The sun. [volume], July 25, 1898, Page 2, Image 2

About The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916

Image provided by: The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundation

                
HflHll1IPPRM(HH8niK
iff .. 2 HE SUN MONDAY, JULY 25, ',1898 ...... y,; ' '' , flf
1 1 TONS OF COAL ON HIS MIND.
wt k tbovblks of coftnvr, yak nonnm at
Hi; ST. THOMAS.
R WE Ctrenmstanees That Ied Him to nay Coal
t'l Bfc for the Navy by tlis Thousand Tons
K mh xilt unitiui states Won't l'nj For It, and
M Hr. the Danish Government Ilea Tied It Up-
W Ki 8r' 7notAB' ? w- I- Jul' 10 Among tlio
7? Bf several dovolopfhonts of the war which will
it?' contribute to the International stock of prece-
tA dents tho -coal affair at thin port Ih absolutely
Bfe are of a ploco. Tho story In an Interesting
K'ti one and It can even bs acoused of pointing a
K' moral. Certainly It Illustrates to what an -
R; trorao degree of cntanglemont and error tho
W best Intentions may load It pormltted to run
U loose. And It Is likely also to load to the oon-
olualon that a well-moaning, trustful ex-cler-
E , gyman Ih not nooossarllr the best kind of a
W- nan to ropresont the United States at an Im-
m portant port In the war region.
p Mahlon Van Home, the American Consul
Mi' here, la n colored man from Providence.
. ft It. I. Ilo Is possibly 50 years old. Oeca-
j jti stonally ho lias taken the place of the
'I K pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church
', I,.,, hew on a Sunday morning and always
C &- with oredlt to hlmsolf. Thero Is a certain re-
n, flnemont of manner about him that contlnu-
, ' Vv ally suggest "ways of pleasantness and path
of peace." Of his uprightness there can be no
, i - doubt. To Investigate the matter with the Idoa
of fastening nny fraud or Intentional wrong
I upon Mr. Van Tlorno would be a waste of time.
t j1 j At tho samo time, it Is certain that he did,
Y earnestly and honestly, two or threo things
; 4 Which a mom sophisticated man might havo
ft - avoided, for tho very roason that they might
:fi i , bring suspicion upon htm.
sf Tho facta are already known In nearly every
i U. i detail. Consul Van Home In his worry and
I i anxiety to have tho matter cleared up, was ln-
K duccd to give all the Information concerning It
tf ft In his possession. On April 1 he recoived tho
J following cablo dospatch signed "Day" and
, addressed "American Consul, St. Thomas:"
f 'Turchase large hulk or ship; fill with best
coal Immediately; issue consular papers; ship
crew ; hoist American flog on ship ; coal for navy ;
I - urgent answer."
j The Consul received thatdespatch lata in the
aftornoon. It should be remembered that this
i f, was before the war began. The schooner Ida,
I C. Southard, from Philadelphia, had arrived
fK j With a cargo of coal a few days before. She was
' b the only ship or hulk of any kind in tho harbor
' at tho time whleh could bo obtained at any
'! '!. price. She had brought 1.260 tons of coal
?J- which had boon put on tho coal wharf and 280
l I tons lisd already been Bold. The Consul nr-
,1 ( ranged to buy the remaining 1.000 tons, which
h j. he did at $8.50 a ton, and he chartered the
? ' schooner until further notice at tho rato of
F $100 a day. Ho had all the necessary papers
r made and slgnod and sealed, the coal was put
, I baok Into tho schooner's hold, and she found a
f' comfortable anchorago at tho cast end of the
., p harbor, where she Is still lying to-day. Consul
' Van Homo cabled to Secretary Day that tho
, ' r vessel had beon chartored and loaded and was
i, s ready for orders nt any time.
'' i In tho course of threo weeks tho dealors who
, j handled the coal for the schooner notified Mr.
$ : Van Homo that they had a cargo of 4.000 tons
f ! comlntr. Thoy said they would have to charge
f f him 89.25 for it. The Consul promptly cabled
, i to Seoretary Day. "Four thousand tons com-
J. I; Ing. can close $9.25." This message was sent
'1 on April 22. and at 8 o'clock In the morning on
r April 24 he aoeeived tho roply. " Buy full cargo.
f 4 4.000 tons." It was dated "Washington, April
"i t 22," and had evidently been dolayed In trans-
' mission like bo many other messages sent over
-j! t the West Indian lines. whlcj.have been sadly
jt ,, congested ever since tho war began. By this
time tho option of twenty-four hours which tho
,1 i coal doalers had given him had expired, and
'1 then he hurried to take tho cargo ho was in
iJL t formod that 2,500 tons had been engaged by
I ether people, and that tho condition of the local
? So eoal market also compellod on advance In price.
I 1 It was ngreod on tho spot, however, that he
f Kt should havo the remaining 1,500 tons.
f, W- Hero, perhaps, tho Consul made his first
jjf blunder. Instead of taking the 1.500 tons,
I w eabllng the facts to Washington and awaiting
K further Instructions, which mutt have reached
1 F K htm In threo or four days at the most, he nego-
v 5? tlated with other dealers for a cargo of 2.500
l m- tons to complete the total quantity of 4,000
I . tons which he had been Instructed to buy. His
- K- reasons for doing this were not very solid. In
m tho first place, he probably did not care
1 ffi to confess fatluro to his department
I IE'' if ho could easily avoid it. In the eec-
; W on P,ace, letters from tho New York branch
Ik of tho second ooncern with whleh he was nego-I-
$ fsting wero shown to him in wlilch Commo
; mp; dore Bradford, chief of the Bureau of Supplies
- K- of the Navy Department, was Quoted as saying
I H that coal was urgently needed at St. Thomas.
W No other reasons for the Consul's decision nro
t W' apparent; the decision lingers In tho form of a
II K- ontract. He agreed to take a cargo of 2.500
F jR' tons from thin second firm, and In order that it
I or should not get away from htm like the first he
ffi had the agents mako a contract for its delivery.
K W This contract bears the dato of April 28.
P, On the samo day the Vlttorla. with 3,740 tons
t K of coal on board, arrived. This was the cargo
I it about which the previous negotiations were
I M, carried on, end 1,500 tons of tho ooal was un-
9 loaded on to a special part of the wharf, and an
M agreement was reached for tho payment of a
if jE' fixed rent for the storage and care of the ooal
K and any othor that the Consul might want to
h m Put thore. The second conaern Immediately
i W ordered 2.500 tons of coal whioh started from
ju K rhlladelphla on May 4. On the following day
w K, tlie first concern Informed the Consul that the
I. K peoplo who had agreed to take the 2.500 tons
K fe; (actually 2,270) did not havu a boat on whioh
- r to ship It to its destination, and could
I not get one just at that time, and that
i, ft thoy were therefore In a position to sell
R him the coal if he still desired to boy. Mr. Van
Borne had previously heard that this coal was
1ft m engaged to be sent to Ban Juan, Porto Rico in
1 other words, to the enemy, a transaction of the
W oUss wlilch the State Department in its olrou-
g, j"( lars had warned all Amorican Consuls to prevent
K, fa, wherever it vas possible. It Is Impossible to
W K determine whether this Porto Rico story was
1 IntendedtolnducetheConsultobuyorwhether
, tt was actually the truth, but It seems that this
'. much is certain: Some bankers in Son Juan did
- I lnatructthelrcorrespondentsheretosendthem
I ooal, and it was on suoh orders that the 2,270
' t tens had been engaged. The coal was not
S ahlpped at the time for tho reason mentioned,
ft. the impossibility of getting a steamer for the
B. purpose
S Mr, Van Home, hearing all these things, ca
lf t bledtoWoshlnetoh:
&.' S "Local Government notified eoal not contra-
1 . band of war meaning tho local Government
ft K. . ,. had notified hlml. Torto Rico Government ne-
g 1 sotlatlng for 2.B00 tons coal. Shall I buy? It
X 1 taken, will have (1.800 tons in storage."
