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FHE OMAHA = DAILY BEE
ESTABLISHED JUNE 19 , 1871. OMAHA TUESDAY MORNING , MAjHJH 15 , 1898 TWELVE PAGES. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
RATHER SUSPICIOUS
Ho Tend bntjlaino Ever Moored to a
Certain Bnoy.
STATEMENT OF A STEAMER'S ' CAPTAIN
Fatal Bnoy Where the Ehip Lay When
Explosion Occurred.
PROOF OF GDVERNMENT MINE IN HARBDR
Captain Sigsbee Takes Duo Precautions to
Protect Montgomery.
HAS IT ANCHORED ALONGSIDE VZCAYA
Havana Authorities Accede to Ilia
Wlnlien but with Ill-Conceuled
, CknKrlti I'mirreNN of the
Iuu.ulry llcurd.
( CopyrlKht , 1808 , by Press PublU'.ilns Campany. )
HAVANA ( via Key Wct't ' ) , March 14.
( Now York World Cablegram Special Tele
gram. ) I have received a very significant
letter from Captain Rouse , who till ten
months ago was first officer and commarided
lor years a Plant line steamer running In
and out ot Havana harbor twice a week.
Ho writes :
I have never seen a vessel of any descrip
tion moored to the buoy the Maine was tied
to on tbo night of the explosion. I have
often wondered at It. "
Aa Investigation of Captain House's state
mcnt Is now on foot. If his observation Is
proved to bo a fact It will be tantamount to
proof of a Spanish government mine.
Thu Spanish were greatly Irritated by the
way In which the Spanish cruiser Alfonso
XII waa towed helplessly from buoy to buoy
to make room for the American cruiser
Montgomery. It was accomplished by Cap
tain Slgsbeo firmly maintaining the request.
Ho wants 'the Montgomery to be as close as
posdblo to the big Spanish cruiser Vlzcaya.
"Accidents" are ICES likely to happen under
such a condition. The ships ride now very
close together. Should the Montgomery blow
up the pride of the Spanish navy probably
would go with It.
The Kern was formerly moored to this ad
jacent buoy. When the Montgomery wea
hourly expected and the Fern \\us about
to sail north Captain Slgsbeo asked that the
Pern should bo given an extra buoy tem
porarily. This was done , hut as soon as
the llttlo Fern moved a pulling tug slouly
ranged the Alfonso XII to the coveted Iron
box. Captain Slgsbeo politely but firmly
protested. The admiral thought awhile , then
mid a mistake had been made and the Al
fonso was towed back again , leaving the
buoy for the American cruiser.
The Montgomery's men arc a little ner
vous , but , as one of them said : "We'd not
mind It 'If wo could only got a chance for
one broadside afore we sank. " It IB a mag
nificent crew and full of pluck.
It Is not yet explained hero why Admiral
SIcard requested Secretary Long to employ
the llttlo Fern to carry supplies to the
rcconccntrados Instead of the Montgomery
and Nashville , as originally ordered. It
cems to have been cither ready compliance
with Spanish demands or Admiral Slcard's
fear of allowing two valuable cruisers In
Spanish-controlled harbors at the same time.
iNow only the Montgomery Is exposed and It
is lying 'In ' snugly cheek by jowl with the
Vlzcaya. The llttlo Fern Is not thought to
count. Spain's hurrying llttlo torpedo boats
to Cuba against the first orders and In the
face of the annual hurricanes is regarded
hero as most significant.
OOUHT OP INQUIRY.
The American naval court ot Inquiry ,
judging from present Indications , will re
main hero until the latter part ot this week ,
possibly longer. The court was In secret
session this morning , reviewing the testi
mony. No witness was examined. At the
atternoon session Lieutenant Commander
Hutchlns , the executive officer ot the 'Mont '
gomery , was Ailed for expert testimony and
Commander Converse of the Montgomery
was again before the court. The members
of the court seldom go ashore. They spenfl
the time mostly on 'board ' the Mangrove.
They are much pleased with the recently
received Issues ot the American papers , be
cause the correspondents do not quote them
IE giving out Information concerning the
proceedings ot the court.
'Diver ' Dwycr of the Mcrrltt Wrecking
company will go before the court tomorrow
again. The court convenes now earlier In
the morning than heretofore , being anxious
to finish Us work.
Captain Chadwlck visited the wreck today
again , together with Commander Converse
ot the Montgomery.
Captain Sampson , president ot the court ,
taa entirely recovered from his recent attack
of the grippe. In regard to the re-port that
the battleship Iowa Is coming down to Ha-
vena , he laughingly said ; "I think I should
have known something about It and your re.
port la the first I have heard about it. "
Captain Slgsbeo authorized mo to deny the
report that ho Is breaking down and the
Montgomery's officers say that ho , their gucet
now. Is well. The truth la that Captain
Slgsbeo has been recovering for two weeks
from the awful shock ot tbo Maine disaster ,
getting better dally. There was n time about
even days after the catastrophe when Cap
tain Slgsbee was dangerously HI with nerv
r ous prodtratlcn. Some ot hi. ) men were
\ elowly dying in Havana hospitals. The flood
ot piteous pleas for Information about lost
relatives which Captain Slgsbeo received then
and his courteous attempts to at least listen
to the hourly questions ot a horde of news
gatherers helped to exhaust him cud thcao
thlnss combined with the Inctcsant rattling
of Havana's thousands ot cabs over the stray
streets about the hotel brought on insomnia.
At one time General Lee really was alarmed
lor Captain Slgsbeo'reason. . Uut then the
c.aptalii moved onto a ship In the harbor
and from that day he bai Improved steadily.
iWlth no one to disturb him , ho sleeps well ,
"
> SPANISH TAKE IT EASY.
