2
partments a number of chiefs of bureaus
were at their desks for several hours,
mainly for the purpose of disposing of the
business which\recently has accumulated
so rapidly. ,
AUTONOMY SCHEMES
The most Interesting topic of the day was
based on the dispatches from Havana, In
dicating a prospective conference between
General Pando anid Generals Garcia and
Gomez and others of tho Insurgent army
for the purpose of submitting to the latter
a formal offer of autonomy. The basis of
autonomy as outlined In the dispatches ap
parently found no credence with the offi
cials of the Spanish legation. They stated
their disbelief that a conference on the
proposed line was probable and added that
they had no Information on the subject.
Minister Polo y Bernabe expressed the
opinion that the report from Havana was
unfounded, as he said the basis upon which
it was proposed to grant autonomy was
absurd.
TWO MORE BODIES <
Maine Victims Taken to Key West for
Burial
The two unidentified bodies from the
Maine brought here last night were burled
today in the city cemetery with simple ser
vices. A division of bluejackets followed
Jhe hearse.
Colonel Fernando Salledo of the Insur
gent army arrived this morning on the
schooner liattie Darling. With a compan
ion, he left the shores of Cuba in an open
boat and after an eight days' tempestuous
passage they landed at Nassau, half dead
from exposure.
Colonel Saliedo Is on sick leave. His com
panion is carrying dispatches from Gen
eral Maximo Gomez to the junta in New
York.
Tomorrow the Indiana is expected from
the Dry Tortugas and that station will
then be left with the Texas and the Mas
sachusetts, which did not sail yesterday, as
was expected. These battleships will take
off more ammunition, and unless their or
ders are unexpectededly changed will leave
in a day or two for Hampton Roads.
The Bacho sailed for the Tortugas to
night to resume her usual work of survey
ing the channels. The Mangrove will sail
tomorrow for the Tortugas and will lay
buoys there. This is merely in line with
the activity already shown In Improving
harbor facilities at the Tortugas.
The Detroit and Montgomery arrived
from the Tortugas today. The former put
more ammunition on board the New York
and lowa and then anchored In the har
bor. The Torpedo boat Porter left for the
Tortugas and the torpedo boat Duporit re
turned here.
The fleet off Key West now consists of
the lowa, New Tork, Nashville, Montgom
ery, Detroit and the torpedo boats Dupont,
Wtnslmv, Foote and Gushing. The Indi
ana will be added tomorrow.
A MAINE BENEFIT
NEW YORK, March 20.—Over 100 people
rose simultaneously tonight in the Metro
politan opera house and joined with the
chorus on the stage in singing the "Star
Spangled Banner," with more enthusiasm
than has been exhibited in the opera house
for many months. It was upon the occa
sion of the performance for the benefit of
tho Maine monument fund.
On the great stage stood the well konwn
opera singer Camlllc d'Arville, and behind
her were massed the combined choruses
of the Broadway theater, the Casino and
the Whitney and Madison Square theaters.
In the background an immense American
flag waved from a tall pole. Each of the
singers carried a small flag and tho mo
ment the patriotic air was started the en
tiro audience arose in their places and
Joined in the melody. At the conclusion
there was tremendous cheering and a great
demonstration.
"My Country" was sung.
The entertainment, aside from the sub
scriptions, netted about $12,C0t). Many of the
best known actors and actresses took part
in the performance, and among the spec
tators was Miss Evangellr.a Cisneros. who
came in for much applause at one lime in
the evening.
GERMAN NEUTRALITY
T.ONDON, March 21.—The Berlin corre
spondent of the Times confirms the state
ment that Gormany has no inclination to
Interfere in the Cuban question. It cites
the Berlin Post's saying that Germany's
complex commercial interests, an well as
her regard for the German residents of the
United States, forbid such an interference.
THE BRITISH FI.EF.Tf
HALIFAX, N. d., March lU—The swift
torpedo boat destroyer Rocket has just
4>een ordered to this station from England.
The announcement of her coming caused
much comment in naval circles.
Tho cruiser Indefatigable is also ex
pected to arrive here soon after coming
from the West Indies, ut least two months
ahead of the date at which the British
North American squadron returns from
Its winter cruise.
COMMERCIAL TREATY
LONDON, March 21.—The Madrid corre
spondent of the Standard says: Senor Polo
y Bernabe, the Spanish minister at Wash
ington, has been authorized to make all
concessions possible in order to obtain the
speedy conclusion of a fair reciprocity
treaty. By America's expressed desiro this
includes the Philippine islands. l!oth
the queen and Spanish cabinets are anx
ious to expedite the negotiations to the
Utmost. i
Senor Polo y Bernabe wires that he has
found the American state department very
favorably disposed on this point, but that
mora reserve than ever Is shown on the
international question pending the settle
ment of the Maine affair.
