jj-j r-"T T - . njj n.r rrmrwqr 1T. .T THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. ESTABLISHED JUNE 19 , 1871. OMAHA , MONDAY MORNING , JTEttRUARY 28 , 1898. SINOL13 COPY 1TJLYE CENTS. I PREPARING FOR WAR Spain Hurriedly Getting Ita Navy Into lighting Trim , TORPEDO FLOTILLA SAILS THIS V/EEK / Only Ono Crnlssr ITJW on Waj to Havana * OTHERS ARE NOW UNDERGOING REPAIRS Considerable More Tima is Needed to Fit Thtm Out , SPAIN WILL NOT SUBMIT TO ARBITRATION IiiillKiiiintllcl ! > ol the .SiiKKCKtluii rMnile mi the Subject 1 > > IIU- v iniirc-lc Vliitlrlil ISOt , ti > - I'lcus rulillrlilnfr C'ompnnj ) < [ MADRID , Fob. 27. ( Now York World Cablegram - blogram Special Telegram. ) Thu report that a Spanish squadron had sailed for the United States has only its foundation In tlicso facts : Spain Is hurriedly getting Its navy Into fighting trim , and a torpedo flotilla will ect sail for Havana this week. 1 learn officially from the Spnnteh navy department that no squadron has Balled from Spain ulthln the last few days Thu only cruiser now on the way to Havana Is the Almlrante Oqucndo , a sister ship of the VIzcava. A ! flotilla com posed of three torpedo destroyers , three tor pedo boats and the steamship City of Cadiz , under command of Captain Vlllnmll , will leave Cadiz for Havana this week , as has been cabled already. Tim only Spanish ves sels which could follow Immediately arc the cruisers Infanta Maria Theresa , Alfonso XIII , three more torpulo destrojers and three torpedo boats All the other war ships , Including the battleships 1'elajo and 13m- rornndor Carlos V , and the armored cruiser Cristobal Colon , nre undcrgo'ng repairs It will take eome tlmo jet to complete the repairs , fit tlinin out and mount their guna , but they are being actively prepared for service. Sagasta pays with reference to the rumor that 1'rltwo Hlsinarck has suggested arbitra tion by the powers to fectllo the. mattero Ki dispute between Spain and the 1'iiitcd StaUtj oiid Cuba "Only thcae who did not Know or esteem Spain could entertain the Idea that any Span'ph government would ucrmlt ovei- turcs Implying an Intaalon of Spanish rights end foreign Interference in purely Spanish affairs.Ve would not accept arbitration , nor would anjbody dare make such a piopcul- tlon. " General Wejler arrived at Barcelona to day and left Immediately for his country cc- tate In the mountains He o\pecta to return to Barcelona on Tuesday and reach Madrid ou Weu.cudav. ARTHUR n. HOUGHTO.V. BLAMCS AMERICA. MADRID. Feb. 27. The Cardinal Arch bishop of Vallldolold has publ'sbed a pastotnl letter blaming America for the prolongation of the Cuban war. His eminence saja : "Tho hypocritical friendship of the United States fostera the rebellion and wastes Spain's ro- Bourcea In order the better to attack It when weakened. " He exhorts "all trim SptnlarSn to nnllo In defending the rights and honor of the nation " The letter has caused wide spread-comment. The Correspondence Mllltar , organ of the army , sa > s : "The prevailing Impression la that war ( between apam anu tno united States will break out In April. " A former captain general of Cuba , pre sumably Martinez Campoii , Interviewed by a representative of Correspondence Mllltar , 1 roporled lo have said : "I never cnlcr- talned a doubt thnt If tbo rebellion weio not suppressed before 1S98 war would bo un accomplished fact. Presumably my proph ecy will be fulfilled. J have the consola tion of having done nil In my power to avert It , and therefore I do not regret the blame which has boon heaped upon mo. All that Is now pciislblo Is that wo should all unlto to meet the danger threatening tbo coun try , " Senor Polo y Bernnbo , the now Spanish \ mlntetcr to the United States , has slarled for Glbrallar en r ) lo New York. Ho Is fully empowered lo rantlnue the reciprocity treaty negotiation ? . The government U anx ious to secure a firm basis for commercial and political relations with Iho United States before May , In case the pacification of Culm should not have made progress Ix- fore the rainy season commences. It Is an < oprti secret that both the homo and for- elgn departments consider the preservallon of friendly relntlonw with Iho United States ns no Icrs Important lu the pacification of Cuba than the military open t Ions , and tbo unofficial efforts to Induce the Insurgents to agree to autonomy. TIIUHI : it. AT HAVANA. \rt > 'AiixIntiM to I , earn Some eloiiiiu-iitM In Iiit eMlnrallon. HAVANA ( via Key West , FU. ) , Feb. 27. Many Americans and some Spaniards hero insist that the Investigation Into the Malno disaster has thus far been superficial and -barren of vital results. They say thut though nearly two weeks have passed no knowledge has been gained as to the con- d.llori of the forward part of the hull or _ _ na to whether the six or ten-inch ammu- jiltlon magazines forward lo Ibo starboard exploded. They Insist , moreover , that expert divers , with enough experience to aiako drawings of the condition of tnlng.3 sub marine , might have ibecn at vvuVk a week ago and might have settled the question as to the magarlnra at least ere this. Thcuo who hold lliese views demand lhat the hull forward should bo raised without1 further Io"s of tlmo aud before It has sunk too deep In forty feet of soft inuil. There mo some who go so far as to charge the united State * government with adopting the Spanish policy of delay until the disaster khall bo partially forgotten or discounted. Many of tbo Spanish officials are said to entertain tbo opinion that this Is the case end to be very well pleased with Iho no- tJim. On the other hand , however , good Judges t-ay that all criticism In this vein la made without a knowledge of the facts , and that no ono ave tbo members of Iho court of Inquiry and their superiors la ovvare of all 4ho toaUmony developed or of what euul- marine plans have been made , Those also urge that there Is tie use Irving lo raise the hull until the wreckage or armor , super structure. eiiRlnrs , deiAci , gunu and masts fcavo been taken out. To do this will take lime and Iho apparatus for the work can only bo found in the nor'tli. It Is < aJ | no coxpany in the world ever took a contract ( or such a work where the brow log up of the wreck by dynamite was - * prohibited lest Important evidence bo do- > ttrojred , Out oven the moat moderate strongly