-V
Ike ml - SStoWM 8tiwf .
JLRAIi BARE, Editor ajto PxoFxrwroft
8UBBCSIPTI0K RATES.
Oae Year, eb Is advance, tL2&
SizMoatba, eaak In. advaaw 75 GeBte
EaierexJ attBBortbPla(KebiJpoatofteeaa
aeooBd-ol&wHaattar.
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1898.
REPUBLICAN TICKET.
ITor Mayor
JOHN BRA.TT.
For Treasurer
JOHN SORENSON. .
For Clerk
F. R. GINN.
For Engineer
C. P, ROSS.
For Councilman, 1st ward
JOHN ALEXANDER.
For Councilman. 2d ward
W. R. VERNON.
For Councilman, 3d ward
Jj. B. ISENHART.
For Members Bd. of Education-
ROBERT SHUMAN.
H. T. RICE.
Fitzhugh Lee is being- talked of
as a running1 mate for Bryan in
1900. In this case the tail would
be heavier than the head.
Not a word of complaint is heard
about the manner in which Fred
Ginn has conducted the business of
the office of city clerk. He is an
excellent man in the position and
will be retained for another year by
the voters.
Nine-tenths of the heaviest tax
payers in North Platte will cast
their ballot for John Bratt for
mayor. This does not look as
though they. - think ; Mr. Bratt
will act unfairly in the waterworks
case.
"When men likefMajor Walker,
who have known John Bratt for
twenty-five years, say they know
nothing- but good of Mr. Bratt. the
average voters who are not so well
acquainted with him can rest as
sured that Mr. Bratt is deserving
of their votes.
It might prove interesting to
some people to look over the rec
ords of the city clerk and see how
often the marshal has been in
structed to notify M. C. Keith tode
sist in hauling- dirt'from the streets
of North Platte.
It is generally believed that
Franklin Peale has been put up as
a straw jnan to catch votes which
would otherwise go to John Bratt,
thus making Mr. Sullivan's chances
of election all the better. The
scheraewill not,however,work".
- According: to the Department of
Agriculture statistics there are six
million tess cattle and tour million
less hogs in the country than there
herein d895. This being the case
the outlook for a continuation of
the present high prices is good.
In the present campaign the men
who do the loudest howling are the
ones who pay the least tax. Some
- of those, who are jumping on the
waterworks company with both
feet have not paid a cent of taxes
in thepast five years. Great re-
0 formers are thej.
The district court ot Lancaster
county has handed down a decision
affirming the validity of the 1887
anti-gambling law, by which gam
bling is made a felony punishable
with imprisonment. There has
been much talk of late years of the
invalidity of the law, though this
islhe first-time a court has passed
, po.its validity.
The first eight months of the
. present fiscal year show an in
crease of 5138.000,000, in the "bal
ance of trade m favor of the United
States'over the same period of the
last fiscal year. If our- imports
. continue to decrease and our ex
ports to increase there is no way in
which prosperity to -the people of
the United States can be blocked.
It is 'pertinent to ask what bene
.fits the people of North Platte are
receiving from the city taxes they
pay. Theyarecompelled to stumble
over dilapidated sidewalks at night,
tramp through mud by reason of
lack of crosswalks, the police pro
tection offered by the marshal
amounts to nothing, and the streets
are rapidly getting" in bad condi
tion, By a wise expenditure of
the city money Mr. Bratt when in
the mayor's chair, wfll gVc the
people gome benefit for the taxes
they pay.
Several thousand dollars col
lected a taxes for hydrant rntsl
are now ia the hfcmk o( tkc county
treasurer wftitiJHf tint result t the
suit of the waterworks company
agaimt tfce city. The city ts no
lfliref: on ttese (undMt Unto the
flitter kad is comptti to pay in
Urmt th toll oi ik twzbr
work company which Jn itutit
t t ite mi &( xh&tl $230 per
.AKWift, it U quit ttfctri tfct th
ttf wfcl fcce io. pay $m, &mQm
N REPORT,
President- Bequests Congress
to Carefully. Consider It.'
STILL HAS FAITH EST PEACE
Meres That Spain Will Act Honor
ably In the Matter.
HKDHTGS 0P 00UST 0P INQUIRY.
JCnine Was Wreeked fey a Mine Beard
Usable tm Tlx RwpeHalbllity far tact
XHter Cap tela xeae rated
Frem All Blame.
