, r
THE OMAHA I DAILY BEE , t < < \
ESTABLISHED JUNE 19 , 1871. OMAHA , TUESDAY MORNING , L 5 , 1898-TWELVE PAGES. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
iHOOTING AT A MARK
, Havana Artillerymen Give Their Gnns a
Little Eieroiie.
[ VAINLY ENDEAVOR TO HIT A TARGET
Shots Either Fall Ehort or Go Way ti
One Bide.
AS MARKSMEN THEY FAIL TO SCORE
t
Conditions Excellent , bnt Results Ara All
Colossal Failures.
COULD NOT STRIKE. A BIG BATTLESHIP
t'nltert State * Officer * Wltneiui the Per-
formnncc nnd l niiKli 1m Their
Sleeve * nt the-
Gunner * .
( Copyright , 1858 , by PrCEfl Publishing Company. )
HAVANA. April 4. ( New York World Ca
blegram Special Telegram. ) Spain has just
spent In an afternoon at least $10,000 and
twenty-seven modern projectile * to show the
naval authorities of the United States just
liov > poorly Spanish artillerymen * handle
'good gun * . Captain Sampson Is now In pos
session of the results. Everything was fa-
" "yorablo. Wind , weather end water were easy
and the artillerymen were not being shot at.
They had plenty of time to leisurely vload ,
calculate and sight. Their batteries had an
! -'r" exceptionally flno long base line from Morro
castle to figure angles from , yet the four
blg.Krupps and the two bigger wlrewound
Ordonez rifles were so bungled that only
two shots fell close enough to be even un
comfortably close visitors to American bat
tleships of oven the largest size.
Fully 500 Spaniards watched the practice ,
After the first shot they ceased cheering ,
Before they had amused themselves , maklnp
Insulting and coarse remarks about the
World correspondent and his companions
Later the full force of their coast defenseV
Inefficiency penetrated even Into their unex-
pert brains anJ they kept quiet. The bur
den of their early remarks was vlgoroualj
expressed by the wish that the big gum
could only carry as far as Key West. I fell
llko saylog that It so , and if as badly almet
they would hit Tortugas Island Instead
about sixty miles off. Hero Is expert re
port upon the above results :
EXPERT REPORT.
"At 4:10 : oa April 4 , 1898 , the Spanish bat
terles Immediately to the westward of Itu
entrance to Havana harbor engaged In tar
get practice. Three batterlce were engaged
the * mortar battery at Relna , the heav ;
modern battery at Santa Clara and a mortal
battery a tow hundred yards to the- wind
ward of Santa Clara.
"Tho Relna battery coralots of six otso
leto muzzle-loading mortars of a bore etgh
inches caliber , mounted on old stone forli
ot llttlo value. This battery was mznnci
by the volunteer artillerymen of Havana
Six e-hots were observed from .this batter ;
from a point behind the Santa C'ara ' bat
tery and all of them fell far short of thi
'target. ' The official range , as Indicated b ;
tbo figures ot tbo Santa Clara range boari
\yas 6,000 meters ( about three and a quarte
miles ) . None of the shots from thla batter ;
fell within a. halt mile of the target.
"Tho Santa Clara battery la the prlnclps
defense of the western side of the entrance
It consist * of four twenty-eight centlmete
( ( eleven-Inch ) Krupp guns and two thlrty-tw
centimeter ( twelve and one-half-lnch ) gun
and two mortars estimated at eight Inches
The practice of th'e ' battery was decided !
poor. Out of thirteen t'hots cibscrveU on
struck the water at about 500 yards from tb
battery , another struck the water a full mil
to the left -of the target. Nine were from 10
to 200 yarde out ot line , as ohicrved trot
directly behind the battery. While the ei
ror , la range could not be determined , It 1
moro than probable that these iibots wcr
not within GOO yards of the target. Ono she
wee a line shot , but -was observed to fa !
snort and one was observed to fall aboi
ninety feet to the right and with gooJ rang
as tar aa could bo determined from my p <
eltlon. It is scarcely probable that moi
than one shot from this battery would hav
truck a target the elze of ono ot our battle
ships at anchor. The ranges changed ver
fowly. The targets were not anchored , bi
drifted to the oietward at the rate ot aboi
ono mile per hour.
MORTAR BATTERY.