dep recate any more delay than U absolutely necessary , while all ajjrce that the American people are cot likely to forget eo readily. Rumors of this , that or the other discovery , petting on foot this , that or the other theory , are still rife. In most cne , when run down , they are easily proved false , It U useless to deny that the interest here U much ires intense than , It was a week ago , but It Is ever ready to bo kindled anew by any estab lished facti. Iho court of Inquiry Is a * quiet la the late of Maomoa , aa dignified and as fltern , are obwttftM , Wt'tbvy fwl the deep responsibility rcsltag upon them. To talk Indiscreetly mlnht not only coot a com- m'.fiilon , no matler how high the rank of the holder , but would surely prcclpltalo Iroublo ellher hero or In the Untied States. They were not exclusive when on shore , and they d'ncd with General Lee now end again , but the wreck was always a prohibited topic. If memory did not give a tinge of tragedy Havana's harbor would appear commonplace enough today. Sailboats , tugs and launches ply to and fro nil day. Steamers largo anil email arrive and depart and the bustle of a busy and not specially picturesque harbor comet end gooo In the usual fashion. In jondcr mars of steel , which scema to have writhed In pain , lice all that is morlal of moro than eighty brave men. It Is generally expected that the court ol Inquiry will return here afler taking tcsll- mony at Key West , and it Is likely that efforts will be made by agents during the court's absence lo secure olher testimony. The arrival of a battalion of more than , regular iroops irom 'iiarci'iunu , UB ui- rcady cabled , excited public Interest only for the day. Guns wcro fired , "ylves' shouted and dccorallons , which Iho rain spoiled , hung , but that was all there was of It. Thcso men , BO It Is alleged , are the advance guard of a division of 11,000 Spanish regulars sent to take the place of the sick nnd wounded -who have returned to Spain within the last few months. The Spaniard know that Senator Proctor Is a close friend of President McKlnley , and despite his disclaimer of a political mission they continue to atlach considerable Import ance lo his visit at this Juncture. Some think that ho has been sent here by Iho president to make n report on the situation ns Mr 'Blount ' was sent to Hawaii by Presi dent Cleveland. The Spanish , who , in the main , are Ignorant of American cuatcms and political methods , cannot understand why a former secretary of war should como to Havana , and there are many expressions of stirpriso that Senator Procter Is not In uni form , InstcaJ of In civilian dress. Great preparations are being made to wel come the cruiser Vlzca > a. Senor Rivera , oJltor of La Discussion , sajs "Tho general Impression hero Is that the United States court of Inquiry has al- rcadv decided thnt the disaster of tbo Maine was the result of an accident. " COUIIT OP INCIUIIIY Ib AT ICHY AVHST II HMioctH In Ileturii ( o llmaiia un WuiliiCMil n > . KEY Wr.ST. Fla , Feb. 27. The llghl- house tender Mangrove bearing the members of the court of inquiry arrived from Havana at 7 o'clock this morning. The court will rcsumo Its sessions Ir ! the United Slales courl rcotn In the fedeml building at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning and will ptob- ably return to Havana on Wednesday. The most Important witness to be examined hero Is Lleutenanl Illandln , Iho officer of Iho deck when the explosion occurred. The tes timony of the other survivors will take only a short tlmo Captain Sampson , Chaplain Chadwlck ami Lieutenant Commander Potter came ashore and arranged preliminary details for the sesnlons of the court. Martin Redding , a diver , returned hero today. Ho was taken to Havana to work or tlio wreck and his ai rival today caused much commcnl. It being said that he had talked too much at Havana and had beei removed In consequence. On his arrival here ho held forth at considerable length before a street corner audience , nnd but little cre dence could be given to his numerous state ments. Roar Admiral Slcard has had frequent conferences w Ith Captain Sampson nnd oth ers at the holel tonight. He said tonight : "I think they ought to get away Wednes day. Aa jet there Is nothing thai can be said nboul their work. " In reply to a question ns to the rumored removal of the war ships to Cuba , \dmlral I Slcard eald : "Tho fleet Is not moving , and I know nothing about Its going to Cuba. Still , you know , I have steam up and could go anywhere If ordered. " Ho was asked It anything had happened to Justify the statement that the situation vvas more serious today than it had been , nnd ho replied : "They know nt Washington about thai. Just about how strained our relations are wllh Spain I am unable lo say. " ino excitement yesieruay , auor ino ar rival of Iho Cuban flllbuslers headed by General Nunez and Captain John O'Brien , completely eclipsed all the doings and say lugs of the court of Inquiry officers. Their quick departure prevented very much being learned as to the expedition , but the Cu bans hero are elated. An expedition has been preparing to get away from Key West for some tlmo , but It probably will suffer another delay , ns the plot has leaked out through two Spanish spies. JUVT SIX I1OUIUS IlECOVCIUZD. Only Half n Dozen Conine * lime Ileeii rnUe-u Out. ( Oopj rlclit , 1893. b > Trei > 9 inibllslilnir Company ) HAVANA , Teb. 27. ( New York World Cablegram Special Telegraim. ) It seems In- crodliblo that thirteen days have gone and that the American government , with millions In moiey and men lo draw upon has laken from an Iron tomb In the filthy Havana bay the bodies of Just six heroic sailors. Dur ing the eight days' work of the navy und during the three days' work of the navy and professional northern men combined not moro than half a dozen bcdles have they recovered. There was no Investigation to- < ! ty. The navy divers stopped work forward for Sunday. The steamer Right Arm went to work , but some of Its men could not stand the overpowering odors and all quit at 10 o'clock for the day. Some horribly decom posed bodies were raised yesterday and lay on the small platform where the wrecking crew was working until today noon. It tbc bodies are not removed promptly the men cannot work , The chief of the divers has complained to