' The Spanish divers have worked but little
yet. Our men eay the Spaniard ) have slept
three hours for every hour they have worked.
What they find really has no bearing on the
finding of their own court of Inquiry. L'eu-
tenant Feral and his associates have their
ir verdict arranged already. But what the Spen-
tab divert really find la ot the utmost Impj.--
tincti for the American court to posies ? ,
hould tbo American people allow the Mtlnc
queatlon to go before au internitlonal board
tt InvMtlgatlon. The Spanish court will cite
their divera * discoveries at evidence of in-
{ real c usr , but to ( or they have not In-
4lMted tbU. Their achievement * fully jail
afflrra tbe American diver * ' in
terior work. The most ot It consist ! In lo
cating the big turret just where Its posi
tion was reported in these dispatches and
the raising ot powder casks yet full of uncx-
ploded hexagons of brown powder. It Is now
determined that the Maine's ram lies to port
and the broken condition ot the entire wreck
Is so pronounced that school children can see
the ship was struck and smashed , not Belt-
destroyed.
It was a simple case of over zeal In a
subordinate at Machlna. His orders are to
search all baggage of Incoming steamers.
Powclson won not Informed of this and It
took him three-quarters ot ea hour to satisfy
the thick-headed clerk as to his Identity.
A soon as this was established by private
documents which Powelson exhibited he was
allowed to pass without an examination of
his baggage. The pollto harbor police , Chief
Perez , fcela badly over even tha "slight In
convenience" suffered and wishes to apologize
to the ensign for the over fidelity of a subor
dinate.
The Bishop of Havana , Saatandcr y Frutcs ,
true to his promise will not allow the Ameri
can government to spend one cent In the
leveling of the Maine soldiers' graves or In
admiring them , except by a monument , which
be hopes will be erected.
Two Spanish visitors to the Montgomery
cii Saturday extended to the officers an In-
vltatloc , ' to a ball at tbo casino to be given
by the Spanish marines. The Invitation was
declined promptly. The reason , given wns
that they are still la mourning for the
Maine's dead.
The Insurgents fired a train at Jaruco
bound for Havana from Matanzas. George
Barnum of Savannah , Ga. , a passenger , wan
wounded slightly In. the arm. One passenger
wts badly wounded.
With the bow torpedo tube or hawser
holes and dead lights discovered In a row
they were in the Maine exactly In conform
ity with the position of oltier things re
marked upon. The fact Is the Spanish divers
have found nothing belonging to ( tie Maine's
tell-tale bow. The places they have worked
In are fully sixty feet back ot where the
bow would have to bo were it where they
think It lo.
I cabled the Spanish Ideas In order to do
them Justice. It Is evident now ' .tiat tbey
weco mistaken. The discovery by American
tars of the awfully Indicative ram stanls ns
a 'fact. ' Nothing of the Malne'iT forward
mast das been found yet by Americans , tbo
Spanish claim to have found ahead to the
left of the protruding port bottctn plates.
Our men have located the port bow anchor
near the twisted ram.
LOCAL PRESS EXCITED.
The local press made a great fucore of the
discovery of exploded cartridge cases for
six-pound fixed ammunition. Ttiey 'forgot '
tfcat lots of this was distributed over the
ship on deck for quick use In case of a night
attack.
Oao evidence of Captain Slgsbee's precau
tions In Havana harbor was ttie explosion
oC this extra ammunition , which the sailors
of the Alfonso XII disregarded In their
manly search for mangled Maine Bailers
even after ordered away by Captain Slesb
The Spanish censor Is passing1 now on the
literary merit as well as the facts of ATieri
can correspondents' d'spatches. A short re
port ot the routine doings of the court of in
quiry was handed to him last night. He
poked it back with the comment "stupid. "
It was only news and was not unfavorable to
Spain nor an Insult to Spain's officers. An
other correspondent offered 1,000 moderate
words about Weyler'a subexecutloner , Fons-
devlela , of Ruiz fame. The dispatch was
highly complimentary to General Blanco , but
Weylcr Is popular now and as the dispatch
reflected upon the policy , Censor Mendez cut
It out.
out.POWELSON'S
POWELSON'S EXPERIENCE.
A sensational report buzzed through Ha
vana's cafes and corners last night. Ensign
'Powe'son ' was said to have been held up In
Machlna for his confidential notes and plans
and sketches of the Maine's wreck , which
ho had In his valise. Tbo Spanish customs
officers were supposed to have been Instructet
to spy upon his movements and the Spanish
authorities were slid to bo willing and even
anxious to obtain the American divers' dis
coveries by confiscating from Powelson's va-
llso on the ground that it must be examinee
for contraband goods when he got ashore
from the cruiser Montgomery. Powe'son was
supposed to have had a short altercation
with Chief Perez of the harbor police , bu
Powclson laughs at the story and says It Is
on a plane with the reports of his confldentla
testimony before the court ot Inquiry.
The Spanish divers thought they were
wrong in their first report about the ram
being to port. They thought they aftcrwan
found Ihe Maine's bow In line and in proper
condition. In reality , they are diving fully
thirty-five feet aft of where the bow woul (
bo If the ship were Intact. If they should
search the harbor bottom where the ram
really should He they would find just wha
the soundings showed nothing but mud am
a few stray plates. Their own report con
firms this statement. They have found an
anchor lashed or secured fast. Where they
found It is fully sixty feet aft ot the posi
tion ot the anchors which were at the
Maine's bow , but it Is just where the Maine's
sheet or spar anchor was fastened to its
starboard upper works , just forward of the
big turret. It must bo this anchor , for I
was tbo only ono of the Maine's -three an
chors that was lashed and no sheet anchor
was carried on the port side. If It Is the
starboard shcpt anchor that they have found
that the Spanish divers claim to have found
the theory ot the Maine's bow Intact is dis
proved.