"Tho practice from the mortar battery t
the westward of Santa Clara was exception
ally poor. Out of twelve observed shots tror
this battery one struck In the vicinity of th
target and the other eleven did not strlk
within 700 yards at the very least estimate
The rapidity of Ore was slow. The shortes
Interval between shots ot the Santa Clar
battery was two minutes , but no two con
sccutlvo shots were from the same gun. 1
la not known whether the batteries fire
with the greatest speed consistent wit
accuracy. The tlmo of flight of the hcav
rifle projectiles was fourteen seconds an
the mortar projectiles twenty-three second !
The target practice was conducted under th
most favorable circumstances. The sun wa
behind 'and to the left of the batteries an
the sea was smooth. A gentle breczo wa
blowing across the line of flro at an ang ]
ot ilxty degrees and the practice was In r
way obstructed by smoke. As a whole th
shooting was poor. "
To understand tbo poornecs of the practli
It should be understood that at this raaf
" ' ( quoted In United States naval practice 8
error to right cc left of eeventy-flve fc' '
core * zero and In .general . tbo gunner wl
docs not alwajs make a line shot Is severe
censured and theao standards obtain whc
booting from a rowing ship. The Spanlan
ehot from solid , Immovable earth. Captal
Sampson need have no fear of bombardlc
Havana.
BUT TWO BIG GUNS.
There are only two big guns here. Thi
form one-third of tbe new batterlco In coi
tructlon on the luMe : cf Morro centle. Eve
toad our Mfigest battleship bcn at anchor c
the afternoon there were only two tbots do
nough to bo uncomfortable and In rece
practice observations frmi behind the gut
hot * always appear closer thaa they real
are and 'yet Havana wl'.h the fatuous cblll
/i * ef erelf deceit which Spain always has l : <
nd wlllJiave proudly print * tbat "All tl
Acer * were delighted at the magnlOce
rMttlt * obtained. "
N All ibe gum except the old line raorta
arore manned by regular artillerymen.
SYLVESTER SCOVEL.
Mll of S | uiiUh Ship * .
ijqCBWJiTOWN. April 4.-Tbo Spanli
bMt 4M4tr r > OM4 ultcd tar Fe
rol , Spain , this morning. The Audaz , sister
boat ot the Osado , which was damaged con-
ntderably by the elements , necessitating Itt
putting Into Waterford , from whence It wis
towed by the Osado , went Into dock this
morning.
AMEntcAxs Ann MADLY SCARED.
All Are Anxloun to det Atrnjr from
llnvnnn.
( Copyright , 1698 , by I'rfft 1'ubllshlnff Company. )
HAVANA , April 4. ( New York World Ca
blegram Special Telegram. ) The coast pur
vey steamer Dacho and the revenue cutter
Blake , ordered by the department to arrive
tomorrow , were asked for by General Lee
to ratlsfy the hundred American citizens and
others wishing to leave Immediately. The
American colony la actually delirious with
frlglit. Dr. Brunner etlll enforces vaccina
tion regulations and bia received no notice
from Surgeon Central Wyman only as to .he
yellow fever quarantine raising. Unlll fur
ther orders Lee's advices were that small
pox regulations will be nullified also. If by
tonight news Is not reassuring there Is very
apt to be a small sized American
citizens' riot ID the health officers'
quarters tomorrow. It was almost that
today , oo It U understood that the depart
ment In&tructexl Lee to embargo merchant
vessels in port If the Blake and the Bache
are insufficient. Leo Is thought to be of that
opinion , and to have sq cabled , and that the
regular Plant line Olivette ami coast line
Florida passenger steamships would bo much
better. In fact , there are no American mer
chant vessels for Leo to levy upon. The
little Fern flies the only American flag here ,
unices the tattered remnants of the Maine's
ensign still fluttering from the dismantled
and distorted wreck can be called a national
banner. The Fern Is kept here to transport
Leo If It becomes necessary.
The local press grows moro bitter In de
nunciation of sensational American journalIsm -
Ism In ono column and printing the
most astounding jingo things In
another. For Instance , La Lucha , Havana's
best and really Its only newspaper , alludes
to the rottenness of the American navy and
after stating that the Indiana , Oregon and
Massachusetts cannot carry each its full
load ot 400 tons ot coal without sinking Its
armor belt under water , states that they are
good for nothing but patrol beats In spite ol
their pompous names of battleships. No
mention Is made of the thlrteen-lnch guna
ithcse shlpa carry. From this a good Intlght
may bo gained ot Spanish Ideas ot the
American navy. If Leo's advice Is promptly
followed Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday
will see the Florida , the Mascotte , and the
Olivette In the order named transporting
frightened men , women and children and the
llttlo Fern will wait the consul general.