Captain SIgsbee , who Is now oa the Fern , and he has promised to glvo the matter attention. There was yesterday In the Interior of the wreck such a maze of beams , braces nnd machinery that the divers fell frequently. There Is grcal danger of their becoming turned about In the Inky waters and actually gelling lost not len feet from the diving plalform , so a svstc- malic plan of ladders Is lo be used tomorrow. A diver can explore by sight of a torch a upaco nine feet wide , then move the ladder , explore another strip , and so on. The strong , nervy men of the wrecking crew say : "It Is the worst Job we ever had. " American newspaper correspondents and enterprising artists are sketching everything In sight and busy snap-shatcrs abound. The alert censor stops alt Information that ls technical or tell-tale. telltale.SYLVDSTHR SYLVDSTHR SCOVEL. ANOTHUIt &TOHY oV'TIIIJ WIIKCIC. Sillil to little Ileeii AvcoiniillNliciL liy 1) ) nuiultr. KEY WEST , Feb. 27. The latest story as to the way Iho Malno was blown up fa contained In a letter forwarded toy a secret tOubon club In Havana to J. M. Govin , a Cufban Insurance agent hero. After a long preamble aylng that tbo writer knew the Maine's fate was due tea a Spanish plot tbo letter goes on to sa > that In an old warehouse in Santa Catalina , SOO ) ards from where tbo Malno was moored , some diving apparatus had been hidden and that from this base two dlvera had worked by night and filled the torpedo holes of the Maine with dynamite cartridges , connecting them by wire wUh the battery on land , from which the cartridges were ex ploded , According to tbo letter Ibe divers were lo have been paid a large aum , which has not been forthcoming. Tbo Cubans In Key West say Investiga tion In Havana has tended to confiroa the statements of the letter , which will go be fore the court of Inquiry. An officer of the Maine , whose attention was called to the story today , asserted positively that the torpedo holes of the Maine had not been open during Its slay in the harbor , Spuln Slion-n Activity. FERROL , Spain , Feb. 27 , The work of naval conatructica and armament Is being pueriivd bjr the , ( ruvcrninfpt . wtn | tbjj.srcateut activity at the rscUal dad vtgck yard. _ _ _ BLOODY SHIRT LAID ASIDE Sanatora Do Not Wave the Ensangnincc Qarmont , COUNSEL MODERATION IN THE CRISIS Willingo Keep Cool nnil Stippor ( he 'Ailinlnldtrntloii In In ( Kt- TortH ( n l're er\e I 1'cnce. WASHINGTON , Feb. 27.-Spcclal ( Correspondence spondencoTho ) dawn of another Lenten season has limn eh t In tin trnln doubt am uncertainty as to the conditions which con front us regarding Spain and Its Island off the Florida coart. Conditions are much strained. There has been a tense feeling observable in all 'branches of Industry , less possibly , In Washington than In the nearby greatly populated centers of trade and com mercc. But Washington has Its mcrcurla people qulto as much as the cosmopolitan cities of New York. Baltimore , Chicago , New Orleans and Sin Francisco , and It has bcei fj treat with this admixture of classes am conditions that the most to.npcrate course was decided upon by the chief executive o the nation as well as congress In handling the Maine disaster. The flamboyant utter aucco of the last few- months In the senate and house of representatives have been sue cecdcd by dispassionate appeals to the con scrvattve Judgment of the nation to suapem sentence until all the facts nre known. To GCO statesmen rise In their places and coun'- fel coolness and deliberation , where but a short tlrao ago they had stood and In 1m passioned words Invoked the strong arm o the government In behalf of the hapless Cubans , was a sight fit for the go Is. Sen ator Allen sought to attach a rider to the diplomatic and consular appropriation Till recognizing tbo Cubans as 'belligerents ' am upon thU amendment ho desired a direct ex pression of the senate He got It , but so forcibly was the blow delivered that on the following day ho meekly rose In his oei and withdrew a resolution which ho had prepared calling for the sending of a com- nY&slon to Havana to Inquire so to the eauso of the Maine's destruction. Old senators who have seen a quarter o a century of service in the upper ibranch o congress unhesitatingly say that they ncvci witnessed such a change come over that body as has taken place In the Uet fortnight When nothing was to be accomplished mauj of the senators were anxious to swing the firebrand and the sword , but when brought face to face with stern facts and the realiza tion that what they might do in the upper branch of congress would be lookel upon as a quasi declaration of war they became coldly deliberative. And It Is not too mucl to say that the man who sounded the koj- note for conservatism , for a rational dis cussion of the whole phase of Internationa comity as at present existing between Spain and the United States , was Senator John M Thurston of Nebraska In a speech which the Post says was ono of the most Impres- elvo efforts of the present session of con gress , "delivered In no pvrotcchnlcal man ner , but with an earnestness and solemnity which bespoke his appreciation of their meaning. " THURSTON'S REMARKS. Senator Thurston said In part : "We are standing In the shadow of n terrible com plication In the harbor of Havana. The mlndo of the American people are Inflamed enough. There la enough being said out side the eenatc , all over the country , tend ing to Incite our people to some deelara- ) tlon or some act that will precltpltate a war. The people of this country today ought to be at their altars considering this question silently , prayerfully , solemnly , with their consciences before Qpd. I do not know what will bo discovered in the harbor of Havana. I hope and pray that the result of the investigation will foe such as to acquit the people of Spain officially or Individually before all the. world of any terrible crluo against this government. " ' This Ecemed to be the cue for other sen ators , and even though they bad voted for Joint tad concurrent resolutions , In one form and another , recogntriifr Cuba oa an Inde pendent power , thej all voiced the sentiment that now was the tlmo for deliberate thought and judgment. Even though Scnatoi Allen charged senators with dodging the Issue fifty-one of them registered their vvlU'iigneBa to go to the