Vernon County censor. [volume], February 23, 1898, Image 1

About Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955

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Official County Paper.
ADVERTISING RATES.
t ~~Tju*r 1 in-: <• LI K*t|)9sl TSt
I*.k 11.00 fi.son.aoii. 00L.00 noTS
1 week* ISO 2.25 3.75 5.75, 5.00 13.05
(week. 2.001 3.00 5.00 7.50)10.00 15.05
1 month 2.50} 3.75| 6.35 9.25 12.00 19.05
I month* 3.00| 4.50 9.00 11.75 17.05 95 09
3month* 4.00) 6.2511.2514.00 23 00 55 5)
9 month* 6.00, 8.00 15.0u420.0w39.00 4* 1
lr— ■ * |10.00|13.00 18.00 30.00)45.00 50.01
Bnalnu* cards, not exceeding St* Una* 55.45
advertisement* at legal rate*. Advert!**,
ments inserted with no (peolflad tlir s aOl be
published nnt.ll ordered out, and obarfed fee ae
oordlngly. All bill* parable q utterly.
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY.
County Officers.
County Judge O. W. OhAvss
Sheriff J. W. White
Sounty Clerk Wm. Brandon
ounty Treasurer A. T. Fobtdn
Register of Deeds Wm. Hutchison
Clerk of the Court H. 0. Goslino
Dlstrlot Attorney John S. Labson
County Superintendent Howabd Mili.eb
Surveyor W. H. Knowkr
Coroner O P. AIKEN
Chairman Board of Supervisor* Ai.ex Hell
Poor Commissioner E. Tilton
Superintendent Insane Asylum. ..F. Wilkins
CITY OFFICERS.
JjW*.../ Aug. Smith
City Clerk H. K. P-icKard
Treasurer John 8. McKltirlck
Assessor Jos. Omiin son
Police Justice J. Henry Bennett
Justices t B- 8 - MoMlthae:
Marshal John C. Johnson
Snna(.>,ua f A. I. Kus sell
SOCIETY DIRECTORY.
I A BELLE LODGE A. F. A A. M. NO. 84.
J Meets the First and Third Wednesdays of
each month. Hall in Williams' block.
Y7TBOQTJA LODGE, 1. O- O F.—MEETS I5V
> ery Saturday night In Williams’ block.
YTIBOQTU ENCAMPMENT. I. 0.0. F., NO.
v 40. Meets every Monday evening.
NOIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN
—First and third Tuesdays of each month.
ORDER OF CHOSEN FRIENDS.—MEETS
second and fourth Saturdays of each mth.
American legion of iionor.-meets
second and fourth Tuesdays of eaoh m th.
Alex, lowrie post, o. a. r—meets
first Monday evening of each month. In
W. B. C. hall.
K f,uina lodge, daughters of he
bekah. No. v*s, meets first and tliird Mou
c’ay of each mouth iu I. O. O. K. hall.
Modern woodmen ok America, no.
1901, meets Friday night of each week.
Yiboqua chapter, o. e. s., meets
second Tuesday of each mouth in Masoulo
ball.
Y/TROQUA CHAPTER. R. A. M., MEETS
V every second and fourth Wednesday of
each month-
YX r OMAN’S RELIEF CORPS.-MEETS OH
99 alternate n ■ rn ions.
\\T c. T. U.—MEETS ALTERNATE TUES
-99. days at 3p. m.
10. O. T. LODGE. MEETS ON EVERY
• Wednesday evening. In Alliance hall.
rpHE VIROQUA COUNCIL, NO LJ, A. P. A ,
A meets at Alliance nail every Tuesday night
7:30 o’ol ck
I/IROQUA K O. T. M.—MEETS ON EVERY
9 Monday evening iu Alliance hall, at 7:30.
CHURCH DIKKCTORY.
fjffETHODIST EPISCOPAL.-SERVICES AT
[l9l 10:80 a. m. and 7:30 p m. each Sabbath.
Sunday school at 12 m. Prayer meetings on
Thursday evenings.
/CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-SERVIOE3
V at 10:80 a. m. and 7:30 p. m. each Sabbath.
Sunday sobool at 12 m.
Church of christ.-preaching ev
ery Sunday at 10:ao a. m. and In the even*
tng. Sunday school at 9 :80 am.
Norwegian Lutheran chuhcbl-
Serylces every Sunday at 8 o'olock.
BTJSIJN'Liftti CARDS.
TT P. PROCTOK, ATTORNEY AND
11, Counselor, Viroqna, Win. Will ptactios
In all Conns of the state. Special ,aUnUyp
given to Collections.
CIL3AUCH A LARSON, ATTORNEYS.
is Special a tenth.n given to collsotlon* Of
■ie In Ferguson Block, second floor, Mata
Street, Vlroqua, Wls.
Jackson Silbauoh. John S. Labson.
WM. A. OOTT, M D , PHYSICIAN AND
Surgeon, Vlroqua, Wls.
Office near residence. 1 bl’k E. Lvsne’s hotel.
P. MIN3HALL, M. D„ PHYSICIAN
J\. sad Surg ,m. A graduate ot Keokuk
Mrdloa). College, one of the best of Its kind m
the United States. All oalls promptly attend
ed, day or night. Latest and most approved
methods ot treatment use 1.
Office In Casson'e Hl'k Viroqua, Wis.
i; E. MORLEY, M. D., PHYSICIAN
A . and Surgeon, Vlroqna, Wls. Office over
Craig ,fe Co's drug store, on west side of hall.
All calls attended promptly day or nigh..