SYLVESTER SCOVCL.
IJIO MLMlCHAVr.MIC.V OAIUIY GUX9.
TruiiHntlniitlc Ship * Arm Tlienmeli en
for the Fniy.
( Copyright , 1E9S , by Press Publishing Company. )
HAVA.NA . , April 4. ( New fYork World
Cablcgram- Special Telegram.l3paln ) looked
for war as early as March 30. A big armed
Transatlantic company's ship was to carry
$1,000,000 to Cuba. At the last moment It
was lett at Cadiz. The ship Is now on Ita
way across with nothing but food and
passengers. The Iblg liner Relna Maria
Christina arrived here today with a greatly
Increased armament. It now carries a very
strong battery , about equal to our cun-
teats Wilmington and Helena and the
Christina goes faster anyhow than they. It
carries two six-pounder guns forward and
six six-Inch cannon on the main decks. The
other merchant steamer in port , Alfonsc
XII , the same name as the cruiser , only
carries tour new six-Inch guns , but Is ex
pected to newly arm itself In this harbor.
r
The heavy guns mentioned are really five
a-id a halt inch Heltoria breech loading
cannon.
At the palace here the officials really ex
pect war. Crowds of applicants for vacclna-
3 tlca so aa to be able to leave for the United
3
States broke through the United States Ma
rino hospital doctors' doors this morning.
The more timid ot Havana , are panic
1stricken. . Lee still bellevw Blanco Is able
to maintain peace even after a declaratlcn
of war. When the scared applicants tec
| mcJlcal certificates burst Into the surgeon's
office , our scrapping southern surgeon , Brun-
ner , started for tbe mart at Its bead and
finally got them out. Lieutenant Commander -
3 mandor Walnwrlght leaves this afternoon foi
Key West. The wrecking fleet Is hoisting
anchor now.
0
Corrco tonight says It I * assured that by
a superior order all kinds of small boats
f have been prohibited from approaching the
small steamship or tugs which these daye
run between Key West and Havana harbor
with assiduity. Only the authorities ot the
navy , the health department and the police
will have access to these boats "which with
ro much enthusiasm and love visit our bay. "
Consul General Lee thinks this announce
ment must be unauthorized.
SYLVESTER SCOVEL.
Sl'AXISH SPY IS AT FORT MOMIOE
\
Sentry Til U em a Shot nt Him with
Illnitlc CnrtrlilKe.
FORT MONROE. Va. , April 4. TherejIf
a good deal of excitement here over the al
leged discovery of the presence ot a Spanlsl
spy.
Several nights ago the sentry at Forl
Monroe , whoso post was nearest the
arranged esplanade for rapid flro and disap
pearing guns , noticed a man skulking alonf
the graray side ot the slope. Ho challenger
but received no answer. The next night the
same thing occurred , and the sentry ctial
lengcd and then fired. Blank cartridge !
were in use , but since the Incident Captalt
Hosklns ot the fort Is authority for thi
statement that the guard Is armed with bal
cartridges , and with orders to shoot.
When Commodore Schloy was at the Hole
Chamberlain a man of foreign appearanci
watched him closely. Friends of Commo
dore and Mrs. Schley noticed the man sev
era ! times. He Is registered at tbe hotel , bu
has avoided all the guests.
While the sentries at the fort can shoo
a stranger Intruding , there Is no law li
force by which at present he can be appro
bended.
Colonel Frank , In command of Fort Mon
roe , said tonight that a day guard as wei
as a night guard was being preserved abou
the new gun emplacement ? , and stranger
would not be given Information ,
WOODPOIID ETH TUB 3ICSSAGE
' '
III tlienluro of nil 'Ultimatum ti
CHICAGO , April 4. A special to th
Tribune from Washington , D. C. , says : Mln
liter Woodford hu been given by cable ai
abstract ot the president's forthcoming mca
eage and Informed ot the temper ot congren
He will communicate the facto to Spate
This U In the nature ot an ultimatum.
The president tlll hope * Spain will glv
ny the flfhu
TWO SCORE OF LIVES LOST
Death List of the f hawneotown Flood Not
Definitely KnoVn.
TOWN AT PRESENT BURIED UNDER WATER
Relief Committee * Are Actively at
Work Cnrlnir for the Ilnndrcd
Who Are Left Without
Home * .
niDGWAY , III. , Apill 4. Tonight al
most two score bodies of victims ot the
Shawneetown flooj have been recovered , and
hundreds of homeless people are dependent
upon charity for food and shelter. The
death list is likely to be largely Increased
when definite Informatlca from the negro
quarter , which suffered most , Is secured.