The Spanish divers also thought they had
found the bow by meeting a very heavy
curved plate. This they thought was the
ram , but it lies exactly in the proper posi
tion for the detached "billboard , " or the
big piece ot 7,000 pound sheet anchor. The
*
divers also reported a hole In the ship's po
sition near the anchor , a hole caused by a
shutter. This Is coincident with the position
ot the torpedo tube forward of the big tur
ret on the starboard side , and as the wreck
at that point is canted to starboard the
curve of its bottom and thl& hole caused the
divers to think they had found the slope of
the bow.
JAP IL\S A ROW.
Japan threatened March 7 to precipitate
the pending war. The Fern baa In Us crew
a wiry little fellow from the land of chrys
anthemums whose name Is Tack. Ho went
ashore , got hold of much strong liquor , rode
several hours about town and then bellig
erently ref cod to pay more than 20 cents.
At La Michlna wharf he broke away from
tbo hackman and signalled enthusiastically
for a toat. The Fern's officer * xw the Big-
Dais and also B W Tack vigorously lashing
out at several policemen. Being overpow
ered he dlsipp'ured. Ensign Bookwalter
hurried to the rescue , found Tack still
fighting aro'-nd Uie corner , punctuating hU
punches with plgcctn-Eaglith curses Of
"Spinl" and shouting : "Me Japaneoe can
lick 'em easy. " The 'policemen were polite.
Tack was yanked aboard stlp and the 'In-
c'.d'ut" wss clcicd.
gYLYHTBR 8COVBU
LORD SALISBURY TO RETIRE
English Premier to Lay Down Dalies of
foreign Secretaryship.
POSSIBLY , ALSO , OF THI PREMIERSHIP
lie Goon to Sonllt of France ( o Ilo-
cuiiernte HU Fnllliinr Power * Sev
ern ! lAnnlrnntn ( or the Office
He Will Vvcntc.
( Ccjiyrlifht , 1S98 , by Press Publishing Company. )
LONDON , March 14. ( New York World
Cablegram Special Telegram. ) Lord Salis
bury's Impending resignation of the foreign
secretaryship , and possibly also of the pre
miership , has caused a sensation In political
circles in London. I tonight saw Schomberg
Macdonncll , Lord Salisbury's principal pri
vate secretary , who , while saying nothing of
the reported resignation , stated :
"It Is true that Lord Salisbury was greatly
fatigued by Ms attendance at the cabinet
meeting held at his private residence In
Arlington street laet Friday. He has since
had a return of the febrllo symptoms of In
fluenza , consequently his lordship's recovery
Is very slow. Sir William Broadbont , who
has been In attendance upon him , Is de
cidedly of the opinion that Lord Salisbury
cannot return to work at the foreign office
until lie has had a complete rest and change.
He will go to the south of France as soon
as he can be moved , and meantime Arthur
Dalfour , first lord cf the treasury and gov
ernment loader In the House of Commons ,
will so far as necessary deal with the cur
rent business of the foreign office. "
The significance of this statement , which
to authorized by Lord Salisbury himself , and
his cabinet colleagues , Is obvious. It Is In
tended to prepare the way for his retirement
from the foreign office , for which , as cabled
recently , thcro Is a general demand even
among his own following.
Lord Salisbury's condition Is so grave that
ho will bo accompanied to the Illverla by
Sir William Droadbent , head of the London
medical fraternity , who will not leave Lon
don under a fee ot $1,250 a day. Lady Salis
bury's health Is also in a very ccrlous con
dition. She Is suffering from dropsy and un
dergoes slight operations for relief with In
creasing frequency.
The names mentioned for the foreign sec
retaryship are the duke of Devonshire , Lord
Lansdowne and Mr. Qoschen , but nothing Is
settled yet. Lord Salisbury's retirement will
bo followed by the adoption of a more vigor
ous foreign policy , much of the trouble now
threatening being attributed to his weak
ness.
EXDAXGUHS TI1K I'KACIi OF KUKOPE.
PoivcfH U'iilit the Unlloil Stntcn to
Leave Hialn > 4innc.
LONDON , March 14. The Paris correspondent
pendent of tbe Tlmea says. "AccorJ'ng to In
formation obtained from good sources the
Austrian emperor Is making great efforts to
Indues the European powers to present to the
United States the danger to Europe ot Its
carrying toy further Its Interference ! Cuban
affairs. Emperor William Is warmly oecond-
Ing the efforts of Emperor Francis Joseph.
The American government Is aware of this
eltuatlon. "
The Vienna correspondent of the Times
telegraphs an abstract of an article In the
St. Petersburg Novoo Vremya , which ho
thinks "deserves attention as giving an ac
curate pointer as to tbe Intent ot at least
three of the powers. "
The Novoe Vremya says the United States
Is well aware that ! n declaring war agalast
Spain it could not count on the approval of
cay of the European powers. All , It alleges ,
would sympathize with Spain , If not actively ,
certainly by categorical protest against Presi
dent McKlnley's conduct. This Is also we'.l
known at Madrid.
Therefore' , ccatlnucs the Novoo Vremya
writer , it is toped that Spa'n will not fall
Into the trap laid by Washington for It has
so far no serious grounds for declaring war
and measures should Immediately be taken
In order that it could have Ho such grounds
ID the future.