M. SuiIKXSON. CllA3. FI. TROWBRIDGE.
cURENfOS A TROWBRIDCE,
O Physicians andSurgeons, Vlroqua. Wls.
Calls In city or country promptly attended
Office over Craig & i Vs drug store.
JOHN DAWSON A CO.— GEAERAL
tt Insurance ami Beal Estate Agency, Vlroqua.
Office In Williams block, second floor.
\7 ERNON CO. COURT-—REOULAE
9 term! in the first Tuesday of each
month, at’h, court house from 9 to l?n. m.
and 130 to 6p. in. Lb O. MAHONEY
County Judge.
a. J. SCTTLR, M.D. W. M. Tbowbbidob, md.
DRS. SUTTLE & TROWBRIDGE.
Dr. Trowbridge, late resident physician and
lurgeon Cook county hospital, Chicago.
• ALL OALLS ATTENDED PROMPTLY •
Day or night, from offloe.
GEO. E. CHAHBERS,
Crown and Bridge Work, Metal Plates
sad all other bran, hex of dental work done In
the latest and most Improved meaner. Satis
faction guaranteed. O.ffioe In Towuer'a block
VIROQUA, . . WIS.
J. H. Chase,
Office over Chandler's [ Vlroqua*
C. W. Graves. D. O. Mahoney.
CRAVES A MAHONEY*
Attorneys & Counsellors at Law
Practice In all Courts. Money Loaned
on Heal Estate. Collections Promp
tly Attended to.
Office over Bank of Vlroqua*
VIROQUA, WIS.
MEAT MARKET:
HOLBROOK & NIX,
Fresh, Salt# Smoked Meats
S AUSACES. CTO-
We Aim ••• te *.* Please.
St being oleaa l> onr work, fair In oar deal
tags, and by keeping the best stook of meats te
be had.
- * ♦' —*
VIROQUA, WIS.
Unnil k Boarding.
■
MRS. L. C. RICE
Is iow located In her new building, second
floor, aud is prepared to furnish board by day
or week. Lunches e rved : reasonable rates.
Suppers fnrnDhe 1 tor balls and private par
ties. Accommodations for 75 oouplee. Bakery
supplies for sale.
5-lN BULK OR CAN.
Ontario Steel Bridge Works,#
WIS. -J&r H. TIMMERMAN, Proprietor.
——r^i/\UvU_jF r 'Acr'r
Steel bridges, ffioof 7Jrusset, Steel XJubeo for
Sub-Structures, Culverts, Arches, etc., of any diameter or length.
FOR INFORMATION NEEDED.
THE VERNON COUNTY CENSOR.
VOL. XLIII.-NO. 9.
Royal makes the food purr,
wholesome aud delicious.
Bill*
s|j|j
POWDER
Absolutely Pure
ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO.. NEW YORK.
Another Uie Nailed.
“I once,” said the Colonel, solemnly,
‘‘l once, and only once, had all thirteen
trumps dealt me.”
"Er—l suppose you were the dealer?”
suggested the candid friend.
“No, sir!” roared the Colonel; “no,
sir; I was not the dealer!”
“Then may I ask what happened to
the trump which the dealer turned
up?”
And a terrible silence ensued.
Rome wasn’t founded by Romeo; it
was Juliet who was found dead by
Romeo.
W. R. LINDEMANN, H. LINDEMANN,
President. Cashier.
Bank of Viroqua.
[State Bane—Capital sti,ocooo.]
Lindemann & Rusk, Props.
United States bonds. Inland and foreign
exchange, gold, silver and nnourrent money
bonght and *old. Certificate)* of deposit
Issued payable on demand, to draw Interest
If left six months.
Business Honrs, 9 a. m. to 4 p. m,
Collections and banking business promptly
attended to and remlt'anots made
on day of collection.
8. B. ilequey
Dentist,
VIROQUA, - WIA.
Crown and Bridge Work. Ifatal u nil
sther branches of Dental work In Ut* latest
Improved manner. We guarantee work.
Omci in Devlin'■ Block.
F\ I barney,
• 1). i>. s. •
VIROQUA, WIS
DOES FINE DENTAL WORK.
Enc usting. Bridge, Crown and Gold P'nte
Wo k. Special attention given to correcting
Irregularities and preservation of the natural
tect’i. Twenty four years practical experience
aim study. Dental Parlors In Herrick Block.
C. H. MINSHALL,
/ItioTmey-at-LsLVO,
Vlroqua, Wls.
Lss.ii,Collections and Pensions,
PATENTS.
Office In secon 1 story Williams' Block "■St;
IRA S. GRIFFIN. Attorney at Law.
IRA S. GRIFFIN,
LIFE, FIRE, AOllULji AND TORNADO
INHUItANCG.
General Collecting Agency. Loan* Negotiated
- ~ , —vjbcqua, Wis.
N- A-SVISUM,
MERCHANT TAILOR,
FINE CUSTOM WORK A SPECIALTY.
l’erfeo t nt Guaranteed.*
VIROQUA, WISCONSIN.
VIROQUA STEAM
I.AUNDRY>=
Everythin? Hew, Complete
and First-Class.
The proprietors have spared nothing in
work or expense to equip a plant suit
able to the needs of the pnblio. Ev
erything is under the direction of a
manager with 12 years experience.
Individual and Family Laun
dry work Guaranteed.
Remember the Steam Laundry and give
it your patronage. All packages col
lected and delivered. In same block
with Opera House,
\/IF?OC3LJA, WIS.
