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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1898)
FHE OMAHA DAILY BEE ESTABLISHED JUNE 19 , 1871 , OMAHA , OTKIDAY MORNING- , FEBRUARY 25 , 1808-TWELVE PAGES. IT1V.E CENTS. BY EXTERNAL FORCE Agent that Wrecked the Mnino Oamo from Without. BOARD UNANIMOUS ON THIS POINT Inquiry Into ths Disaster Ended at Havana , FURTHER TESTIMONY AT KEY WIST Evidence Brought Up by the Divers ia Very Etroug. SHELLS INTACT AND POWDER UNEXPLODED Hoard of Inquiry tu Hi-port uf the * ! KorunriliMll Soon to AVarth- InMonVornt Will .Soiu I DC Ktiouu. ' Copyr'ght ' , 1SOS , by Press Publishing Company. ) HAVANA , Feb. 24. ( New York World Cablegram Special Telegram. ) The United States naval board ot Inquiry has finished Its labors here. All thu board are now ton- vlnced that the Maine was blown up ex ternally. The report will bo unanimous , In all human probability. It will not bo sent to Washington before next Wednesday. The Investigating board has learned all they expect to know now except the ovl- dcnco that divers may fkid under the for ward part of the wreck. Divers In that vlUl region of the wreck'd mysteries did nothing today except that they found more powder cases. All showed seams split from pressure outside of them scams collapsed In some. The copper was Impressed by hexagonal forms..vTho Inuides were Intact , with pow der unexploded .They wore not damaged. The board had most Important testimony to day and decided definitely that the Malno was sunk and destroyed through causes not accidental. The court of Inquiry will probably go to Key West tomorrow , continuing Its ses sions there. The divers of the wrecking steamer Right Arm were examined by the court today. Their teytlmony corroborates the evidence heretofore given by the govern ment divers. The members of the court , accompanied by Consul General Lee , were rowed around the Maine's wreck today. They Inspected the work ot the divers. Only ono diver Is working now. He Is from the Right Arm. The work of recovering the contents of the ohlp Is being done slowly. Two full dress coats and ono dining room chair were among the things brought up today. No bodies were found. Frederick C. Holzcr of New- York , In San Ambroslo hoopltal , la dying. ATiout thirty witnesses have been examined here. The Right Arm has brought up some Important pieces of artillery. SYLVESTER SCOVEL. DETAILS OF THE INQUIRY. HAVANA , Feb. 24. The court of Inquiry held Its usual sessions today. Captain Samp son reports that Chaplain Chadwlck was ex amined as to his personal experiences at the tlmo of the disaster to.tho Maine , and that the testimony was taken of the captain of a British bark In the harbor , and the superin tendent of the West Indian Oil works , across the bay at Regla , both ot whom witnessed the ? explosion. Neither the officers of the court of Inquiry nor tho-witnesses will glvcj the slightest InV - V dlcatlon cf the. testimony , nor the conclu- ' elons dcduclblc from It , and all say that the men employed on the wreck have been warned to observe an equally strict reti cence. This course Is regarded as eminently wlso by the Americans and all Intelligent Spanish officials , as there Is no telling what passions might bo aroused , or what evil results might bo brought about by talking freely on olllclal mattem In the present state of public feeling ' In Havana. Thus far Americans are treated with the utmost courtesy and kindness and. . It scouts the special care of the residents of Havana to show friendliness. Consul General Leo says there Is no truth In the report that ho had asked Captain General Blanco to dismiss from Cuba cer tain newspaper men for tending sensational stories to the United States. On the con trary , General Leo has never Interfered with the American newspaper men lu any way. Today the principal streets and buildings are gaily desecrated with flags and bunting In honor of the Spanish soldiers , 2,029 In fantrymen , under the command of Jose Amddor , who arrived this morning by the eteamer Montevideo from Barcelona. Q on oral Solono , tdo second chief ot stuff , toJay returned on board the Mangrove the visit ot the court of Inquiry , acting as the representative of the governor general , Ad miral Manterola personally returned the visit raid to him by the court. The' Thursday receptions of General BUiuco were resume ] this evening. The se-balc-o ot the court of hvjulry this aUcrnoon wan devoted to taking the testi mony of two American civilians who BJIW the uxploston from the deck ot the Ward liner , City of Washington , which was moored a tow hundred yard * from the Ma'ne , and of two dlvera who have been at work on the wreck for several days. It In believed the court will return to Havana after hearing the Key West witnesses , but no official con- Urination of thle report can be obtained. With the departure of the court the center of Interest will probably be at Key West. The explosion U no longer the cole topic of conversation. The public here appears to bo content to await the report of the court of , 'acjulry ' and to bo assured that noth'jig but surmise la possible at present. The e-oust eurvuy vessel Bache , after man ) j , * * delays , left for Dry Tortugai this morning ' with three- wounded , all doing well. On Ing to the American quarantine * regulations the wounded , having been In tioepltule hero ar < d cxpo-ied to fever , must be taken to boapltata tn the TortUKua for quarantine. Tbo names of the wounded on the Bacho art > : John Hrtfron of Frecmaiibtovui , N. J , ; Tliomas J , \V > to.