Ttio flood bun-'t upon these people without
warning , and owing to weak construction ot
their shanties , they toppled over la the
rushing waters , leaving their Inmates uo
means of getting out of danger.
Hundredn of people who lived farther from
the river front sought safety oa roofs and
In upper stories , or made a retreat to the
hills at the west. These are being removed
as rapidly as possible to places where they
can bo given proper care.
No effort has yet been- made to search for
bodies , the attention ot the relief parties
being directed almcst , entirely to the dis
tribution of supplies and making tbe homeless -
less as comfortable as possible.
The relief work Is well organized. Tents
and blanket ? sent by the governor today will
bo promptly distributed. These who eo-
capcd lest everything and their homes are
In ruins.
The mUslng , so far as known tonight , arc :
COLONEL COLLICOTT.
W. C. COLLICOTT and WIFE.
MRS. ED FLAKE.
MRS. GALLOWAY and TWO CHILDREN.
C. RHEINHART. s -
MARY M'ALLISTER.
ELLEN M'ALLISTER.
GRANDMOTHER HOLLY.
MRS. LANE.
MRS. MATHILDA GREER.
WILLIAM THOMAS and FAMILY.
CHARLES CLAYTON and FAMILY .
MARY WELCH and FAMILY.
PAUL PHALEN and FAMILY.
ANNA AND SARAH RHINOLD. '
MRS. TALLEY. u. _
MRS. M'CLOISE.
PAUL BAH AND FAMILY.
PAUL RENHOLD.
PAUL M'CALLISTER. '
- R. B. ROPER ,
CHARLES CATTON and SON.
THREE PRISONERS In the county jail ,
names unknown.
HENRY KING AND F.OUR CHILDREN
( colored ) .
MISS CORA SHERWOOD.
FRANK A. MORRISON.
MRS. A. A. HATHAWAY.
Late tonight It Is estimated that the loss ol
life In the negro quarter may reach attyj be
sides thcoa accounted for.
LEFT BEFORE THE BREAK.
J. T. Hogan of Omaha , 111. , left the seem
half an hour before the dike broke. Hk
brother-in-law , Sheriff Galloway of Gallatlc
county , whose home was In Shawneetown
had the eame good fortune. The sherlft'c
wife and two daughters were swept away
and their bodies have not been recovered.
Hogan's story of tbo flood ebows that th <
townspeople had absolutely no warning o !
the disaster.
About 5 o'clock last evening , he said , th <
levee on the north sldo of town gave wa :
at the north end of market street near th <
court bouse. An opening ten feet wide wat
at first made , but it quickly spread t <
twenty , end a ? wall of water ten or flfteer
feet high poured through the main strcc
sweeping everything before It.
Small frame houses along the line of tbi
levee to the south were cruibed like toys
and none of the occupants , mcst of when
were poor colored folks , escaped.
Those living In the more substantla
houses managed to climb to eecond cm
third stories , where they clung for houn
through the chilly night.
Houses In the western part ot tbe towi
did not at first feel the effect ot the flood
and tbe residents made steps tor safety
most of them fleeing to the top of the levei
on the south rart of the town.
A large number also reached the little hill :
which are a mile from tho'town , and fron
there saw their property crumble In thi
muddy waters.
When daylight came this morning thi
streets were full ot water to a depth ot tei
of twelve feet. Only the most substantla
buildings In the center of the village remali
standing. Water la everywhere , and the re
lief work Is being carried out under grea
difficulties.
ALL COMMUNICATION CUT OFF.
Rldgway , a town twelve miles from Shaw
neetown , was made the basis of relief work
All rail communication being cut off fou
rutlea out , boats were constructed and i
committee started to the scene. It reacbci
Cypress Junction , halt way to Shawneetown
and found dry land extending toward th
river.
Following this the rescuers arrived wlthli
two miles of the flooded town. Moro boat
were ntarte-d. and the rescuers crossed t
Shawneetown. They found a sad condltloi
existing.
Hundreds of those who escaped the run !
of water were perched on roofs , trees an
along the top of the levee. They were take :
from their dangerous positions as rapldl
as possible.
Owing bo the. scarcity of boats the wor
wils very slow , but over 200 persons , Inclui
Ing many women and children , were taken t
the roadway two miles from Shawncetow
to Cypress Junction. Here the greater pai
of them are camped tonight , with very llttl
to eat and exposed to the driving rain an
piercing wind.