N. Coe & Son,
—PROPRIETORS OF —
! THE I
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
j NEW HARNESS i
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
|SHOP|
If you want a good double harness
for spring work, now is the time to place
your order. We know we can supply
yonr wants
REPAIRING A SPECIALTY
arui nr
Cruiser Maine Destroyed
in Havana Harbor.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE
Two Hundred and Fifty=eight
American Sailors Dead.
SUSPECT THE SPANIARDS
Belief That the Terrible Affair
Was Not Accidental.
WILD TALK OF WAR.
Many Americans Would Wipe Span
ish Off the Earth.
Powerful United States Naval Vessel
Sent by This Government to Cuban
Waters Lies at the Bottom of the
Bay a Charred aud Torn Hulk—Ca
tastrophe Took Place at IO O'clock
at Night, When All the Sailors Ex
cept Those Detailed for Duty Were
Sleeping—Explanation Which Seems
to Best Fit Circumstances Is That a
Torpedo W’ns Exploded Under the
Ship.
THE United States battleship Maine
lies at the bottom of Havana har
bor, a charred and torn hulk, and a
tomb for over 250 of her crew. She
was blown up about 10 o’clock Tuesday
night by a terrific explosion said to have
been an accident. The explosion occur
red in the bow of the vessel nnd at an
hour when the honest sailors had retired,
while most of the officers had returned
from the gayeties of the city. Whether
the magazine of the ship was fired by ac
cident or treachery, whether bomb or tor
pedo placed beneath the bow sent the
Maine to the bottom of Havana bay and
its blue-jackets to their long home per
haps no man shall ever know. All that
sailors and officers of the fated craft could
say was that there was a crash and a roar
—that men were hurled headlong from
their bunks upon the cabin floors, and that
ont of the darkness, the grinding of burst
ing timbers, the of the water rush-
COMMANDER sigseee.
ing hack to fill the great chasm torn by
the explosion, came the screams of wound
ed men and long red jets of flame.
Ten minutes latrr and the Maine, all
afire from stem to stern, began to settle
in the water. Over the side went the sail
ors, half clad or clad not at all, flinging
themselves into the hay, still dnzed, bruis
ed and bleeding. Out of the red murk and
the horrible uproar could be heard the
loud voices of officers, ordering and di
recting, cool nnd plucky in the face of
death, showing even in that hour of horror
the grand courage and the steady disci
pline that won at New Orleans and Mo
bile—the grandeur of Farragut, the iron
nerve of the Kearsarge’s crew upon the
rock of Kouendor. There were no weak
souls nor cowards there; the officers held
place and power even as at a dress review,
and to their coolness and their courage
is due the fact that tlie panic did not re
sult in even heavier loss of life than the
explosion and the water caused combined.
The cation mourns for those who per
ished with the Mai '. Such a startling
vision of sudden l ath has not for years
been presented to the public mind. The
tragedy appeals to nil American hearts.
For all must feel that the lost stood ready
at an instant call to make of their bodies
a rampart between then country and their
country's foes. There have been few such
disasters in modern times. The catastro
phes to the Royal George, to the Victoria,
and, in Apia harbor, to the Nipsie, the
Vandalia and th§ Trenton are among the
few comparable to it.
A dispatch from Havana said that the
wildest excitement prevailed in the city.
The wharves were crowded with thou
sands of people. There was a rush and
hurry and it is claimed that the Spaniards
bent every energy to the saving of the
doomed Americans. Out from the great
black sides of the Spanish warships, says
the dispatch, flew boat after boat and the
Spanish sailors never pulled faster oars.
O er the hay they skimmed, seizing here
an arm extended from the water in the
last struggle of the drowning man, grasp
ing there a drenched blue-jacket, until the
boats were full of rescued men and no
more living bodies could be found upon the
surface of the water.
Tim shock of the explosion wrecked ev
ery window in Havana. Capt. Gen. Blan
co was among the first to realize what
had happened, aud he spared no exertion
to aid Capt. Sigsbee's men. Admiral
Manterola and Gen. Solano proved wor
thy coadjutors, and the Spanish sailors
and soldiers alike did all that was in their
powc'i. Capt. Sigsbee was not hurt, al
though the “arlier dispatches represented
him as severely wounded. The explosion
took place directly under the quarters of
the common sailors, missing the officers'
cabin by many yards.
The wounded sailors in hospital declar
ed that they Mere utterly at a loss as to
the cause of the explosion—that they were
all asleep when the crash came, and that
all they could do was to pick themselves
np from the floor, grope their way amid
falling timbers, smoke and flame and tr’-e
to the water and the Spanish boats.
Capt. Sigshee says the explosion oc
curred iu the bow of the vessel. He re
ceived a wound in the bead. Orders were
given to the other officers to save them
selves as best they could. The latter,
who were literally thrown Yrom their
blinks in their night clothing, gave the
necessary orders with great self-posses
sion and" bravery. The first theory was
that there had been a preliminary explo
sion in the Santa Barbara aat-gaxine, with
powder or dynamite, below the water. Ad
miral Manterola believes that the first
explosion was of a grenade shell that ~as
hurled over the navy yard. When the ex
plosion occurred Captain Sigsbee was be
low, but he rushed uu ou deck in his shirt
VIROQUA, WISCONSIN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1898.
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-EIGHT AMERICAN SAILORS DEAD.
Terrible Destruction of the Magnificent Battleship Maine Was the Greatest Calamity that Has
sleeves and gave orders. Efforts were at
first made to save the vessel, but when
Captain Sigshee realized the extent of
the damage done and that many casualties
had occurred he bent all his energies to
assuring the safety of his men.