Washington, March 28. Tho presi
dent today sent the following message
to congress :
To the Congress of the United States:
3Tor some time prior to the visit of the
Maine to Havana harbor our consular
.representatives pointed out tho advan
tages to follow from the visit or na
tional ships to the Onban waters, in ac
customing the people to the presence of
pur flag as the symbol of good will and
of our shins in the fulfillment of the
mission of protection to American in
terests, even though no immediate need
therefor might exist.
Accordingly, on the 24th of January
last, af ter a conference with the Span
ish minister, in which the renewal of
visits of our war vessels to Spanish
Liar com .
TbTTEK;
CAfT. SAMPSON
BOAED OF IKQUnir.
waters was discussed and accepted, the
peninsular authorities at Madrid and
Havana were advised of tho purpose of
this government to resume . friendly
naval visits at Cuban ports, and that in
that view the Maine would forthwith
call at the port of Havana. This an
nouncement was received by the Span
ish government with appreciation of
the f riendly character of the visitof
the Maine and with the notification
of the intention to return the courtesy
by sending Spanish ships to the prin
cipal porta of the United States. Mean
while, the Maine entered the port of
Havana of the 25th of January, her ar
rival being marked. with no special in
cident besides the exchange of cus
ternary salutes and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor
of Havana during the. three wee"ks
following her arrival. No appreciable
excitement attended her stay. On the
contrary, a feelings of relief and confi
dence followed tho resumption of the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
So noticeable was this immediate effect
of her visit that the consul general
strongly nrged that the presence of. our
ships in Cuban waters should be kept
up by retaining them at Havana, or in
the event of her Tecall, by sending
their vessel there to take her place.
At 9 :45 in the evening, of the loth of
February, the Maine was destroyed by
an explosion, by which the entire for
ward part of the ship was utterly
wrecked. In this catastrophe two offi
cers, and 260 of her crew perished, those
who were not killed outright lay her
explosion being penned between decks
by the tangle of wreckage, and drowned
by the immediate sinking of the hull.
Prompt assistance was rendered by
the neighboring vessels anchored In the
harbor, aid being especially given by
the boats of the Spanish crniser Alfon
so XTTI and the Ward line steamer City
of Washington, which lay not far dis
tant. The wounded were generously
cared for by the authorities of Havana,
the hospitals being freely opened to
them, while the earliest recovered
bodies of the dead were .interred by the
municipality in a public cemetery in
the city. Tributes of grief and sym
pathy were offered from all official
quarters of the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of our country with crushing
force and for a brief time an intense
excitement prevailed, which in a com
munity loss just and self-controlled
than ours, might have led to hasty acts
of blind resentment. This spirit, how
ever, soon gave away to the calmer
processes of reason and to the resolve to
investigate the facts and await the ma
terial proof before forming a judgment
as to the cause, the responsibility and,
if the facts warranted, the remedy due
This course necessarily recommended
itself from the outset to the executive,
for only in the light of a dispassionately
ascertained certainty could it determine
the nature and measure of its full duty
in the matter.
The usual procedure was followed, as
ia all cases of casualty or disaster to
national vessels of any maritime state.
A naval court of inquiry-was at once
organized, composed of officers well
qtiallnsd by rank and practical experi-
A SLlOUis irl lias made a new
record or prompt repartee. Pro
voked by remark from a fresh
young man, she retorted by basting
u'an with ari&tiron.
Cimrt Ca&dy Oathartk?, the most
pMMtiitHi rtffftiii& to tbi tJtoty act
Xtmtiy ih5 podtivdy a kidney, livsr,
urn nowmtL mmmng us hwm ywtm
fite torn m hJ&, l?f, b'
Ifom m iff tetf o(0, &p, to
nrunn
LNII
0LI1U0
toco, to discharge th oaerous duty im-
poeedapon them. Aided by a strong
force of wreckers and divers, the court
proceeded to raake a thorongh investiga
tion cm the spot, employing every avail
able mean for the impartkd aad exact-
determination of the "causes of the ex
plosion. Its operations have been con
ducted with the utmost deliberation and
judgment, and-whilo independently
pursued, no source of information was
neglected and the fullest opportunity
was allowed for a simultaneous investi
gation by the Spanish authorities.
I'iBdiBgs ef ike Board.
The finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after 23 days of continuous
labor, on-March 21, and having been
approved on the. 22nd by the comman
der-in-chief of tho United States naval
force on the North Atlantic station.was
transmitted tQvthe executive. It is here
with laid before the congress, together
with the voluminous testimony taken
before the court. Its purport is in brief,
as follows: When the Maine arrived
at Havana she was conducted by the
regular government pilot to buoy No.