Cyprece Junction Is almcst surrounded b
water , which has overflowed the banks <
the Wabash and Is covering the entire cour
try.
try.Tho
The overflow from tbe broken dike t
Shawneetowu has becked up two miles li
land , tut la toalght slowly receding. It wl
bo Impossible to recover any bxllte until tt
waters recede very materially. In fact tt
rescuers are making very little effort I
that direction , but are working to save thos
who escaped alive.
The Riverside hotel and court house ar
the Rldgway tank are Intact and wei
found to have been used by the fleeing li
habitants for shelter. The upper etorlea wei
crow ded.
PROMENADE ON THE LEVEE.
Several hundred people were promenadlr.
on tbe top ot the levee Sunday , afternooi
Sunday choola had jutt closed and the rtil
4rea trooped werrlljr along the tuootb wall
enjoying the bright utwhl eij This proved
a blessing to them. A' ' largo rt-owd had just
passed Market street , where .the break oc
curred. Lucidly na one , wsipa | lng there
just at that moment. i
(
The railroad station , at"'Rldgway ' has been
crowded all day a < nd dttplto the steady down
pour of rain the peopM cluster about the
place , each anxlously rlnqulrlng tor some
tidings of the flood.dlsancr at Shawncotowu
'Mrs. ' Harriet Dumont was ono ot the ar
rivals tonight from the flooded district. Mra.
Dumont , In company with a friend , was
walking along the levtfti at the time ot the
'break. She said :
"It was about 4:25 : kv the afternoon , when
e were suddenly startled > by hearlrig the
ells ot the different churches throughout
le city clanging. Pcoplo began running In
11 directions and somebody shouted that the
eveo had broken. We .rah three blocks to
my friend's home and went upstairs. Within
en minutes the water .came pouring down
ao street , and within twenty minutes moro
i had risen almost to the- second floor of
ur house. My friend's husband soon came
o us with a skiff and took us to the Rlver-
Ido hotel , The first alarm was given toy
'athcr Beuckman , who began ringing the
ell ot the church ot the Immaculate Con-
eptlon. "
The lower portion of Carml , 111. , on the
Vab&sh river , Is entirely flooded. The water
caches bait way to the'second storiesof
ho houses. The watcV Is. level with the
floor of the Iron road bridge , but the rail
road bridge Is still a < fe\v feet above. At
cno point on the Big Four , a mile north ot
arm ) , the track Is but one toot above water
or a quarter of a mile.
RELIEF WORK ORGANIZED.
Governor Tanner this afternoon started
from Springfield 100 tents\ blankets enough
or 500 people and a sufficient amount ot
prepared food for the Immediate relief 'Of
U200 people. He alfx > wired Attorney W. S.
i'hllllpfl , president of Ihe Gallatln County
> ank here , < to draw upon , him for $3,000 as
an Immediate relief fund.
Governor Tanner hast issued a proclama-
lon. to the public to send In relief In care
of W. S. Phillips at tbls place. The Odd
Fellows and Masonic lodges are supervising
.he distribution of supplies. A. F. Crawford
of this city has t'pent the day In dlstrlbut-
ng supplies.
As fast as they are received they are
taken by special train to the water's edge ,
crrleJ across In skiffs to Cypress Junction ,
and. from there token byvagon < to within
two miles ot Shawnsetown.
All the carpenters In Rldgway fell to
making flatboats this moralng for transpor
tation of supplies across the Inundated terri
tory , and an > Impvomptu ferry has been es
tablished. The water Is a mile wide at the
crossing point and Is backwater , the river
being seven miles away. The Baltimore &
Ohio Southwestern tracks are'under five feet
of water lor five miles north of CypresJ
Junction.
Ed Flake , whose wife was cfrpwned , carao
to Cj press Junction today and said that
there were fifteen people In Ms house when
' '
the flood struck the bulfrting.'dhl'y himself
and ono other succeeded l { ) escaping before *
the building toppled over. , Mr. Flake wM
hysterical from grief and could , not give the
names of the thirteen wh'o.wcre lost.
Marsh Calllcott , the son ot Wash Calll-
cott , and wlfo , who perished , made an he
roic effort to save hs parents. Ho secured
a rowboat and got within forty feet of where
hla father and mother were Imprisoned. The
swift current prevented him from getting
nearer. The parents stood In the yard In
water to their waists awaiting the arrival
of the boat. Suddenly a Wave swept them
Into the current and they were drowned
bcforo their son's eyes.