E i: This dospaf ch was sent on May 5. On May 0
V . Consul Van Home cablod:
"8panish warship Isabel Second arrived th
B T morning. Bulled immediately l'orto Illoo.
- W Please answer about coal. To the present pre-
m rented shipping from here to Spanish."
ft ft The despatch of May 6 reached Washington
B- nfb allrlght, butthatof MayOneverpassednavana.
C m Mr. Van Home did not know that it had been
K B stopped until he had mailed a cony of it as
K usual to his department In Washington and
f JT vas notified that it had not arrivod. He under
h jR. stands his mistake now as well as any one. but
S tt at the time he sent the message his confidence
K IlV " t,is c't"(lron ot the v.i.th, telegraph op
I tjf ' orators and Spaniards included, prevented any
tL m such thing as apprehension about the safe de
J K livery of tho message after it had once been
jf , handed Iq and paid for. It may bo that this
' J same confidence of his made him accept the
Br m natural and perfectly justifiable efforts ot the
' jR dealers to sell their coal in a moro friendly
p B spirit thnn another man would have shown.
i m Whether this was the case or not he dealdod
m m to take tho ooal, paying 911.75 a ton for the
I Jr ,2.270 toDB. The cargo of 2.600 tons contracted
f for op April 28 had arrived in the meantime,
a ' and was found to consist of 2,700 tons ex-i
f m tly. Corvera's fleet had not yet reached
K p Martinique. It was expeoted to arrlyo any.
I I where at any moment. All kinds of naval hap-
LI
'TBF- "Vjpln imim ii hi 11 mm m...n.1rin--j1
ptntngs were expected, and the Consul was
glad to get the extra 200 tons. It was said
that the 2,270 tons of coal previously engaged
for Ban Juan wan wanted to provide for Cor
vera's coaling thero, and that consideration
probably Influenced the Consul to buy It, In
spite ot his failure to receive an answer from
Washington to his cablegrams.
While the cargo ot 2,700 tons, contracted for
on April 28, was being unloaded, the consul
settled tho matter of tho 2,270 tons, and tho
drafts were made out and accepted in paymept
and the transaction was closod. Tho drafts
proceeded through the regular banking chan
nels to Washington, where thoy wero accepted
and paid. It was on May 23 that tho Consul
made the drafts for tho 2,700 tons. They wore
for $10,800 and $21,000, making a total of $32,
400. and they were duly presented at Washing
ton and protested, when payment was refused.
The Consul has not yet reoelvod any explana
tion from the State Department for this action,
and his information Is limited to tho cabled
advice that payment had been rotusod be
cause the purohaso was "unauthorized." At
this point still another complication enters.
Tho United States apparently refuse to pay for
the 2,700 tons On the ground that thoy did not
want the ooal. and yot several hundred tons of
the coal has been taken by the Montgomery
and no doubt long ago went up in smok.o. Bo
fore the ooal steamer could be brought alongside
the wharf for unloading It was necessary to
take some ot her cargo out to lighten her, for
the water was just a bit too shallow to float her
as she was beside the wharf. Tho cool so taken
off was put Into lighters. Just at this time tho
Montgomery came into port. Sho wanted coal,
aud naturally wantod It In a hurry. So sho
took It from tho lighters.
Just how the matter can now be adjusted is a
Tory interesting problem. It is doubtful if the
dealors know exactly how muoh coal was taken
by the Montgomery. The Consul doos not
know, anil to establish the exact amount In a
oourt by legal ovidenco would bo dlflloult. But
even If It could bo done It is not certain that an
equal amount of coal returned to the doalers
here would be a legal tender, and It Is no mo ro
certain that they would accept payment for
what was taken and keep tho balanoe. They
olalm that they accepted the order and de
livered the goods In good faith, recognizing the
Consul as tho official representative of the
United States. If he had wanted the cargo in
dividually and not officially, they would have
ordered It only otter he paid them the whole or
a part of tho money.
In tho meantime the credit ot the United
States Government is at a ridiculously low lovel
here. Thore Is now only one bank In St.
Thomas. That Is the Colonial Bank, a branch
of the British Colonial Bank, and It refuses at
present to cash any drafts mado on tho Unlto J
States Qovornment. It handlod the unpaid
coal drafts, taking them without hesitation, and
suffered thereby. It wants to get cloar before
taking any moro. To-day the drafts ot tho pay
master of the auxiliary cruiser Yosomlto wero
refused with embarrassed politeness. It Is possi
ble that this is thoflrst time in history that money
was refused by a bank to a United States Kavy
paymaster for bis official accounts. Tho pay
master took It very pleasantly, and seoured all
the food and supplies ho needed, the individual
merchants accepting tho drafts ho made with
apparent good grace and it is doubtful If any
of them aro worried, although they will bo
obliged to wait until tho drafts aro forwarded
and paid before they can got their money, for
the Colonial Bank will not cash them.
What tho next phase ot tho coal difficulty will
bo Is not yet apparent. Tho coal people and
tho bankers have not yet decided upon any
action nor will they until fuller details ot tho
situation at Washington arrive by mall.
Another feature ot the difficulty is the compli
cation with Denmark, Gov. Hcdemnnu noti
fied Consul Van Home a week ago that It was
a breach of neutrality for the United States to
maintain a coal depot In Danish territory and
that therefore he was obliged to forbid the use
ot the ooal involved, or any part ot It, until the
wnr was over. Tho people here. It should be
said, believe firmly that the Governor's action
was taken with ulterior motives, perhaps even
with the purpose of forcing the United States to
buy the whole Island. Tho people are very much
Interested In the possibilities ot tho situation
and try to find In everything ground for hope
of annexation to tho United States. If the en
tanglement should lead to the United States
taking the Islands, they would be very happy.
Will not Denmark be responsible in somo way
to Spain, thoy ask, for permitting tho United
States to establish a coaling station in hor ter
ritory? And If tho United States cruisers
caught prizes while steaming on this breaoh
of neutrality coal, would that affect tho cap
tures? As the international lawyers here are
purely amateurs the questions are warmly do
nated, but never decided.
ZETTEit rnoai ocv. out r. irE.vnr.
Be Says Some Complimentary Things of
Gen. Shatter and Ills Brave Army.
Wabhikotok, July 24. Adjt.-Gen. Corbin re
ceived a personal letter to-day from Brig.-Gon.
Guy V. Henry, commanding one of the cavalry
brigades of Gen. Shatter's army, in which somo
complimentary things are said of Gen. Shatter,
The letter la dated, "In front of Santiago, July
12." Gqn. Henry says:
"Wo had a pleasant sail down, but having to
row the men ashore, took some time to get off.
We left SIbonoy at 2 P. M. yesterday with the
Eighth Ohio, and came Into camp hero about
threo miles from the front. In compauy with
Gen. Breckinridge rode to the front to Gen.