4, to whioh sho was moored in from
five and one-half .to six fathoms of
water.
Tho state of discipline on board, and
the condition of her magazines, boilers,
coal bunkers and storage compartments
are passed in review, with the concur
sion that excellent order prevailed, and
that no indication of any cause for an
internal explosion existed in any quar
ter.
At 8 o'clock, on the evening of Feb.
15, everything had been secure and all
was quiet. At 9 :40 o'clock the vessel
was suddenly destroyed. There were
two distinct explosions, with a brief in
terval between them. The first lifted
the forward part of the ship very per
ceptibly ; the second, which was more
prolonKed, is attributed by the court
to the partial explosion of two or more
of the forward magazines.
The evidence of the divers establishes
l that the after part of the ship was prac
tically intact, and sank in that condi
tion a very few minutes after the ex
plosion.
At frame 17, the outer shell of the
.ships, from a poin( feet from the
middle line of the ship and six feet
above the keel when in its normal po
sition, has been forced up so as to be
now about four feet above the surface
of the water: therefore, about 34 feet
above where it would be had the ship
sunk uninjured.
The outside bottom plating is bent
into a reversed "V" shape, the after
wing of which, about 15 feet broad and
88 feet in length (from frame 17 to
frame 25), is doubled back upon itself
against the continuation of the same
plating extending forward.
At frame 18 the .vertical keel is broken
in two and the keel bent into an angle
similar to tho angle formed for the
outside plates. This break is about six
feet below the surface ot the water and
about SO feet above its normal position.
In the opinion of the court thil effect
could have been produced only by the
explosion of a mine situated under the
bottom of the ship, at about frame 18
and somewhat on the port side of the
ship.
Conclusions of the Court.
The conclusions of the court are-:
That the loss of the Maine was not in
any respect due to fault or negligence
on the part of any ' of the officers or
members of her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by the
explosion of a submarine mine, which
caused the partial explosion of two or
more of her forward magazines ; and,
That no evidence has been obtainable
fixing the responsibility for the des
truction or the Mame upon any person
or persons.
I have directed that the finding of
the court of inquiry and the views of
this government thereon be communi
cated to the government of her majesty,
the queen, and I do not permit myself
to doubt the sense of justice of the
Spanish nation will dictate a course of
action suggested by honor and the
friendly relations of the two govern
ments. It was tho duty of the executive to
advise the congress of the result, and
in the meantime deliberate considera
tion is invoked.
Signed. William MoKinley.
Executive Mansion, March 28,1898.
In neither senate nor house was there
any debate in reference to the presi
dent's message. It was refered to the
committee on foreign relations under
the rules. The houe adjourned early
out of respect to Hepresntative Simp-
kins of Massachusetts.
MAINE BOAED'S EEPORT.
Ship Blown Up by a Mine Exploded Un
der Port Side Second Explosion, That
of Two Magazine, Follows Siga
bee Exonerated.
Washington, March 28. Tho follow
ing is the full text of tho report of the
court of inquiry :
U. S. S. Iowa, Key West, Fla.,
March 21. After full and mature con
sideration of all of the testimonv Tiefore
it, the court finds as follows :
1. That the United States battleship
Maine arrived in the harbor of Havana,
Cuba, on Jan. 25, 1898, and was taken
to buoy No. 4, in from five and one-
half to six fathoms of water, by the
regular government pilot. The JJnited
States consul general at Havana had
notified the authorities at that place the
previous evening of the intended ar
rival of the Maine.
2. The state of discipline on board
tho Maine was excellent, and all orders
and regulations in regard to the care
and safety- to the ship were strictly car
ried out. All ammunition was stored
away in accordance with instructions,
and proper care was taken whenever
ammunition was handled. Nothing was
stowed in any one of the magazines or
shell rooms, which was not permitted to
be stowed there The magazines and
ihell rooma are always locked after
John Keldel, a butcher of Eau
Claire. Wis., induced Mrs. Olegard
Jacobson to enter his ice box on
pretense of showing her something-
and then kissed Her. As a result
of this exceedingly cool proceeding
the lady has very properly brought
a $1,200 damage smt. The cold
Bile contracted while in the ice box
niirht have resulted in an attack of
pneumonia.
(&&d ditufirtic? dure ooBetipatfou j
mmfi i& if a v. a run, amui i
Awarded
Highest HonorsWorld's Fair.
Gold Medal, MMwfcvlir Fair.
vWCfir
CREAM
A Pare Grape Creta f Tartar Panticr.
