THE EED CLOUD CHIEF. 0 i ' P It fi POPECALTiS Ii'ORPEACE , SPAIN ASKED TO GRANT AN ARMISTICE. l.o'n Nototothn Qtirrn--lriirrnl Wood ford unit Senor Moral, uHpnnUh C'ulilnet MlnUtrr, Think I'mcn Will Itrwilt Nothing Known of It In Washington. Mjtnmn, Sunday, April . (D'lavort in transmission.) Hvotits oro moving rapidly uml tlic best Informed peoplo hero bcllovo tin ttrmlstlco between the .Spaniards mill Cuban will be pro cl.ittitcd wltliiu two days. The pope, It now appears, sent rtn rloquont telegram to tlio queen regent, urging Spain to grant im urmlstlco In Cuba with tlio view of allowing nogo t'ntlons to bo carried on between tho Insurgents nnd the Cuban authorities for tho early conclusion of u perma nent peace. The pope dwelt upon tho differing In Cuba and urged that Her Maje.ity tattc action on humane, and not on political grounds. The pope added that "as tho father of all tho faithful," ho could not in tervene until n stop was put "to tho shedding of blood of those who nro God's sous." Therefore he risks for a nttspcnslou of hostilities. Previous to tutting this action, It is Added, the pope, through a represent ative at Washington, asked President McKlntey If It would bo ngrceublo to iilrn sliontd tho popo advlso tho queen regent to grant an armistice, uud It is understood tho President expressed ids willingness that tho popo do anything In Ills power. Since then tho extra ordinary activity of the ambassadors hns been noted, and It is claimed, u.'i a, result of all the representations made to Spain upon the subject. So nor Morot, tho minister for tho colo nies, who throughout has been anx ious, to do anything to preserve peace contlstent with what ho consider Spain's honor, had an Interview with tho United States minister, General Woodford, to-day (Sunday), nt which he expressed Spain's willingness to grant an Immediato tirtulstio?. Ho pointed out that tho only condition Spain asks In return Is one "which America would grunt even If un ntked," anil refers only to "her no tion after Spain proclaims the armis tice." Senor Moret confirmed tho an nouncement made o( tlio pope's medi ation between Spain and tho Cubans, and added that tho .suggestion did not como from tho United States govern ment, but from Homo direct. tenor Morel's manner, ns well ns that of Gcnernl Woodford, conveyed the Impression that they botli behove that peace, for which they have ho earnestly labored, will result from tho proiiont negotiations. Washington, April r., President McKlnlcy announced to-day that ho had no knowledge of the reported tcadlatlou of tho popo in tho Cuban matter. Ho also announced that ho was hourly expecting u cablegram from tho Sagasla government notify ing this government of the formal proposition of an armistice to the insurgents. ltojtt:, April . It is stated in Vati can circles that the pope has not for mally offered to mediate between Spain uud tho United States, because ha has not been requested to do m by this government. It U true, however, that the pontiff has convoyed to Mad rid his ardent wish for the avoidance of fv con Mot, and litis usked Spain to arrange for a Nuspcnslon of warlike measures or decisions. PLEADING WITH REBELS. Havana tlovrrnment Tolls Cnlmn They Have Whit they Ar rit-litlni: Tor, Havana. April .'..Tho Ofllciul (la y.ctto published to-day a manifesto, saying in effect that tho provisional government, by Its own inspiration and also us the faithful interpreter of tlio vehement desrios of tho mother country. Informs tho Cubans they are struggling by force to reacli that which is nlreadv secured In all its reality and valuo nnd without the dangers ami rls'.ts of Inexperience tho trhtmnh of right and of justice with a widened honz in for tho future nnd broad roads for tho orderly and itlcreanlug development of all tho living forces of thin (Cuban) society. Tho manifesto continue In an earnest and strong pica to tlio Cubans to accept the outstretched hands and fraternal embraces and cordial wel come to realty homo ruled Cuba and its autonomist lenders, and declares that such notion Is not cowardice nor dishonorable, but best for tlio Cubans and all the residents and interests of the Island, that tholr own personality will not bo lost and that these pleas arc actuated by tlio provisional gov ernment, "always secure of the appro bation of tho mother country." Tho doccument also nssorts that the history so far of homo rule ts insuf ficient guaranteo of good fulth. f'hlcigii t'nrititiitcini MrlUe. Chicago, April