Wheeler's headquarters, and, a flag of truce
being up, had an opportunity to see the Span
ish lines. Wo are almost on top of them,
tho front of Wheeler being about 800 yards
from thom. The country all the way Is
the roughest I ever saw. You havo to
follow roads or trails and come under
heavy fire, their position commanding every
approach. The work done by these troops
since landing, their heroism and patlenco
under discomforts, heat and rain, calls for the
highest praise; and the work accomplished by
Shatter, his pertinacity and goaheaditlveness
under adverse circumstances and discomforts,
is a revolatlon to me. I doubt it there is an
other officer who would have gotten there as he
did. Our loss was most unfortunate, but from
the character of tho country could not have
been avoided it we had to get there.
"Last night the Eighth Ohio were almost
drowned out, nnd It pours to-day; that's the
climate ; and to get out of It, It would be cheaper
to lose more by fighting and success than by
sickness, which is sure to come by staying.
Wo havo about thirty cases of yellow fever and
many of malaria, but the men aro cheerful.
Gen. Dufflold and Capt. Wilcox have yellow
fever; they say a mild form, gotten from sleep
ing In infected buildings, which aro now to be
bumed. Miss Clara Burton mid Mrs. Addison
Porter rode to tho front yesterday in an army
wagon, over a rough road and mining; thoy
are unselfish women. Too much oredlt cannot
be riven the heroism, pertinacity, pluck,
patience, and endurance of the men who have
borno the brunt ot this work."
COU EGBERT OUT OP BELUSTUE.
The Other Patients Cheer Ilim-IIe Will Be
Fit for Duty In a Week.
Col. Harry 0. Egbert of tho Sixth Cavalry left
Bellerue Hospital yesterday for Fort Thomas,
Ky, The wound which a Mauser bullet had
made just above his heart Is almost entirely
healed and Dr, Blrge says that tho Colonel will
be able to return to Cuba in a week. AH the
patients in the hospital -who were able to movo
cheered Col. Egbert as he left and It took two
policemen to keep the crowd away from tho
gate. Some one decorated Col. Egbort's cab
with American flags and it was received with
oheers all tho way along Twenty-sixth street.
.The twenty-seven soldiers who aro left In
tho hospital are doing well, and, in spite ot their
comfortable quarters, aro all eager to be at the
front again.
Gov. Voorhees Going to WnshJngtou.
Bu Giut, N. J., July 24'. The dress parade ot
the Fourth Regiment this afternoon was wit
nessed by at feast two thousand visitors. Gov.
Voorhees will go to Waabintion to-morrow to
confer with the authorities in relation to the
mobilization of troops at be Girt.
i
BfijtfgimffiiinwMtrtiniftiwty&mwiiyiiwifiiiiiiiitiMiiiiiiiiiinn,i
ONE DEATH ON THE ItELIEF.
TJtOOrBIt JIOJIKIITSOX'I VTOU1TD
rnorwt moiital tbhtbudat.
Uealth Officer Ooty United the Quarantine
on the rioipltnl Ship Yesterday After
noon Rrgulnn and Volunteers Refute
the Charges Against the Seventy-first.
Until further ordors from Burgeon-Goncral
Sternberg, tho hospital ship Rellot will remain
aVenchor oft Clifton. S, I where she has beon
since hor arrival on Saturday afternoon. The
specified flvo days since leaving nn Infected
port were up yesterday aftornoon, and Health
Officer Doty raised theqnnrantlns on the ship
at 5 o'clock. Though there were no new cases
aboard that roused suspicion of yellow fovor.
still tho fact that several caaos had developod
boforo tho Relict sailed, the sufferers being set
ashore at Blboncy, established tho danger, so
that it was a relief to all whon the period of
possible Infection was ovor. There was one
death on board yesterday, that ot.Charles Rob
ertson, private In Company Tot tho Tenth Cav
alry, who was shot through the abdomen. Ills
body was put In a casket, and will be held for
advices from his family or friends. His holding
out for so long Is considered remarkable by the
surgeon.
Lute in tho afternoon Dr. Doty went along
side tho Relief in the Quarantine tug, taking
with htm several guests, among whom was the
wife of Capt Benjamin II. Oilman of the Thir
teenth Infantry. Mrs. Oilman had come over
from Governor's Island, not only to seo her hus
band, but also to seo tho woundod ot the Thir
teenth, and to bring them some delicacies. The
visit from their Cnptnln'swlfo and the Interest
sho took In every Individual case puffed those
privates up with prldo to suoh an extent that
tho nurses feared a gonoral riso ot tem
perature among them. Capt. Oilman
will be taken to the hospital on Gov
ernor's Island. On her return trip the
tug brought back Llout.-Ool. E. R. Kellogg ot
tho Tenth Infantry. Major George H. Torney.
tho surgoon in charge ot the ship, and Lieut.
Alexander L. Dade of the Third Cavalry,
Liout.-Col. Kellogg and Ltout Dade have been
very 111 with dysentery, but are now convales
cent Ltout. Dado's wlfo and mother were at
the Quarantine pier to meet him, and, as
he stepped from the gangplank, he staggored
and almost fell ovor Into his wife's arms, so
great as his exhaustion. Tho officers wore
taken to theBtation in a carriage. Dr. Doty
told the reporters that the quarantine on the
Relief was lifted, and Major Tomey said that
they would bo received aboard, so two rowboat
loads went out.
At tho ship's side a third rowboat was met In
which was Mrs. Loulso H. McClelland of 4 West
Forty-sevonth street, mothor of Donald C. Mc
Clelland of Company E of tho Seventy-first who
has a bullet wound In his knee. Mrs. McClel
land went up the companlonway at an aston
ishing pace and mado a beellno for Major
Bradley.
" Major. I want my boy." she sold.
" You may have him. madam. If you can pick
him out," said tho surgeon henrtlly, and turn
ing to on attendant ho added: "Take this lady
Into tho wards and find hor son for hor."
In threo minutes Mrs. McClelland had horboy.
and tho wounded In the cots nearby lifted their
heads and looked with hungry eyes at the pair.
Young McClelland, who is only 20 years old. Is
not able to sit up yet. but ho will probably not
experlonco any permanent offectsof his wound.
Astonishment showed in overy line of his face
when he lonmed that tho H'orM had been Im
pugning the courage of tho Seventy-first's offi
cers. " I'd llko to know where that comes in." he
exclaimed. " Anybody with eyes who wasn't
behind a treo could eee that our officers were
out In front of the line, right where the bullets
were fulling thickest. I saw Col. Downs nnd
Llcut.-Col. Smith leading tho men on from
first to last, for I saw most of the fight though
I believe I was the first man In tho regiment to
fall. While wo wero In lino awaiting orders a
Mauser bullet clipped mo In tho kneo. Two of
tho fellows cnrrlod me up on a knoll whore I
could 600 the whole performance, and I can
tell you It -was tough to bo up there and not be
In it"
Another man of the Bovonty-flrst on board Is
Lewis W. Carlisle of Company M, who lives in
Wntertown. Ho simply laughed when he was
told of the World's charges, and said they
weren't worthy of a denial.
" I was shot juBt as I was entering the trench
at Ban Juan on the second day of tho fight" ho
said. " At first I didn't know anything was the
matter with me. but presently my left leg col
lapsed nnd over I rolled. Naturally I thought
I'd been shot In tho leg, and I was very much
surprised at not being ablo to find any wound
there, but It didn't take mo long to locate tho
wound In my loft side. Tho bullet had struak
my spine and caused paralysis of the loft leg."