-a ot Philadelphia and Jeremiah Shea of llaverhlll , Mais. The other wounded are donlg well late to night. Ever. Hotter , though sorely wousdeJ , la better end ii making a gallant fight for Hie. Hie.No bodle * were recovered today. Kecfttl nil officers of the Maine to give out any In formation except to those officers empowered to ask It , The order la generally understood to apply to official matters , though some think It affects only matters connected with the disaster. ' ' ' ACTIVITY. I-'OIIT .M'l'IIEHSO.V SHOWS Troop * Confidently IHpcct to lie Or- ilereil to 'Move. ' ATLANTA , Ga. . Feb. 24. Activity has never been so great at Fort McPhcrson as at the present time. The stir Is Mtrlbutablo to General Merrltt'e arrival. Everything Is In rtttdlnces to move the regiment to any point that may bo designated within a few hours. At a consultation today between Colonel Cook , commandant of the fort , and the rail- read officials , Colonel Cook was assured that ( tie men could bo transported to Florida with. In a night. It Is said Colonel Cook told tiie railroad men to have cars In the yards for use nt any hour. U U thought tailght that the outlook Is more warlike than ever before. Every pre caution Is being used to keep down exciting talk , and any reports to the effect that the regiment Is about to move Is denied by the officers at the fort. This ellcnca Is con sidered ominous , as the preparations plainly filgnlfy that It Is not an ordinary overhaul ing of the property and t'ftects of ttie post , A movement may be made tomorrow or Saturday. General Mcrrltt will go to the fort tctnor- row morning and Inspect the troops. The munitions of war have been greatly In creased during the last few days , and many of the officers are arranging their private affairs to leave , as they confidently believe they will bo called upon to do. General Merrltt was seen tonight and asked It his arrival In the city was an indication of Immediate action on the part of the regi ment. "No , " said he ; "It Is a fart of my duty to Inspect each post in my division every year , nnd I have come here merely ao a part of my routlncuwork. It Is not a war like movement at all. " SAN ANTONIO , Tex. , Feb. 24. The sen sation today at Fort Sam Houston , the large military post at ttils place , was the order from headquarters suspending for the present the order sending light battery K , First ar tillery , Into the mountains on Its annual thirty days' target practice. The battery , consisting of four pieces and 1G5 men , under command ot Captain Dlllonback , was to havp started for the artillery target range In the mountains on March 1 , but last night In structions were received to keep the bat tery at the fort until further orders. Colonel Louis H. Carpenter , commander efFort Fort Sam Houston , said no reasons were given for detaining the battery at the post , adding that It was surmised that tbe artil lery was to remain here to await the ar rival of Inspector General Colonel Lawton. Colonel Carpenter had no Idea when the Inspector general was due to arrive at this post. CRUISER MIXXEAI'OMS IS AFLOAT. tlic Dry Doric anil Is Noiv ' Ready for IlunliieHS. PHILADELPHIA , Feb. 24. The United States cruiser Minneapolis was successfully floated out of the dry dock at the League Island navy yard at high tide this afternoon. The floating ot the cruiser was witnessed by nearly 1,000 people. The Minneapolis ban been In dry dock since lost December , partly to avoid the Ice In the river and also to lm\e ueccssury repairs made to Its bottom. The school slip Saratoga will bo placed In dry dock for repairs. NoUvlthsturfding all reports to the con trary , there Is no unusual activity at the yard , beyond the extensive Improvements that are being made to the back channel , which Is to bo used as a fresh water basin for vessels of the navy. The receiving ship Richmond Is besieged dally by applicants for enlistment , but very few are now being taken. Besides the Minneapolis there are at League Island the cruiser Columbia , the Mcnltor Mlantonomah and the ram Katalidln , all out of commission at present. There are also clglit old monitors at the navy yard , all of them relics ot the civil war , but which could be fitted up quickly ta case they were needed. MO.Vl'UOMKHY fiOKS TO KEY WEST. Many I'nhKeiiKcrN Arrive na the Oil- ve'lte from IIUMimi JACKSONVILLE , Fla. , IFeb. 24. A special to the Times-Union and Citizen from Tampa , Fla , says : The United States cruiser 'Montgomery ' , which arrived at Port Tampa yesterday , re mained at the coal docks all of today taking on coal , getting over 300 tons. Ono ot Its officers said tonight that the ship would sail for Key "West tomorrow unless otherwise ordered. The revenue cutter Forward sailed tonight for Key West , after taking on a full supply of provisions at Port Tampa. The Plant steamship Olivette arrived this afternoon from Havana , and a number of passengers from that city said the report to the effect that the Americans bad been ad vised toy General Lee to leave the city was absolutly false , that the city was quiet and no ono expressed uneasy fears for their safety. The government's mall on the Olivette this afternoon was very heavy and the greater portion was directed to tbo Navy and Navigation departments. TROOPS uio.