c About .1,000 union carpenters struck hero to-day, nnd with the exception of public buildings, which were not interfered with, work on nearly every building; iu course of construction in the city u ut a standstill. .Another Hoathern I) not. LiTTtvc IIuck, Ark., April 5. A des perate revolver duol occurreu nt Haynea, Ark., Saturday night, be tween Dr. W. W. Scott, a prominent physiciun of that town, und John J. llugues, u leuding merchant. When the .hooting ceased both then wero lying on tlio floor, Soott bleeding from four wounds and Hughes struck by five bullets. llotli men nro still alive, but tholr recovery Is doubtful. The causa of the troublo Is not de finitely known, lint it Is sil.l to have frown out of family affairs. ONE hundred drowned. Shawnrclnwn, 111.. I.nlil WiiMn hy Water Olilo Itlviir l.ctro HrriiU.. KvANsriM.K, Itnl . April 5. Nearly 100 pervitin are believed to hnvn per ished in a flood that swept over Sliuw noetown, 111., Inst night on tho break ing of a loveo of tho Ohio river. Shawnectown is sevcnty-llvo mites below ISviinsvlllo, on the Ohio river. It Is situated In a valley of extremely low laud, with hills skirting it iu tho rear, and with ft twenty five foot loveo front running from hill to hill. Tho town is very much in tho position of a fortlllod city, and when the leveo gave way a mllo nbovo town, under the pressuro of tho very high rlrcr, the wntur shot through n twontv-foot opening and struck tho place llko u hurricane, sweeping everything be fore it. Houses were turned nnd tossed about like boxes. Tho people had no warning. Those nt homo sought refuge iu second stories nnd on house tops. Those In tho streets wure car ried before tlio avalanche of wnter. In tho c 'liter part of tho town some br.ck structures stopped tho rush of water for a few minutes, but about two-thirds of the dwellings wero lifted from their foundations and floated out Into the current of tho rlvor. After a fow minutes n largo house, that had started down stream with tho others, caught fire. A nutnbor of houses that It tttruck In Its zig-zag course caught lire nnd tho peoplo on tho roofs wero obliged to entrust themselves to im provised rafts. llesldea thoso who wero on the roofs of the sound buildings, It is believed a largo number of tho inhabitants managed in ono way or nuothor to make tholr way to tho high hills back of tho town or to houses in tho higher section of tho village itsolf. Meu camo from tho placa by skiffs to n telephone several miles away and asked for aid from Kvnnsville. They said tlio water wns from twenty to thirty foot deep all over the town. Tho men vtcrc so excited that thoy coul I not bu prevailed on to stay long nt tho telephone. They said that when they camo they floated through HtroctH ringing with tho frightened cries of women and children and with words of exhortation from the rescuers. They cald thut the wholo neighboring country was flooded for miles nnd that telegraphic and telephone com munication would not probably bo re stored before to-night, l''l.or.A, 111.. April .i. Uoports re ceived at this point, seventy miles from Shawnectown, bear out tho first Impressions of tho Hooding of that -town by tho breaking of tho levee. Tho rail roads have stopped trallio twenty miles south of here, ns the road to Shawnectown is deep under water. Telegraphic communication is out off nnd tlio reports received are very meager. At .Mills station tho river is eight miles wide and tho track is covereil for six miles. The following telegram wns received hero by Mr. Mills, superintendent of tho Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern rallwuy, from Conductor Charles Ire land: "Kldgcwny, III. To .7. R. Mills: Half of Shawnectown totally de stroyed. All stores wrecked with contents. Town contains fifteen to twenty feet of water. South leveo covered with dead stock and houses and all kinds of debris. "Part nl list of tho dead follows: Colonel Colllcott. Mr. uud Mrs. W. C. Colllcott, Mrs. Kil Flake, threo chil dren of Paul Phakon, Mrs. Calloway uud two children, C Uhliichart, Mary McAllister, F.llen McAl ister, Annio Khtnchart, Mrs. Holly, Mrs. McLuno, Mrs. Matilda Greer," Tho Louisville & Nnshvlllo accom modation train from Southern Illinois arrived heio ut J OHIO o'clock. It was expected many peoplo from Shawnee town would bo nboard, but it is learned that trains on this branch have for a week proceeded no further than 1'ldorndo, fifteen miles away. The trainmen brought the report that tho