country ; on their rccordi made when the Cuban question was before the senate In aciother form. Five senators want ed to recognize the belligerency of Cuba through an amendment to cii appropriation bill , and these were Senators Allen of Ne braska. Cannon of Utah , Heltfcld of Idaho , Mascia of Illinois and Teller of Colorado. War preparations are going on , the gov- erntmut realizing that nothing makes so powerfully for peace ao preparations for con flict , but no word is to bo spoken until the executive tpcaks. Whether war will grow out of the Maine disaster or whether It shall bo postponed until a later day ao ono can know at present. The result ot tbo court of Inquiry will not bo liown for a month at leant , according to navy people. The onsular reports , however , relating to the death rate of Cuba since the first day of December , and the progress of the war In the lolcmd , which have beta under lock and key In tbo State department since their ro- ccptlcn , must be forthcoming , under a reso lution of the houto of representatives. With tbrso published the agitation will again break out , the feeling that Intervention should como having grown la the meantime to vast proportions , eo that no men can luow tbo end. Reason as ono will , the fact remains that the chasm between the two countries Is growing wider , and It will re quire a cool head and a wcll-balaaccd m'cul In the executive chair to share issues so that peace with honor may bo preserved to both nations. That la the Judgment of states men who have- followed the trend of events with eurpasa'ng Interest , ALL UUinT TV WAhIII\'fiTO.\ , Ileeeleo Information on Uie. lln .Situation. WASHINGTON , Feb. 27. The usual Sun day quiet was not broken today by any new developments In connection with the Maine- disaster. Captain Crowlcohleld of the naval Imreau canio to bis office In the Navy de partment to open the department mall and a few unimportant telegrams. A dispatch from Havana confirmed tbo press reports that the court of inquiry left -there on tbo Mangrove for Key West. The State depart ment received nothing from Consul General Leo during the day and the only dispatch of consequence reaching that department was from Minister Rockbltl at Athens , briefly stating that an attempt had been nude ou the life of King George , but with out berlouo results. FIve shots were fired by the would-be assassin , none of them taking effect , Up to C o'clock the dispatches of the Navy department wcro taken to the officials of the department and were not regarded as of sufficient consequence to send to the secre tary. Mr , Long said the court of Inquiry would now proceed with Its work at JJey West , examining flid witnesses there. In ac cordance with Ita original plans. No defi nite information bid been received as to tiow much time would be taken with the in quiry there or what the next step would ae. Mr. Long said the department was to day In possession of no more information on the cause of the disaster than It was mmedlaUly after the occurrence and no In formation bad teen received up to the pres ent time showing that the disaster -was caused by dcelgn. During the itternoon the secretary re ceived a call from Assistant Secretary Roosevelt and an examination of the map raid lo ehow mine * in Havana harbor dis closed tbatf no such mine * were Indicated. At ( be fci ) ce tloa o ( Secretary LCD 5 , Ait c'stnnt Secretary1. Roosevelt , of the Nwy dc partment gave out the following1 statcmcn In regard to tbo published rtory of a map with the mines In Havana harbor purport ing to be marked on It : As goon ns tbo map win brought to my nttcntlon I sent lo Mr. Johtt Hu 'ell Yotin of the congressional library nnd "got " th original. It 1 s'mply one of the Inmnnci nblo maps oft Havana rmruor. There li no the slightest Rltrn of a mine marked nny iwhctc on It. An aOmatter of fact , I nn Informed thnt this map Is one 'which ' hn been used In giving- lectures tit the Colum blnn university. In answer to the question as to wha was the meaning of the movement of guns and munitions , Mr. Roosevelt said : " 1 merely served to show that the deparHncn does not -believe there will bo nny trouble but neither docs It Intend to be caught un prepared If there should be trouble. " Senor du Boic , the Span'sh charge d'of- fatTcd , today received a cablegram from the minister of state at Madrid eaylng that the now m'nleter to the United Slaltfl , Seno Polo y Bernabe , will eall tomorrow fron Gibraltar. This will bring him lo Washing ton In about ten dajs. 'At Gibraltar ho wll take ono of the German line of transatlantic steamers touching at that point. The ere dentlals of the now mlaletcr will be presented sented soca after his arrival , and It la ex pectcd that his first attention will bo given to the new commercial treaty between the United States titd Spain/ with particular ref erence to Cuba. His service as chief of the commercial bureau of the foreign office hat. given him charge of the matter lending up to thu negotiation of this trcaly , and ho wll como nlmrliiR the earnest desire of the Sa gasta admlnlstralion to put through this matler with the least delay possible Mln'a- ler WooJford has been carrjlng on the i.e- gotlatlons with the authorities at Madrli and they are well along toward completion. Beyond the foregoing dispatch Scnor di Ilosc received no news today from Havana or Madrid. He expressed satisfaction at the more conservative sentiment vvlthlu the las few days. Prciss reports from Jiauriu state mat me authorities wcro Jubilcnl over the receipt o favorable Important Information from Ha vana. Senor du Bose cauld shed mo light on Iho nature of this Information. In other quar ters however , the Impresolcn prevailed that this Information did not refer to the Maine Inqulrj , but concerned the general conduc of the Insurrection In Cuba. There have been strong Indications of late that Iho nutcno mist cabinet , under the leadership of Govin who Is the recqgnlzcd force of that body would endeavor to make teirca with the sep aratist wing , and In turn secure the co. operation of the Insurgents In a movement to conclude the war. How far this Is passi ble Is not known here , although It 'jas boon expected , that Govin wouldsuccced ( In cffoct- ing a reconclllatlcn. There has been added reason for this belief within the last fov , dajs , owing to the