George Harrolson , a merchant , seized his
little granddaughter when the water struck
his store , and holding her above his head
waded , armpit deep , toward higher ground.
IA boat picked them both out Pf { he water.
BOY CLIMBS A TREE.
David Rookendoffer and wife were In their
homo , directly In the path of the huge wave
that swept through the broken dike. Their
little son In the yard saw the wave coming
and hurriedly climbed a free. The father and
mother bad time to rush upstairs when the
house was swept from Its foundations. They
climbed on the roof as the house floated off
and heard their little son In the tree say :
"Goodbye , papa and mamma. "
The agonized parents were powerless to
go to his assistance , and' Iia tew mctnents
the house had been carried beyond the reach
of the boy' * voice. They floated from the
north levee to tfae south levee , a distance ol
a mle | , and were taken .off In-safety. The
ifttle eon was subsequently rescued In the
tree top by a beat apd the famly | reunited ,
Mr. Rookendoffer said that as be floated
down tbo current on the housetop be saw
people drowning on all sides.
The colored quarter ot tbe city , known at
"negro flats , " was completely Inundated b >
the rush of water. It Is believed that a
large number of colored people perished as
the ground was flooded In a twinkling , ant
tonight tbo water stands twenty-five feel
deep In tbat locality. No effort has beer
made to recover the bodies.
Every means of acs'staace Is used to pro
vide food and shelter to the hundreds ol
hcruelci's refugees. Las ) night .the Catholic
academy , tbo .school house , city hall and the
Riverside hotel , all situated 6n high ground
above the water , werecrowded with home-
lees people.
Hundreds are tonight sleeping on tb <
water banks under such.-rude bolter as the ;
can construct from the floating debrla. Ab
solutely nothing has been avtd In the city
The stores and other builriwu houses on
flooded to the second floors , ell tbe street *
are under water from tcnjta. thirty feet. Pro
visions are constantly arrlvnjj ( from all thi
neighboring towns.
A relief train arrived bte tonight , bu
owing to high winds and rojjguners of thi
water at the ferry crocslpg , all attempt !
to tramafer the provisions across have bcti
abandoned. They have bum taken to thi
water's edge and at the Jxreak ot day wll
be ferried across.
The Inhabitants ot Illdgwiy have organ
Ized Into a relief committee , Wth ( Dent Reid
J. O. Brooks and G. M. Klinb at I to head
Houses have been tbrown open , and as soar
as a refugee reaches here ( he Is prompt ! ;
taken care of and everything pcosible li
dons for their comfort.
By order ot Governor Tanner , a state re
lief committee has been formed ot the fol
lowing citizens : G. P. Baxter , George Laud
George Brooks , Dent Reid acid Ed Rice.
Tbe heavy rain etlll continues and at
o'clock a high , cold wind sprung up , addlni
to the misery of tbe eufferera In tbe etrlckei
town.
At 11 o'clck tonight a telephone meirag
was received from Sbawneetown caylag tha
the south levee was cracking and threaten
Ing to go at any minute. It bi About tur
tbat It will break before tnprnlns. Thl
will not add to the detof -the water 1
the town , but will crca ,1a our rent tbroug
tbe streets that will prove dwferoua t
reacuere In
LITTLE DANGER IN HAVANA
Oansul Leo Believes that Americans Have
Ho Cansa for Fear ,
CAN GET AWAY IN CASE OF HOSTILITIES
I' * tin I Ten Dn > "Will Tic Allo'trcil Non-
comuntnjit * In Which to Tnkc
Their Dpimrlnre Fill til
In lllnnco.
( Copyright , 1858 , by rrM Publishing Company. )
HAVANA , April 4. ( New York World Cablegram -
blegram Special Telegram. ) General Leo
believes Americans ln > Havana are In no
danger. He feels confidence In Blanco's
loner and activity and considers as arsured
hat in case ot actual hostilities at least
en days' time will be given non-combatants
or departure. Leo thinks Dlanco has the
support of the army and that the volun-
cers will also obey In this crisis. Lee him
self Is shadowed by three detectives In plain
clothes. The local press today speaks for
moderation lest "Spain by some unfortunate
accident should lese the approval ot Europe
she now possesses. "
SYLVESTER SCOVEL.
GOSSIP AIIOUT POPE'S MEDIATION' .
Sinln GrnniiH nt 1-eo'n Offer with
Great Avidity.