family of Sheriff Calloway was lost m tho Hood. It is reported that the leveo broko whllo peoplo wero at church und that many wero drowned because there was no warning, tho flood sweeping over tho town llko water through n mill race. C. I Storrs, who has charge of tho provision boat from Hvansvil o, tele phoned from Mount Vernon, Ind. .that ho hud just returned from Shawnee town. Mayor Ca-noy now estimates the loss of life at 10 J people. TANNF.lt CALLS ON ILLINOIS. Si'iu.NoriKi.i), III, April r,. Early this morning Governor Tannor re ceived tho following message relative to tho Shawnectown disaster: "llldge way, M., Ajnl .John 15. Tanner, governor: The ground g.ivo wny under tho loves at 4:l' p. m. and tlio loss of llfo Is nearly one-fourth of our popu lation. We have no provisions to feed our people for one meal. We need the tents, clothing, burial caskets to bury the dead, provisions for tho living. Help us nt once. C.MiNi:v, ."ay or." In response to this telogrum (lover nor Tanner has issued a proe'nuiatiou calling upon the citizens of the state to contribute for the relief of tho Shawnectown suffer.'fh. Tho printing press is responsible fo roany of the revolutions of this world tiold from Australia. Sax FiiANcmcn, April 5 Tho steam ship Alameda, from Sydney, via Auck land and Hoiolulu, which is due hero next Wednesday, curries 83,000,000 in English sovereigns in her strong box. This is the eighth shipment of gold re colvid from the samo source since last fall, bringing the total amount, re ceived up to tho mormons sum of 818,-&OU,o-i, This money is in puytnont of the balance of trade in favor of tho United States for wheat, flour, lum ber, canned goods, raisins and other staples chipped abroad, in excels of our import of merchandise. NOItECOGWTIONKOW. CUBANS HAVE NO ESTAB LISHED GOVERNMENT. I'tin rrrtlilnnt' Itrimnna To Do So Would Allow tlir InntirRcntd to Inlllct Capital 1'iinUliinrnt t'pon the Member of the Spa tilth tlotrrniiK'nt. Wamhnoto.v, April (V Tho cabinet meeting to-day wns not of unusual duration, but extreme difficulty was encountered In obtaining details con cernlug it. A cabinet otllcor, how ever, aitthorl.sd this much: "The sit uation on tho Spanish affair remains unchanged. The Prdildcnl'd message Is completed and Is now boing copied. The present purpose is to send it to Congress to-morrow. Tho message nnd the general condition of affairs was discussed, of course, quite fully, but no changes had appeared which re quired any elaborate discussion of new measures." After tho cablnot meeting It was learned that it Is practically settled In his forthcoming message the Presi dent will not muko any recommenda tion looking to tho immediate recog nition of Cuban Independence. Tho withholding of this recommendation Is not because of Indlffercnco to tho Cuban cause, but Is based upon fact, as tho President views that tlio Insurgents have established any government tho It, not of tholr own, or such a govern ment, nt least us would warrant tho United States, under tho well de fined principles of international law, in talcing .such a stop. It is urged In support of this view that by recognis ing Cuba us un Independent gov ernment the United States might under certain circumstances bo placed nt n great disadvantage. In case this government should take possession of the island nnd the insurgents should seo lit to inflict cap ital punishment upon members of tho present autonomist government or other persons against whom they might have special enmity, this gov ernment, having recognized their in dependence, would then be powerless to prevent nny action tho Cuban gov ernment might seo lit to tako however repugnant to our sr-nso of justice nnd right. Tlio better and safer way, It Is urged, would bo for the United States to tako control of tho Island if necessary to prevent further bloodshed und nduilnlster Its affairs, or ut least 3iiperviso its administra tion, in tlio interest of justlco and humanity until Spain uud Cuba them selves, If possible, shall havo settled tho wholo question. What further action shall be taken will bo dictated by the facts und conditions us they present themsolv.