40 YEARS THE STANDARD,
having been opened,; nd after th de
struction of tho Maine, tho keys were
found in their proper place in the cap
tain's cabin, everything having been
reported secure that evening at 8 p. m.
The temperatures of the magazines and
shell rooms were taken daily and , re
ported. The only magazine which had
an undue amount of. heat was the after
10-inch magazine, and that did not ex-
ode at the time the Maine was de
royed. Tho torpedo war heads were
all stowed in the after part of the ship
nnder. tho wardroom, and neither
caused nor participated in the destruc
tion of the Maine. The drjr guncottoa
primers and detonators were stowed in
the cabin aft and remote from the scene
of the explcsi m. The waste was care
fully looked after on board tho Maine
to obviate danger. Special orders . in
reg'ard to this had been given by the
.commanding officer. Varnishes, aryers,
alcohol and other combustibles of this
nature were stowed on or above the
main deck and could not have had. any
thing to do with the destruction of the
Maine.
The medical stores were stowed aft
under the ward room, and remote from
the scene of the explosion. 2To danger
ous stores of any kind were stowed be
low in any of tho other storerooms.
The coal bunkers were inspected. Of
those bunkers adjoining the forward
magazines and shell rooms, four were
empty, namely : BS, B4, Bo, B6. "A15'-'
had been in use that day and "A16"
was full of New Uiver coal. This coal
had been carefully inspected before re
ceiving it on board. The bunker in
which it was stowed was accessible on
three sides at all times, and the fourth
side at this time on account of bunkers
B4 andB6 being empty. This bunker,
A1U, had been inspected that day by the
engineer officer on duty. The fire
alarms in the bunkers were in working
order, and there had never been a case
of spontaneous combustion of coal on
board the Maine. The two after boilers
of the ship were in use at the timo of
the disaster, for auxiliary purposes
only, with a comparatively low pressure
of steam, and being tended by a reliable
watch. These boilers could not have
caused the explosion of the ship. The
fonrforword boilers have since been
found by the divers, and are in a fair
condition. ,
On the night of the destruction of
the Maine every thing had been reported
secure for the night a; 8 p. m. by relia-.
ble persons, tlirough the proper author
ities, to the commanding officer. At
the time the Maine was destroyed the
ship was quiet, and, therefore, least
liable to accidont caused by movements
from those on board.
h. The destruction of the Maine oc
curred at 9 'AO p. m., on Feb. 15, 1898,
in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, being
at the time moored in the same buoy
to which she had beau taken upon her
arrival. The forward part was com
pletely demolished.
Upon tho evidence of concurrent ex
ternal cause the finding of the court is
as follows:
There were two explosions of a dis
tinctly different character, with a
very shore but distinct interval between
them, and the forward part of the 3hip
was lifted to a marked degree at the
time of the first explosion.
The first explosion was more in the
nature of a report, like that of a gun,
while the second explosion was more
open, prolonged and of greater volume.
This second explosion was, in the opin
ion of the court, caused by the partial
explosion of two or more of the forward
magazines of the Maine.
The Condition of tho Wreck,
4. The evidence bearing on this, be
ing principally obtained from divers,
did not enable,,) he conrt to form a defi
nite conclusion a5 to the condition of
the wreck, although it was established
that the after part of the ship was
practically intact, and sank in that con
dition a very few minutes after the de
struction of the forward part.
The following facts in . rogard to the
forward part of tho ship are, however,
established by the testimony :
That portion of the port side of the
protective deck, which extends from
about frame 30 to about frame 41, was
blown up aft and over to port, The
main deck, from about frame 80 to'abont
frame 41, was blown up afc z.nd slight
ly over to starboard, folding the for
ward part of the middle superstructure
over and on top of the after part. This
was, in the opinion of the court, caused
by the partial explosion of two or more
of the forward magazines of the Maine.
5. At frame 17, the outer shell of the
ship, from a point eleven and one-half
feet from the middle line of the ship,
and six feet above tho keel, when in its
normal position, Tias been forced up so
as to be now about fonr feet, above the
surface of thewaterr therefore " about1
thirty four feet above nvhere it 'would
f?e had the ship sunkunin j ured. The out
side.ljQttQm. plating is bent into a re-
yersed Y shape, the after wing of
which about lh feat hroad and 2
in length (from framedfQ?ifraihe 25)
js doubled back upon iteeK,gat ts.
continuation of the same-plating exr
tending forward.