\M.in : TO THI : FORT. TnUfii from Rllle HaiiKe anil I'ut Through l''utlue | Drill. CINCINNATI , Feb. 24. Under Instructions from Washington , Colonel Cochran , com mandant at Fort Thomas , Ky , , today Issued orders bringing the men on rifle range at Culbertson , Ky. , back to the fort. New bay onets that can also bc < used for trenching tools were Issued to all the troops , The men are dally undergoing fatlguo drill , and ex pect to go to Key Wctt Instead of Charles ton , S. C , , as reported , The First regiment of the Ohio National Guard , located hero , ls filling up with re cruits. Several unauthorized recruiting sta tions for volunteers have been opened In this city and their enrollment would more than flll a regiment. .Monitor Terror I'm * to Sen , NORFOLK. Va. , Fct > . 4 , The monitor Terror reached Norfolk at 10:15 : a. m. on Its way to sea under sealed orders , but will cruise In Hampton Roads at least a tbort time. The vessel had been ready for se.i since noon yesterday , On leaving the yard the Terror was saluted by the Franklin's guns , but did not respond , Its departure created conilderablo excitement and ttiou- rauda witnessed It. There was , however , no cheerjug either from the shore or thu decks of the * vestiel. llnnee HeeelveM HIM roiiiiitlKHlou. NKW YORK , Feb. 24. Francis M , Bunco , commandant ot the navy yard here , today received from Washington hU wmmlsilon as rear , admiral , HU .pRUUl rank up , to toJay WAIfING ON THE INQUIRY Secretary Long Says Ho Has Learned Nothing New , STARTLING RUMORS ARE BECOMING LESS Conildornltle Attention In Xoir llelnnr Given to tlio OperntloitN of the Wrccldtifr Companion on the Maine. WASHINGTON , Feb. 24. Rumors oC start ling discoveries In the wreck of the Maine were less frequent , but there were enough of them still afloat today to warrant Secre tary Long In making this statement to the newspaper men as he left his office : "Summing up the situation I should say that the Navy department knows today noth ing more about the cause of the disaster than U did five minutes after the receipt of the flret dispatch from Captain Slgsbce. " The eecretary'8 attention was drawn to the published statement that Captain Crowln- shleld , chief of the Dureau ot Navigation , had just arrived at Tampa , Fla , , on the Mont gomery from a trip to Cuba , where ho had been Inspecting prospective coaling stations near Malagas. The secretary's comment was simply this : "Captain Crowlnahleld Ins not been to Cuba. Ho has been oft with hla boy on matters not In anywise connected with the business of thd navy. " Secretary Long further said that ho rather expected to see Captain Crowlnshield tomor row. row.Until Until the conclusion of the Investigation of the court of Inquiry at Havana the prin cipal bunlncea of the Navy department lu connection with the Malno will relate to the cor duct of ( he wrecking operations. Captain Lemly , the judge advocate gen eral , who has this branch ot the work Imme diately In charge , today received .tclegrama from the Mcrrltt & Chapman Wrecking com pany at New York , stating that the steamer Merrltt and wrecking lighter Sharpe had sailed for Havana , and that the tug Under writer would leave New York Saturday for the same place. The assistant wrecking mas ter was going to Havana on 'tho ' Ward Hue steamer Saturday , and It was suggested to the department that Its Inspector should take the earne steamer.Inasmuch as Lieu tenant Commander Klmbill , who Is now at Havana , has been assigned to 'the ' duty of In specting the wrecking operations , It will not bo necessary to observe this suggestion. SIGSDEE SENDS A TELEGRAM. The only exact Information received by the Navy department from Havana during the day was conveyed In Captain Slgsbce'g tele gram , as follows : HAVANA , Feb. 21. Irfng. Secrotiry Navy : Wrecking tug Right Arm arrl\cd yesterday ; begins work toJay. Much encumbering metal must be blasted nnay In detail. Navy divers down aft seven days , forward four days. Bodies of Jenkins nnd Merrltt not found. Two unidentified bodies of crew found yesterday. After compartmant filled with detached , broken and buoyant furr.I- turo and fittings , mud and confusion. Span ish authorities continue offers of assistance and care for wounded and dead Everything that goes from wreck to the United States should bo disinfected. Wrecking company should provide for this. Surgeon of Maine , after consulting with others , recommended that all bedding nnd clothing Miould be abandoned. Might BO to nccllnnted pior. Useless fittings nnd equlpmsnts inlrjht be towe < l to sea and thrown ovorboivd. Will take till Immediate responsibility , but Invite department's wMies. Shall old mo'al of pu- pcrstructurc nnd the like be paved ? Friends of dead should understand that we nro In the tropics. Chaplain Chadwlck charged iwlth all matters relative to the dead. His conduct Is beyond praise. Don't knor. what reports are being- printed , but the Intensely active representation of the prcs * here have been very considerate of me and riv posi tion. ( Signed ) SIGSR13H. ( Secretary Long Immediately answered Cap tain Slgsbee , approving all his recommenda tions. Ho was directed to have Lieutenant Walnwrlght , the executive officer of the Maine , mnke arrangements with the wreck ers for the disinfection of everything sent to the United States. RECOMMENDATION APPROVED. The recommendation that all bedding and clothing be abandoned , and. If need be , given to the acclimated poor , was approved with out comment. The same approval was given to the suggestion that useless fittings and equipment bo towed to sea and thrown over board , It being left to Captain SIgsbee's Judgment to determine how far this destruc tion should bo carried on. To the captain's Inquiry as to the saving of old metal and parts of the suijerstructure the answer