AN OBJECT OF CHARITY
RUTLAND, Vt., March 2u.-Sonator
Proctor of Vermont has been asked by
Mayor Clement and several citizens of this
city to speak at a public meeting Tuesday
or Wednesday evening on his recent trip
to Cuba. In a private letter to the pastor
Of the Congregational church, received
here today, the senator says: "For heav
en's sake place Cubs first among your ob
jects of charity, at least."
NEW JERSEY MILITIA
NEW YORK, .Match 20.—The command
ing officers of the regiments of the New
Jersey national guard held a meeting at
division headquarters of Gen. J. w. Plume
•t Newark today,
The general condition of the troops was
considered and nil were reported satisfac
tory. It was the sense of the meeting that
as New Jersey has no coast defense be
tween Sandy Hook and Cape May, except
a four gun battery at Seagirt. N. J., in ease
of war she would have to take care of hr«
coasts with her troops the minute hostili
ties were begun between the United Stuns
and Spain. While no official order was
given, every mar was quietly informed to
be In readiness In case- an emergency
should arise..
FORTS IN FLORIDA
PBNBACOLA, Fla., March 20.-Powder,
shot and shell continue to arrive lure In
large quantities for the forts and batteries
defending the harbor. Three of the big
mortars for the new battery on Santa Rosa
Island have also arrived ar.d they will be
mounted as quickly as possible. There Is
great activity at Fort P: kens. In addition
to the six and eight Inch guns, a flfteen
ln<m'gun is being mounted in tm> fort.
Capt. J. W. McMurray, commanding the
two batteries of the fourth artillery at
Fort Barrancas, has been promoted, to be
major of the Fifth artillery. The work of
deepening and widening the new channel
•°n tho bar 18 Progressing steadily and thi
largest merchant steamships now pass
through it without difficulty. It Is expect
ed that twenty-eight feet of water will
soon be obtained.
TROOPS IN' CAMP
GALVESTON, Tex., March 20.—Battery
X, light artillery, with four officers and
sixty-seven men. Capt. Dillonbaek In com
mand, reached Galveston this morningand
went Into camp on the government reser
vation Just west of this city on the gulf
beach. Battery X Is the crack battery 3f
the army and Its full strength Is four offic
ers and seventy-six men. Four-modern 3.2
inch guns and sixty horses. The move from
Fort Sam Houston to Galveston Ts a
change of station. A company of heavy
♦artillery from Jackson barracks at New
'Orleans Is expected tomorrow.
WILL SUPPRESS ALL NEWS
LONDON, March 21.—The Increased se
verity of press censorship, says the Mad
*rid correspondent of the Times, is due to a
storm of contradictory reports raised' by
the detention of the torpedo fleet at the
Canary islands, and for the future it is
Intended to prohibit all telegrams relating
Uto the flotilla or the general naval prepar
ations.
ORDERS KEPT SECRET
BURLINGTON, Vt., March 20.—Orders
which the officers do not make public were
received at Fort Ethan Alren yesterday
from Washington and preparations for
movement were begun. All day yesterday
and today every one has been hustling,
shoeing horses, securing camp equipment
and repairing tents. The rushing of work
through Sunday indicates very urgent or
ders. There are four troops of cavalry
here.
BUCKEYE RECRUITS
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March M.-Eighty re
cruits have been forwarded from the Co
lumbus post up to date for the new artil
lery regiments and as many more are now
at the post under Instructions. A high
Standard for enlistment i* fixed, and fully
four-fifths of those applying are rejected.
NOT EXTERNAL
A Wrecker Captain Repudiates the
Torpedo Theory
r- WASHINGTON, March 20.—A spe- -
r" clal to the Post from Newport News -
r- says: The Merrltt Wrecking com- •
r pany's tug Underwriter arrived in port •
► at midnight last night from Havana, •
r- where she went with the derrick -
►■ Chief, which Is assisting In the work •
►on the Maine. Captain Wiley will -
► again start to Havana, probably to- -
>- morrow night, with the barge Lone -
r Star, which is very much needed by -•
► the wreckers. Captain Wiley believes <
► that the Maine was destroyed through 1
- the agency of an internal explosion. •<
>■ In an interview aboard the Under- ■<
- writer this afternoon Captain Wiley ■>
► said: "You ask me what 1 know about A
■ the disaster. I reply that I know noth-
- Ing, and when you get down to ac- A
- tual facts, I do not believe there Is A
<• anybody who knows just how the un- A
- fortunate affair happened. A.