Tributes to the courage nnd soldierly endur
ance of the Seventy-first nro plentiful from tho
wounded regulars on board the Relief. They
arc as Indignant as the volunteers themselves
over thu H'orM's slanderous accusations. Pri
vate William Young, Company A, Eighth In
fantry, was neur tho Boventy-flrst in the fight
at Ban Juan hill.
" When tho ordor came to charge." he said,
"I saw tho Seventy-first's officers out in front
with their swords out und heard them calling
out: "Come on, boys I nemombor your colors 1'
And you can bot they did come on, too."
Private Harry Smith, Company F, Thirteenth
Infantry. Is another regular who noticed the
bearing of tho Soventy-flrst
"Cowards?" ho said yesterday whon agkod
about tho matter. "Who says they are oow
ards? Just before tho Ban Juan fight they
were llnod up ulong a roadway, across a narrow
creek from us. waiting for orders, with tho bul
lets whistling overhead mighty lively, and not
all overhead, either. To stand still under fire
Is a thing that bothers a veteran, but those
boys wore as cool as cucumbers, and you could
see that they wero just licking their lips to get
into the row. Don't anybody talk to me about
those boys being cowards."
Another of this opinion, whioh Is the only
one the reporter encountered on board, was
Corporal John Ratlgan, Company E, Seventh
Infantry, Corporal Ratlgan lost his leg under
peoullar circumstances at Ban Juan. A Mauser
bullet struck the small, rounded top of an im
bedded rock just in front of him, glanced up,
and so shattered the bone of his left leg that
It was necessary to amputate it at the knee.
Ho was sufficiently Interested In tho strange
ness of the calamity to notice that the rock was
scarred where tho bullet struck it. One of
the most unfortunate cases on tho Relief
is that ot Private Charles A. Jauch,
Company E, Second Infantry, who got his in
juries nt Ban Juan like tho great majority of
the men on tho hospital ship. A sholl exploded
at his feet and tho fragments flow olearof him,
but the sandy soil propellod with terrlflo force
filled his eyes and put thom both out The sur
geons tear thut Corporal George J. Roardon,
Company E, Sixteenth Infantry, cannot re
cover, Ho is shot through tho stomach and his
spine is broken. Yesterday ho was delirious
and thero Is little hope tor him, A year ago
Reardon was well known in the army as one of
Its finest athletes and most powerful men.
James Bcaulon, a private of Company K,
Third Cavalry, is anothor very sick man, but
he has an even chance of pulling through on
his nerve and good spirits. He is shot through
tho lungs and at first was regarded as an al
most hopeless case, but ha Is so firmly resolved
to recoer that the surgeons think It likely that
he will succeed. His mother and sister, who
llvoat lOOllvo place, Brooklyn, do not know
that he is here, so ho believes. A lung wound
Is also the trouble with Private Stephen n.
Rollins, Company E. Tenth Infantry, who was
struck by fragments of a shell. He has been
In the service for twenty-eight years and has
served and beon wounded In most ot the Indian
wars during that time.
"But the Spaniards shoot better than the
Indians," he said. "That wbb tho hottest fight
I've over seen. I'm mighty glad I re-enllsted
last fall, for I wouldn't have missed it tor any
thing." He will recover. The percentage ot deaths
on the Relief has been extremely small when
the fact Is considered that only the mors se-
1 i ii -.
rious oases were pot aboard her. This is do
chUflytothe magnificent appotntmont of the
ship and the numorical strength and effi
ciency of the hospital corps, but the X-ray ap
paratus must be credited with muoh ot tho
success in performing operations. In almost
all the cases ot complicated wounds the X-ray
has been usod to locate the bullet or dotormlno
tho nature ot fractures, and usually with a high
degree of success. In all, seventy-flvs X-ray
pictures were taken by Dr. W. M. Gray
and will bo sent to Washington. One of
these is of Private Clarence Rod of Company A,
Tenth Infantry, who performed some In
ternal juggling with a bullet that would havo
caused a magician's eyes to pop out When the
bullet got to rrlvato Rod It was In the region ot
tho right elbow. After ho was through with It
It was located In the left forearm, the bono ot
whioh It broke. The X-ray pioture shows that
Its course was up the right arm, across tho
chest and down the left arm. Almost as singu
lar Is tho caso of Private Taylor. A bullet en
tered his left breast came out at his abdomen,
penetrated the right thigh, and was finally
found by means of the ray In the region of his
knee. The surgeons speak enthusiastically of
the aid rendered by tho X.-ray. In all there
havo been thirteen major operations on the
ship, and many Important trephining cases.
It is impossible to conceive ot a hospital ship
mors completely equipped or better managed
than the Relief. As soon as they steppod
aboard yesterday tho reporters found them
selves surrounded by spotlos whiteness. The
wards, whioh are all above tho deck, are ad
mirably arranged, cool and well ventilated and
purged by the fresh sea air whioh blows
through of the lndcsortbablo and depressing
hospital odor of combined disinfectants.
The cots are arrangod on a two-story
plan, one directly above anothor. In
every ward are big porcelain baths. Electric
lights in movable clusters assist in the exam
ination of wounds. The operating room has
all the newest appliances. Tho nurses, sur
geons and attendants are constantly on hand
quietly lookinc; after the needs of the patients.
One was lmprossod with tho belief that any
ohange from such quarters must bo a chango
for the worse, and the wounded men think so
themselves, for they asked anxiously If they
wouldn't be allowed to stay In the ship for a
time.
Between docks there Is an Ice plant capable
of manufacturing two tons of Ice a day. Tho
Relief has also a cold storage room, a distn
fector, a distilling apparatus, and a carbonator
for charging siphons. Dr. Doty is enthnstastlo
over the Relief, and spont sometime on hor
yesterday. Ho says that the ship Is an honor
to the department to hor commanding officer,
and to every man and woman aboard of her.
It Is probable that sho will dock to-morrow
and send her patients to whatever hospital
Burgeon-Genorol Sternberg shall designate. It
is said that some ot them will bo sent to the
Marino Hospital at Btaplston. A member of
the hospital staff rowed out to the ship yester
day before tho quarantine was raised, but was
not allowed to board. All the wounded are re
ported doing as well as could be expeoted and
are in good spirits. Corporal Reardon and Pri
vate Scanlon are the only ones for whom tho
surgeons fear bad results. On Saturday night
by way of cheering up the patients, a concort
was given In which every well man on board
was a porformer. After discharging her pa
tients tho Relief will take on a supply of coal
and provisions and return to Cuba.
DOING 0 OF TOE SIXTY-NIXTa.
Col. Dnfly aires sin entertainment at
Tampa Martin Crimmlm, TJottler.
Tampi. Fla.. July 23. The removal of tho
voluntoor camp from Tampa to Fernandlna.
wlilch has beon in progress for several days,
will affect the Sixty-ninth Now York to-morrow.
Four regiments havo already been sent
to that plaoe and the Sixty-ninth is number
Ave on the list To-day Is a busy day with the
officers and the men. The camp Is in a turmoil
and arrangements are being completed for the
move. The change from Tampa to Fernandlna
Is not altogether welcome to tho men of tho
Blxty-ninth. While their present camp is dis
agreeable on account of the mud which the
heavy rains have caused, they do not want to
retrograde. They argue that If they are to go
to tho front they want to keep the movement
up in that direction rather than go back 250
miles toward tho starting point If they nro
not to be sent to the front they want to go
back home.