The Secretary of the Navy at Washing
ton received the following telegram from
Capt. Sigshee: “Maine blown up in Ha
vana harbor 9:40 and destroyed. Many
wounded and doubtless more killed 3nd
drowned. Wounded and others ou board
Spanish man-of-war anu tVard fine steam
er. Send lighthouse tenders from Key
West for crew and few pieces of equip
ment still above (water). No one had
other clothes than those upon him.
“Public opinion should be suspended un
til further report. All officers believed to
be saved. Jenkins aud Merritt not yet
accounted for. Many Spanish officers, in
cluding representatives of Gen. Blanco,
now with me and express sympathy.
“SIGSBEE.”
The officers referred to in the above dis
patch are: Lieut. Friend W. Jenkins and
Assistant Engineer Darwin H. Merritt.
From the wording of the dispatch the
Navy Department thinks it is possible
that they were ou shore at the time of
the accident.
CAPT. SIGSBEE.
Career of the Navel Officer ii Com
mand of the 111-I id Battleship.
Captain Charles D. Sigsbee, who com
manded the Maine, is one of the most pop
ular and efficient officers in the American
navy. He was graduated from the naval
academy at Annapolis in IHG3. He was
appointed from New York, his native
State, in 1839, and in October of the rear
of his graduation he was made an ensign
and assigned to the steam sloop Monon
gahehi. He was serving on the Brooklyn
in 18(14 and was iu the battle of Mobile
Bay. He took part in both attacks on
Fort Fisher and the final assault on the
same fort. From 18(15 to 18(17 he vas
with the Asiatic squadron, being in the
meanwhile promoted to master. In 18tl7
he was commissioned a lieutenant, and he
has been steadily advanced through all
the grades in the navy to his present posi
tion. He has served at the naval acad
emy, on the flag ships Severn and Wor
cester at the North Atlantic station, on
the Canandaigua, in the hydrographic of
fice and the coast survey, on the Dale and
the old Kearsarge at the European sta
tion and in other places pertaining to the
Navy Department, and in all he served
well and faithfully.
WE ARE READY TO STRIKE.
Within 24 Hours Our Ships Could
Blockade Every Cuban To.t,
A New York dispatch says: Three Hag
officers of the United States navy are
watching events at Washington, Madrid
and Havana with great interest. They
are Bear Admiral Montgomery Sicard,
commanding the North Atlantic squad
ron; Rear Admiral John A. Howell, com
manding the European squadron, and
Capt. Colby M. Chester, senior officer n:
command of the South Atlantic squadron.
Each of these commanders received
telegraphic ordei to hold his ship in read
iness for active se - e nnd to it fully
coaled and provisioned at all times There
is an American flag floating over frown
ing broadsides of guns wntilu easy strik
ing distance of every port on the northern
and southern coasts of Cuba.
Within twenty-four hours from the dec
laration of hostilities every port in Cuba
nnd Porto Rico could he sealed by a block
ade, while a fleet of our ponderous battle
ships would be thundering away at the
castles which guard Havana harbor.
HOUSE PASSES RESOLUTIONS.
Sympathy Expressed for the Families
of the Dead.
In the National House of Representa
tives Wednesday Mr. Boutelle, chairman
of the Committee on Naval Affairs, offer
ed the following resolution, which was
unanimously adopted:
“Resolved, That the House of Repre
sentatives has learned with great sorrow
of the calamity which has caused the de
struction of the United States battle ship
SPANISH 11ATTLE SHIP VIZCAYA.
Maine and the appalling loss of more than
250 lives nnd the wonudiug of many oth
ers of the g-illant defenders of our f 'g,
and that the H.cse expresses its sympa
thy for the injured aDd its sincere condo
lences with the families of those who have
lost their lives in the service of the na
tion.”
WAR SPIRIT AT WASHINSTON.
Feeling That the Maine Disaster Re
sulted from Spanish Treachery.
Washington was aflame Wednesday
with the war spirit. Everybody eagerly
read the extra newspapers carrying latest,
dispatches from Havana and the strained
efforts of those high in official life to show
the blowing up of the Maine to have been
an accident only added to the impatience
of the general public. Both houses of
Congress assembled at noon under the
most exciting conditions since war times.
"From the advices received from Lee
and from other sources in Havana,” said
Secretary Long, “I am not Inclined to
think it was an act of Spanish hostility.
I have no explanation to make, hut the
fact that Capt. Sigsbee has asked that
pudi; opinion be sus££nded leads us to
believe that those who are in a position
to have the best information do not regard
it ns a hostile acyf/ATbe dispatch from
Consul General Ife e sal’s the cause of the
explosion jg..y; 1. tEs investigated, but it
also says that the Spanish have rendered
all possible assistance. Nothing yet re
ceived indicates that the disaster was the
result of Spanish treachery, and we will
proceed with care until we have further
particulars.”
Public opinion, however, refused to be
suspended, and to say that the capital was
excited over the report of the destruction
of the Maine is hut to give but a meager
and inadequate idea of the real condition
of affairs Wednesday. It was the only
topic of conversation. There were extra
papers on the streets every fifteen min
utes, people wildly shouted their opinions
of the catastrophe, and on all hands were
talk of war and demands for more infor
mation. Treachery was the word on all
lips. No one could he persuaded that the
affair was not of Spanish origin. It was
thought that some Spanish agent secured
access to the vessel and exploded a gren
ade near the ammunition magazine.