■ "When I reached Havana I con- 4j
■ versed with Captain Sharp. Merrltt's A.
■ expert in charge of the wreck, but A\
■ could not learn anything about the A
■ result of his personal Investigation. A
■ While at Havana I heard no opinions A
■ as to the cause, and It seemed to me 4
■ as If the affair was a nine days' won- A
■ der blown over. The arrival of the A,
■ Chief will facilitate the work of clear- A
■ ing away the wreck, as she lifts forty A
■ tons. The guns, shells, powder eases ■>
■ and scraps are being placed aboard a
■ lighters. The Lone Star wfll return A
with this material to Norfolk, if she A
- dots not carr>|"it beyond Moro castle A.
■ and dump It into the sea. It is all A
■ worthless. a
■ "Without having had any opportu- A,
■ nity to examine the wreck below the A]
■ water Hue, I would say that the A:
Maine was blown up by an internal a[
■ explosion. It is the most confused A
■ pile of distorted metal Imaginable. A
■ There is one deck above water which A
■ is turned compeletely over by the ex- A
• plosion. The deck is bottom side up, A
- with the deck frame on top. That A
■ looks to me us if the destructive force A
■ camo from within. If a mine did the A
- work and played so much havoc with A
■ tiie upper deck, where must the hot- A
■ torn be? Can she have any? Yet they A
■ say they have found some of the hot- A
■ torn intact. My opinion is that if the A
■ affair had occurred in nn English hor- 4
- bor, say Kingston, Jamaica, there A
• would not be one man in a hundred A,
■ would say 'external cause' after lock- -A
■ Ing at the wreck as it Is today. I A
■ heard that the Spanish divers found A
a piece of the forward turret. I do 4
■ not believe a mine in tho harbor would -4
• have broken the turret, while an In- A!
tcrnal explosion would. I saw a great
many exploded copper powder cases,
but none intact. Before I left it was A)
stated that there were still forty bod- ■♦
les In the wreck." A>
FOOD AND CLOTHING
Sent to Cubans by the People of the
State of Kansas
KANSAS CITY. Mo., March 20 —A relief
fund of K'.fd and twenty-one carloads of
provisions and clothing collected in Mis
souri. Kansas and Oklahoma for the starv
ing Cubans, were forwarded routh frem
here today. These relief measures are be
ing carried out under the management of
the Kansas City Star and agents of the
Star will aid in the distribution at Matan
zas under the direction of United S:ates
Consul Brlc. This relief Is being carried
free on a special train over the Memphis
road to Memphis, thence over the Illinois
Central to New Orleans. The United S:ale.=
government has guarantied the transport
;ation from New Orleans to Matanzas.
The principal articles of food sent are
wheal flour, oatmeal, rice. polatots. rolled
oats, condensed milk and soup extracts.
The contributions of clothing include a
great number of calico dresses for women
and children.
SUNDAY WORK
BETHLEHEM, Pa., March 20.—The
Bethlehem Iron company's ordnance works
were working today for the first Sunday
In tho company's history. The plant !s
running day and night and over 2000 hands
are busy.
WANTS THE NEWS
MADRID, March 20.-U! JVhi ral protests
against the authorities stopping telegrams
to Spanish newspapers, it characterises
such action as "a useless procedure, be
cause the Spanish press is both prudent
and patriotic."
THE MAINE EXPLOSION
LONDON, March 21.—The morning pa
per.-- publish a long statement by Seaman
Newman., recently arrived in England, who
was on board tho Maine at the time of the
disaster In Havana harbor. Newman sol
emnly declares the explosion was external
and on the port side of the ship.
POWDER FROM Norway
NEW YORK, March 20.—The Norwegian
LOS ANGELES' HERALD t MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 21, IJW
steamer Norkin, which arrived this morn
ing from Hamburg, brought twenty-five
tons of smokeless gunpowder for the
United Slates government.
WARSHIPS WANTED
NEW FORK, March 20.—A dispatch to
the World from New Castle-on-Tyne says:
Commander Brownson. the United States
naval commissioner sent to Europe to pro
cure vessels for the American navy, paid a
strictly secret visit to the Elswick ship
yard here.
Under the guidance of Sir Andrew Noble,
the manager of Armstrong, Whiteworth &
Co.'s works, he inspected the Almlrante
Abrouall, the unfinished cruiser which
Brazil has just sold to the United States,
the mate of the Amazonas, which was
placed under the American flag last week.