The European powers , the correspondent
ccatlnucs , will notify tbe Washington gov
ernment that war Is cot desirable , and It
Is to be hoped that President McKlnleywill
recognize the disadvantage of such general
pressure ar/d not allow lilmaclf to be urged
by American speculators.
GOVEllXOll AIVJJ MI.VI8TRY 'AT OUTS.
CrlHl * in Tlirenteiied In Xew Fonnrt-
lnn l 1'oUtlonl Affair * .
ST. JOHN. N. P. , March 14. The relation *
between the governor , Sic Herbert Murray ,
and the ministry , over the railway bill , are
again strained. At the request of the colonial
nial office a supplementary bill declaring
that the Anglo-American .telegraph com
pany's rights were not affected by the rail
way bill , was enacted , and now tbe governor
refuses to sign the railway bill until the
telegraph company's counsel eays the protec-
tlcn Is sufficient.
The ministers refuse to await such an
arnwer. They say the governor has no right
to consult persona outside the council , and
they den-and his consent to tbo railway bill
Immediately , because spring operations are
dependent on it.
The tariff and revenue bills are delayed ,
and the assembly refuses to pacs the meas
ure extending the rnojus vlvendi on the
French treaty cca.it until heacts. .
Serloua difficulty will soon result unless
the friction is allayed.
IIA11XEY IIAIIXATO'S TRUSTEE SHOT.
Killed net-none He ItefiueM HU Mtir-
ilerer'n llcinniiil far Money.
CAPETOWN , March 14. Mr. Wolf Joel ,
the trustee ot the estate of the late Barney
Darnato , the South African millionaire , was
shot In his office this morning at Johannes
burg by a former soldier.
FeMthrin entered Mr. Joel's office cad de
manded f3,000. Delng refuted he snatched
a revolver from a desk and fired. The bul
let entered Joel's forehead and be felt to
the ground tr.d expired. The murderer at
tempted to commit suicide- but failed.
Aiirnrlnit llevolt Siren l .
LONDON , March 14. A dispatch from
Vienna to the Dally Mull says : "The agra
rian revolt In Hungary li spreading. In a
conflict between the peasants and gendar-
inlcs at Duna FolJvar two peasants were
killed and forty wounded.
Huiiln Withdraw.
( Copyright , Jf98 , by Pre 3 PublliMnr Company. )
6EOUL , Core * , March 14. ( New York
World Cablegram Special Telegram. ) Rus
sia has withdrawn Iti advlaora at Corca's
request.
la BraillUa. MUUter.
LONDON , March 14. Senor Domingo
Dana , tbe BrUlllan minister t Washington ,
bat beta appotoUd mtoUter plenipotentiary
t * Ui court Ot St. J uts.
CASTILLO'S MISSION f6 MADIIID.
'Aiubnusndar Talk * a Hit to
the Pr m7'j * '
( CopyrlirM , U08 , by lTt Put > l | Vtlnff Company. )
MADRID ( via Dayonnc , tfwncc ) , March 14.
( New York World Cablcgrit Special Tel
egram. ) I had a conversation with Leon y
Castillo , Spanish ambassador to Paris , a tall ,
handsome man In thef fifties , with a pleas
ant , Intelligent face and courtcoui manners ,
who Immediately Imprfieea you as an ener
getic , able diplomatist , thoroughly acquainted
with Spanish International politics. He seems
n > otc B/nused than annoyed by contradictory
rumors about the objects ot his coming to
Madrid and alluded with a high bred , good
humored tone to the exaggerations of the
press. He Bald :
"You know It Is not always easy In leltcni
and dispatches even between governments
for their ambassadors to make all matters
completely clear. Much time Is thus lost.
Therefore , a fortnight ago , Sagcsta and the
foreign minister requested me to come to
Madrid , exactly as all European govern
ments fic'iuently do wten they want to dM-
cuso Important questions with their repre
sentatives. Foremost among such matters
there naturally were .xany questions , finan
cial , commercial and political , pending be
tween Franco and Spain , some such ques
tions like the well known railway com
panies' relief project , In which our govern
ment has not yet been able to do or promise
all that French interests desire. It Is of
j
great Importance on account of the bearing I '
It has upon the attitude of the French mar-
kct and financiers toward Spanish finance.
Jndced , this may have bc < ip one of the prin
cipal factors of the recent rapid fall of Span
ish securities. The French precs , like the
press of meat European capitals , shows de
cided sympathy with 'Spain on the Cuban
question. The feeling all iftvcr Europe eeems
Increasing In our favor. My visit to Madrid
was also for the purpose of ascertaining a
knowledge of Cuban affalM and present state
relations and negotiations' with the United
Statea , In order to put me In a better pral-
tlon to speak should such questions be raised
by French ministers and foreign diplomats as
regards the attitude of European powers. "
The ambassador evidently wished to con
vey the Impression of being credited with a
more prominent part In these International
questions than was really ho case. I car-
rlcd away frou th's conversation the con- '
vlctlon that the Spanish ajnbaosador takes j
a hopeful view of the outlook and docs not ]
consider the prospect one of a warlike na
ture. AIITHUH E , HOUGHTON.
NEGOTIATE FOH HEADING'S FM3ET.
Government Axkn "the , ' ) Company to .
Xiuiie Itn Price. i
PHILADELPHIA , March ] 14. The Press
will say tomorrow : A representative of the
United States government has been In the
city several days on a special mission with
the Philadelphia & Rending Railroad com
pany In regard to finding..vtfhat . the company
wants for Its fleet. The question was put to
ono of the officers and h" paid the company
did not deslro to part with Its fleet unless'
It was an absolute necessity , but If there
was a war the company "would do all It
could to help the eovernment.
