLEY REPLIES TO SAMPSON. |
Admiral Sampson has received from
the president the following reply to MS
letter of March 8, 1899:
Executive Mansion,
washington, March 13, 1899.
MY Dear Sir:-I am in receipt of
your very considerate letter of the 9th
instant, in which you express a desire
that, without reference to your own in
~terests, the other naval officers who
rendered such conspicuous services in
the ava campaign in the West Indies
may have the advancement which you
recommended for them, and in which
you ask nothing for yourself. I highly
commend this disinterested action on
you part. Let me assure you that I
have the highest appreciation of your
services as commander-in-chief of the
Atlantic naval forces during the Span
ish war, in blockading Cuba,
ating with the army, directing the great
numbers Of the vessels under your or
ders and at last, after the most effec-
tive preparation, concentrating, with
the gallant officers and men under your
command, the destruction Of the Span
ish fleet. 1t was in recognition of your
services and of your great Skill, that
l recommended you to the senate for
the advancement which you had earn
ed. Very truly yours,
WILLIAM M'KINLEY."
Elm ofLC11NU QOA1SAIN LIN
There has been considerable CORE
~spondence between the war and the
treasury departments over the hold-up
of the OliveNe at Tampa with 140 men
of the Second South Carolina volun-
teers. When she arrived at Tampa the
officers said they did not want to stop
her to have the baggage of the troops
fumigated. Surgeon General Wyman
said the treasury department officials
n CpnaI tIo tho f,,~ ~; oa = io~ nc ho rrn ~o
should take place. Acting Secretary
Meiklejohn sustained the action of the
treasury department., but gave the SOL
dierS permission to come ashore. The
officers of the Olivette wanted to take
her to Savannah, or Charleston, but
the mayors of these cities said that the
Olivette would not be permitted to en-
ter either of these ports until the regu-
latiOnS were complied with.
ANOTHER SPANISH GUNBOAT
RAISED.
The navy department is gratified to
learn that it's representatives who nave
been working for some time in the vi
cinity of Santiago and Guantanamo
have succeeded in adding another YES
sci to the American navy in the gum
boat Baracoa, which was reported to
have been towed into Santiago yester-
day. The Baracoa was one of the Span
Iou SdlloOdIS Sullh utdI HudIIdudIlo.
She is a useful type of vessel for patrol
work and is about so per cent. larger
than the gunbOats Sandoval and Alva-
RADIO now at the Washington navy
yard. She carries one Hontoria gun Of
35 inch calibre, one of 81 calibre and
two machin guns.
THE CRISTOBAL COLON NOT
ABANDONED.
The navy department is still waiting
to hear from the Swedish compan
which has undertaken to raise the
Cristobal Colon. This project has not
been abandoned by any means. Ex-
pert engineers in the employ of the
company visited the wreck and made a
careful study of the situation. They
returned to Sweden and, according to
their report, began the preparation of
exact estimates of the cost of raising
the ship. They entertained nc. doubt of
their ability to accomplish the task.