Col. Duffy gave a farewell ontertainment last
night Among his guests were the Colonels,
accompanied by the membors of their staffs, of
tho Soeond Georgia and First Florida regi
ments, the newspaper correspondents, and Col.
M. B. Macfarlane, Collector of Customs at this
port. The entertainment was given In the largo
pavilion tent presented-to tho regiment by tho
Friendly Sons of St Patriok. It was decorated
and Illuminated, and tho entire regiment was In
attendance. The regimental band of the First
FloridaVolunteers.whlch is tho best in the camp,
furnished the music for the occasion. The en
tertainment consisted of musio by tho band
and by individuals, recitations, speeches, jigs
and songs. Tho arrangements were in charge
of Father Daly, the Chaplain, nnd Adjutant
Massarene. After the programme had been
completed the offloers ot tho regiment and the
Invited guests were Invited to Col. DufTy's tent
where the punoh bowl was passed around.
Second Lieut. Mortimer O'Sulllvan ot Com
pany B has resigned his commission, and his
resignation was accepted promptly. Who his
successor will be Is not yet known, but those
spoken of In this connection are Sergeant
Slajor Sullivan and Private Martin Crimmins.
Private Crimmins is now at Gon. Copplnger's
headquarters doing orderly duty. When tho
rough riders left for Santiago on Juno 14 young
Crimmins was ono ot those left behind. Since
that time and until recently he lived with the
four troops of rough riders now in camp here
and did duty in the capacity of a hostler. Ha
did his work well, however, and never mur
mured. His family and friends had lost trace
of him and no one knew whether he was here
or In Cuba, dead or alive. His father, John D.
Crimmins, the well-known New York con
tractor, wrote to Col. Duffy of tho Sixty-ninth
Inquiring as to his whereabouts.
The Colonel immediately sent to the camp of
the rough riders and discovered the lost man.
He was In bad health and had not a penny to
his name. Col. Duffy presented him with a
$20 bill and reported to Gen. Copplnger the
fact that Crimmins was in 111 health, and the
Genoral at once had him brought to his head
quarters and attached to his staff as orderly. His
health is rapidly Improving and In a short time
be will be transferred to the Sixty-ninth Regi
ment Col. Duffy offered him tho placo of Ser-geont-Major,
but ho modestly refused it, say
ing that ho preferred to fight in tho ranks.
The story of young Crimmins leaving the
University of Virginia, whore ho was a medical
studont and Joining the rough riders and his
subsequont serious accident at Ashevllle In
Interesting. Hnd he desired It he could havo
received an appointment as assistant surgeon
in the army, but says that in war bo prefers to
Inflict wounds rather than hoal them.
Lieut. T. Hill Leary of Company H, who, with
Major Ramsay, was tried by court-martial on
the ohargo of conduct unbecoming gentlemen
and officers. Is Indignant that reports should be
In circulation to the effect that he also Is to be
dismissed from the service. Lieut Leary says
that the findings In his case are still being con
sidered In Washington, and that the result of
the trial is known to none other than the mom
bers ot the court and those who will pass on It
In Washington. He believes that the penalty
to be Inflicted on him will be nothing more
than a reprimand.
Surgeons Who Are Going on the Olivette.
Six ot tho twenty acting assistant surgeons
who are to go on the Olivette to-morrow re
ported yesterday to Col. Brown at tho Army
building. Those who reported wero E. F. God
dings ot Charleston, Solomon P, Green of War
rantor N. O.j James P. Kennedy ot Chambers
burg, Pa. j A. n. Simlnton of Birmingham, Ala.,
and Charles II. Fisher and a A. Brown ot Wash
ington, The others are all expected to report
toV' i' PJ ,tno cU?'.aV-l8tnJt surgeons
will, besides, their pay o! $1.60 a day, receive
mileage at ths rats of seven cents a mils. I
sWg?g.TJ.LJ.i.'M"n'''siwiiijiLiJiv;11 '! ism
HOBSON'S PLANS APPHOYED.
v
nn irar, vnhertaku this tabs or
BAVISO TUB VRIHTOBAL COLOX.
lie Proposes to rinoe Fontoons Along the
Bides of the Vessel to Prevent ner Falling
Over nnd Alr-Tlght lings Inside to Dli
plnee the Water and Aid in Floating Her.
WiBniKOTON, July 24. Naval Constructor
Rlohmond Pearson Hobson will return to San
tiago Immediately to carry out the plans he
presented to tho Navy Department for raising
the Spanish armored orulsor Cristobal Colon,
driven ashore In tho engagement with United
States vessols on July :i. Mr. Hobson came
back to Washington from New York lost
night and to-day ho met tho other mom
bers ot a board appointed by Secretary Long to
consider projocte for saving the Colon. The
bonrd consists of Mr. Charles V. Allen, Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy, President: Com
nytmlor Royal B. Bradford, Chtot ot tho Naval
Bureau ot Equipment and Mr. Hobson, with
Assistant Naval Constructor F. P. Gilmoro as
recorder. Mr. Hobson explained his plan In
dotatl to the board, and after giving It consid
eration In connection with othor suggestions.
tho project advanced by the hero ot the Morrl
moo was approvod.
In Ids orders from Admiral Sampson discre
tion was gtvon Mr. Hobson to ask for further
ordors from the Booretary ot tho Navy or to
return to tho flagship Now York, In Cuban
waters, to superintend the work of raising tho
Colon. After to-day's meetings of the board
he decldod not to avail himself of the
right granted by the orders from Admiral
Bampson to onjoya rest In tho United States
and a visit to his homo In Alabama, but to
go back to Santiago to supervise tho wrecking
oporatlons on tho Colon and tho other Spanish
warships. Slnco his arrival In this country he
has boon very busy, having worked almost con
tinuously. Ho reached New York on the St
Paul ou Friday morning, went direotly from the
ship to tho Pennsylvania Railroad station in
Jersoy City, reached Washington that after
noon, reported to tho Seoretary of tho
Navy within half an hour after his ar
rival hero, held conferences with Secre
tary Long and President McKlnley, took a
train for Now York that night spent mostot
Saturday in consulting the officers of tho Mor
rltt Wrecking Company, which has the con
tract tor raising tho Spanish ships, got baok to
Washington lost night, and enrly this morning
was in consultation with tho other membors ot
the Allen board. Us will probably return to
Santiago on the St. Paul this week.
Mr. Hobson 's plan for saving the Colon pro
vides for the uso of pontoons, to bo placed
alongside the sunken vessol. Thcso pontoons
will be connected by hogging chains running
under the Colon, by means of which the hulk
Will bo prevented from falling over on ono side
when hauled off tho reef on which she Is partly
resting. Inflated watertight and airtight bags
will be placod undor the ship and the pontoons
to givo buoyancy to the sunken hulk, and
other inflated bags will be put inside
tho vessel to displace the water that fills her
hold aud compartmouts. By these means it is
bellovcd that the vessel will bo made suffi
ciently buoynnt to float off tho reef. Then the
sea pipes which tho Spaniards cut to let the
water in will be stoppod and the water pumped
from the interior. The plan is entirely Mr.
Hobson's, and It mot with the hearty approval
ot his colleagues on the board appointed by
Secretory Long.