If Spanish treachery did not destroy the
magnificent battle ship Maine and mnr-
1 •• ..I - ;,ais. _ H'*U' - " ■ ■ *■-
JL
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE HARBOR OF HAVANA.
der more than 250 American seamen,
Spain must produce the proofs that the
Maine was blown up by some other power
than that of a Spanish torpedo. Wash
ington advices on Thursday stated that
officers of the navy did not believe that
there could have been an accidental ex
plosion on the Maine from spontaneous
combustion or any other cause, when the
battle ship was lying nt anchor without
steam in her boilers, or cot.’ in her for
ward hunkers, and with only p-ojectiles
and such ammunition ns might be explod
ed by concussion in her forward maga
zine. While some officials nt the Navy-
Department talked of accidental explo
sions, there were few of practical expe
rience who did not privately scout such
theories, and said that to a ’wnee them
means to condemn the modern war vessel.
The corps of constructors at the Navy
Department insisted that the explosive
power must have come from the outside
of the vessel, because it is their business
to prevent ac idents of this kind occurring
within the hell, and they claimed that it
is impossible for the vessel to have been
destroyed by an explosion in .' l e of the
magazines. Chief Naval Constructor
Hichborn said that as accidental explo
sion was impossible, leaving the infer
ence that he believed the explosion to
have l>oen due to treacherous hands.
The President and his cabinet tried to
keep down the excitement until full re
ports could be received from Captain
Sigshee. They did not care to Imse their
judgment on dispatches that must be pass
ed upon by the Spanish censors in charge
of the telegraph wires at Havana. They
therefore followed the theory of an acci
dental explosion because it would be very
serious for the administration publicly to
assume that the Maine could have been
destroyed in any other way, nntil they
had the full details of this affair from the
commander of the ship.
It is asserted by naval officers that the
harbor of Havana is full of submarine
torpedoes, which need only an electrical
connection to make an explosion possible.
The theory that the Maine was destroyed
by a torpedo found ready believers. No
body was willing to assert that the Span
ish Government was primarily responsi
ble for touching off a torpedo, but among
the hotheads roaming the streets r f Ha
vana in the state of excited feeling now
existing there are many, it is oelieved,
who would not hesitate to cor..mit such
an outrage.
It is not known the depth of the water
in which the Maine sank, but it is known
that the harbor of Havana is the vilest
on the globe, and that the great mass of
steel, weighing many thousand tons, oas
probably sunk in the mud of that harbor,
where divers e.m neither live nor work.
The Maine at the time of the explosion
was at anchor about 500 yards from the
arsenal and some 200 yards from the
floating dock.
There is no precedent for an accident of
this sort. No ship of war has ever been
mysteriously blown up. Naval experts
are unanimous in the opinion that an ac
cident to the powder magazine could nev
er result in a catastrophe of this sort, and
they say the precautions taken on board
a modern man-of-war make an accidental
explosion in the ammunition a practical
impossibility.
COUNTRY GREATLY EXCITED.
Seems a9 Though Providence Were
Leading Two Countries to War.
The agitation and suppressed excite
ment that prevail throughout the coun
try are shown by the telegrams of inquiry
that have been received at the various
departments and newspaper offices and
by members of Congress as to the- proba
ble cause of the explosion. And it is
clear that, however it may be explained,
this awful calamity must seriously in
crease the tension between the United
Static and Spain by provoking excitement,
suspicion and irritation. The comments
of many public men ns furnished in the
press dispatches cannot be overlooked by
the Spanish. And if the explosion is not
satisfactorily explained it may he expect
ed that similar opinions will be offered
in Congress aud elsewhere in such form
as to give great provocation. The feeling
in Congress has reached a more acute
stage than ever before. The Dupuy de
Lome incident intensified the prejudice
against Spain and developed a hostility
that was never so hitter as to-day in ary
quarter and is particularly pronounced
among those who have l>een preserving
an impartial judgment and a conservative
attitude. The excitement from one inci
dent does not subside before another even
more aggravating occurs. And it seems
as if Providence were leading both coun
tries into war.
Soldiers who would glory in capturing
hospitals and murdering the patients, who
wou'd machete poor pacifieos and women
and children, would not hesitate to set off
torpedoes under a warship loadid with
sleeping sailors and marines whom they
regarded as enemies. It would be perfect
ly iu keeping with the warfare Spain has
waged in Cuba.
WAS A FLOATNG fORT.
Maine One of the Best War Ships in
the American Navy.
The great explosion that rattled the
foundations of the Cuban capital and
struck terror to the heart of every human
being iu Havana at the same time, in a
few seconds obliterated nearly ?.".<XO,OOu
worth of public property and rendered use
less the great mass of steel that had been
called the hattie ship Maine. She was a
proud, strong ship, and she will go down
into history alongside the Royal George,
the Victoria and other men-of-war which
were ivi[K*d out of existence with their
crews under appalling circumstances.
The Maine was one of the- best ships it
the American navy. In an up and up
fight she would have stood her own
against any boat of her class afloat. She
was not a cruiser. She was built to fight,
nnd she was a floating fort. All the in
genuity of modern naval architecture was
brought to bear upon her construction.
For six years the labor of men was put
into her. Her keel was laid in the Brook
lyn navy yard in October, 1888, She was
launched on N v. 19. 1800. The construc
tion of the Maine was authorized by an
act of Cong .-ess passed Aug. 3. 1880. The
art provided that the new boat should
cost $2,500,000, and over that sum was
expend*d upon her. In size the Maine
was goodly shin. Her length over ail
was 324 'eet; at load water line, 318 feet;
her beam. 57 feet; he. draught, 2114 feet;
her displacement, (5,648 tons. She was
designed for a flag ship, hut the great
changes in modern methods of naval con
struction were the cause of her being fin
ished up as a fighter.
