The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-27

Father John Chadwick. who was
chataain Of the Maine when that ILL
fated ship went down in Havana har-
Dor II the night of February Is, 1898,
delivered lecture dealing with the sad
AFFAIR last night at the Carroll Club
Auditorium before large and splendid
audience. The lecture was fine effort,
tee1nIng with patriotism and sympa-
thetic touches, and at times the speaker
had to pause until the enthusiasm he
created died away. Father Chadwick
evylyed no theories rs to what caused
the explosion, but he emphatically de-
nounced the reports appearing in some
papers at the time that the ships on
GERS were not on board when the dis
aster occurred, and his tributes to Off
GERS and crew were couched in beau
tlful language.
The stage was appropriately decor
ated with American flags and strip OF
red bunting adorned the walls. BY
special invitation, a number of citizens
occupied seats on the stage, among
them being the following: Mayor A.
t. Sweeney, Colonel j. A. Miller, j.
Adam Hess, John Frew, Sheriff II. C..
Richards, Master j. Frew Hall, Mich
ael Lotus, H. c. ogden, Captain w.
NJ. ClemaRs. Martin Thornton NJ.
Kirchner, George Feeny, John S. Gle
sey, Howard Hazlett, Frank Cruise, G.
A. TruscheI, George Lutz and James
Barrett, of Benwood.
Owing to the unavoidable absence of
Bishop Donahue. Frank Cruise presided
and introduced Chaplain Chadwick.
Members of the clergy on the stage in
cluded Father wernlger. of Benwood;
Father Mulhearn, of Martins Ferry;
Fathers Moye, Harris and Galway, Of
the Cathedral. Chairman Cruise pre-
scented the lecturer with brief and APP
proprlate remarks, saying that Chap
lain Chadwick was a man who had de-
voted his life to his God and to his
country.
Father Chadwick began his lecture
with quoting a poetical apostrophe to
war, which eloquantly and wildly ex-
pressed the horrors of mortal conflict.
Thence the speaker drifted to an able
argument to show the absolute neces-
sItIes at times for war mo nation
could afford to choose dlshonor rather
than war" he said The late struggle
with Spain was u war for honor and
humanity, and Father Chadwick graph
icaliy portrayed the iamentabia condE-
tons in Cuba owing to Spanish rule,
until the United States stepped in.
The One Great Cause.
There were many causes for this war,
but the great overwhelming one was
the destruction of the Maine, said the
battleshIp's chaplain. But this nation
did not send forth It's soldiers in spirit
Of revenge Not until full investlga-
ton of the lamented loss of the Maine
was had was the gauntlet of war
thrown down.
Chaplain Chadwick said he had often
been asked why the Maine was sent
to hostile port. In his explanation. he
detailed the conditions Of the unhappy
island from time three years pre-
vIous, referring chiefly to the insur-
rection waged and the rule that
brought from the country into the cities
the class OF people known as the re-
concentrates. This rule OF Captain
General weyler's brought death and de-
vastation, and was designed as u meas
ure OF determination. The mllder sway
Of General Blanco failed to bring peace.
Riot was running rife in the streets Of
Havana; American citizens and inter
ests were In danger. And this was why
the Maine was sent into Havana har-
Dor In a burst of eloquence, Father
Chadwick said the American flag now
was recognized as protector in every
part OF the globe.
The Start for Havana.
Very pretty was the speakers word
picture OF the orders for the Maine to
start for Havana, ana the active pre-
paratlons by the crew as II war was to
follow on the morrow. The gallant lads
went to Havana realizing that perhaps
they would be required to lay down
their lives for the honor OF Old Glory,
And the dead heroes OF the Maine de-
serve all the honors piled on their re-
mains, for they were martyrs equally
as well as those who died on the bat
tleheld.
The first victim OF the spanIsh-Amer-
lean war was Ensign Caleb Brecken-
ridge, who was drowned on the way
from Key West to Havana The speak
er conducted the services over the re-
mains.
Coming back to the Names stay In
the harbor of Havana, the speaker said
on February "A there was n rumor that
some great event was to occur. Moth
ing happened, however. Next day,
February 10. dawned clear and bright,
and that night occurred the great dis
Rster.
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