At frame 18 thevertie&Llseelig broken
in two, and the fiat lee$bent into an
angle similar to the-&9gle formed fey
the outside bottom g3ating This break
is now about six feetbetew the surface
&f the water and aboat ,90 feet above
Its normal position.
In the opinion of the comrtf this ef
fect could have Da produced loaly by
the explosion of a mine sitmded under
the bottom of the ship at about frame
lit, and somewhat on the port aide of
the ahip.
Tho co art lads, that the lees of tae,
ix ay respect one to iauit or negn
Mace on the part of asr of the officers
or . members of the ore w of said veaeeL
.7, la the opinion, of the court the
Maine was destroyed by tho explosion
or submarine mine, which caused the
partial explosion of two or more of her
forward magazines. 6 -, .
8. The court has been uaabHivto ob-
sin evidence fixing the. responsibility
For the destruction of the Mama, upon
any persoa or persons. -
"W. T. Sampsok.
Captain IT. N., President.
A.Makix.
Lieut. Com, TJ7S. ET., Jadgo Advocate.
SbsICR PowelseL.' -Testimony.
TheJfollowing'areportioag ot the tea
timony : Ensign "W.V. K". Powelson
was called the third day of the court. He
testified that he had been present on
the Maine cverr day from tha arrival
pt the' boat Pern and during a great
deal of the diving.
In reply to a question to tell the court
all about the condition of the wreck, he
said the forward part of the ship for
ward the after smokestack had been to
all appearances completely destroyed.
The conning tower lay in a position op
posite the door leading to the super
structure aft and to starboard, inclined
at.'about 110 degreo? to the vertical,
with the top of the, conning tower on
board. Continuing, he described with
close detail the condition under the
main deck on tho port side. The fix
tures were completely wrecked, while
fixtures in the same position on the
starboard side were in some cases al
most intact. The bulkhead between
the main and berth decks at the con
ning tower supports had been blown
aft on both sides, but a great deal
more on the port than on the starboard
side. The fireroom hatch immediately
abaft of the connins? tower had been
blown in three directions, aft, to star
board, and to port. The protective deck
under the conning tower supports was
bent in two directions.
A piece of tho side plating just abaft
of the starboard turret was visible
This plate was bent outward and then
the forward end bent upward and
folded backward upon itself. This
plate was sheared from the rest of the
platincr below the water line. This
plating below the water line has been
pushed out to starboard. The armored
gratings of the engine room hatch were
blown off. A composition strainer was
picked up from the starboard quarter at
a point about opposite the poop capstan
and about 70 feet from it. The chief
engineer thought the strainer was from
the firemen's washroom. It was not a
strainer in the ship's side.
Near the piece of outside plating to
which witness referred above he sa d
there were pieces of red Bhellaced
planxs. Un these planes was bolted, a
composition track two inches wide and
an inch thick.
He thought the ship on the port side
wa3 entirely gone opposite a point indi
cated on a diagram handed to the court.
It was entirely blown1 up.
Captala Stgsbee's Testimony.
Captain Sigsbee, in testifying before
the court-of inquiry which convened in
the harbor of Havana, Monday, Feb
21, said that he assumed command of
the Maine on April 10, 1897, and that
his ship arrived in tho harbor of Ha
vana the last time Jan. 2-4, 1898. The
authorities at Havana knew of the
Maine's coming, Consul General Lee
having lnrormea tne authorities, ac
cording to official custom. After he
to k on an official pilot sent by the cap
tain of the port of Havana the ship was
berthed in the man of war anchorage
off the Machina, or the Shears,, and ac
corning to his understanding was one
of the regular buoys of the place.
no tnen stated ciiac tie nau oeen in
Havana in 1872 and again in 18'.)3. He
could not scare wnetner tne Maine was
placed in the usual berth of men-of-war,
but said that he had heard remarks
since the explosion, using Captain
Stevens, temporarily in command of
the "Ward line steamer City of "Wash
ington as authority, for the statement
that he had never known in all his ex
perienee: which covered visits to-Havana
.for fivo or six years, a lnaurof-war to be
anchored at that buoy : that he had
rarely known merchant vessels to be
anchored there -and that it was the
least u3od buoy in the harbor. In de3
oribbag the surrounding when first
nipored to this buoy Captain Sigsbee
stated that the Spanish man-of-war
Aifonzo XII was moored an the posi
tion now occupied by the Fern, about
250 yards to tho northward and west
ward of tha Maine. The Gorman ship
Grie3nanwas anchored at the berth
now occupied by tho Spanish man-of-war
LeGaspe which is about 400 yards
about- due north from the Maine.