fierce attacks made on Govin by some of the irreconcilable elements Ho repelled thesu and repudiated an al leged letter In which he\ was reported to have attacked " Premier Saftasta. issues AS "oliunit < iIHNSIONS Seerotiiry Dnl Pnimcff on n liv OoimiilNnloner I.ocliren. WASHINGTON , Fcb 27. Under a decis ion rendered b > Secretary of the Interior Hoko Smith , under the Cleveland adminis tration , May 27 , 1803. In the case of Charles T. Dennett , Mr. Lochren , the commissioner of pensions , organized a board of revision In the bureau of pensions for the purpose of taking from the filrfs claims which had been allowed under the net of Juno 27 , 1890 for a rc-c\aminatlon. As a result of that rf examination , sajs Asslst-int Secretary Web ster Davis , pensions Avjre reduced or dropped in at least"25.00L { cases. Upon a careful examination pf the action then taken Mr. Davis has Isoued the following order relating to appeals pending before the department In such cases : WASHINGTON , Fcb 2C , Order. It I- ) di rected th it the pending appeals from the action of reduction or repealing pensions under the pension not of June 17 , 1SOO. In necoidance with the dcchlons rendered JIuj 21 , ] b9) ) . In the case of Charles T. Bennett shall be examined with gre.it care. In cn es where the evidence Hied or the certificate of examination Indicates thnt the pension origln.illv allowed vvis vvarrantci under a Just and Impartial conbtruction of the law they Fhall be returned to the Bu reau of Pen = lens for a ' peclal examination or another medical examination , or both , as may bo deemed necessary. It Is held to be proper and Just that sucl pensioners shall be granted n fair hearing and be allowed an opportunity to show by competent prool ] thru tliey were disabled In the degree and on account of the causes al leged at it ho date i.vhon trie pension was re duced or terminate. ] . It will be'understood that this action dis poses of the pending appeal in such cases by rcvcr.slpK the. action taken by the Uure.iu of Pensions ! and remandlns the case for fur ther investigation , the reasons therefor bclnp fully set forth. WUBSTUH DAVIS , Assistant Secretary. This order , the department says , will re sult In giving all soldiers affected by the Bennett decision a chance to be heard. Mr. Divls also has rendered an impor tant decision on the question of "line ol duty. " It vvas In the cat'o of the widow of Oscar Hoffman , Twenty-third United States Infantry band , who applied lor a pen sion. The war department reported that the soldier was accidentally killed In the line of duty while on n pass to hunt , that such practice was encouraged In the regular army , because It Improved the soldier's marksman ship , and that a soldier killed or wounded whllo BO engaged , not in consequence of any willful neglect or Improper conduct , was considered In line of duty. The assistant secretary holds that as the records of the War department are usually accepted as conclusive upon all other ques tions relating to a soldier's service , the con temporaneous order by the proper medical officer that the soldier was In the line of duty when killed should bo regarded , In the ab sence of evidence to the contrary , as con trolling upon that question. Where such record does not appear the question of line of duty must bo determined by the best obtalnaWo parole evidence In each case. OVKR TUN TIIOUH.VMJ 1JOI.I , VHb. Ilenellt for \VI < I < MVN mill OrpliniiH of tilt * Mnliie'N DiMiil. NEW YORK , Feb. $7. $ The benefit given at the Metropolitan opera' douse tonight for the vvldowH and orphans of the sailors am ) men on 'tie battleship Mai lie who went down with th' vessel waa a thorough success finan cially and professionally Every available apot to the big house was gccupled , TdoniBS F. Grady opened the program with a short speech , recounting ( the heroism of tht > men on the Malno ami eulogizing the dead licrors. Following him cable Do Wolf Hop. per with his "Kl Capltan" compan ) , accom panied by the Scventy-flret reglmecit band , low led by Prof. Fancliilll , formerly of the Marine band , and fUng the , flag music from the opera. Tbo Broadwayl Thealcr company bang airs from "Tho Hlghuajrnan" and thu Castle Square Opera company Bang the east ern chorus from "Cavalerla Rustlcana , " Others who took part In the performance were : Robert Hlllyard , Imogcne Cdmer. Walter Jones , Low Docltatader , Wilton Lack- aye , May Irwln , Camlllo d'Arvllle , Nellie iragglna , Jeromq Sykcs , , Dorothy Morton , Merrle Osborno and Grace Golden. At tbo close "The Star Spangled Banner" was swig by the choruses from tbc Castle Square com- > any , the "Telephone Girl" company , "El 'apltan" company. "Normandy Wedding" company , "Highwayman1' ' company , wilu the Seventy-first regiment band and the audi ence. Tbe receipts were more than $10,000. Sc-iuitor Proctor1 * Movrinrnti. HAVANA , Feb. 27. Senator Proctor his been exploring the city toJay. He took hreakfatt with MUa Clara Barton and with other Americana witnessed tbo usual nooa llfltrlbutlon of relief lo the reconcentradooi. < fo arrangements have been made for calls by Senator Proctor upon General Blanco end the other Spanish. olQclals , but it Is exp cted he will call Informally upon eaveral during the week. Consul General Lee will nccom- any him , Tbe report that Captain filgnuae ted the officer * of the Maine 1111 be mam- liwd In the admiralty court U untrun. u bey have not been'notified , but the bulled States Qfflcere belevp | Spaju ho a moral - ' " ' to-ma' HOLD UP A NEBRASKA BANK Two Masked Men Do the Strong Arm Act a Bayard , GET AWAY WITH ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS Cover Ilio Cnxlilcr mill Another nlth IMMtoln ninl Compel tlio I'oriner to Open the into. QERINO , Neb. , Feb. 27. ( Special. ) The llank of Uavard , a email town twenty miles east of Geilng , was held up last evening about 7.30. The cashier , A. 0. Taj lor , and a travcl'og ' man named Hall wcro In the bank when two masked men entered end , covcrlu ? them with pistols , made Taylor open the tafe. They took about $100 but overlooks the sack of coin and some other money The cashier came to Goring todaj and Bworo out a warrant for a man named Johnson whom he believes he recognized with certain ty , cud the sheriff has set out In search o him. him.DAYARD. DAYARD. Neb. . Fcb 27 ( Special. ) Two masked men held up A. O Taj lor , prc-slden of the Bank of Hayard , nt 8 o'clock last evenIng - Ing , and at the point of a gun compelled bin to open the ifo. Mr Taj lor was hit on the head and seriously Injured. About $100 w.is taken. A dozen men are la pursuit of the robbers and It Is believed they will bo cap tured. IllJUr SIH ! VIL K 1C I OKY lvT AWIUHA One of the I'ONNllillltleM of the Near Future. AUBURN , Neb. . Fcb. 21. ( Special ) Last season the Nemalwi County Abstract con.