Something of her formidable power may
be imagined when it is said that she could
hurl i broadside of 1.322 pounds. This
did not include the fire from her small
arms. From her two turrets and forward
guns she could hurl a fire of 1,224 pounds.
The Maine was a twin screw, armored
turret ship built in the belted style. She
had a belt of armor to protect the vital
parts of the fabric after the vulnerable
psrts bad been beaten in with shot. This
belt was s foot thick, taperipg to seven
inches o* a point below the water line.
The engines and boilers were protected by
a curved deck of hardened steel. The
barbette armor was a foot in thickness,
and the armor plates about the turrets
were eight inches thick. In armament the
Maine was one of the most destructive
vessels in any navy of the world.
NOTABLE NAVAL DISASTERS.
History of American Navy Records
None So Destructive to Life.
In the history of the American navy
no disaster is recorded in which the loss
of life was so great as that attending the
CONSUL-GENERAL lee.
loss of the Maine. The only recent par
allel is the Samoan disaster in March,
1889, when four officers aud forty-six
men of the Pacific coast squadron lost
their lives in a hurricane which swept the
harbor of Ap ! a and surrounding waters.
In this hurricane the United States men
of-war Trenton, Vandalia and Nipsie, and
the German steamers Adler and Eher
were wrecked. Ninety-six of the crews
on the German vessels were lost. Going
further back, the wreck of the United
States sloop of war Huron off the coast
of North Carolina Nov. 24, 1877, during
a terrible gale, offers the most striking
comparison. In this wreck 100 lives were
lost and the vessel was broken to pieces
on the shore. The only magazine explo
sion of recent years on a United States
war ship took place ou the Missouri while
she w as lying at anchor at Gibraltar. The
explosion caused great damage to the ves
sel, but was fortunately attended with no
loss of life.
Other navies have suffered far more se
verely than that of the United States dur
ing the last quarter of a century. One of
the most terrible disasters was the foun
dering of the Spanish cruiser Reinn Re
genta March 11, 1895. in the Atlantic
ocean near the entra .ee to the Mediter
ranean sea, w hen more than 400 persons
were drowned. Great Britain suffered a
loss equally appalling June 22, 1893, w hen
the battle ship Victoria sunk after col
liding with her sister ship Camperdown
during maneuvers off the coast of Tripoli.
The loss of life was twent.v-two officer**
and 336 of the crew. Three years pre
vious the British torpedo cruiser Serpent
was wrecked in a storm off the northwest
coast of Spain and all hut three of a crew
of 170 officers and men were lost. An
other wreck famous in naval history is
that of the British war ship Doterel,
which was destroyed by an explosion
April 26, 1881, while lying at anchor in
the Straits of Magellan. The explosion
wiped the vessel off the face of the wat
ers, leaving but seven alive out of 150
officers and sailors on hoard. This was
supposed to have been a case of explosion
In the ship’s magazine.
MORKO CASTLE.
Frowning Guardian of Havana's Gate
way and Some of Its Uses.
Morro Castle, the guardian of Ha vana's
gateway, stands upon an imposing height
at the east entrance of the harbor. Ha
vana was founded eighteen years after
Columbus visited the island, and the site
of El Morro was the earliest location
among fortifications. The castle, of solid
masonry and stone parapets, looks secure
against ail oncdtoiers. Less a fortress
than a prison, however, is the Morro Cas
tle of to-day. It has ramifications under
the sea and chambers that have not been
MORRO CASTLE.
explored for a hundred years—at least by
others than Spaniards. The castle has
come to he used principally as a prison
for political offenders, and its moldy,
drainless cells are a horror to Cubans,
who, of course, are the political offenders.
It is the place of execution when political
prisoners are not to be shot publicly.
Flags Half-Masted.
President McKinley has ordered the
flags at all navy yards and on naval ves
sels, at posts, army headquarters, and on
all public buildings, at half-mast.
ESTABLISHED 1555.
COURT OF INQUIRY.
NAVAL BOARD TO SEARCH OUT
THE FACTS.
Several Days May Elapse Before a Ver
dict Is Reached, hut There WllVEe No
Unnecessary Delay—lnvestigation to
Be Rigid.
Four Men to Decide.
Ou Thursday the court of inquiry to in
vestigate the cause of the Maine disaster
was called to meet in Havana by Admiral
Sicard. It is composed of the following
officers: Capt. William T. Simpson, Capt.
French E. Chadwick, Lieutenant Com
mander William P. Potter and lieuten
ant Commander Adolph Marix, judge ad
vocate. The verdict of these four naval
experts, writes a Washington correspond
ent, may mean war with Spain.
Under the direction of Admiral Sicard,
says the correspondent, writing immedi
ately after the calling of the court, the
members will hear evidence J examine
the debris. The splintered and twisted
hulk is expected to tell its own story. The
plates will be bent in or out. If all point
outward, the disaster was caused from
carelessness or probnbly treachery on
board the ship; jf they point inward, then
to Spanish treachery from without. Be
neath the waters of the harbor the divers
will turn their electric searchlights as
they search the deep for the submerged
debris of the once mighty battle ship.
They will report speedily to their su
periors. T -e will l>e no unnecessary de
lay. Public opinion will not stand indefi
nite suspense. The verdict of the court
of inquiry will go to the Secretary of the
Navy and to the President. There will
be a cabinet meeting. There will be no
splitting of hairs, no quibbling over offi
cial etiquette. This matter is executive;
it will not follow precedents; there are
none to follow.