He then located the German man-
of-war Charlotte which camo into the
Tiarbor a day or two later, which was
anchored to the southward of the
Maine's berth about 400 or 600 yards.
In describing the surroundings at the
time of the explosion, Captain Sigsbee
stated that the night was calm and
stilL The Alfonso XII was at the same
herth- The small Spanish dispatch
boat Le Gaspe had come out tho day
before and taken the berth of the Ger
man manrof -war, the Gricsouau, which
had. left. Thp steamer Cjty of Wash
ington was anchored about 200 yards to
'the south and east of the Maine's stern,
slightly on tho port quarter.
The Maine coaled at Ioy West, tak
ing on about 150 tons, the coal being
rOgularly inspected and taken from the
government coal pile. This coal was
placed generally In the forward bunk
ers. No report was received from the
chief engineer that any coal had been
too long in the buu'cerj and that the
fire alams. in the bunkers are sensitive,
"Insofar as the regulations regarding
inflammables and paints on board, Cap
tain Sigsbee testified that the regula
tions were strictly carried out in regard
to storage and that the waste also was
subject to the same careful disposition.
As to the situation of the paint room
he fixed it as in tlje "eyes of the ship,,"
just below the berth deck, the extreme
forward compartment. As, for the disr
ppiition of Inflammables, t)iey were
stowed in chests according tp the regur
ifcftions and when inflammables, were in
excess of chest papacity they were air
lowed to be-iept in tba bath room of the
admiral's cabin. Regarding tho electric
plant of -the Maiue. Captain Sigsbee
slated that thirs was ac serious ground
upi, nor sudden flaringup of tho lights
before tho explosion, but a sudden and
total collap3o. Speaking generally of
lik relations with the Spanish author
itief , Captain Sigsbee slated that with
ta officials tuftv were oatwardiy co
coaacil ot the government, nowever,
seem to have brought to the attention
.t the navy department the fact that
he did rat nat them and tkvt f; ct
brought embarrassment to the govera
meat at Washington. He took the
ground to the department that it was
unknown etiquette to call on the civil
members of the colonial government
other than the governor. Without
waiting for such an order Captain Sigs
bee made a visit afterwards and, as
stated, was pleasantly received and his
visit promptly returned by certain
members of the council. Later a party
of ladies and gentlemen called and the
president of the council, made a speech,
which Csptain Sigsbee could not under-,
stand, but which was interpreted to him
briefly, to which he replied.
My reply," said Captain Sigsbee,
"was afterwards printed in at least two
papers in Havana, but the terms made
me favor autonomistic government in
the island. 1 am informed that the
auton niistic government in Havana is
unpopular among a large class of Span
ish and Cuban resident. I have no
means of knowing whether my appar-
rent interference in the .political con
cerns of the island had any relation to
the destruction of the Maine."
When asked whether there was any
demonstration of animosity by people
afloat, Captain Sigsbee said that there
never was on shore, as he was in
formed, br- there was afloat. He then
related that on the first Sunday after
the Maine's amval a ferryboat,crowded
densely with people, civil and mili
tary, returning from a bull fight in
Begla, passed the Maine, and about 40
people on board indalged in yells,
whistles and derisive calls. During the
stay in Havana Captain Sigsbee took
more than ordinary precautions for the
protection of the Maine by placing sen
tries on the forecastle and poop.
He said ho had given orders to the
master-at-arms and an order to keep a
careful eye on everybody that came on
board, and to carefully observe any
packages that might beheld on tho sup
position that dynamite or other high
explosives might be employed and aft
erwards to inspect the routes these peo
ple had taken, and never to lose sight
of the importance of the order. He
states that very few people visited the
ship, Lieutenant Commander Wain-
wright being rather severe on desul
tory visitors. There were only two vis
its of Spanish military officers. Once a
party of five or six Spanish officers came
on board but according to the captain
they were constrained and not desirous
of accepting much courtesy. This visit
was during the absence of the captain.
He said he made every effort to have
the Spanish officers visit the ship to
show good will according to the spirit
of the Maine's visit to Havana, but with
exceptions stated no military officers of
Spain visiteo the ship socially.
Coasal General Iiee a Testimony.
Consul General Fitzhugh Lee ap
peared before the court on March 8.