was given that such material was of no use to the Bureau of Equipment. It was left to Captain Slgsbee to say what of this shattered material was worth preserv ing. His statement that much blasting will bo required to clear away encumbering material ' terial Indicates that It Is essentl'al further to destroy the upper portions of the wreck In order to get at what Is more valuable be neath. Captain Slgsbeo's statement that the divers have- been down aft seven days and forward four days gave the Navy department the first Information of the tlmo that the divers had been In the vicinity ot the "zone of the explosion , " as he has termed It. This zone U confined to the forward part of the ship , and while the divers have been down aft fop the last week their work forward In the vicinity , of the largo magazine has been in progress only four days , which presumably began on 'Monday and included today. PITIFUL PIJEA3 IFROM RELATIONS. The statement In the gigsbeo dlspitch that "frlemld of the dead should understand " In understood at the we are In the tropics , Navy department to refer to the urgent pleas of relatives of the dead that they be brought to the United States. These appeals continue- be received here , and while they excite the deepest sympathy of the ofllclala no hope can bo held out that the dead ran bo brought back. One of these appeals makej a pitiful plea against tbo burying of the dead "by alien hands In on alien country1 There arc circumstances which , If they could tie made known , would end mich ap peals , and would show that the department has not been wanting In a desire to bring the remains to this country , These circum stances have been withheld , mainly through a drslro to save friends and relatives from the pain which would bo tamed by a full dUclceuro ot the effect ot the explosion. The press reports ha\e given to part the terrible mutilation of tbo bodies , but It U feared this has not been fully realized by friends and relatives. The men were sleep ing on the berth deck , with metal floors and celling * , which , by the force of the terrible explosion , were ground together Into a con tused niasi. Knowing this there la little hopp tlia many of ( be bodies etlll missing bo In a condition to be brought to the United States. The Navy department ted y gave out the figures showing the strength ot the naval mllltla. up to date. This shows a total force ot 4,445 officers and enlisted men , willed Is a gratifying Increase from the 3,703 shown by the report. The number of officers and men by states U as follows ; California , 396 ; Connecticut , 165 ; Florida , 18G ; Georgia , 225 ; Illinois , G23 ; Louisiana , 2G2 ; Maryland , 240 ; Massachusetts , 441 ; Michigan , 193 ; Now Jer sey , 304 ; New York , 472 ; North Carolina. 230 ; Ohio , 216 ; Pennsylvania , 216' Rhode Island , 130 ; South Carolina , 152 ; Vligluln , 44 ; total , 4.44G. Assistant Secretary ROjOaevelt says In this connection that Illinois 'loads the list with forty-three commissioned outers and 423 petty officers and enlisted men. Ttio adjutant general of that state recently made a re quest that the United States steamer Michi gan be assigned for the use of the Illinois brigade for one month during the coming summer. During Mr. Roosevelt'a tour of the lakes lost summer ho was much pleased with the showing made by the Illinois and other naval brigades on the lakes and ho lias rccccnmendod to Secretary Long that the request for the Michigan bo granted. FORMING &EW BRIGADES. Aside from the forces shown In the above list , now brigades ore In process of formation which promise to swell the total to much larger figures at an early day. The or ganization of this auxiliary arm ot the naval service Is under the Immediate direction of Lieutenant Gibbons , U. S. N. , whoso energy has accomplished much In securing state organization and In the harmonizing ot the bodies Into one compact force , capable , In emergency , of co-opcratlng 'with the regular navy. In Ills last report Mr. Roosevelt said the state naval mllltla , In the event of a sudden emergency , could 'be ' utilized at once for manning the smaller national cruisers. It could be depended upon mainly , he said , as a second line ot defense and also be used In placing mines and the establishment ! ot signal stations for coast defense. The appropriation of $50,000 made by con gress to aid the work of the naval mllltla will be apportioned among the states In a few days. Thanks to the promptness and efficiency of the chief of engineers and the chief ol ordnaaco of the array , the city of Washing ton Is now regarded as being well nigh safe and secure from attack b'y water. The fortifications of Fort Washington tnd Sheri dan Point , on the opposite side of the Potomac mac , arc sufficiently advanced to bo able ta repel an ordinary fleet ot Invaders and In case of necessity they could be vastly strengthened In a comparatively short time. Theae defenses are considered sufficient to keep all hostile vessels beyond the range ol gunhsot of the national capital. Moreover , the river has been blocked off and prepared foV mines and orpedoes at a point below the fortlffcatlono , < alfeady mentioned * ' tioned , so that It ls'proba'ble some ofthe ships Of an enemy would bo blown out ol the water before It would' be necessary tc use the suns at the forts. The officers of the British , battleship Hoo'J today cabled fro'm the Island of Crete , ex pressing deep sympathy oyer the dlsastei to the Maine. Late tonight the Navy department re ceived two brief telegrams from Captain SIgsbeo at Havana. One Delated to some routine matter 'of expenditures in connection with the work on the Maine , and the otiet is as follows : "Divers report more bodies In wreck , Some In hammocks Involved lu debris. Prob ably not recognizable. " This dispatch indicates fhat the divert have finally secured at least a partial' entrance - trance to the quarters lu the forward parl of the vessel , where the crew were asleer when the explosion occurred , and undei which were the magizines. The fact that the divers were unable tc extricate the bodies shows -tho fearful ob stacles against which they arc operating and bears out the belief that the work ol submarine investigation' > vill necessarily proceed slowly. 