The government -wants\taknow jvhat .the
company values Its whol [ .flcet at. In case
of war the various vessels , barges and tugs
owned by thU company would be of Immense
sorvlco to the United States for the trans
portation ot coal , as all the beats are built
for this kind of service.
The Philadelphia & Rending Coal & Iron
company haa a large flett. It owns seven
steam colliers , ono having the capacity of
COO tons , flvo the capacity of 1,000 tons each ,
and one of 1,800 tons , ' It ulso has thirty
schosnor sea barges , twp having the capao
Ity of 600 tone each , twenty-one of 1,450 tons
oat-h , six of 1,025 tons ach , and five ot 1,550
'tons each. It also has three seagoing tugs
of great strength. There re eight sound
barges cf from 400 to ,1,255 , tons each , and
six scow barges , flvo liavlng a capacity of
420 tens and one for 200 tons.
Besides these vessels ithd company owns
three tugs in New York harbor and three In
the Delaware river. Thfis brings the com
pany's entire fleet up to/ilxty-slx vessels.
EJII'EIIOH WII.LIA r .NEVER SAID IT.
Ofllclul Uenlnl of Alleged Speech nt n
Private. Party.
BERLIN , March" 14. The North German
Gazette this afternoon , publishes an official
denial of the accuracy of the statement made
by the > Berlln correspondent of the Corre-
spondencla of Madrid to the effect that Em
peror William , at a private dinner party last
week , declared that so long as he Is the
German emperor "the United States shall not
possess themselves ot Cuba. "
Departure of Toriiedo Fleet.
( CopyrlBht. U9S , by I'rcsa Publishing Company. )
*
MADRID. March 14 . ( New 'York World
Cablegram Special Telegram. ) The weather
having Improved Sunday afternoon , the flyIng -
Ing squadrcn under Captain Vlllamll received
orders to start at sunset. Despite the approach
preach ot nightfall the quays and nea walls
of Cadiz were crowdejfwlth people enthusi
astic and eager to glvo tho' squadron a hearty
god speed. The authorities went aboard the
largo transatlantic steamer City of Cadiz ,
flying the commoJore's peaant to take
leave of Vlllamll. His , intcatlon Is to go In
three days to the Canary Islea , thence to
the Cape Verde Isles trid across to Pore
Rico where he will 'await the orders of
Marshal Blanco. Vlllamll t'akea on board the
armed steamer City ofi Cadiz a strong crew
with a reserve ot marl'oes , officers and men
from the torpeJo tratalt'g'Bchool , provisions
and war stores. The squadron Is composed
of destroyers Furor , Pluto , , Terror , 406 tecs ,
seventy-two men , four ojfloers each , commanded
'
manded by a lieutenant , and the torpedo
vessels Rayo , Azor , Arlete ' 120 tcis , twenty-
six men , two officers each , | At 6 In the even-
lg the City of Cadiz steamed out of Cadiz
bay with the three deitroycrs to the lar
board cod the three , torpedo vessels to tbo
starboard , in which orderthe , squadron will
pursue the voyage to- the Canary Isles.
ART1HJR. p. HOUaHTON.
O'lllKKlii" ' Humored Snle.
LONDON , March J4/-tTfco Press asso
ciation says Spain ' baa purchased
the battleship O'Hlgglna , built by the
Armstrongs tor Chill , but , the Chilian charge
d'affaires does not' confirm tbo report. He
says a Chilian crewi for the vessel Is ex
pected hero next week to take tbo O'HIgglns
to Chill.
WASHINGTON , March 14. It Is learned
that Spain baa not secured tbe O'HIgglns
and that Chill will not sell the eblp to Spain ,
lit Is said , furthermore , that Spain has not
and cannot purchase iblpa from either Chiller
or the Argentine Republic.
Rdltora for'Reooffnlclnff Cuba.
TUCSON , Ariz. , March 14. The Arizona
Press association has unanimously adopted
resolution la fnvor ot the recognition of
tbe belligerency of Cuba by the United
States government. The resolution also de
clare * , that President McKlnley will be loyally
sustained In any iry he na y fleem > t to
maintain the honor , dignity and rlcbta ot tha
republic , botk at torn * and broa4.
MRS , IBDRSTON DIES IN CUBA
Wife of the Nebraska Junior Senator is No
Longer Living ,
EXPIRES ON A YACHT IN SAGUA HARBOR
Ilrlef Announcement of the Snil Event
Confirmed by n DlMpnteh front
Coniuil Ornernl I.ee to State
Department.
HAVANA , March 14. Consul General Leo
received the following telegram this after
noon from Walter A. Barker , United States
consul at Sagua La Grande :
"The wife of Senator Thurston ot Ne
braska , died on the Anita today. Shall give
every attc < ntlcn and wire you from Bcarea. "
Meager advices say Mr . Thurston il'ed
of applexy about 8 o'clock this morning ,
" hen the yacht was In sight of port.
. The Anita left Matanzae last night with
all the party except Congressmen Smith and
Cummlngfl , who went by rail to Sagua. The
passage from Havana to Matanzos was very
routli , and that to Sagua cvcci worae.
U Is thought that this , together with Uie
rough passage down the coast , may have
hastened the end , but nothing definite Is
known hcc'e as to the circumstances of Mrs.
ThurstonV ) death , or as to tbe : lmo ? nd
place of the fincral. :
WASHINGTON ADVICES.
WASHINGTON , March 14. ( Special Tele
gram. ) The death of Mrs. Tburjston , wife
of Senator John M. Thurston ot Nebraska ,
was confirmed tonight by the State depart
ment In a telegram frcm Consul General
Leo to Assistant Secretary Day. The cable
gram read : "Mrs. Thurston , wife of Sen
ator Thuraton , died today on board the
yacht Anita , at Sagua Li Grande , Cuba. "
Beyond this nothing has been learned ot
the details of her death up to midnight.