Commander Brownson made special ar
rangements with the firm to iinish the
Abrouall with all dispatch. Commander
Brownson carefully Inspected also the
cruiser O'Higgins. building for Chile, and
four Japanese and Chinese cruisers, three
afloat and the fourth to be launched next
Tuesday.
He was accompanied by Mr. Cramp, a
shipbuilder from tho United States, but
tho Elswick firm will not allow Mr.
Cramp's staff to work in the naval ship
yard on the Almirante Abrouall.
Commander Urownson returned to Lon
don übout midnight.
JUST TOO LATE
LONDON, March 2a— The Dally News'
Rome correspondent says that Spain has
bought the cruiser Garibaldi from Italy.
The Argentine Republic has bought the
cruiser Vares. The United States wanted
to purchase both of these vessels, but was I
100 late.
ENGLISH COLDNESS
Is Not Caused by Any Lack of Sym
pathy
LONDON, March 20.—The Daily Mall
this warning, in an editorial refuting
Established 1878—Incorporated 1892
ANNOUNCEMENT OF REMOVAL
AND PRELIMINARY SALE
The Coulter Dry Goods Co. announce that they have leased the
entire ground floor of the new Laughlin building, on the west side of
Broadway, between Third and Fourth Streets.
Prior to removal our entire stock of merchandise will be placed on
sale at greatly reduced prices, commencing this (Monday) morning.
Every article in the house except agency goods, where prices are con
trolled by the manufacturer, will share in the reductions.
All the Spring merchandise of every sort is included in the sale.
Many lines of goods are offered at less price than they now can be du
plicated for in Eastern markets, but everything must give way to the
main idea of starting the new store with an entire new stock.
In our first large announcement for some years, it may not be out
of place to mention the fact that, in a mercantile experience running
back for nearly twenty years, this is the first time we have ever
attempted anything like a removal or other special sale.
The movement which we start this morning involves no sensation
of any sort. We are steady-going merchants, and a business like ours
does not thrive by undue excitement. It is our policy to appeal to the
judgment alone.
We are sure our friends will not in any way confound this move
ment withtheordina^^
it is the only word that quite expresses the idea.
We hope to have an ample salesforce that you may be served
promptly and well.
Further announcement concerning the sale will be printed in the
papers of Wednesday.
COULTER DRY GOODS CO.
Corner Spring and Second Streets
"Some of the American accusations of
British coldness," says:
"Amongmany reasons for Great Britain's
comparative non-interest, not the least is
our better knowledge of the Spaniards and
their paper navy, and our conviction that
the Anglo-Saxon will always defeat the
Latin. Indeed, the trend of British thought
is toward surprise that the greatest of re
publics oshuld excite itself unduly about
so poor a foe.
"The Americans should remember that,
while we are full of trust In their capabil
ity to deal wilh Spanish impertinences,
we are fully occupied with greater trouble,
threatened or active, In various parts of
the world. They have our full sympathy
at a time when France, Germany and Rus
sia are backing Spain as fully, and almost
openly, as they are opposing British ef
forts for the freedom of foreign trade
throughout the world.
•'But there is no occasion now to talk
of an offensive and defensive alliance. Tho
disproportion between our mission and
America's make It impossible. There will
be time to propose this way of recementing
the race when America is ready to face
the splendid responsibilities it entails."
Naval Fund Estimates Need Revising.
Relief Work
HAVANA, March 20.—Little work was
done on the wreck of the Maine today by
the divers or contractors. The city has
been tiuiet, after the festivities of last
night, lasting until nearly morning at the
Taeon theater, where a dramatic repre
sentation was given in aid of the fund for
the Spanish navy. There was plenty of
enthusiasm In the crowded theater. Every
patriotic sentiment was cheered to the
echo, but there were no sensational fea
tures. The proceeds are not all in yet, but
it is believed that they will amount to be
tween $30,000 and $40,000 In gold.
Former estimates were too large, Even
** * ,
AT HAVANA
with the enormous prices paid for the
boxes aud seats It was impossible to get
any such receipts as J89.000 or 1100,000, as
was hoped by some.
The Austrian cruiser Donau, which left
for New York last evening, Is not ex
pected to reach her destination for a week
or two, as she is slow, even with auxiliary
sail power.
The Red Cross society of America, hav
ing decided to devote itself henceforth to
hospital, asylum and kindred work. Dr.