-s. The situation of tho United States consular o Ulcers on the island is re garded us grao. Tho cabinet had tills matter under considrrntioti to-day. What conclusions were readied can not be stated, but it Is known arrange ments have been perfected by which tliev are to leave tho island within a very short titno. I A telegram was received to-day from Minister Woodford expressing tho regret of the Spanish cabinet thnt the erroneous report had been pub lished that tho pope had agreed to mediate between Spain und tho United States this country. nt tho cuggcatl i cf FORECAST Or MESSAGE- ft It blf-ne.t, Soulful and Unuily for Delivery to Corn-mi. Wasiiinoton, April C Tho Prosl dent has completed his Cuban mes sage nnd it will bo pre.seuted to Con gress on Wednesday. Tho message, which In Itsolf isloug, will not be accompanied by tho consu lar reports dealing with thu stnto of affairs iu Cuba. Those will go to tho committee on foreign relations of tho Senate for their private information and will not bo made public just now. The diplomatic correspondence be tween tho United States nml Spain will not bo submitted ut present A special cabinet meeting was hold last night. It lasted from 3 until ufter 11, and was devoted entirely to the careful reading and dUousslou of tho President's draft of his message. Every member of the cabinet was present Tho document was gone over, point by point, nnd met with approval of tho cablnot In every ma terial respect. Tho only ohanges made wero in u fow potato of verbiage. Secretary Long apparently had luen deputed us spokesman for tho meet ing, und gave tho nbovo brief state ment. As to tho character of tho mes sage, ho refused to sponlr. It was learned from other sources, however, that tho message is in part a review of Spain's cour.io in tho present nnd previous wars in Cuba. That it will contain some definite recommenda tions may bo Inferred from tho re mark of ono m tuber. '"Whllo I can say nothing explicit, concerning the details of tho message," said ho, "I may say that it is a strong, explicit statement, und ono with which Con gress will be thoroughly In accord." Nrn. When a man has tho toothache ho Is apt to Iosj tils nerve, but not tho ono that troubles hltm Firm! ivi n llrltUli Mil p. St. Johns, Newfoundland, April 0. Tho llritlsh bngatlno Holla Ilois, from Cadiz, via Ooorto, for St. Johns, which nrrlvod Sunday, reports having been chased and 11 red upon by a Spanish vessel shortly after leavlug tho har bor of Oporto. lailciti Onlurail to Mllp. AnnaHii.ib, Md., -April .' Tho na val cadets of tho first class received peremptory orders to join their ships ut once and will leave here this after noon. Their diplomas wero glveu thoni to-day without the customary final examination. I.EO IS NOT DISCOURAGED. Tlte l'ip Still Working for I'rnvr -llonjr View of It In Home. KoMr. April K It Is authoritatively ald that tho pope's proposed terms are such as can bo accepted by Spain nnd supported by tho United States minister, (Jencral Stowart L. Wood ford, In forwarding thorn to President McICiuley. The pope's Initiative is based wholly on thu fact that Spain, when she asked for tlio good olllecs of tho pow ers, ulso risked for tho pope's good ofllojs. The Interposition' of the pon tiff hits thus far been confined to ef forts to bring about nn nrmistlco be tween Spain and the-insurgents. Loniio.v, April 0. According to a special dispatch from Homo tho popo Is "disappointed nt tho reception of hU overtures iu Atnericu, but Is not discouraged." The dispatch adds: "This morning Ills Holiness dispatched a cable- of .100 words to Archbishop Ireland, urging Increased efforts In the Interest of poaeo nnd further immediato repre sentations to President McKlnlcy. An Important conference has been called for till- afternoon. Archbishop Kcano and Mgr. O'Connell will nttend." Ma Din p. April P. Tho Spanish minister of foreign affairs, Senor Uul Ion, lit nn interview just obtained, said tho Spanish government Is ex pecting the speedy urrlval of n note from tho Vatican, in which tho pope would iudicats tho plan ho proposes to terminate the present situation. In regard to tho eflleacy of mod'a Hon. Senor Gallon said: "It Is re called that Americans prominently participated In tho popa's jubllco and presented hltn with a splendid gift. The popo was profoundly moved at the great manifestations of respect and said to them that ho eagerly awaited the opportunity to show his recognition. "Tills remark has been regarded by some as indicating un Inclination upon tho part of the popo to favor tho American si lc, but this conclusion is easily disproved by tho known impar tiality the pope has ulways displayed In his public acts and by tho Intimato friendship he ltitfi always exhibited to wards Spain. Moreover tiio Spanish government has mndo his mediation conditional