It Is presumed , however , by the State de
partment authorities that Mrs. Thurston was
aflllctcd with the virus , made necessary by
quarantine regulations at Havana , quaran
tine at that port demanding that all per
sons coming from the United States be vac
cinated. The shock of vaccination coupled
with the exceeding stormy voyage preceding
Is thought to have brought about compli
cations which resulted In her death. It is
not known that 'Mrs. ' Thurston was afflicted
with any malady which would develop so
fatally and It Is only conjecture which gives
the reason for the sudden and unexpected
death in the Inoculation of virus and her
sensitiveness to scenes ot misery and
squalor. The State department will do every
thing In Us power to ascertain more fully
the details of her death.
Washington Is profoundly shocked over
the sad termination of the mission of Sen
ator and Mrs. Tliurston to view for them-
j ' selves the situation In Cuba. At a late
i hour tonlglit Assistant Secretary of War
Melklejolm and Senator Allen were told ot
the calamity that had befallen the con-
gresilonal party and at once the cable- was
used"for-the purposo'Cf'siicert lnlng the de
tails. There Is , however , nothing known at
the department beyond the meager cable
gram from Lac announcing the death.
President McKlnley was entertaining a few
friends at dinner , and on being Informed of
the sad occurrcace , expressed himself as
being shocked over Senator Thurston'a sud
den bereavement. Colonel Michael , chief
clerk of the State department , was among
the first to receive the startling Intelligence
and at once communicated the Information
to representatives of the Stale department ,
who expressed themselves In a manner th.it
told how deeply they sympathized with Sen
ator Thurston , In his hour of affliction. Sen
ator Allen cabled Senator Thurston at
Havana In care of Lee as follows : "Your
bereavement greatly shocks Mrs. Allen and
myself. What can wo do for you In your
hour of great affliction ? "
Assistant Secretary of War Melklejolm
cabled Consul Lee at Havana : "If reported
death of ' .Mrs. Thurston Is authentic advise
mo of any service which I can render , " and
to Senator Thurston he wired : "Distress-
Ing Intelligence of 'Mrs. ' Thurston'a death Is
received. Accept my heartfelt sympathy In
jour bereavement. Have me advised of any
service I may render. "
STRANGE PREMONITION.
Mrs. Galllnger , wl.'e ot Senator Galllnger ,
who was one of the party which left hero
on the Anita , but who abandoned the trip
I I after F 82lng through the terrible storm encountered -
'
countered off Cape Hatteras , was seen by
The Bee correspondent this evening. Sbo
related a most remarkable conversation had
with Mra. Thurston in the depot heio be
fore 'tho departure. Mrs. Thurston surprised
her by saying : "I have a premonition ttat I
hall never return allvo from this trip. In
fact , I have placed my fur capo and jewels
with the clerk at the Cairo and have writ
ten my son Clarence at Harvard a fond
good-bye , just as ono would on their death
bed.
bed."My
"My rurpriso at her utterance , " said Mrs.
Galllnger , "caused mo to Inquire why she
would take a trip with such a feeling. To
this she replied : 'Where my hatband goes , I
go.1 "
Those who know Mrs. Thurston'a devotion
to her hunt/and and constant companionship
know that this has been her custom in the
pzat. In fact , Mra. Galllnger declared 'that
the success which has come to Senator
Thuraton has been largely duo to her In
fluence. Speaking of the trip around Capo
Hatterao , Mrs. Galllnger said It was the
worst storm hc bad ever encountered , and
whllo every one on boqrd , even the tailors ,
were laid out with seasickness , Mrs. Thurs-
4on alone wes not affected. When the waves
dashed over her cabin , Instead of screaming
as most women would , she calmly called
out that they would bavo. to move or all be
drowned. Tbo next day alter tbo storm ,
when all were feeling at their worst , Mr.
Thun'ton sat on deck calm and serene and
with a pencil mapped out the plan ot ac-Ilon
to bo pursued on reaching Cuba. When they
landed at Charleston Mr P. Thurston was the
life of the party during the drive around
the city , pointing out places ot Interest ,
she having been there before. "I consider
her , " said Mrs. Galllnger , "ono of the noblest
women I have ever met. "
A telegram to the editor ot Tbe Bee from
the New York World confirms tbo news of
Mrs. Thuriton'a death.
Mrs. John ( M , Thurston wai tbe daughter
of Colonel and MM. Luther Poland , her
maiden name toeing Martha L. Poland. She
waa a niece of Luke P. Poland , one of Ver
mont's greatest character * and statesmen ,
who was chief Justice of the state and
United States senator and representative for
many yeari. She Tvai born in Vermont
about fifty yean ago , being a little younger
than her husband. About twenty-eight
yeari ago * be came to Omaha with her
parenti and made this city her residence
lnc . Colonel Poland died About a year
THE BEE BULLETIN.
Weather Forecait for N brn l _
nainB ; | BSiy wina * .
1. More Kvldencc of SpnnjB BX"71' ' '
Lord Salisbury About t | ]
Mr * . J. M. Thurnton Dli
United State * lluyi Tw |
2. Another War Report If )
Annnnl Itcpart of 1
3 , Nvbrnikn'i School Ep {
It IBVlii it Storm In Oil
4 , Edltorlnl and Connneij
0. Lntest New * of the
Kirntiig4 : of thn Union
0. Council IllurfA Loeiil MAttcrt.
Iowa LegUlntlvo Proceeding * .