His testimony related to the official
formalities preceding the Maine's ar
rival. On Jan. 24 he received a mes
sage from the stato department saying
that the Maine would be sent to Ha
vana on a inendiy visit to resume tne
regular status of naval relations be
tween the two countries, and he was
ordered to make arrangements at the
palace for the interchange of official
courtesies. -Af ter a call at the palace
he sent the state department a cipher
dispatch, saying :
"Authorities profess to think the
United States has ulterior purpose in
sending the ship. Say it will obstruct
autonomy and produce excitement, and
most probably a demonstration. Ask
that it not be done till they can get in
structions from Madrid. Say that if
for friendly purpose, as claimed, delay
is unimportant.
It was too late, however, the Maine
had already sailed. She arrived next
day, and Lse reported her arrival to
the state department.
Gnnncr Olsen'4 Testimony.
Chief Gunner's Mate Olsen of the
United States steamer Iowa told how
he had been sent to Havana for the
purpose of doing diving duty on the
wreck. He had descended four times,
making about eight or nine hours of
total examination.
Qlsen told how? on his first descent,
he went oyer tho forward part of the
ship To use his own expression, he
said i ''I fqund the wreck all blowed
up. i ipund a lot oi grate oars down
there." The second time he went down
further forward, and there located a
lot of JQ-inch shells. Forward of these
the plates were bent inboard over them.
Asked t he imagined himself looking
forward, he stated that he did. Going
over the plates ho struck into a lot of
gix-inoh shells with the slings on them.
Going to the right, witness stated, he
found a lot of wreckage. It seenied to
have been blown over the starboard.
Olsen stated that he put his hand into
the cracks and brought out several six-
pounder shells.
The next time he went down, Olsen
testified,', he went down outsido the
ship forward ot the crane on the port
side. Ho followed the bottom along
and found that the ship's side was
bjown outward and alongside the crane
ifc pould bo walked on.
fAt the part wnere she is blown up
completely,'' witness said, "part of her
bqttqm plate3 are turned up. Then
yon follow the bottom from there up
fmd uudernoath the bottom they are
blown inboard and bent in. About
three feet forward of that spot there is
a piece of iron laid along tho bulkhead.
The skin of the inside of the double
bottom is curled like a sheet of paper
inboard from stern totern.
Amidihip, on the same side, there is
an armor plate, one plate complete, the
top of the plate standing up. The plate
is inclined over the starboard complete
ly. It stands up with the thick part of
the plate down. It is inclined forward
and over to starboard.
Soaaded Xlko a Miue.
Lieutenant Gcorgo M. Holman, in
his testimony, tail the explosion
sounded like a mine, and be had heard
The Belgian prince must be a
nice, tnflral young- man. Gossip
speaks about him as meager and
spicelessj
An Indiana county treasurer, who
made away with S20.00O of the pub
lic funds, accumulate., a fine of
$1,000 and a term in the peniten
tiary. Don't annoy others by yonr coughing,
and risk your life by neglecting a cold.
Ono Minute Cough Cure cures cough,
colds, oroup, grippe and all other throat
and lung troubles. North Platte Pb ar
ts icy.
LAUNCHING THE LIFE-BOAT.
There are greater dangers than taose of
the angry sea. That dread disease cos
sumption, kills more men aad womea ia a
generation than the sea has swallowed ap
siace the earliest history of navigation.
There is a sore and safe life-boat ever-'
ready to be launched for men and women'
who suffer from, this merciless destroyer
It is Br. Pierce's Golden Medical Dkcov--ery.
It cures o8" per cent, of all cases of.
consumption, bronchitis, asthma, laryn
gitis, weak lungs, spitting of blood and
throat and nasal troubles. It acts directly
on the lungs, driving ot all impurities and.
disease germs. It soothes and beak tfee
mucous membranes of the lungs, broschkl
tubes, throat and nasal cavkies. It restores''
the lost appetite, makes digestion and as
similation, perfect, invigorates the liver,,
and purifies and enriches the blood. It
fills the blood with the life-giving element
of the food that build new and healthy
tissues. It tears down, carries off and.
excretes the diseased and half dead tissnes
upon which the germs of consumption
thrive. It checks the cotsgh and facilitates
expectoration until the lungs are thor
oughly cleared. It is the great blood
maker and flesh-builder. Unlike ced liver
oil, it does not build Sabby flesk,Bt the
firm, muscular tissues of health. It does
not make corpulent people more corpulent..
Thousands have testified to their cure
under this great medicine after they were
given up by the doctors, and all hope was.
gone. An honest dealer will not suggest :
some inferior substitute for the sake of a
little extra selfish profit
A man or woman who neglects
constipation suffers from slow
poisoning. Dr. Pierce's Pleasant
Pellets cure constipation. One.
little "Pellet" is a gentle laxa--tive,
and two a mild cathartic
All medicine dealers sell them.:
No other pills are "just as good."'
mine explosions In the sea.
