Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-27

| San Juan. Porto Rico, March g.
| The harbor Of Havana shelters, Tor
| the present, in the shape OF a mass OF
rust laden iron, covered with barnacles,
the most mournful and pathetic wreck
that ever occurred In, American history
and perhaps in the history OF the
world. At O'Clock on the evening Of
! February 10, 1898, that first class bat
tleship, the Maine, without an instant's
| time for preparation or attempt to es-
! cape on the part OF its officers or men,
by some still unknown cause, was
crushed and rent below the water line
like an egg shell. and with IT, hum
dreds Of brave officers and men sank
to the bottom Of the harbor. A flame OF
Indignation swept the United States
because it was believed the disaster
was due to the treachery Of Spain. and
President Mckinley at once took steps
which ultimately led TO the declaration
Of war.
! l had been desirious while at Hav-
ana to get upon the wreck and on our
last day there, with small party OK
friends. was permitted to do so. One
has the feeling in walking about the
deck, and in and out OF the various
com partments Of the battleship. as II
he were stepping upon graves In a
cemetery, and that while on board, 1t
| should be with uncovered head. 1t Is
needless to refer at length to the his
! tory of that never-to-be~for gotten
event. for the slogan, Remember the
Maine" is too fresh in memory to rem
der it necessary. The wreck Is soon to
be moved far out to sea and sunken
with appropriate ceremonies, in which
| S~rfn (0(V
suggestion has been made that the
decks and upper portion Of the bat
tleship be covered with flowers so that
when it plunges to its grave the flow
ers will still Hoat above e. There Is
no doubt that appropriate memorial
exercises will take place. 1t will be a
treasured recollection. that among the
few who have been privileged to ac-
tually stand upon the wreck since Il
was foated and before its Anal burial.
/ was one. / was also fortunate In OBJ
tanning a memento OF the ship in the
shape Of a small portion Of iron.
Before leaving Havana, with a friend
from Boston, called Upon our minis
ter to Cuba Mr.. Arthur N. Beaupre
An appointment at the legation. which
is situated on a fine boulevard OF the
city, had been made, ard I presented
la letter Of Introduction from Senator
Kenyon. found Mr.. Beaupre to be
very genial and pleasant gentleman. he
has been in the diplomatic service FOL
several years but in the advancement
of some OF our representatives abroad
Mr.. John B. Jackson, formerly minis
, ter to this government, was given q
European appointment and Mr.
Beaupre came to Havana In conversa-
ton as to political conditions here and
conditions of the government, the min
lister did not hesitate TO state that II
was well known the financial condition
Of the country was alarming; that the
disability Of the government might al
any time be put to severe test, but In
any event that 1t would not be for the
best interests Of either country that
, Cuba should be Joined to the United
States. The leading paper OF Havana IL
, its issue the day We left declared tbs
palace Of the president was a prison
, that the president dared not take q
stand for the people. Altogether thu
political skies Of Cuba look stormy
On leaving New York this steamer
went nearly 1900 miles due south u
Havana. Stopping there she has saiIc<
.. nearly 1000 miles due east from Hay'
ana to this port which we reached a
o'clock this morning. We remain ter
hours and then of 70 Kingston, ia
maica.
Life On board n much the sam'
from day TO day. Very little II any sea
sickness has occurred on account 81
the unusual smoothness OF the ocean
A call at Z, bath IN sea water. Dress.
ing ana a walk on deck. prepares ont
for breakfast at 3 O'Clock. A. o'c1ocJ
: those men who desire. go 10 the gym
nasium on the upper deck and TIN
: ladies at later hour. There eIectr1'
> motors give motion to various ma.
chimes designed to exercise dineren
muscles OF the body. Gre cAn i,avs .