upon the honor nnd Integ rity of tho territory of Spain being safeguarded. Should the pope propose an armistice, clearly tho insurgents should ask for it. "Anyway, whatever may bo tho plan of mediation, it will comprise the cessation of tho war in Cuba "In regard to tho point of view of the other nations, with perhaps the fewest exceptions, all would regard with coufldcnce the pope's mediation." Wasiiinoton, April 0. Regarding the intervention of the popo botween tiic United States nnd Spain it can again bo reiterated that no Buch pro posal lias been mnilo to this govern ment, und If there Is to bo papal medi ation it must bo between Spain nnd tlio insurgents, nnd that nny suasion tho Vatican can exert should bo di rected at Madrid. Archbishop Irnlnnd was In Wash ington last week ' und Informally, knowing no formal nnd direct propo sition would bo nt nil acceptable, per Bonally last Friday night urged tho President to ndopt as pacificatory nn nn attitude ns possible, but as 6tated did not go beyond this. Archbishop Ireland camo to tho state department nt 32:30 o'clock to-day. lie evidently had nrranged for tho call beforehand, and was ex pected, for he was shown at onco into Assistant Secretary Day's room. Tho archbishop was asked his mission, but wus evasive, und snld ho camo simply to pay his respects. Assistant Secretary Day said at noon that thero hud been no media tion or intervention of other powers material or moral. SPAIN ACCOUNTABLE. CnptMln Slgitioe Culled lie Torn the IIouu ForolKii AlT.lr Committee. Wasiiinoton, April 0. Tho Ilnuso ommittco on foreign affairs met ut 10::i) o'clock this niorniutf. Captain Sigsbeo, Admiral Irwin und several experts In explosives had been sum moned to give testimony regarding the blowing up of tho Maine. Repre sentative Qu'gg of New York, before ho entered committee room, said that Spain would bo hold responsible for tho blowing up of tho Maine. Ho Is In favor of reporting a resolution In structing the President to drive Spain from tho western hemisphere. Tho members of tho committee from the information they havo bo Uovo war Is inevitable unless Spain makes a squuro backdown. An in timation is thrown out that a declaration of war will not ha made j-ist yet, becnuso Consul General Leo has cabled that it will roquiro several days to get tho Amorlcana off tho island. . minims Against h;lii. WAsiiiNOTON, April tl. Ct.itms Agnlnst Spain ugzregatlng 810,000,000 for injury ann loss Incident to tho wnr in Cuba have been filed with the state department by citizens of tho United States residing in that country. They cover claims for personal injury, im prisonment, loss of stock, burning o sugar plantations, etc. -illnourl Crop Itepnrl. Coi.umiiia, Mo., April (l. J. It. l.lp poy, secretary of the Missouri stato board of agriculture, Issued tho first crop bulletin of tills season to-day. T,ho bulletin shows on improvement of per cent in tho condition of wheat, which is now rated at 8U, ii'-alnst 76 last month, nnd 05 for tho same date lust Heason H per cent will be plowed up this year, against 27 per cent for 1807. It is estimated that 13 per cent of Inst year's crop is yet in the hands of tho producer, largely In tended, no doubt, for homo consump- 1 tlon. SOLD MINES TO SPAIN. Abioltito l'ronf That tho Dons (lot I'x- ploiWrl In London. London. April tt. Details havo been fibtalncd of the manufacture of sub marine mlne3 In London for Spain, which wts first brought to tho atten tion of tlio United States embassy on March ... Lioutennnt Commander ,T. Ci Col well, tho United States naval attache, has since Investigated the matter and has made a report on tho subject to tho United States government. Tho facts learned strongly tend to show that Havana harbor was mined, nnd unquestionably prove that Spain pur chased mines for that purchase. Tito firm of Lattlmer, Ilhodes fc Clark, electrical engineers during 1SS7-83 filled a largo order for Spain of u lot of mines in which were ust'd fourteen and one-hulf tons of gun cotton. The work was directly under tho sttrvoll lanco of General Fernandez und Cap tain Uustsmento. The latter was then the head of tho Spanish torpedo school, lly order of these olllcers tho mines wero divided Into four consign ments, for Havana, L'errol, Cadiz and Curthngcna. Tho mines were manufactured under tho direction of J. P. Gibbons, after Gibbons' patents, which nro de scribed in Scleninn's book on torpe does und mines. Gibbons, who Is a former sergeant of engineers nnd u