Lieutenant Commander Biohard
"Wain wright testified that theregula-.
tions in regard to paints andjinflamma-'.
bles, and all other precautions were
strictly carried out on board ship.
Every possible care was taken to avoid
accident. All visitors were scrutinized-,
before being- allowed to come oh board .
the ship. Nobody was allowed unac
companied. Special "lookouts" were
required at night. Iso unauthorized
boats were allowed to approach the ship.
There was fina discipline, obedient -crew,
quiet men. He was in the cap
tain's office at the time of the explo
sion ; felt a very heavy shock and hoard
noise of falling objects on deck.
Thought the ship wa3 being fired on.
Was told by the captain to see that the
boats were lowered. He saw a few
men coming, mostly officers. He s w .
no reason to flood the magazines, be
cause water was coming up. He saw
fire forward. Boats began to crowd
around the wreck. He induced boats
to take the wounded to different ves-
sels. He ordered a list taken of the
saved and wounded. There was ex
cellent discipline after the explosion. -Orders
were followed with promptness t
of a drill. The only order not obeyed
was the order to leave the ship.
He first examined the wreck at day
light the following morning. He took
a gig with Lieutenant Hood and a few
men and attempted to board the wreck.
He was warned off by an armed boat's
crew of Spaniards and then pulled
around the wreck. There were still soma ;
burning fragments.
Outbreak Is Feared la liavau3, '
New York, March 2$. It Is now
said on good authority that the Man
grove, which sailed for Havana on Fri
day, went there ostensibly to bring
away material saved from tho Maine,
but in reality to be on hand in case of
an outbreak in Havana, so that Ameri
cans could take refuge on the vessel,
avers the Key "West correspondent of
The Herald. Consul General Lee, be- .
lieving that a serious crisis in affairs,
is likely to occur now at any moment,
is today preparing a revised list of all
Americans now in Havana, together
with their addresses, sq thqt in case of
emergency they may be communicated
with at short notice. There is an extra;
guard now around the American com
sulate.
If ew plan of Autonomy,
New Yor, March 2a. iSpain, a!
though apparently defiant, has asked
for further delay before the United
States does anything njoro about Cuba,
says the "Washington correspondent of :
The Herald. This request was made
through Senor Pplo. y Bernabe, the
Spanish minister, He promised in
Spain's behalf that she would lay be.
fore the state department at an early
day a plan for a more liberal govern
ment of Cuba. This matter, the min
ister declared, would be so fair and lib
eral that it would be satisfactory to
the United States and tho Cuban insur-.
gents and would bring about peace in the
island. Spain's proposal is generally,
believed in "Washington to have coins
Soo late.
Texas at Navy Yard.
New Youk, March 28. The battle--jhip
Texas which arrived at Tompkins
yille Satmrday night weighed anchqp
Sunday and proceeded to tha nayy
yard. "No orders relating tq the Sf.
Paul have been received by us fronj
t;he governmental authorities," sait
James A. "Wright, qf the Internationa
Navigation company, "Tho s,hjp will
sail on her regular trip without fail.
We are doing nothing out of the or.
dinary in unloading her oargo." '
Greauam Ord erect to Sail.
Milwaukee, March 28. Captain A.
B. Davis, commander of the revenue
cutter Gresham, received a dispatch
from "Washington ordering him to ship
a complement of 'O men and proceed to
Cleveland as soon as possible. Captain
Davis was also asked in the dispatch if
he thought it possible the Gresham
could run tho St. Lawrence rapids, thus"
avoiding the-locks, to pass which -would
entail shortening her. The captain m
investigating the subject.
The alien three cents a
tax:
law enacted by thp last legislature
pt fennsylvama has been solac
plexused for the Second time bv t'fie.-'
courts. " ' ' r
Beamy s nP3l pepp.
Clsap blood means a plesnskin. q
beauty without jt. Cases i-fts "Csn'dy
Cathartic pean yopr blood and keepiT"
olean, by stirring" up the lazy livsr and
drifing all impurities from the body.
Begin to-day to banish piaiplep, boils,
blotches,. Wackbeack,. and that siakly
bilious coffinlexioa bv takior Cacearete.
"beauty for,, tea cents. All drujnriete,
T
satisfaction guaranteed 10c., 25c., 50c.
j