7. UencrAl New * of the Farther Weit.
H. Death of Department of thn 1'lntte.
Talk of Telephone Frunchliie.
Fire Deittroy * n Ulg Icr Iloime.
During the afternoon the w.'iul attained
the maximum velocity of thirty-six miles
an hour. Rain began falling at B o'clock
and when the observation was taken an hour
later the gauge showed 0.14 Inches had fallen.
Some rain fell after that hour.
ago. Mrs. Poland Is living and Is now at
the Thurston home in this city.
Senator Thurston , who was at that time
a rising lawyer , and MUs Poland were mar
ried in this city on Christmas day , 1S72.
The silver anniversary of this wedding was
celebrated on Christmas day In this city by
a large reception attended by hundreds of
friends , not only from this state , but from
states In all the western part ot the coun
try. As a result of that union thrco children
are now living. The oldest , n son , Clarence ,
Is 17 years of ago and la attending Harvard
college. The other children arc girls , Grace
and Gene , respectively 14 and 12 years of
age. They are In the city under the care
of iMrs. Poland. Three sona have died.
HER WORK IN LIFE.
Mrs. Thurston was a brilliant woman , She
particularly took a great Interest In the po
litical ambitions of her husband and as
sisted him materially In his campaign work
as counselor. 'During ' Senator Thurston's
last campaign she was present at seventy-
four out of seventy-six engagements. She
worked with him similarly during all his
political struggles and Is accredited with
having contributed largely to his political
preferment. She was his companion also
In legal , work and on ono or two occa
sions In Important cases she even appeared
In the court room with him to offercounsel. .
Mrs. Thurston was a woman of artlflllc
mlad. She was literary lo her tastes and
was the author of a number of literary com
positions of QO lltllo merit. She achieved
more than local reputation as a painter ,
her homo being adorned with many excellent
specimens of her hsr.dlwcrkrv-Bhef wa al
an enthusiastic collector of-raro china of
which slio gathered a valuable collection. She
waa too much bulled In tbo welfare of her.
husband anl family to seek prominence In
social or other circles , yet moved In the best
society. She displayed considerable Interest In
the Society of the Daughters of the American
*
can Revolution , ot which body she was a
member. She was recently elected to the
vice presidency ot the national organization.
The friends of Mrs. Thurston remarked
frequently upon her devotion to her family.
She would not allow tbo daughters to attend
the public schoo's , probably as a result of
the fact that two of those who are burled
died from diphtheria supposed to bavo been
contracted while at school. Although a gov
erness was iri charge of the children , she
herself directed their education. When
Clarence , the son , waa 12 years of age
ho entered the High school In which ho
showed hs ! homo training by graduating
with honors a year ago.
No Information fcaa been , received regardIng -
Ing the arrangements for the funeral , but the
body will probably be brought to this city
anl will be Interred beside that ot her
father.
Mrs. Newman , a sister of Mr. Thuraton ,
arrived in the city at midnight from Lin
coln and went Immediately to the Thurston
'
residence. She found 'Mrs. Poland , Mrs.
Thurston'B mother , quite 111 and In a very
frail condition. It U feared that when the
whole truth must bo broken to he * that the
effect may.fodanger her life.
REGRETS 'OF HER ASSOCIATES.
The Omaha chapter of 'Daughters of the
American Revolution held a meeting laet
evening at the residence of A. P. Tukey.
They were Just getting started on an Inter
esting program when given Information of
the death of Mrs. John M. Thurston , who
was a charter member of the Omaha chap
tcr end vice president of the national so
ciety , having been re-elected for a second
term at the recent meeting In Washington.
The members of the society could hardly
credit the report , as the last word receive !
frcm Mrs. Thurston only a few days ago
she wee said to have been in excellent
health. Upon , being assured that the report
was undoubtedly true , the expressions of re
gret were general and of the most sincere
character. The mee < tlng was at once ad
Journed after the passing of suitable reso
lutions on the death of Mrs. Thurston.
WILL UK IIUIUKD 'AT '
Xntliinnl Cemetery to He Flnnl llent-
Inir I'lnee for Geiiernl Hoxccrnnx.
LOS ANQEUBS , Cal.j , .March 14. At 10
o'clock tomorrow the to'ody of the late Gen
eral W. < S. Rosecranswill be conveyed un
der military escort from the undertaking
parlors where they have been since his
death , to the council chamber of Commerce
hall , there to lie In state until the funeral
Wednesday morning.
The pallbearers tomorrow will bo chosen
from city and county officers and members
of the Chamber of Commerce and Free
Harbor league. The military escort will be
furnished by General Last of the National
Guar } .
On Wednesday morning the funeral ser
vices will be held at tbo cathedral , the
bishop presiding , after which the body will
be taken to Rosedale , there to remain In
a vault until It can bo conveyed to Arling
ton cemetery , Washington , D. C. , to bo
finally Interred.
Many telegrams and letters of condolence
have been received by tbe children of Gen
eral Roiecrani. One from President McKln
ley ipeaks In very feeling terms of bis ok
commander.
The Hit of pallbearers forWednesday's
ceremony has not yet been announce ! ,
Too III to lie Tried.
NEW YORK. March 14. Civil Engineer
A. O. Menocal of the navy , who'e court
martial was to begin tomorrow , is stl I un
der the care of a physician. The trial prob
ably will b postponed until further order *
BUY TWO WAR SHIPS
favy Department Scouras the Craisr :
Built for Frazil ,
ABE SAID TO BE FIRST CLASS VtSSFLS
Pact of the PnrchMe is Confirmed bj
Washington Officials.
