The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-13

of every house and the city will be un-
tenable. And 1t is I who will be blamed,
although | cannot stop the ship from
coming
The staff were worried and made n
score of suggestions. but when one pro-
posed a plan another showed how i'm
possible it was of execution.
Their is only one way said Gov
Gen. BlanCo. L have thought of all
these other things. must be ready
when the Captain sends such a note
ashore to write him an answer saying
that | have mine beneath the ship.
and at the flash Of his first gun (Which
will be a declaration of war; the key
will be pressed that will, beyond ques-
ton, sink his ship; that his request
is refused.
He can have no opportunity of
knowing whether whai say is true az
not. He will have no chance to investi-
gate. He will not dare fire a gun
because he knows II would be open war
and | would have the right to destroy
the Maine before the smoke had dr.fted
across the harbor.
"'1f he does not try 70 bully MS ;hc
Maine Will come and go in safety and
ourselves will ever know that It had
been there. But If he does dictate t.
us we will have the only possible means
of checkmating him. He cannot land
an armed force 10 back his demands W.
are too strong for him. Nor, If he
fires. can We reply with the guns from
the fortress. because we would shoot
into the city
- n ~,
of the Governor-Generars plan. 1t was
absolutely safe if nothing unpleasant
should happen and completely effective
f anything did, and SO the details were
carried out.
Il was sent on many confidential err
rands. but only the most faithful and
| trusted were let into the secret. An
old boiler Of donkey engine was
used. 1t was prepared in the fortress
| and taken out on lighter at night
ostensihly To he placed outside the har-
hor's mouth. but was Intentionally
tipped overheard near the moorine
picked out for the ship. They knew
the exact place when they got certain
| lights in range. | was not on the
| lighter, but l knew all about L that
same night.
And the wires We're taken TO a point
| on the city side of the harhor To- a
/ house from a window of which you
! could see a signal from the palace
That was done so that II the wires were
picked up accidentally they would not
cad TO ans Government building.
1T was 4 wise preCaution, but it was
a mistake, as We all knew afterward
The wires were in a cable. l saw i
myself because my brother-in-law
lived in the house That was another
mistake, because he turned our to b,
IN league with the rebels.
The box sat on a table near "A win,
dow that looked on the water. NJ
. brother n-law was not wicked, bur
only weak. H. believed what IN,
schemers told him. He is dead, too.
1T was splendid pan, thar Of tn,
Governor-GenoraL You yourself vii
admit that, sir. You know my people
You understand that our honor protect
ed the ship. II the Captain should in
suit US by Debating I, us the Cover
nor-General could silence him. If tn
Captain persisted and carried out hi
threat he must make an instant de
cislon between surrender.ng to a natin!
against which he himself had begun
hos,lities or accepting the fate tina
war sanctions at any time after it !.
declared, our honor was secure il
either event. But the rebels-they dit
not understand the word,
Then ihe Maine came, | never shall
forget how brave she looked with YOU
flag standing out stiffly in the northeas
trade winds and the sun cleaning oil
her steel and brass as she steamet
slowly into the harbor and picked NJ
the mo.oring which was reserved for her
And tae s.eeping mine was down in tn
/ mud Dciow her.
capt SigSbec was accorded ever,
formally and courtesy. He and his Of
ficers came and went freely every day