Egan prefers not to serve on tho general
committee. The distribution relief com
mittee now consists of Consul General Lee,
Dr. R. Guzman, representing the Cuban
committee, and Mr. J. L. Vanderwater,
secretary of the western railway of Cuba,
representing the Amercan contributors.
General Lee will act as arbitrator in the
event of a difference of opinion between
the two other members.
The food on hand will afford relief to all
the needy in the island for a week or more,
and additional supplies are afloat.
Relief has been sent to 134 central points,
from which 462 towns and villages have
been supplied. Cornmeal Is the principal
ration, ds being good food for the really
hungry, but not likely to tempt beggars or
the unworthy. Besides, there Is no diffi
culty in getting It through the customs
quickly.
Special Commissioner Klopsch has ap
pointed three men to travel constantly
through the Island to verify the count of
the needy, to see that the supplies are
properly received and handled, to prevent
fraud, and generally to assist In the work
of distribution. The latest total reported
to Mr. Klopsch is 205,000 necessitous cases.
If the government will sanction the ar
rangement, a large building in the suburbs
of Guanabacoa, where the Alfonso XIII.
regiment Is now quartered, will be rented
by the relief committee. Several hundred
recorucentrados have Just been set to work
cultivating ten acres of ground surround
ing the building in contributing to their
own support.
The plan is experimental, and if success
ful is capable of extensive development
elsewhere.
The Union Constitutional, in an editorial
tdoay, under the caption, "Basta Ya" (it
is enough), culls attention to the presence
In Havana of "Certain lordly men who are
talking loudly discussing Spanish and
Cuban affairs and criticising the govern
ment. It says: "The action of these
men, tho Yankee correspondents who stir
up strife between nations, might, by the
lies they publish, cause Innocent Ameri
cans to be food for cannon in the event of
war. The Maine disaster has been used
as a text for foolish stories about mines
and about dungoons worse than the in
quisition.
"Under prctenso of relief, the United
State* surrounds Cuba with the vessels of
her fleet, and the jingo Bpirit urges war.
"The United States is settled by aliens,
anarchists and the lower classes, who do
not know the meaning of real charity,
their motto being 'My son, get money.
Honestly If you can, but at any rate get
money.' They seek to Inflict humiliation
upon Spanish honor and charity by their
ostentatious contributions.
"The presence of tho Vlzcaya and the
Almirante Oquendo has helped to keep the
American jingoes within bounds, and
when the fleet of torpedo boats arrives
from Spain and Admiral Manterola raises
his flag here on the great ship Carlos V, all
these menaces, Inside and outside, will dis
appear."
Consul General Lee today visited the
graves of the victims of the Maine disas
ter in Colon cemetery. The ground has
been leveled preparatory to sodding and
ornamentation with shrubs and flowers.
General Lee will Boon erect a fence, enclos
ing all the graves with a gateway. The
question of a suitable monument has not
yet been raised. As a result of the action
of a central committee of the Conservative
party In Havana In urging all that wing to
take part Is tho coming elections, the local
Conservatives in Cienfucgus, composed of
prominent men have resigned in a body.
The Maine's steam launch was raised t»
day from the wreck by the contractors.
The latest advices from General Pando's
forces tell of "An unimportant skirmish
with the rebels In the province of Puerto
Principe."
NOT YET BEADY
The Court of Inquiry Is Still Busy
Investigating
KEY WEST, Fla., March 20.—The court
of inquiry, according to Rear Admiral Si
card, will continue its work through the
coming week, as It Is not ready to make a
report on the Maine disaster. The state
ment that Albert S. Barker carried the re
port to Washington Is official! denied.
The object of his flying visit to Key West
was not ascertained until today. It can
be authoritatively stated that Captain
Barker had nothing to do with the court
of Inquiry. He came here on Friday from
Tampa on a special mission to Investigate
the harbor defenses, following out some
lines suggested by General Wilson, chief of
engineers, In his recent inspection of land
fortifications. Captain Barker's plan,
when he left here last night, was to confer
with Commander McCalla of the Marble
head, who Is now at Tampa, and he will
probably remain there a day or two. Cap
tain Barker formerly commanded the Ore
gon. It is impossible to say definitely
whether any synopsis of the findings of the
court up to date has been £>ent to Washing
ton. The notion prevails here that this
has been done, but no official confirmation
Is obtainable. That the final report has
been sent to Washington can be definitely
denied.
Captain Sampson and Lieutenant Com
mander Marlx remained on board the
lowa today. Captain Chadwiek and Lieu
tenant Commander Porter did not leave
the eNw York. The court Is expected to
reconvene tomorrow on the lowa,