TRIP TO DISASTER.
When and Why the 111-Fated Maine
Went to Havana.
The Maine arrived in Havana and drop
ped anchor in the inner harbor on the
morning of Jan. 23. The trip had been
hasty and the arrival of the boat so soon
had not been expected by the residents of
the Cuban capital, yet no demonstration
was made and no unpleasant occurrences
had to be recorded. It had been the In
tention of President McKinley for a long
time to send a war ship to Havana. Sev
eral weeks were spent in preparation, al
though the details of what was going on
were not known to the public until the
final orders were given.
The Maine started from Dry Tortugas
early in the morning of Jan. 23, and in a
few hours reached her destination. As
the big vessel steamed into the harbor
through the narrow strait over which
Morro Castle stands guard, friendly sa
lutes were fired. The answer was at once
returned by the guns of the forts and the
Spanish flag ship Alphonso XIII., which
was at anchor in the harbor. Almost be
fore anchor could be dropped a small boat
was alongside containing officers of the
Spanish vessel. The visitors were met
by the officer of the deck and at once con
ducted to the captaiu’s cabin. Here in
troductions were made in the most friend
ly manner.
When th Maine entered the harbor she
anchored almost in the center, and quite
close to the Spanish flag ship. The docks
were lined with excited Spaniards and cu
rious Cubans. They did not cause any
trouble at the sight of the vessel so hated
or so much despised, hut it was reported
that some of the ignorant Spaniards went
off in grumbling disgust when they saw
their own boat hoist the enemy’s flag by
way of courtesy. According to orders,
Admiral Sieard established a line of small
boats between Dry Tortugas and Havana
In such a way that signals could be rap
idly transmitted from the Maine to the
fleet. This was done to make certain of
speedy aid to the vessel on guard if it
should happen that the use of the cable
was made impossible. This was only one
of the precautionary measures that were
taken, not onl> to prevent trouble but to
make sure of having a strong defensive
position if unavoidable trouble should
arise.
AS VIEWED BY EDITORS.
Opinion of Leading Metropolitan Pa
pers Upon the Maine Disaster.
Either a great crime has been commit
ted or there has been an amazing piece
of blundering carelessness.—Chicago Rec
ord.
If the Maine and 250 of her men have
been lost through Spanish treachery let
Spain take the consequences.—Cincinnati
Enquirer.
To nttempt to pass judgment on the
Maine disaster with the present informa
tion would be the height of folly.—De
troit News.
The first duty of the country with re
gard to the terrible tragedy is to keep
cool, that we may learn the facts. —Bos-
ton Transcript.
There is nothing in the reports to offset
the fearful suspicion that the Maine was
deliberately destroyed by a Spanish tor
pedo.—Cincinnati Times-Star.
No possible explanation can stifle the
voice of the people calling for intervention
in the interest of Cuba by our Govern
ment. —Chicago Inter Ocean.
The American people should decide
whether playing at war is not too expen
sive an amusement when it entails such
a terrible cost. —Chicago Chronicle.
The people believe the burden of proof
rests upon Spain to demonstrate beyond
cavil that the blowing up of the Maine
was an accident. —Cincinnati Commercial
Tribune.
Many modern battle ships have been
wrecked in a similar way and just as sud
denly without any reasonable ground for
suspicion of an attempt at wholesale mur
der. —Chicago Staats Zeitung.
All this occurred in the harbor of a
“friendly nation.” Now let the Spaniards
prove their friendship hy absolving them
selves from all responsibility for the ca
tastrophe.—St. Louis Rep iblie.
There are scores of possible explana
tions, each of which would seem more rea
sonable than the base insinuations against
the nation whose hospitality our repre
sentatives were enjoying--Philadelphia
Record.
The disaster to one of the finest ships
of our navy and the s:i iifice of so many
brave lives, not to the formal defense of
the country, but to a rtrange and horri
ble fate, casts a gloom over the whole na
tion.—St. Paul Glol>e,
The American people are not so callous
ed by prejudice a* to close their eyes and
ears to the probability that the explosion
was due to cause* with which the Span
ish Government ccuid Lave no remote con
nection. —Detroit Journal.
Sober second thought will 'arry convic
tion to all fair and open minded men that
it is better to await the results of an in
vestigation before jumping to the conclu
sion that Spanish malice is at the bottom
of it.—St. Paul Pioneer Press.
It is not surprising that there should be
many wild rumors afloat, for in the pres
ent strained relations between this coun
try end Spain there will be a natural ten
dency to attribute the explosion to the
Spaniards —if not to the agents of
the Spanish Government. —Indianapolis
News.
As disastrous things as an annihilating
explosion have happened to American bat
tle ships through accident or mismanage
ment, and the terrible incident in the
Havant harbor may be but another of the
long series of misfortunes that have be
fallen our navy in the last few years.—
Detroit Free Press.
The very fac‘ that such an accident, if
accident it was, could happen to an Amer
ican man-of-war, and that it should shat
ter the peace of mind of the public and
do infinite damage to every commercial
enterprise from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific, is in itself sufficient warrant for in
tervention.—Chicago Journal.
Official City Paper.
- STEAM ==---
Book anfl JoD Printing Honse
gaatnc--."
AliL Klims OF
Job Printing
HttMJTLY BXBCVreO
In a Mast Satisfactory Manner.