During his flying visit to New York Mr. Hob
son arranged with tho Morrltt Company to
furnish mora facilities tor expediting tho work
on tho Colon. Tho company promised to send
all needed material and wrockina apparatus to
Santiago at onco.
Mr. Hobson spent a quiet day here after the
mooting nt the Navy Department. He is bear
ing his honors modoatly. He has said to his
friends that tho hearty receptions ho has re
ceived everywhere havo embarrassed him
somewhat but he thinks It would bo priggish
to avoid tho expressions of good will and con
gratulations which ovorybody appears to take
pleasure In making.
Mr, Hobson loft Washington for New York
to-nteht
ATHLETIC yilOh'KSSUn EXZISTS.
Duncan Campbell I-oo of Cornell Private In
the S03il.
To the already long list of athletes who have
volunteered anothor is added by tha enlist
ment of Prof. Duncan Campbell Lee of tho chair
of oratory in Cornell University, private in tlie
203d Now York, Prof. Leo has nover been
known as an athleto in this city, as he nover en
tered any of the big moots hore, but a f ow yearn
ago ho was known throughout the middle and
wostern part ot tho State as a brilliant all
around performer. His record was mado as a
studont In Hamilton College, where ho was a
member of tho class of 111, a class which made
Hamilton at that tlmo ono ot tho foremost col
leges in athletics among the smnllor institu
tions ot the East, and which practically won tho
banner of tho State Intercollegiate Association
for her. During the four years of his college
course young Loo won first plaoe at various
Intercollegiate meets in the 100-yard dash, the
220-yard dash, both tho low and tho high hur
dles, the broad jump and the high jump, and
ho also ran on the relay team."
When tho first Hamilton College football
team was organized ho was a leading factor In
its promotion and played half baok on the team.
His prominence In athletics did not prevent
him from graduating high up in his olass, of
which he was President. Prof. Lee went to
Cornoll as assistant professor ot oratory two
years after his graduation, and about threo
years ago becamo full professor. Ho has been
prominent in the organization of the intercol
legiate debates with the University of Pennsyl
vania, and has always been warmly Interested
in Cornell's athletic successes.
XillS BEriCXTH CORPS.
It Is Expeoted That It Soon Will Have Its
Full Strength, 80,000 Men.
jACXBONvn.-LE, Fla.. July 24. Col. Curtis
Guild, Inspeotor-General on Gen. Lee's staff,
reoelvod a telegram lastntght saying that here
after all requisitions from the Seventh Corps
would receive precedence ovor all others. A
general staff officer said to-day that before ten
days waaover this corps would bo placed upon
Its full footing of 80.000 men, the other regi
ments being expected to arrive this week and
next This news groatly pleased the boys in
camp.
Private Thayer of the Second New York
Dies of Fever,
Tnor.July24. Although Charles L. Thayer,
a private In Company D, Second New York
Volunteers, died In tho hospital at Fort Me
Pherson last Tuesday, his parents did not
know It until late last night Just before mid
night they recolvod a despatch from Lleut
Col. Lloyd of the Second Regiment asking
them if they had learned thnt their son had
passed away July 10, nnd tendering the heat t
felt sympathy of the regiment It was the first
tidings tho parents had received of their son's
death, A second despatch from Tampa, whioh
came shortly afterward, said that Private
Thayor had been removed to tho Fort McPher
son Hospital July 14. suffering wjth fover,
Thayer was 22 years old. and a nephow of
Warden Thayer of Dannomora prison.
dov. Black ttequrtti the Removal ot the
Second Regiment from Tampa.
Tnov. July 24.-Adjt.-Gen. Tilllnghast at the
personal requost ot Gov. Black, went to Wash
ington to-night to request Secretary ot War
Alger to transfer the Second Regiment now at
Tampa, to a more salubrious camp. The re
quest will be made because the climate there is
sorely affecting the health of the men. Gen.
Tllllnghastwlll request that the regiment be
dotatlcd with the l'orto Rico expedition, and if
this canuot be done he will Insist that the regi
ment bo transferred to some northern camp.
The many friends of tho regiment in this city
sincerely hope that it may be speedily removed
from the fever infested camp at Tampa, While
but one of the membeisot the regiment has
died from disease, it la admitted that many are
ill and thitHcases are reported daily.
0
iAijmBs ron xna rroumoaD.
Visitors to the Hospitals Brine Good Things
for the Slek Soldier Boys to Eat.
The wounded soldiers at Bt rotor's and the
Long Island College hospitals InBrooklyn were
visited by many people of that Borough yester
day, and there were large donations of cake,
oream and fruit and also a supply of cigars and
olgarettos. In the afternoon sovoral of the sol
diers were taken In carriages through Prospect
Park.
During the afternoon Senator George W.
Brush. Prosidont Joseph W. Kay, Major Thomas
Bell. Mortimer C Earl and Isaao W. Collyor.
representing the Brooklyn War Veterans and
Sons' Association, visited tho hospitals and
Bonntor Brush and President Kay made short
addresses to the wounded soldlors. The com
mltteo then visited the Naval Hospital In Flush
ing avenue, where Major Boll made an address
to tho sailors who had been woundod in the
naval battles off Santiago, He congratulated
them on their work. Senator Brush has col
lected a sum of money for the soldiers and
sailors, and to-day he will purchase Ice oream,
fruit and other delicacies to bs divided among
the three hospitals.
Norman Orme, the rough rider, had a fever
yesterday, hut Dr. Shaw hopes that he will pull
through.
Mrs. E. L. Milhau of 201 Henry street took
several ot tho wounded soldiers out for a drive
through Prospect Park on Saturday afternoon.
The men occupied an open carriage, and asit
passed near the musio stand the leader of the
orchestra recognised the men and the band
rendered tho "Star-Spangled Banner." The
crowd encored tho soldiers.
All but eight of the wounded soldiers at the
Marino Hospital. B. I., are able to be about the
hospital grounds. Tho ono serious oase Is that
of Michael O'Mealy, a private in Company A,
Twcuty-flrst Infantry, who has a bullet In his
hip. It is oauslcg him constant pain. Ths bul
let has not been located, and the X rays may be
employed for that purpose.
Llout William W. Flsous, Second Infantry,
who is 111 with typhoid fever at the Fort Wads
worth hospital, was in a very oritlcal condition
yesterday. His death was momentarily ex
pected. A number ot his relatives were at the
hospital yesterday, inoludlng his father. Wil
liam W. Flsous, ex-Sheriff ot Armstrong ooun
ty. Pa,; his sister. Miss Blanche Flsous. M.D.,
of Philadelphia, and his brother, Calvin 0. Fls
cus. The other patients at the Fort Wadaworth
hospital are recovering.
Tho list of the wounded received at the post
hospital at Fort Hamilton Is as follows:
x FsiM, J. W private. 3d Cav.. shot through
tho back.
McOLunB. Jon, oorporal. Co. G. Oth Inf..
shot In right leg.
, U lance, U., private. Co, A. 2d Int., shot In left
leg.
ItoniNsoN, M.. colored, private, Co. D, 24th
Inf., shot through the back.
, bTZBKs. J. B private, Co. B. 7th Int. shot in
loft arm.
Vkloa8wood. 0. N.. private. Co. K. 33d MIeh.
Inf.. shot in right leg and spine broken.
McUreqoe. H. P.. private. Troop U. 1st Vol.
Cav., shot in lelt shoulder.