- pany , through the enterprise of Its president Colonel J. M. Ilurress , made n practical test of the soil of Nemaha county for Its adapt ability to the raising of sugar beets bj planting sixty-four &mall patches of one- eighth of an aero each in different parts of the county to the sugar beet. These beets were analyzed by chemists and found to have a largo per ccmt cf saccharine. A meeting was called jcstcrday afternoon It consider what kind of a proposition coult bo made to capitalists to build A sugar beet factory. B\-Governor Furnas was present and spol o In favor of the Industry and giv ing his experience In raising beets and the test. Colonel J. M. Burrcss then addressed the meeting and read the results of their ex periments last jear. Beets from all kinds of soil had been sent to tbo Oxnards , the State university and to the secretary of agricul ture , and these tests showed conclusively that cugar beets can be raised In this county at a profit , both as to quality and quantity Colonel Burrcss further stated that four of the five essentials for a factory were hero at home , viz : The soil , the water , the lime stone and the transportation facilities. The contract to raise the beeto was then read and explained and a lively Interest mani fested by the farmers present by the ques tions that they asked regarding the raising 6f beets. The question was asked : "How- many want a sugar beet factory ? " and every one present stood up. Some ton or a dozen' farmers signed the contract at once for the raising of at least five acres of beets for the next five years and many more of ihc farmers took home a contract to give the matter further thought and consideration. The meeting adjourned for one week. A factory for Auburn of a dally capacity of COO tons Is one of the probabilities of the near future. WIM , &T.VM ) 11V Tllli GO VI2 HAM CM' . Lincoln Cltl/eiiH TtiKc Action on the Mnliie DlNtiNtcr. LINCOLN , Fcb. 27. ( Special. ) A misa meeting , attended by several hundred cltl- rcns , was held at Ancient Order of Jnltci Workmen ball last night to talk over matters relating to the recent destruction of thb Maine. A number of those present made patriotic epeectics , and expressed the bellel tl-at Spanish officers had been guilty cf treachery to the United States. A pledge to stand by the government In whatever action IB deemed necessary was clrcu'ated and numerously signed. The Red RllVjon club carried out a very Intel eating program at the Funko opera house thls-afternoon. The speeches were all short and crisp , but right to the point. Vocal selections were rendered by W. F. Llntt and Arthur Blvcns. Dr. Ruth Wood has gone cast and will make an extended tour through Uuropo be fore coming back to Lincoln. Mrs. May Wallett died at her hcraein this city last night , falling to rally after an operation which was performed In the hope of caving her life , Mrs. Wallett was a jounc worran who had spent most of her life In Lincoln , and many friends sympathize with the bereaved huaband and two little chil dren. At tfje regular rrcetlngof the ministerial association Monday morning Rev. F. S. Stein will m ( [ a paper co "A Working Man's In dictment of the Church. " I.enriieil lit WnUnflclfl. WAKEFIKLD , Neb. , Feb. 27. ( Special. ) A preliminary meeting , called for the pur pose of forming a Northeast Nebraska Bank ers' association , was held hero yesterday. A committee on permanent organization con sisting of W. L. Mote of nmeifon , A. L Tucker of Wayne and E. R. Gurney of Lau rel was anpo'iitod. The first meeting will beheld held at this place Arbor daj , April 22. A petition was circulated hero this week and quite grncrou&ly signed asking for the appointment of en agent to take the place of Captain Mercer , who haa charge of the Indian exhibit at the TransmlssleslppI Kx- IKxiltica at the Wlnnebago agency , who \in liad no political or business connection with the Indiana. Revival services will begin In the Metho dist Episcopal church next week. Rev. Sha rer will be aso'sted by Evangelist Gray of Dakota City. Poultry AHHOflnlloii Olllrerx. WAHOO , Feb. 27 ( Special. ) The Saunders - ders County Poultry and Pet Stock asaocla- .lon held Its annual election In this city lest evening and chose the following officers President , Jeceph Manners ; vlco president , J. I ) , Thorp ; secretary , David Lamn ; trcou- urer , J. M , Loudon , Jr. The association will told Its amaual show In this city some tl.no n December. The books of the association thow all debts paid and some money In the rcasury. The association pasted a rceolu- lon making an appropriation to pay a cash premium to sweepstake exhibitors of poultry it the Saunders county fair for 181)8. ) IlnrlliiKloin IK'iiiH. HARTJNGTON , Xcb , Feb. 27. ( Special Telegram , ) The Hoard of County Commis sioners has awarded the county printing for ho ! year to the News of Hartlngton and the Hade of Coleridge. The rlty hue , let tbo contract for an electric Ight plant to Fred C. Lorgen. The plant Is o be put In with the waterworks plant and ho city has Issued warrants to pay for the tork as eoon as completed. All of the money IBS been subscribed by local parties. IrrlKiitlon I'ulr lit North Pintle , NORTH PLATTB , Neb , Fcb. 27. ( Spe cial ) There Is every prospect tliat North 'latto will thl * year repeat the Irrigation air held la 1890 , except that It will be on an even larger scale. It Is proposed to secure he co-operation of every county In the state where Irrigation Is practiced , Y nicr > ' Ooiiluted. . FRRMONT , Neb. , Feb. 27. ( Special ) Charlta Yancey , allai Cunningham , wau con- Icted la the district court yesterday of breaking Into the residence of K , n. Percy n tola city BQd eteaUoe { ae Jewelry aud TliMlMMIATUIli : LIT OM 11IA. Hour. 11 CRT. Hour. R n. til. 1 p. in , 47 tl n. nil H li. in. IS 7 n. in as in , 14 8 n. in UH I II , in , It ) O n , n a.t R V. tn < 47 10 n. in. . . . . . . ' 17 II ii , in , 111 11 n. 111 10 7 | i. in , 41 12 til Ill N p. til. 41n in , : n other property. Ytncej'9 an Fremont hns three clllzcns 'pcct ' lo slarl nooci for the Klondike < . * T. A. Frasure Intends to start algi ! > 3 farch 15 nnd will go b ) wnj of tlio G ] lot POM. Ho has had considerable mlip" [ Sperlcnce , and though aboul sixty jeiyL.