'Asi : SKATS von A IIE.VEFIT Performance "Will lie * Given ( or tin 'Maine SufYererx. NEW YORK , Feb. 24. A thousand rep resentative people gathered at the Mctio- polltan opera house this afternoon to bid for the boxes and seats for the performance Sunday night next for the benefit ot the families of the sailors and marines who lot1 ! their lives on the Maine. . Chauncey M. Depew made a * speech pre vious to the sale In which ho said : "It IE many yearn since this country stood In the shadow of i crisis so overwhelming as the present. Wo stand In the attitude of cay- Ing to the president : 'We wish you fearlcFuly and without favor t < | friend or fee to exam ine Into and toll us what cauced tbo death of these seamen , our brothers. ' Our great ship went to Havana to protect American life and property. If callci ] upon every one on board was ready to lay down his life. " The sale netted $3,910 , All of the portiere tiere boxes were sold at prices ranging from $300 to $30. Among the purchasers were : Richard Croker , $150 ; Llltan | Russell , $100 ; Stewart M. Ilrtce , $100 ; Maurice firau. two boxes , $100 each ; August lUImont , $100 , Cim.VXS IV XKW YoiaC'CBMSIIUATE , It IN the Third Aimlt r ar > " of the Outbreak of the lltivoliitloii. NEW YORK , Feb. 24. 'The Cubans of this city held a mass meeting ai dickering hall tonight to celebrate the third anniversary of the outbreak ot the revolution. Conspicu ous among the decnratlona was an American flag draped In mourning' and festooned with the flag of Cuba lib re , A number of speakers gave vent to some fiery oralbry. In respon'so to an address , by one of the speakers a young Cuban girl cried out , "Death to the Spaniards ! " and the audience went wild. One ot the supporters of tbe revolution In Cuba telegraphed from New Orleans that ho could not be present , but be would give 100 uniforms and ; noney to the cause. Other mescagea of like character were received. Sri-meil to lie Several I MEXICO CITY , , Feb. 24. F. 0. McDonald and Edward M , JJ. Fowler of New York , who were passengers on < I'o City of Wash ington at Havana at the tlmo of tbe Malno explosion , have ) arrived 'here They were walking on the rear deck of tbo Washing ton when the explosion occurred and they thought at first that the Alfonso XII. had opened fire on the Maine , They say there Ecomed to be a series of cxploiloni in quick succession. GrnnlN Kxtradldoii l'up rr , ALHANY , N. Y. , Feb. 34.-apvernor Black today authortred the extradition to South Carolina pf Chrlii Harrlr a negro murderer. arrested , JUl Iliigara e jnty , K/or criminal STOCK SHIPPERS ORGANIZE Stops to Form a Mutual Oomm'sslon Company Formed , \VILLOPERATEAT \ SOUTH OMAHA YARDS Memhrrn Intrnil in Share In the 1'ro- Mtn of the II < INIIONH IH'tnlln of the New Cor poration. A score of stockmen from various points In Nebraska met at the Dellono hotel yes terday afternooci and organized the Ship pers' Live Stock Commission company. The organization of the new company Is the out growth ot proceedings In the federal court to test the legality of the South Omaha Llvo Slock exchange. In the new company the shippers forming Itlll endeavor to have the selling of their live stock so conducted as to result to their own gain. Lafayette Coltrln of Omaha was elected president and treasurer ! H. F. Illunk of Saunders comity , vice president : II. A. Tern- ploton of Tckamah , secretary , und La fayette Coltrln , H. F. Dlunk , H. A. Tom- pleton , J. Frleman of Chapman and Fred erick II. Patterson of Stockham were chosen directors. The principal place of business of the new company la to bo at South Omaha. The business to bo transacted Is of live stock on commission for shippers ol llvo stock to the Union Stock Yards ot South Omaha or elsewhere In the United States , The buying and selling of llvo stock , the lending ot money and the transaction ot a general live stock commission business are named among tlic objects of the company. The capital stocli will bo $15,000 , and the greatest amount ol Indebtedness la set at ? 5,000. The officers of the company are a president , a vice presi dent , a secretary , a treasurer and five di rectors , all to bo chosen annually. The president Is to bo tbo general manager of ttic concern. " CAPITAL STOCK. i " " The shares of the corporation arc to cost ? 