POSSESSION IS GIVEN IMMEDIATELY
United Etatos Flag Will Be Hoisted to
Mastheads at Once ,
THIS IS A SCOOP ON THE SPANIARDS
Mnilrlil fin erniueiit'N K < > Hiitlon
Are Ileiuleil UIT Ill-online Uncle
i Sum 11 ml tlie Cnnh to
WASHINGTON , March 14. A week's n .
Reflations closed today by the triumphant
purchase by the Navy department , In Lon
don , of the two flno cruisers , Anmzonna and
Admiral .Abreauall , built and building at
Slswcck for the Brazilian government ,
'osslbly the officials took more pleasure In
closing up the business In this manner , bc-
eauso of the knowledge that the Spanish
agents had been striving to secure thcso
very ships , to whom , It la said , they would
jo of much greater value In case of trouble
than to the United States.
The next question Is how to get the ships
home , and that has not been settled , nc-
cordlng to the secretary of the navy. Tim
Jnlted States flag will bo hoisted over the
new ships within a week probably , and Just
as soon as the crow can bo put aboard the
Amazonns It will start for the United
States. The other vessel will follow at the
earllcHt possible moment. The terms of sale
are secret.
The availability of the two Brazilian ship *
was first brought to the attention ot the
Navy department by Mr. Laltie , agent of
Iho Maxlm-Nordenfcld company , who was.
authorized to dispose of tin-so ships , and two
others In course of construction In Trance.
Mr. Lalno said today that the two ships pur
chased would be a most desirable acquisi
tion to the American navy , as they were the-
latest and best products ot the famous Arm
strong yards.
Ono of the ships Is complete In every re
spect , has Its coal supply and ammunition
on board , and steam can bo raised at any
time. Thcro will bo no trouble In bring
ing this chip across , as an adequate force
from the local yards can be secured for the
service. It Is said the coal and ammuni
tion on board passed with the sale to the
United States. The ammunition Is not all
of the kind In use by the United State *
navy , BO that a supply of ammunition IB a
necessary adjunot p the new nhlps.
> The other ship has been launched , but It
will take come tlmo to make It ready for
tea. . Mr. Lalne believes there will bo no
difficulty In bringing It over Immediately It
It is desired to make the move without delay ,
as the hull of the strip Is BO well along that
it could * o towed and its own sail power
utilized for the trip acro&s.
ARD VALUABLE ADDITIONS.
The two Brazilian vessels will bo extremely
u.sciiil additions to the United States navy
In cither war or peace , In the opinion ot
Secretary Lang , who acknowledges they have
been bought by the United States. They are
steel sheathed and coppered , with twin
screws , and will bo the first cruisers of our
navy to embody that construction , sheath
ing , for which Chief Constructor Hlchborn
has worked earnestly for many years past.
Ho finally succeeded In having some of the
smaller gunboats constructed on this princi
ple.
ple.Tho
The Amazonafl Is rated at 3,000 tons dis
placement , with Indicated horsepower under
natural draught of 7,000 , which Is calculated
to develop twenty knots speed. Thus , whllo
the sh'ip Is about the slzo of the Charleston ,
it is much faster. Its armament Is much
more formidable , not so much in caliber ,
for the main battery is made up of six six-
Inch guns , but thcs6 guns , as well as the
four coven-Inch guns , are what are known
as flfty-calibtr lengths , giving them an un
usual range and power. In addition to tills
they have ten six-pounders , quick firing ;
four one-pounders , four Maxim machine
guns and two boat or field gun.i. The torpedo
tubes are three In number. The coal ca
pacity la 850 tons , giving It an effective
steaming radius of 8,000 knots , a most valu
able feature , Inasmuch aa It would enable
the ship to cross and rccross the Atlantic
without coaling. Such a vessel Ubcd as a
commerce1 destroyer would bo vastly more
effective than more powerful craft , bccauto
ot its ability to get along on long cruises
without touching in at neutral ports to coal ,
and thus exporting Itself to capture.
The cruisers carry no armor In the or
dinary sense , but their machinery la pro
tected from the flro of guns by an arched
steel deck jut below the water line , varying
In thickness from 1.2 to\3.5 Inches. The bat
tery has an unuHUal train , being arranged to
flro three ahead and thrco astern of the prin
cipal gUTlfi.
SHORT OP ENGINEERS.
A dangerous deficiency In the engineer
branch of the navy has been brought to light
etrlktugly In the fact that It la ( scarcely pcs *
slblo to eccuro a staff of engineer officers
to bring back to the United States any of tho'
ships purchased abroad ,
A short tlmo ago , when orders were given
to rush the work of putting the crulner Chicago
cage in Bhapo for active service , the en-
glneer-ln-chlef proposed that he would bavo
the ship ready In three months InaUnd of
six. as estimated. To do this ho would work
forces day and night and to keep them at
the work be would place an engineer olllcer
aboard the ship , to stay thcro day and night.
Passed Assistant Engineer Dlxcn was
chosen for the work , but ho had not been
employed more than a week before It waa
found necessary to detach him In order to
find an engineer olllcer to act a a moznber
of the board appointed to examine auxiliary
crulserx.
This state of affairs has been brought to
the attention of the house naval committee ,
but no far , It la feared , without meeting that
degree of success which was hoped for In
tbo stmpo of an amendment Increasing tha
number of engineer officers In the tervlce.
Colonel Hoywood , commandant ot tbe ma
rine corps , today made fUo details ot ma
rines for crulters now rrady for commls-
Mon. There are two drafts of forty-flvo
each for the Philadelphia and the Charles
ton at Mare Island , one ot fifty-two for the
Newark at Norfolk and two of thirty * .ch
for the Columbia an-1 Minneapolis at League
Inland.
Scca.or 1'roctor vUltcd the White HOUM