Hmitii. G Corporal. Co. A. 7th Inf, shot
through loft leg and ohest
Allbk. A. M.. Corporal. Co. E. 12th Inf.. shot
through right arm and right ankio.
Moone. J. M.. private, .Co. IS. 2d Inf.. shot
through right arm und ankle.
HMiin. nnu private. Oth Inf.. shot In left
kneo.
The men who are suffering from malaria and
typhoid fever aro:
Anoell. w. J., private. Co. G. Oth Hassaohu-
Eatok. H. MoCoudt. private. Co. O. 33d
Michigan.
lturuEnroM, M.. private, Co. B. 2d Inf.
McNamari. Geo bob H.. First bergeant. Co.F.
6th Massachusetts.
Sims. HEiinKBT, private. Co. D. 33d Mlohigan.
BurriNoioN, Fiuhk E., private. Co. E. oth
Massachusetts.
BKArr. R, E.. private, Co. E. 21st Inf.
Kniqut. E. (i.. private, Co, G, Oth Massachu
setts. Babbeb. W private. Co. H. Oth Inf,
Conbovslus. c. M.. private. Co. A. 33d Mlohi
gan. BnTAH. Beot a. private. Co. G. 33d Mlohigan,
Btbnes. A. D.. 7th Inf. band.
Hiion-r. B. .private. Co. 1, 34th Michigan.
Uiebnet. W. Y.. private. Co. B, oth Massa
chusetts. Pettbeb, J., private. Co. K. 6th Massachusetts.
BPAyiSU BAILOR DIBS.
One of the Crew of the Teresa Passes Away
at Norfolk Americans Improving.
Noetolk, Vs.. July 24. The death at the
United States Marino Hospital of Franols Baroo
Is reported. Barco was one of the wounded
Spaniards brought up by the Bolaco on hor
recent trip from Santiago. Ho was of the crew
of the Maria Teresa, and was badly wounded in
the naval battle on July 3. He was struck on
the hip by a shell, and every effort was made to
suve his lite, bat gangrene ensued and death
followed. He will be burled in the Government
cemetery to-morrow with military honors. His
is tho second death at the hospital since the
8olace arrived, tho first to die being JosS Chap
lin. No deaths have occurred among the Amer
icans. All tho Spanish officers nt the hospital
are reported to be recovering from their wounds.
Capt Oontas has requested that tho Spanish
wounded of whatever rank be supplied with
whatever they desire, and said that ho would
pay for it
The United States collier Hannibal sailed to
day. Her destination was not dlsolosed. The
British steamships Mussapeg.ua and Manhan
sett, with cargoes of ooal. dropped down from
Lambert's Point last night and anohored along
side our colliers lying there. Their clearance
has not been reported. The despatch boat
Dolphin Is in the dry dook at the Norfolk Navy
Yard. Work upon her, the oonvorted tug
Apache, and the distilling ship Iris went on
briskly to-day.
It is said that the cruiser Minneapolis will ar
rive shortly at this yard for repairs. She is now
lying off Newport News, where somo repairs
are being made aboard. The auxiliary cruis
ers St Louis and Yosomlto are still at Old Point
to-night, where It Is said they await tho arrival
of tho troops whioh they will transport to Porto
Rico. It was said to-night by an officer of the
Third Illinois Infantry that his regiment, num
bering 3,300 men, would embark upon the Bt
Louie. This plan may of course be changed
but it Is not likely to be.
xo caArxunr nr caup bhacjc
Two Hundred ef the Men Marched to Hemp
stead to Attend Service Yesterday,
Camp Blact. Heufbtiad, N. Y., July 21
More than 2.600 friends and relatives of the
soldlsrs encamped here vUIted them to-day
Fully two hundred camo on bloyoles
The 203d Regiment Is now oomplete. Com
pany H reached hore this afternoon at 3 o'clock
Dennis B. Luoey, former Mayorot Ogdensburg'
marched at the head of tho company, of which
he Is First Lieutenant. Company L of the 201st
Rcgimont has also reaohed here. The only
company now needed to make up the full quote
Is Company B, which la expected to-morrow
One more company Is needed to complete the
202d Regiment and those soldiers are duo to
arrive here on Tuesday,
There are no chaplains at tho camp. This
morning Capt Orchard of Company D 201st
Regiment led 200 men to Hempstead.' where
thoy attended divine service in the Cathollo
Church. A few of the men attended services In
the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches To
those who went to mass In the Rev. Father Mo
Brldnsohurehthe Sisters of Mercy presented
scapulars and prayer books. The Sisters also
gavo them magoxtnes and religious literature.
Capt. Orchard was the guestof Father MoBrido
All of tho men are now in uniform with the
exception of those who arrived to-day. Two
hundred and sevonty pairs of shoes wero dls
tributed among the men to-day. Major Band
who has charge of the drills. . mnoh pleased
over the rapid progress the men are making.
There was no drill to-day, -.
Private Wiseman Pardoned.
AsBtmi PAMt. N. J., July 24.-Counellman L.
Frank Appleby of Asbury Park has receded
word from Congressman Howell of the Third
district of New Jersoy that the Secretory of War
AMDr,e1 T"aPd a WUwnu of Company
A. Third Regiment of New Jersey, now sta-
served s few days over month. ' Uo had
TO EXPLODE MINES TO-DAY. I
rovn bio BAna vrrr.j. no bloitn vr 1 1
AT FORT SCllVXLBIt. '
Oen. Wilson, Chief of Engineers, Will Look
on nnd fitndy the Effect Twelve Contnet
Mines to Bo Destroyed Apparatus Which
Is to Take the rin.ee of n Ship's Bottom,
Wuitxstokb Landino. L. I., July 24. Thore
will be a llvoly tlmontWlllete Tolnt to-morrow.
A number of tho contact and observation
mines nro to be explodod for experimental pur
poses as well as to clear tho harbor. Gon.
Wilson, Chief of Engineers, and his staff are
expected at Wtllets Point on tho Government
steamer Englnoer. Thoy will bo recolvod by
Major John G. D. Knight of The Englneor Bat
talion, tho commander of tho post After
short recoptlon tho visitors will go aboard the
torpedo tugboat David Bushnell and cross to
tho Fort Schuyler side of tho channel. There
Bergeant Edward Carroll will have everything
In readiness and tho firing of the mines will
begin at onoo.
Thoflrst mtnos to bo fired will be oontaot
mines. Afterward observation tnlnos will be
fired from tho firing chamber on shore. For
experimenting with contaot mines Sergeant
Carroll has had fourrafts mado. Eaoh consists
ot two big oil casks lashed to big timbers.
These will bo anchored over the mines solected
to be fired by contact and held In place by 600- Ij
pound anchors, lowored part way and hold to
the mine by a chain through the manoeuvring
ring. Upon these rafts will be placed small
oharges of explosives. These cxploshca on
tho rafts will bo flrod ,by electricity by
Sergeant Carroll statlouod in a boat. The ob
ject in making theso small explosions will be
to sever tho anchors from tho rafts. The anchor S
as it sinks will tilt tho mlno the same as if a Blilp '
wore passing over It nnd tho mine will explode. Jt
Tho apparatus that fires on eleotrlcal contact v.
mine consists of a battery ready to act as soon
as its circuit is closod. Thoro is a vertical steel ' ,
tube Into which passes a spindle insulated from j
thu body ot tho tube. Tho lower part ot the
cylinder Is filled with moroury toaholght that ,
when tho mlno Is tilted to an angle of 70 de
grees the mercury comes In contaot with the
spindle. This doses tho circuit and the explo- :
slon follows. ; j
Erroneous stories published lately In several ,
papers thnt the harbor has been oloarod of
mines at Wtllets Point havo led to tho imperil-
mont of several vessols and may yet cost lives.