The public trial of Emile Zola, the great
Freix-h novelist, and M. Perreux, mali
nger of the Aurore newspaper, who have
been prosecuted by the Government ns
the result of a letter which the novelist
caused to be published in the Aurore iu
December last, strongly reflecting upon
the high officials connected with the Drey
fus case, has been Europe's latest sensa
tional event. M. Zola was ••ewesented
by M. Laborie, and M. Ferre.- was de
fended by M. Cleuiencean.
The trial was characterized from the
outset with a determined effort on the
part of the Was Department witnesses to
maintain silence about the Dreyfus trial,
the court sustaining them iu refusals to
answer The first day these
witnesses refused to appear. Later the
principal ones were summoned, Gen. Mer
cier, former minister of war. Major Es
terhazy, whose recent acquittal of the
Dreyfus charges caused Zola's letter, Oas
simir-l’erler, former president of France,
and other officers were summoned by tho
court. Also Madame Dreyfus, wife of
the imprisoned captain, was allowed to
testify. But the court not only 'limited
questions to the witnesses, but protected
the officials and ex-officials when they
refused to tell all they knew of the Drey
•us trial. M. Laborie, Zola’s counsel,
fought persistently against these restric
tions, while the throngs of eople were
allowed to make noisy demonstrations
against Zola in and about the court, the
friends of Zola being in a minority.
The law of France Is not based on our
common law, Oui law assumes that a
man is innocent in til he is proven to he
guilty, and therefore his so-called confes
sions nre ruled out as doubtful evidence.
Under the French law, when a man is
charged with a crime, he is believed to
be guilty until he proves his innocence.
Asa consequence, the person indicted la
bors under immense difficulties. Many
of the witnesses whom Zola summoned on
his behalf refused to t .y, on the pica
of “professional secrecy.” As an inevit
able result, Zola was hampered at every
step.
Zola tried very hard to get at some of
the secrets of the Dreyfus trial, but the
judge steadily ruled that inasmuch as
Zola merely assailed the result of the
secret trial of Count Ferdinand Ester
hazy, he had no right to attempt to drag
in n revision of the proceedings in the
Dreyfus trial. This would be good law
in this country. All these troubles In
France seem to have originated from the
fact that France permits and has permit
ted for ages secret trials; and secret trials
at the present day are considered at war
with justice and fairness. It may he said
that the Anglo-Saxon race abhors secret
trials. In France secret trials have so
long existed, and their verdicts are so re
spected that some people ore surprised at
the popular ferment over the secret trial
of Dreyfus and Ksterlmzy. But France
is gradually becoming a genuine republic,
and French philosophers now hold that
the time has come when France must ex
tirpate the secret trial from her system of
judicial procedure.
RUSH TO THE KLONDIKE.
Railroads Are Responsible for the
Karly Kxoiluaof Argonaut**.
The crowd surging through Seattle to
the northern gold fields is cosmopolitan in
the highest degree, writes n correspon
dent. Every State in the Union is repre
sented, and men are found from Europe,
South Africa and Australia. The crowd
is estimated at from-2,000 to 5,000 per
sons. A conservative figure would fix the
number of actual Klondikers at 2,000.
Th< passenger lists of the steamhsip com
pany show average departures of 700 a
week. Up to the present the largest num
ber to sail in one week from Seattle, ex
clusive of other i*>rts on Puget Sound,
lias been 845 for the last week in Janu
ary.
Transportation facilities are lielng in
creased so that in March the Senttle-
Alaska fleet will number forty-two steam
ers and twenty-four sailing craft, with an
aggregat tonnage of 53,470, and a ca
pacity to carry 12,500 passengers per <rip.
Counting two trips per month, the total
number of passengers would lie 25,000, or
at least 75,000 for the spring rush. Trans
portation men are confident that between
80,000 and 100,00(1 will come before sum
• ind that all will be taken carr if.
FLAGS WITH FOUR STARS.
Decorations of the American Wom
an’s Suffrage Association.
Susan B. Anthony called the thirtieth
annual convention of the National Ameri
can Woman's Suffrage Association to or
der at the Columbia Theater in Washing
ton. The decorations consisted mainly
in the display of two handsome American
flags, each with four stars, emblematic
of the States which have granted tbe right
of suftrage to women. Prior to the gen
era! public session there was a meeting of
the executive committee, which was more
fully attended than on any previous oc
casion.
In Miss Anthony's address she spoke of
the success so far attained in behali of
woman suffrage and u ged a!.' those Identi
fied in the movement to stand together
for still lietter results. The grievances
which the women had against, their com
mon enemy— man—to-day were os great
and as many as the early colonists had
against King George. Following the op
ening address the convention settled down
to routine business, inducing roll calls,
announcements of committees, etc.
RELIEF MOVEMENT CHECKED,
Canada Refuses to Per.uit Our Troops
to Cross Boundary.
The Canadian Government has refused
to permit tbe United States troops to
cross the lioundary line of British Colom
bia, and the efforts of the War Itepart
ment to relieve the suffering miners in
Alaska has in consequence of this refusal
received a temporary check. There has
been considerable interesting correspon
dence ou the subject exchanged between
the Assitaut Secretary of War and the
British ambassador. The War Depart
ment officials have l>een surprised by the
attitude of the Dominion authorities.
They had been led to understand that per
mission for a body of troops sufficient to
form a safe escort for the relief party
would be readily allowed to enter the
British territory.
A bill is pending in Congress to extend
the criminal and civil laws of the Unit
ed States to the Indian territory. It al
lots in severalty the lands of the five civ
ilized trilies. and adjusts pending disputes
between them. The bill abolishes all In
dian courts, and requires the President’s
approval of all acts passed by the Indian
Legislatures.
Virginia contained a fifth of the whole
population of the couutry.