government Insp?ctor of torpedoes, believes tho Maine's first explosion was caused by what is technically called a ground mine, containing f00 pounds of gun cotton, several of which were manufactured for Spain. Ho has 'experimented with these mines largely at Portsmouth, and says that once laid, they retttln tholr prop erties for fifty years. In addition, Gibbons nsscrts thut it Is absolutely itnpossiblo for them to explode ncci dentally, ns tho electric currents for their explosion ure formed only by the manipulation of n complicated key board especially devised to pre vent accidents. AGAINST I IN I U.MVfc.tN I .UN..LnUro Butonomlst cabinet will be used tleneral tiomrz t'onll lout of Winning Iiitlaprmitenon UimlitoiL Wasiiinoton, April 0. In confirma tion of a recent dispatch to tho New York Commerc'nl Advcrtlsor to the effect that insurgent lenders had made representation to tho United States against armed intervention in Cuba tlio following lottor is given ouf by ofilclal authority: "Tho great American republic Is do tormlncd by many causes to Intervene, sooner or later, in some way for the termination of tho Cuban war, but her mediation may only bo fruitful of n Uual peace if through it Cuba obtains her ubsoluto independence. On tub basis and by moans of an indemnity of scvcrnl millions, it is possible that our government would treat of pence with Spain. This is tho opinion and unani mous feeling among tho Cuban people, and particularly of Its nrmy of liber ation, which I havo tho honor tc command. M. Gome, Las Villas, March 0. 18'JK" Tho lstter was received by a high ofllc rl of the administration. Tho in terpretation placed on It nt tho stnto department Is that the Insurgents pre fer to fight out their own ludcpend- i enco nnd mat, intervention uy tno United States would iutcrfero serious, ly with their plana. EXODUS FROM HAVANA. Sfnnjr Perioni Are I'rcparlnic to I.prn- Vecl Kent to Urine Them Away. Havana, April 0. Tho Mangrove and tho liacho are expected here to day to tako to Key West such Ameri cans as desire to go. Consul General Leo lias been authorized to litre mer chant vessels, If necessary, and will probably employ the steamer Florida, of tho coast line, duo hero to-day, tho Mascotte, which Is due hero Wednes day, and tho Olivette, which is duo for an extra trip on Thursday. Tho Forn will remain here, so fur as is known. American citizens only will be given pnssago on tho Mnngrovo and llachc. I Others, If their passports nnd vncclnn- tlon certificates aro nil right, can leavo on the .M ascot tj or Olivette, To ttll appearances, n normal state of nffulri prevails in Havana. Tho im pression Is abroad among business men hero that tho prospects for peace havo grown moro favorable, tho gen eral idea seeming to bo that foreign intervention will rosultin the solution of all problems witli honor to both nations. STILL AT CAPE VERDE Spain's Flotilla lias Not lloiumml It Journey to America. Nr.w Yoitit, April 0 A dispatch to tho Now York World from St. Vlu ccnte, Capo Verdj Islands, savs: "Tho Spanish torpedo llotllla, un der command of Coinmodoro Vlllnmil, is still here. Threo of tho torpedo vessels arrived in one day.throo others later, und then tho transport came. No more are expected. They aro uow In good order. "Thero aro soven vessels in all threo torpedo boats, threo torpedo boat destroyers nml li merchant ship converted into nn nuxllliary cruiser, tho Cuidad do Cadiz," A Texas Udltnr Kill lllm-elf. Dallas, Texus, April 0, W. N. Nor ton, editor of Norton's Union Intelli gencer, tho oldest Republican news paper In Texas, committed su.chlc this morning by shooting himself through the head. Mr. Norton hut become financially cmbarrasod. luinranco Stan to ItaUe Loan. Dknvkii, April 0. Tho national as fioclatlon of local fire insurance agents, whose headquarters aro in this city, yesterday decided to offer thulr services to tho nation in placing a popular loan to cover tho cxnouso oi war. ARE READY FOR FIGHT SpunUti Ho) nl I'liinlly IVnr .Ttrrolutloit onii-lnl Nrui In I'.rrlln. Etini.t:?, April 4 Tho Gerr..rt am bassador nt Madrid, Herr von Undo wltz, reports to the foreign office heio that tho Spanish royal family fears nn outbreak unless tho differences be tweon tho Unl.ted States and Spain are soon settled. The Carllst movo mont Is assuming more active form and tho royal family fours espuo ully a pronunclamento front General Woy ler nnd tho military party. Everything is prepared In tho royal castles for flight. Tho boy