25 , and 10 per cent of the entire capital stock of the corporation Is to be subscribed and paid before the concern commences bus iness. Any stock not subscribed and paid for at the tlmo ot commencing business shall bo sold at not lees than the face value. The date for the commencement of business is sot at April 1 , 1888 , and the life of the corporation Is to expire on April 1 , 1958. The Incorporators and stockholders are not to bo held personally liable for the debts of the organization. AVhen a dividend shall have been decided by the corporation 50 per cent of the amount shall bo paid to the stockholders upon cap ital stock subscribed and paid for , and the balance shall be paid to the shippers of the stock , who shall bo stockholders In the cor poration pro rata upon the cars of stocl ( shipped and consigned by them to the corpo ration for sale and which have been sold by the corporation. Among those who signed the articles ol Incorporation at yesterday afternoon's meetIng - Ing were : L. Coltrln , W. S. Patterson & Son , R. A. Templeton , C. C. Denny , H. S , M. Splelman , H. Jeger , H. C. Lydlck , J. W. Man , P. Johnson , H. F. 73lack , Western Oraln and Stock company and N. P. Sell- man. man.There There wao to have been a meeting of the Nebraska Live Stock Shippers' association at the Dellono hotel yesterday afternoon , President Thurbcr of Ong and a few other members were present. On account of a mistake In the announcement of the date of the meeting by the South Omaha papers there was not a quorum present. There will bo a meeting held at an early date at South Omaha. I'llOVIUISS FOIL IMAIMS'S VICTIUS lU-lti-f 1II1I IN IiitrodiKMMl In the HOIINC by Mr. IloiitcIIe. WASHINGTON , Feb. 21. Representative Boutelle of Maine , chairman of the bouse commlttco on naval affairs. Introduced a bill late this afternoon providing for the victim ! of the late battleship Maine. It follows gen erally the lines of the Samoan disaster re lief bill of 1890 and is the result of several days' conference In committee , and embodies tbo vlowii of the administration. Chairman Doutello bad a conference with President McKlnley today , at which hovenl over with him the proposed legislation , and later submitted the measure at an Informal meeting of some of the committee. It will bo referred back to the committee , Imme diately acted on there and Its passage by con gress expedited. The bill Is as follows : Section 1. That to reimburse the survivors of the otllccro and crew of the United States HtcaniBhlp Maine , destroyed by an explosion , for losses Incurred by them respectively , there Khali be paid to each of said survivals n sum cquul to the lenses sustained by tlioin , provided that the accounting olllcera shall In nil cases require a schedule iind aflldavlt from each person making a claim , each schedule to be approved by the secre tary of the navy , and relmburnement Bhnll be made for such articles of clothing , outllt and personal effects only as arc of a charac ter und vnlue and In quantity suitable and appropriate to the rank or rating and duty of the persons by whom the claim Is made. ProvMed , further , that In no case shall the aggregate sum allowed exceed the amount of twelve months' sen pay of the grndu or rating held by such person at the time the IOSBCS were Incurred. Sec. 2. That the"widow , child , or children , and In case thorn be not BUCI ) the parent or parents , and If there be no parent , the brothers and slsterti , of the olllccrs , enlisted men and others who were lost In the de struction of Huld vessel , or who have died wltMn one year from the date of the disas ter In consequence of Injuries received In the dfstructlon of said vessel , shall be en titled to and receive , to-wlt : The relatives , In the order named , a sum equal to twelve months' sea pay of the grade or rating of each person deceased as aforesaid. Pro vided , that the legal representative * of the deceased persons shall also be paid any arrears of pay due the deceased at the tlmo of their death. gee. 3. That the accounting o Ulcers ) are hereby authorized to continue for a period of three months any allotment ! ) which may have been made In favor or any relatives of the degrees hereinbefore enumerated , by any olllcera or men attached to the Malnu wlio lost their lives In consequence of the disaster to that vessel ; provided , that the amount of the allotment ! ) so continued ahull be deducted from the amount of the twelve months' sea pay allowed to such bene ficiaries by virtue of this act for their relief , Bee. 4. That the relief granted by the pro- vUtons of till * act slmll bo deemed and taken to be full compensation for and In satisfaction of any and all claims whatso ever on account of loss or death by the de struction of the United Statcu steamship Maine , on the part of the benetlclarlea here inbefore designated , and the methods of pre senting and establishing said claims here inbefore ; prescribed ahull be followed In lieu THE BEE BULLETItlcrfl Weather Forecast for Nebraska- fair ; Varlabia P re. 1 , N'ftVAl Inquiry Kndrd nt Itavnnri ] Nnvy Department In n Wn Stork Shipper * Drny tlio Minn HtoryJl 2 , Miilno tixplonloii MjntcrjNut Y J Allm Withdraw * 111 * KtnoluHo" 3 , Notirankn NIMY , OmiiliA Ootn Tlirco Yotr * I'ri nclil o , Student Voluutoprn i t Wnrlc , 1 , Kdttorlnt nnd Comment. ft. Omnhn dot * Another lri\t Train. Allied Wnntod Hunk Hiilibrr Onptnrrd , Affair * nt Smith Omnhn. 0. Council Illiirfu I.ncul Mnttrri , lowu IjrgUlntho I'mcppdlng , 7 , Ocnnrnl Now * of the I'nrthor U'ost. Aftrrnmtli of tlic Zotn Trial. 8. Tlmo Culled on Htponltlon Kxhtltltor * . Wntrr for the WR Show. 0 , Vntnnus Vosneln Illown Up. Ititrtlpy llnndnmpu Cuno. VroRrrfm of the Kustncr Trlnl. 11 , Commercial nnd I'limnclnl Nmvu. 12. "I'mil nnd VlrRlnln. " Soinu IJurcr reunio IVtiipornliirp ut Ontnliui Hour. IK. I . Hour. Dctr. n u , in ut : i u. 111 it- ei a. in - u P. 111 : it : 7 n. ill - - it p. in ill S n. tu. . . . . . - - -I p. 111. . . . . . ! tl n n. in -i r > ii. 111 : ti 10 n. in. . . . . . -7 o p. in : it : 11 a. in - ! 