- . thinks ho cnu slnnd the Irlp. Dell Swfy J P. Pctcr- son are also making ntrfefi nts to RO socn. ( Slip * Illrtli to > 3 nr < N. TRENTON , Neb , Feb. M > cclnl ) Mie. Leonard Harrison , Uvlnj/XHvo / miles south of ihls clly , hog given blrtnro triplets , two girls and ono boy , weighing five pounds each. cuouiis vi SIP 1,1 : . \ MUI : ISLAM ) . rorei ? There W irUn Sniulny lU-n Wnr Vonoeln. PHILADELPHIA , Fcb. 27. League navy yard llterallj cmarmcd with vljltois to day In consequence of the report from Wash Ington that the orulscrs Columbia and Min neapolis , the double turreted monitor Mlan- tonomah and the ram Katahdln had boci ordered to po Into commission with dis patch. Both cruisers have skeleton crows abroad , while the monitor has been lying at Its dock for several vcars and the Katahdln since last winter. None of the naval officers would Bay nnj- thlng relative to the future movements ol the vessels , but from workmen It Is lumiei that the commission orders had been re ceived. This was borne out by the fact thai all day a force of men In the construction and repair departments was actively at work on the Mtantonomah and the Katahdln Visitors wcro kept off these boats ixtid enl > these having frlcndu nmong the officers nm ! crews of the cruisers were allowed on board The repairs to the monitor are all of a minor nature and will bo completed by Tues day. Over twenty men have already been detailed for It , and It Is said Its full com plement of 160 will bo made up as rapidly as possible. A largo force of men was busy on the Katahdln , improving Its ventilating appa ratus and fitting it with steam plpea. This work will only take a few dajn. tsunday work at League Island Is very un usual and today's activity li taken to InJI- cato that the Navy department Intends to get the vessels theie ready for sailing at a moment's notice. Late this afternoon steam was gotten up on ( board the monitor for the puipcbo of testing Its fbollcrs and machinery. In ono of the lifts neurly 100 men were at work on small spars and boat fittings. Everjthing Is lu shipshape on the Minne apolis and Columbia , and beyond filling up t'lelr ' complement of officers and men and taking on coal and provisions nothing re mains to bo done. This will consume about five days nt the most , anJ then both vessels w ill bo ready for active sen Ice. The active work of drilling men will con tinue until orders ore received from Wash ington. Captain Casey , the commandant , said he did not know for what vessel the men now being enlisted are wanted. The roster Is simply being filled up and he did not know how many were wanted or where the recruits wou3 ! be assigned. STCMLMl IS HUIlIVni ) AT 4 > i : V. hpontnneoiiM CnmhtiMf Ion of IMion- Iilintc ClliiM'H ( ho Flrr. HOSTON , Feb. 27. The British nteamcr Legislator , Captain Tennant , bound from Liverpool for Colo.i , was burned at sea on February 10 , In latitude 31.23 north , and longitude 44.10 west. The file broke out fo suddenly that eleven men forward wcro cut off from the rest of the ship , and in navlng them a bott was capsized and five men , Including the second end and third officcis , the chief steward , and the cook , were drowned. A fireman re ceived such severe burns that ho died In a few minutes. The remainder of the crew , twenty-eight In all , with two passengers , Dr. W. Mor- temer and wife of London , were rescued within four hours after thu fire broke out by the fruit steamer Floor Gale and brought to this port. The Legislator was burned to the water's edge. The dead are : JOHNi OAFFNEV. chief steward. JAMES BATEMAN , eeconJ officer. WILLIIAM MARTIN , third officer. ALEXANDER JENKINS , chief coolc. WILLIAM ANGILL , seaman. THOMAS ROBERTS , fireman. Severely buined : John Trauer , chief engineer. John Holdcn , second engineer. .Robert Mlln , fourth englmer. Charles Ibbston , seaman. The Injured vvcri ) taken to the Marine hospital on arrival at this port. The fire ) s suppocd to have been thu re sult of spontaneous combustion In the carg } or pnospnate. LIST OP TIIU HIui nmciins TKN. SerloiiH HeNiilt of tinKiilniiinzoii Ch fin I fill Inlioriilor > rtre. IO\LAMAZOO ! , Mich. , Feb. 27. The total number of known dead as the result of last night's explosion In the Hall chemical labor atory is ten. The list Is as follows : GEOROD HOLLIDAY , engine driver. PAT M'HUGH. plpcman. JOHN HASTINGS , JR , hosoman. CHARLES WHITING , spectator. JAMES QUIGLEY. spectator. WILLIAM WAOnil , fireman. uwAi , FRANK AUWERS , fireman. EUGENE DOLE , fireman , JOSEPH CLIFFORD , telephone lineman. The following are the most scrloualy In jured : Will Hastings , scalp badly cut and right Foot blown off , necessitating amputation ; James Utter , driver , both legs broken ; John McDermott , a firemen , leg broken , face jadly burned ; Ordwr.y Knight , fireman , jcad badly cut ; George Chattcrton , back Jroken , leg Injured ; Victor Vocclo , scalp jadly cut , skull Injured ; Fred Stohrcr , hip injured ; John McAllister , fireman , leg irokcn Six others received lesser Injuries. The bodies of Eugene Dole and William Wager , both fliemen , were taken from the ruins today , Early this inoinlng a force of men was cet at work and at noon the nangled body of Joseph Cllf/ord , a laundry employe , was found , Other lnJk are sup- ) oscd to bo Htlll In the bulHlog as two joys , Phillips and West , arid a Michigan Central brakcman , are missing. I' ( > MCKMVKIIMI > nv A MIMIC. Untlinnn SII | > H One Ollli-er ninl I'utiilly AVouiiilH Another. CHICAGO , -Feb. 27. Officer Pi trick Fcn- on was killed and Officer Daniel Carey was atally shot by Michael Clark when they at- cmpteil to arrest him tonight. Clark , who was a butcher employed at the stock yards , > oarded at 413 Forty-eecond street. Ills andlady noticed that ho was acting strangely and asked him to vacate , but he refuted and barricaded tbo doors of his room. Police were called and forced an entrance. An Fcnton stepped into the room 10 