Icing. Alfonso, will bo taken to San Lucnr do ltarameda, an Aluslan port, wheru a yacht is kept ready for sailing. Tho replies to the queen's letter asking for tlio Intervention of the Euroujnn pow ers ure wholly unsatisfactory. IS SPAIN BACKING DOWN? A UsTanm Vlovr of Rrrrnt Morel of the tpanlth OnicliiU. New Yoiik, April 4. Tho Havana correspondent of tho Ne.v York Trib une says: "Spain's official representa tives In Cuba aro preparing to let go. Nothing has, as yet, bjcn done to pre paro the public for the same thlug. lSlnnco and tho palaco officials hope for a final effort to secure the Indorse ment of tho United States for n flchctno of nominal sovereignty. The insurgents will not accept that plan, even with tho Indorsement of thu United States. "With tho certain knowledge that nothing short of independence will prevail, tho chief interest Is In the good of reaching that end. A message can bo got to Gomez nnd nn uuswer recolved In six days. Tho confidential talk In Spanish circles Is now of yield ing control by means of indemnity, though the amount is pluccd much htirhcr than will ever bo paid. "Tito most pronounced evidence that Spain is yielding comes from tho autonomist cabinet. The rcilguntionn of all tho members may como ut any Irlnir 'I'l.n innnni.mii.A. .. ...n 4t.,i. 1... as a scapegoat for thu Spanish publh 27 NEW WARSHIPS. Ilnase Vote Million. Toward Strength ening the Navy. WABniNOTON, April 4. After an ex ceedingly turbulent session of nx hours, tho House passed tho naval ap propriation bill, and thou adjourned until Monday. Tho wnr spirit was manifested iu all tho speeches, nnd overrode the naval committee itself by increasing tho number of torpedo boats nnd torpedo boat destroyers to twenty-four, tho bill as reported providing for but twelve. Tho amendment of Mr. Can non, chairman of tho appropriation committee, to reduce tho number of battleships from three to ono was burled under nn over whelming majority. Tho pro vision relating to armor plate, which, in ordinary times would hnvo precipi tated u debate of several days, was disposed of in ten minutes, n proposi tion to decrcaso tho price agreeil to iu tho bill from 8100 to S30.) per ton being drownoi in a perfect chorus of noes. Mr. Cannon, during tho course of tho day, announced tho b?ltef of a majority of the members that war would bo upon us within a week, and Mr. DcArmond of Missouri made a notnblo npeech, declaring that, If hos tilities wero to come, it was our dutr to strike the first blow. OFFERS MEDIATION. A Proposal Mario lly I'rnnro Itccteil. Ity the Mtnto Department. CmcAfio, April 4, A dispatch to tho Chicago Times-Herald from Washing ton says: "Tho government of Frnnco has proposed tho aid of Its good offices in preserving tho peace, and this offer hns been dccllucd by tho United States. "Tho tender by France camo in n cablegram from Ambnssador Porter, at Purls, und wns replied to In a long cablegram prepared at tho Stato do par tin -nt. "In tendering her good offices to avert n rupture, France expressed none but tho most friendly sentiments toward the United State), nnd gnvo no intimation of any other desire than ono to give disinterested assistance in carrying on negotiations which might lead to tho maintenance of peace. To this tho State department repllod with un explanation of tho situation nnd tlio polite und friendly conclusion thnt the good offices of Franco, under tho existing circumstances, would not bj likely to produce definite results." A FALL IN SECURITIES. Amorlcan Mtocl anil HpanUh lloiul HpanUh Surfer In Foreign Market. London, April 4 American Hccur. Itlos opened very weak on tho stock exchange to-day. Declines ranged from 'J to 3 point. At 1 ):.'' o'clock Ameri cans showeil sotiL' Improvement. Spanish 4s opened ut i7?. a loss of 3 points. Th-y sold at 4s)J after the. opening. At l:3ti o'clock Spanish 4i weakened, and wero quoted at 47jtf. a net lose of 3?J from yesterday'u clo in!,'. Pncland DeiUAiuti Coticonloiu of Chin IV.uiN, April 4. Tho llritlsh minis ter here, Sir Claude MucDonald, had an important conference today with the Chinese foreign office. Great Hrit atn demanded important compensa tory concessions for tho pur.xjso nt maintaining tht balance of power in tho far East, I'rlnce UUniarck I 83 Yoart Old. FitKiimrcuisuuiiK, April 4. Prince Otto von lllsuiarck celebrated the jlghty-thlrd anniversary of his birth Jay yesterday with u baucuot to twenty-two guest fl r 'haapT;g"liiiilL ' WW6PK-wwtaffi--;-- VfMKWW PI aft. W ft