7 p. in it' ll : in Ill 8 p. ill - ' ! > t > p. ill -7 nets heretofore enacted relating to the p cs- cntatlon of similar claims. Sec. 5. That no claim shall bo nllowod under the provisions ot this net which slmll not bo presented within two years after the date of Its passago. Sec. C. That the secretary of the nnvy be , and ho la hereby authorized , whenever In his discretion It may be deemed a prac ticable expedient , to cause the icnmliis of all or any of those who perished In consequence quence of such disaster to be removed to the United States cemetery at Arlington ; provided , that the relatives of any such de ceased olllcers nnd others mentioned In this act who prefer that the remains of such be taken to their homes within the United States shall litivo such privilege extended to them , and tbo expense ! thereof shall be borne by the United States , nnd the hum of $10,000 , or so much thereof as may bo necessary , Is hereby appropriated out ot any money In the treasury not otherwise appropriated , to carry out the provisions ol this section. V17.OAYA Mi.VVKS XKW YOIUC TODAY. Captain dilate HvrolvcK Hurry er- ) ilot-H from Madrid. NEW YORK , Feb. 24. Unless some unex pected ordnr is received from Madrid the Spanish man-of-war Vlzcaya , which has been lying off Tompklnsvlllo , S. I. , since Sun day , will weigh anchor tomorrow afternoon and steam through the Narrows to the open sea on Its way dlrpct to Havana. k Arturo'nidlsano , the Spanish consul gen eral In New York , called on Captain Eulate this aft'emooh and took to Tilrn Important dispatches , one of which ordered him to leave this port without delay. Captain Eulate has been in suspense about the time of his sailing until the consul General called on him , tout the order was not unexpected , and all day ho had the vessel's crow prepar ing it for a voyage. The work of coaling was continued , with every available man handling the buckets , so that early In the morning the ship's bunkers will be packed full. Seamen were also busy putting the ship In snug shape for cruising at sea , and In the afternoon the ship's gunners Inspected and cleaned all the guns. After this work had been completed , leather boxes wore placed over the gun's breeches. Captain Eulate , In conversation today , said the story to the effect that the steering gear of the Vlzcaya was out of order was Imaginary. The steering gear had been over hauled and cleaned , nothing more. A number of visitors were on board today , but the marine patrol continues as active as over , keeping back all those who have not been accorded tbo special privileges of paying their respects to friends on board. A number of officers of the Vlzcaya dined with Consul General and Seuora Dadlsano tonight , returning to the ship at midnight. SOUTH DAKOTA .AMI . ISM'OSITIO.N. Co nun liter Appointed 1 > - the Governor McetH ut .Mitchell. MITCHELL , S. D. , Fob. 24. ( Special Tele gram. ) The committee recently appointed by Governor Lee to look after the exhibit of the eastern half of South Dakota at the Omaha exposition next summer was re quested by the governor to meet here today to take the first steps toward organizing a move in that direction. The governor'u own county Clay has Just appropriated ? 500 to ward a fund for the purpose ot making South Dakota prominent at the exposition. The momberH of the committee are : Hiram Ro- dee , Forestburg ; S. W. Narrcgang , Aberdeen ; M. P. Heche , Ipawlch ; John Hayes , Fort Plerro ; 0. H , Mann , Okobojo ; C. A. Jowett , Sioux Falls ; Hugh Smith , Howard ; Hans Murphy , Elk Point. The commlttco met during the latter part of tbo afternoon and evening. KAUTJKll'AKUS ' IU3STUOY 1'UOI'KUTY Hull Miukriii' mi the Ixlund of Monl- Hi-rrnl. ( Copyright , HO ? , by J'rcss I'tiljllshlnu Com.nny. : ) KINGSTON , Jamaica. Fob. 24. ( Now York World Cablegram Special Telegram. ) A succession of tcrrlflc earthquakes has caused great destruction of property on the Islanl of MonUorrat , They began on the Ifith , but the meat severe occurred on the 20th. There were numerous landslides and water pl'Ki3 | were wrecked nnd the entire population of the Island was thrown Into great cci aterciotlon. There Is much dlotrcis In consequence. Montserrat la one of tlio Leeward lilands. In the Went Indies , and Is a DrltUh potueeslrn. It's area Is only foity- oaven square inlhn and the topography Is mountainous. It ban a population of be * twecci 8,000 end 10 qoo. Movement * nf Oueaa YenNulM , I''eli.I. . At Queenstown Arrived Urltannlc , from New Yoik for Liverpool. Balled Teutonic , for New York. At NapleH Arrived Normannla , from New York ; AlHutla , from Now York. At HOtterdnm Hulled Obdtim , for New YorV. ' At PhlladelplilaArrlved Nedciland , from Antwerp. At Glasgow Arrived Anehorlo , from Haw York. At Liverpool Arrived Waemland , from Philadelphia. At Chrlfctlana Arrived Hekla , from New York. At Stettin Balle-d js'oiKe. for Now York. At New York-Sailed-Kuilunihe , for I5rc- men , Ai rived Frtderlch dcr ( Jrousc , from Ilrtmen , At Cherbourg-Sailed Havel , for Now York. At Otnoa-Salle-d KaUcr Wlftelm II , tor New York * * DENIES MINE STORY Statement from High Official in the Spanish Government. NO MINE WHERE MAINE WAS ANCHORED Nothing to Say About Other Pnrts o Havana Harbor. SPANIARDS WLL ! NOT SELL CU3A Declare Thay Will Go to War Bather Thin Do It. WILL FIGHT AGAINST SUCH A MOVE Sale f the Island , They Claim , Will Not llrliiKEiiiiiiKh to llfulu to 1'ay ' 1'lu-lr War r Debt. - ' t , 159" ! , by Pi-ens I'ubllRlihiR Company , ) MADUID. Feb. 21. ( Now York.World Ca blegram Soectal Tcle > gram. ) I submitted