Vessels, mostly schooners, have Ignored tho K
buoys marking the safe channel, and beaten in ffi
all directions across tho mines, tearing up and S
twisting the wires connecting the batteries jg
Into knots. The wires are twisted in such a m
bad shape that It would bo an extremely S
dangerous undertaking to romovo tho
mines by any other mothod than by exploding
thom. It will tako nearly a week to explode all ft
the mlnos. It will bo the first time hero ot tho m
explosion of mlnos as heavily charged as thoso S
are. The officers cxpeot to explode twelve ot 8
these mlnos to-morrow, and it is supposed the fc
ohannol will teom with dead fish. m
Tuesday will bo anothor notablo day at the K
the post. Big rifles aro to bo fired In tho pros- -
once ot the Board ot Harbor Defonco. 9?
TRADE TTITU CUBA AND FORTO IUCO. , S
Articles Which American Producers and WAs
Manufacturers Can Famish. VU
Wasiiinoton. July 24. Tho markets which 5
aro likely to be opened in Cuba and Porto Rico 0
to Amorican producers nnd manufacturers aro J
the subjeot of much nttontlon and Inquiry just
now. Largo numbers ot letters reach tho
Treasury Department and Bureau of Statistics
asking for information regarding the class of )
artloles imported into those .Islands and the
countries which have beon supplying these
articles. This Information will be given In ,
elaborate form In the next monthly publication
of the Bureau of Statistics, the " Summary
of Finance and Commerce." and will '
show that Cuba has been, under nor- T
mal conditions, buying annually about . v'
$25,000,000 worth of goods from Spain.? ()
about $4,000,000 worth from Great Britain,-, :,
less than $1,000,000 worth from France, and lesaj. T&
than $1,000,000 worth from Germany, while ffi
from the United Btates her purchases have j)f
ranged from $8,000,000 to $24,000,000 in value. ffl
Thel imports Into Cuba have been, of course, IB
light during tho past year or more, and a fair iff
estimate of ber purchases can only be obtained I3
by examination of the figures ot the year 1800 II85
or earlier years. 1S
Tho Imports Into Cuba and Porto Rico from Jm
Germany in 1802 amounted to 0,020,000 marks. H
the valuo of a, mark being 23 8-10 cents; In $f
1803 thoy dropped to 5,005,000 marks : in 1804 to
3.810.000: in 1805 to 3,330.000 marks: and in 5$
1890 were 4.503,000 marks. The largost Item Hf
in theso imports from Germany was iron and , 'f
manufactures of iron, which in 1800 formed .'
nearly one-third of tho total exports from Ger- Ab
many into Cuba and Porto Rico. jf ,
From France the Importations into Cuba and il
Porto Rico amounted to 5,277.000 francs in i ft
1803. the frano being valued at 10 3-10 cents;
3.747.605 In 1804. 2,700,832 in 1805, and 1.713.- 4
880 in 1800. The largost Item among these Ira- ft
ports into Cuba and Porto Rico from Franco m
was jewolry and fancy articles, which formed ft
nearly one-third of the total, the next largost jf
being textiles of wool. 133,753 francs, and pro- l
pared medicines. 111.234 francs.
The Imports into Cuba and Porto Rioo from fif
tho United Kingdom were valued at 1.478 - 'll
171 in 1802. 1.321,020 In 1803. 1.121.090 in M
1804. 043.703 In 1805. and 722,550 in l&m jf
The largest of these Imports from the United '
Kingdom In 1800 were cotton goods, 233.073 ; m
linens. 137,031 ; iron, wrought and unwrough t, llf
78.008; machinery. 43.241: hardware, cut- 1
ery. Ao.. 22.030; coal and other fuel. 35,420. '
From Bpnln the imports of tho year into' f I
Cuba in 1800 were 134,401,075 pesetas, the 5
value ot the poseta being, according to the Is
Mint Bureau. 10 3-10 cents. The Imports from ' 1
Spain in tho year 1800 were larger tTwn those ,
In any preceding year in the decado. Tlio W
largest Items of the 1800 Imports Into Cuba S
from Brain were flour. 207326.882 ! pesetas 1
dklV'llv?iqsr.i?iS'ri'-?4,)'70i) Pesetasifeai I
J&i:1in'i3qA??9etMS "Warns. 6,801.. Jf
4n? nirVuno-Pi?' DMMped food. 4 742 . $
xWl; oil, 3,310.218: manufactures of flnr I.
and hemp. 3.70d,087: soap. 3.170 840- In
SSS-H .Mi?' 005 22 ; maWactures 0 t
wood, Zri7,H40; smoking oarer lHftfi'rtl I
beans. 1.878.01GJ rice. 1.4.8f;Crco?n432.: ,'J
Sffti?A r 7i5.Zu . J!ou.p. Pes. i ,433,000: V "
sarrrpn. 1.171.JUU; pAcking puper. 1.420.235t J1:
woollen blankets. l.bOO.rt&l; no other article. sfff
passing the 1.000.0ub pesetas llTe. rTf
The exports from Spain to Porto Rico IM
5?f,ound m 18W to 37.tfuO.tlOO pesetas u StL
JSLW.hfS" "J"11""1 any othor preeedli 3 ' T
year in the decade. The argent Items wore cot. ill
1.3MU,740: sahdals, 3.001.3HO : rleo 2 U.V til 1 'S
i&ntertfi1.' i-55polHer"1toBi 1
reacmng l.UUO.OOO pesetas In valuo. !s
tf&0j0T?t!,e United States Into Cuba in I
007 Sir-7 'fillhS'.'SSV'SMi "1 itfli5.$m.- T) I
ou,oui; In IBU4, $20,125,321. And in 1MH I
When they reached tho rnxfinuni24 157 tS I
fa1-?? &S" 1 mV2. "i0A "it! ft' jMOi I
i.'.JJ4,WH. Tho recprocltytrcntv with Hii.iin 'a!
effect &"nte! V&iT."T ,oSkX wonVlnto"
lua !& f "foil ?h "."I1. cot'nuod in forco until I
veats nit-. itiH.f i&!'2 business of tho JUca I
thJt VrSilti1 uf " A1KlW wnB transacted under
mat treaty, with the exception of Julv nnil fit
August of the fiscal year 18U2. Y Ud 'ij
ri0A1?n,futMWo "hows the total exports .Jm
ten ears" Btatos ,0 Cutm Uuri,'"; Mi Past ' jg
JSSS $io,o5s,r,(m lsua si 17 mm H
JlfJJ Xl.flOl 311 181M , zo'iss'mi M
J8.1? ia.oMir. inns." wwSiii
?5" 12.324.884 IHHB. . "Tso'SSo
HM..0.t0ilJlnc 'Able hows tho leading ar- I
&?"? l.02,lil7iViro.,. . las. ,,n (A
fhnery 2,7iu,060 ctrlcfnhrht aii rti B
w. Kcfe"1!: JE-5SS I
Sere ixiSjIitl
dSS ta&iui th? 8am- character as' the ex- 4
BBaBattaMMBTItiaatlTltllllflMaillir f "- Ll J V" ..aJaHatt