[ Copyright , 1S9S. by I'ress Publlihlni ? Compnny. )
LONDON , April 4. ( New York World Ca-
> legram Special Telegram. ) No develop
ment In the Cuban question occasioned such-
ntcnse surprise In political circles hero as
ho alleged acceptance of the pope's media
tion. In fact , though this report was pub-
Ishcd on official authority from Madrid , It
was received with general Ir.sredullty. The
interest now aroused In the whole question
is testified by questions asked In the House
of Commons this afternoon by John Morley ,
Lord Charles iBcrosford and Michael Davltt.
Morley , while desiring a pacific solution ot
the difficulty , put his question to ascertain
whether the British government was Inclined
: o Join any European combination which
might operate In favor of Spanish retention
ot Cuba. Such action on the part ot this
government would unJoubtedly be denounced
ay the opposition leaders , but Dalfour's re
ply was taken as Indicating that the British
cabinet had not responded to the overtures
of Franco and Austria. But ho will be
pressed for a more definite reply. Today's
sitting and Balfour's response to _ Davltt's
question concerning the pope's mediation ,
showed that the report Is premature , If not
unfounded , as Indicated by yesterday's Rome
dispatch. Davltt , questioned , said :
I believe the pope's mediation under ex
isting conditions would bo an excellent
thing , as America'might bo assured that
the A'merlcan case would be ably and proaJly
presented at the Vatican by Don Slgaor
ECeanc , who Is no ultra-moatalne , but an
American In feeling. In fact the pope would
act virtually with Archbishop Ireland and
Keanc as his advisers. I am satisfied the
pope would be , If not already , convinced that
there Is no possible chance of a settlement
ot the Cuban question except on the basis
ot Independence. The editorial In the Lon
don Tablet Saturday may bo taken as rep
resenting the Vatican's view that It now ac
cepts Independence as the only feasible solu
tion. What America wants Is Cuban Inde
pendence , which would bo far better if It
can be secured without war. "
The opinion Is expressed by other poli
ticians that If McKlnley accepts the pope's
mediation It will only be on the condition
that an armistice be granted and America's
help for starving Cubans be permitted. The
avidity with which Spain grasped the pope'ii
proposal Is regarded here as the first de
cided sign ot weakness It has shown , for
heretofore , although In a notoriously desperate -
perato situation , Spain has maintained all
the outward appearances ot a country con
fident in Us strength. Woodford's pacific
statement today created a decided Impres
sion that war Js not yet Inevitable.
MADRID. April 4. ( New York World Ca
blegram Special Telegram. ) A profound
sensation was caused In Madrid this after
noon when the news spread rapidly that
Pope Leo XIII , wishing to give once moro a
proof ot his sympathy for Spain and Its
sovereign , had interposed and would moJlate
between Spain and the United States. It Is
difficult to Imagine with what general sat
isfaction the news was received by Span-
lards of all ranks as offering a prospect ol
averting a conflict In holy week between
two great Christian nations. The Intima
tion came through the Spanish ambassadoi
from Merry del Val at the holy see , whc
bad received from Cardinal Rampo'.la the
ofllc'.al communication of the desireof th (
pope. The minister of foreign affairs lev
formed Sagasta , who Immediately went t <
the palace , where the queen regent showec
sincere gratitude and emotion en hearing o
the kindness of the pope. Sugasta , on le > av
Ing the queen , summoned his colleagues , th (
ministers of war , colonies and foreign at
fairs and after a short deliberation the ;
agreed , In accordance with Dona Chrlstlnii'i
express wish , to telegraph a warm acceptance
tanco of the proposed mediation. Tills after
noon In the pulpits of many churches It
Ma drill preachers alluded to tbo ausplcloui
Intervention of the head ot the church It
favor of pence.
It Is rumored that the queen has also per
penally received a telegram from the pope
elating his willingness to serve as mediator
The real situation Insofar as the pope'i
mediation. . Is concerned Is officially stated ti
jour correspondent 'to be as follows :
HU hoilners acted upon the personal re
quest ot the queen regent and confined hi
representations chiefly to mediation on th
basis of am armistice between Spain and th
Insurgents. So strongly has he urged thl
upon the Spanish ministry that members o
the cabinet have wild that although tti
Spanish government cacnot propose a (
armlctlco to rebels In arms , > et the Cubn
Imular ( autonomists ) cabinet might tak
steps to moot the Idea tothe rebel chiefs , 1
the American government persists In sajlni
it cfcaot find means to do eo. Some Span
tan telegrams dated that the pope has a !
ready sounded the dispositions of Mr. Me
Klnley and the American Catholics througl
Cardinal Gibbons.