the query that If Spain would settle tlio point of tlio location ot tlio submarine mlrt ? * In Havana harbor It would go a long way to clear tlio government of tlio blame to n distinguished naval officer , Captain Novo y Colson , odltor of Muiido Naval , the best pro. fesslonal naval Illustrated weekly In Spain , who Immediately undertook to Introduce mete to Admiral Terry , secretary and chief of staff of the minister ot marine. Wo went therefore to the ministry of marine. Ad miral Terry received mo with the tradi tional courtesy of Spanish na\al olllcera audi authorized mo to ntnto : "Tho harbor of Havana contained no sub marine mine In the vicinity of the place whcro the battleship Maine and the Spanish , cruiser Alphonso XII were anchored. " The Idea of the sale of Cuba Is ridiculed and ecoutcd by all classes of Spaniards. In fact It la dismissed with the query : What party or government dare moot the sale or independence of Cuba without Incurring the certain risk of revolution ? A popular wave of feeling , In which all other parties would Join , besides the army and navy to a man , would rise- against a sale of Spaln'o cholco colony. Financial circles and nil men of business object to the eale of Cuba , because , they , say , even If $400,000,000 were offered , that sum would not nutllce to cover the Cuban debt , whlc.li already exceeds $500,000,000 and which Is growing at the rate of $8,000,000 or $10,000,000 monthly. This debt Is almost en- tlrely In the hands of Spanish bondholders. The price suggested for the sale of Cuba would afford no compensation for the tnor- inoua amount of Spanish" " capital" engaged In Cuban enterprises. My tuonty years' ex- porkiucc of Spanish politico and what I liavo heard from statesmen of all parties , even lately from men now In office , enables mete to express the opinion that Spain will not sell or part with Cuba , even If It Is necessary to go to war to revel such a suggestion. AIITHUH IS. HOUGHTON. LONDON , Fob. 24. ( Now York World Ca blegram Special Telegram. ) M. AlexnnJio Hlbot7 prime minister of France In 1S98 anil secretary for foreign affairs In 1892 , a high authority In diplomacy , in reply to a ques tion today , bald : "Tho explosion being prma facie an accident , Spain is not tu any way rcspcrelble , but If proved to have been done maliciously the matter becomes one for settlement politically , not judicially by diplomatic negotiation , not by an international - national tribunal. It Is not usual for con tinental governmento to offer a reward for tlio arrest of a culprit in such cases , though England lieu sometime" ; done so. I curanot quato any precedents to guide. Spain's whole action must necessarily be conditioned b > the facts as ascertained. " DOUBT THIS TUNNEL STORY. NEW YORK , Feb. 25. The I'rcss says : Cubans In this city ridicule the reports of a tunnel under Havana harbor. Artura Argulla , who has spent most of his life la 'Havana , says : "In my opinion , the whole story Is built on the subterranean passage that connects Cabanas with MOID , a land passage which has been In existence for wo know not how long. It probably extends back to the early part of the eighteenth century , and was constructed for the purpose of affording a means of escape from the outer Fortress Moro to the Inner Cabanas In the event * oC an attack. I have been through It half a dozen times. It Is now pretty well choked up , and there Is not a man living today who rcmoinbera when It was put to any practical use. " ll.l.VQI'KT XKW S1M.WSII MIMKTICIl. .lllnlHter Woodforil Kxteiidx Conr- t * NltH llefore IIlN Departure , MAOUID , Feb. 21. The United Stolen minister , Mr , Wood ford , gave a banquet today In honor of tlio new Spanish min ister at Washington , Scnor Polo y Uernabc. The guests included the Austrian , Prussian , French , German , Italian , Turkish , Dutclt and Ilrltlsli ministers and the duke of Vcra- gua , the lineal dcsccndEiH ot Columbus , who wan the guest of the United States at the Chicago fair ; the premier , Senor Sagasla ; two mcmbeiH of the cabinet and the Elaff of tlio United Stntci ) legation. Much political Im portance was attached here to the Icitl- dcnt and the banquet , "coupled with tlia peaceful utterances of President McKlnley , " according to a semi-official report , have been "optimistically" utllUed by the ministerial prces. " Hut the Imparclal today takes the Spanish government to ta k for Its "apathy , con trasted with the patriotic feeling of the country , " end warm the nation against "hypercritical Yankee * policy , which alms at the Independence of Cuba. " Continuing , the Imparclal oajs ; "President McKlnley may make and reiterate protestations ot friendship and hi8 Intentions , but hl/ > ac tions contradict his words. While the presi dent of the United State * * la cajoling u * with wordn he sharpens hta dagger to stab us behind. While talking concord bo utilize * his Sundays In unusual war preparations at the docks and cancels the furlougho of ma rines , Cun we trust tboset who are prevent ing the [ mclllcatlui ot Cuba and fomenting rebellion and flllUuterlng expeditious , wend ing war zhlpe unler the pretext of friendship and preaching peace ? We must prepare for war. Tlieio Is no tlmo to acquire war * hlp , but we should lit out Immediately what wo have , Bending the Pcloyo , Colcn , Carlot V aid : Maria Tere' a to follow the Almlraut , 0i en do and Ylr'iya tu Cuban watcra and the rest of the Heel to guard Ibo ponliuula. The other policy tOU ! ( preparedni-s It ) only- to play Into tbt ? AmerlCAnv * Kamc. whicb 10