received a bullet through the heart , Carey leaped upon the maniac and In the struggle received a shot through the body. Clark law his victim fall and Jumped hrough { ho second-story window. He ran o the parish church and gave himself up to he priest , wbp turned him over to the po- ice. Movrnivndi of Ocrnn Ve el , Kt-b , 27. At New Yorlfc-Arrtvcd IA Hretngne , from lavrc ; Thinuvalla. from Goprnhnvfn , , DFFFATS THF STATR l/Ll jujtH J lllju Olillu Jnry Decides tbo Suit in Favor of th Eartloy Bondsmen , SURPRISING VERDICT HANDED IN Bcsnlt Takes Away the Breath of tli Attorney General , COURT ADMITS HIS ASTONISHfOT JutJgo Powell Confesses that He Has Cause to Woadcr. DEFENSE SEtMJ SERENELY SATISFIED Chief CouiiNcI for Iliu llonilMineii in ) Ho Looked for .No Other lU-Hiilt from the * JleKllllllllKT. The Jury In the cafe Against tbo bond'mcr * of o\-Stnto Treasurer Rnrtlov. to recover thu half-million dollar shortage * that existed 1m tno trcamirj whin he loft It a joar ago ro- lurned n verdict In fa\or of the dcfcndlne bondsmen at S 20 o'clock lait nkht. When the \erdlct was read there wore no persons In the court room besides tbo court and the Jurj except the contuse ! 'n the casa and n few reporter ! ? , and to sav that then were all astonished In putting It llghtlj. The attoruiejs for the state and the otheru who ha\e followed the'case were simply astound ed ns the words of the verdict fell from the lips of Assistant Clerk of the District Court Oropn I2vcn the alloiiievn for the de fense sat In their scats as If the } hardly bc Mo\cd tholr cars There was no question of the words of th verdict , how ox or. Judge I'owell Im mediately dlschnigod the twelve me x from further duty lu the case and took occa sion to thank them on behalf of the county and ftate for their scnlcrs Deforo the Jurvmcn loft their seats John Pondcjscn , the foreman , oroso and addressed the court. He ( mhl that In behalf of his com- panlccm ho wished to thank the couit and the officers for the considerate treitmont they had rocel\cd. lie taid that the confine ment had been Irl.somc , but that It hail been made at * light ns possible by Iho bail iffs and the court. Judge Powell icspondcit that ho had done all In his power to make their duty as agiocablo aa possible. After this Interchange or compliments tlio jury lost no tlmo In leaving the loom In which thc > had spent two nights and two ilajs. They vanlsled from ttio court hou o speedllv , nnrloua to get back to their homes. In five minutes after the verdict was rendered not one or them was any vvlu.ro about the court , house. _ SURPRISES THE ATTORNEYS. The Jurors , Iti all probability , arrived at their verdict before they went to supper last night. The bailiffs noticed that when they left the hotel after the meal thoj carried bundbi with them In which they had wrapped the articles which they had ncnt for to their. Ciomes after being locked up. They paid not a word , however , on their way back to the court room , but In a few mciucnls after the key had been turned upon them they gnvo notice that they had agreed upon a verdict. Thlj was at 7 20 o'clock. Judge Powell waa summoned , the attorncts In the cnso wera called and the newspiper olllccs weio notified. An hour later all the interested parties vvcra Qcoemblcd and the scaled verdict was handed to the circle by the foreman. As has been Intimated , trie verdict won n. decided BurprUo to every ono who his fol low oil the ease , Including the attorneys. Attorney General Snivth and Assistant At torney General Smith wcro almost speech less whr the verdict was read. "It Is shameful , It Is disgraceful , " uttered Attorney Grncial Smith. "I am simply astounded , " said Asslatant Smith. "I cannot possibly sec how they could have ccached auch a verdict. " The two attorncvs said , however , tint they would take Immediate' steps to have tlio verdict set aside. In the next day or no a motion will bo presented to Judge Powell to set aside the verdict and grant a now trial. They have some confidence that this motion will bo granted , but It it Is overruled nn appeal will bo at once taken to the supreme court. Even tbo allornoyo for the defense and W. A. Paxton , the only one of the bonds men present , appeared to be as much as tonished at the verdict as anjbody. At any ratu this was the Impression they gave the observer who Judged from their appearance. Some moments afterward , however , they all said that the verdict was Just the ono they expec'cd , GENERAL CO-WIN'S - SENTIMENTS. "It Is the verdict that I anticipated , " Bald Ouieral Cow In , who was the leading counsel for the defending bondsmen "Ik In Just what I was looking for I bcllovo that the matter that brought about the ver dict more than anything el.w , and upon which I bdbod my confidence , was the ac counting that Govcinor Holcomb hud with Hartley at the end of his first term. That waj clrarly Illegal and I believe the Jury considered It In the same light. " Judge Powell hliiiKclf was somewhat taken aback by tbo verdict , When questioned about It after the Jury wu discharged ho mid : " 1 muni confess that I am surprised " After Judge Powell's Instructions to the Jury on Friday afternoon not a person In the court room -who followed the trla' ex pected any other verdict than cno for the Uatu. Thcso Instructions practically left nothing for the Jury to determine except the amount of the shorUgo for which the liondsmcn wore to bo held llcblo Regarding the accounting upon which General Cow In LicllcvcB the twclvo men arrived at their verdict for the defense , Judge Powell ( spe cifically Instructed them to consider the cer tificates of deposit an money If they found that Hartley had accepted them us money. The evidence was clear that Hartley had considered the certificates ) < m so much raiir and had turned them over to himself a cash. After thc o Instructions had been given ho attorneys for the defense were cast down. Several of them stated that they could not look for a verdict under the court's Interpretation of the law In the ca o. Tbo attorney general aud hlsr asilat- ant were only doubtful an to amount of the udgment that would be returned ugaluut ho bondsmen , JURORS DECLINE TO TALK. The Juroro would have nothing to say OB to tow they arrived at a verdict or how they , tood. When qucetlor od regarding the mat er they alwply cald that ftcy | bad