Minister Woodford Is credited with hav
Ing received the Idea of mediation favorobl
when the minister of foreign affairs called t
announce officially tbat Spain had acceptc
papal mediation. Without exception , th
Madrid press expresses the opinion that th
pope's mediation U only accepted on th
understanding that It Implies no surrende
ot Sp nUh right , loverelgnty or territory I
Cuba , ti public opinion In Spain would nc
tolerate such a suggestion even ( rom tb
queen regent. All paper * take mediation a
tep intended to pntyone a rupture thi
THE BEE BULLETIN.
Weather Forccait for K B
Hgrtherly Winds.
1 Hpnnlnrdn Prnv H Onnnrrn.
llelnil * of the j H Kluoil.
American * In l Err Sate.
WimhlnRtnii H r 'hek CrUU.
2 Scnnte Talk * ' Ht <
Ultimo I'axKcn Bntlon * Mill.
3 Xehrnnkn 'W H
Tlin ( or the T E-
Pope TetuleriJ Htnr- Service * .
4 Killforlnl ntuj Bkent.
6 ICxiiciiltlon Hi SBIJcrroil ltinn.
Klkliorn Kxtrimlnii * Wilt Walt.
Affair * nt South Oninhn.
U Council lllnltM Local Mutter * .
Sioux City lu n nilemtitn.
tienerhl S'enw ( rout Io a.
7 .New * of the 'Further ' Wet.
More Omaha Unit Pln > er * Arrive.
8 Meeting of the Wntnnii' * Cluh.
Meeting of llonril of Kiluentlon.
IJupty HurKlnrw Ply Their Trade.
O (7 OHM I | t Atmnt Our Marine * .
Indian lltirenu I * Very Aellve.
llolln UoiulKineii Make nil Offer.
One Giiinhler Plend * Guilty ,
t Commercial ntid l-'lnanclal
a "Won hy n Wheel. "
War , ItiiNtle nt Wanlilnjrton.
Temperature at Omnhni
lour. 1H-K. Hour. DOR.
B a. m : t , 1 p. in 4-1
< > a. n : i i 2 p. m 1:1 :
7 n. m : M : i p. in II
H n. m : tl 4 p. in 41
n. m as n p. m 14
On. ill : i ! ( I p. in Ill
I n. m 4O 7 p. m 41 !
jt in 41 8 p. m : m
u p. m : tr
is imminent and prepare a way for a settle
ment that will maintain Spanish rule In
Cuba. Republican , Independent and military
ipers say that If the armistice does not
oad to prompt peace and the submission
f the rebels It would rather Injure Spanish
respects by prolonging the expenditures and
caving things afterwards In an equally dla-
dvantageous situation based upon the allow-
ng of the separatists to communicate freely
Ith the disaffected In the western provinces.
The ministerial paper Glebe attributes Im
portance to the gathering of ambassadors at
he nuncio residence In Madrid at the iti-
dtatlcra of the papal representative. Glebe
adds that no decision was taken by the
a&'embled ' 'diplomatists ' , but 'they ' positively
xamlned the conflict pending between Spain
and the United States. Tueso surmises of
ho Madrid press arlso from the supposition
hat Pope Leo XIII , as godfather of King
Alphonso XIII , takes so much Intelcst la
.ho crisis tfiat ho Is u < 4ng his Influence with
, he Catholic powers of Austria , Franco and
even Germany ami Italy , Indirectly In favor
of Spata. ARTHUR E. HOUGHTON.
I OATS Aim OHUKHKI ) TO HAVANA ,
llnuhc and Manpro ; > e Leave/ for the
Ciihnii Capital.
KEY WEST , April 4. Acting under or
ders from 'Washington Captain Sampson ,
commander of the United States fleet In these
waters , sent the survey boat Ilacho todaj
*
the Tortupasto Havana. Ha salllnt
orders were dispatched late this afternoon
over the ucw cable and an hour later the
Oachc was on its way to Cuba. It Is as
sumed hero that it goes to afford a mode
of safe egress for American citizens should
a riot occur in ( Havana , or war be declared.
The survey boat Blake , now in this harbor ,
was also ordered to proceed to Havana , hul
hese Instructions were countermanded be-
ere It got away. The Fern Is still at Ha-
rana , but Its accommodations are very Uni
ted.
ted.The
The Edith Howe , a brand new govemmeni
Ighter , while discharging coal Into the Indi
ana during a heavy sea last night , wa :
dashed violently against the battleship ant
had to be toned in and it now lies a semi-
wreck with 200 tons ot coal still aboard.
A stupendous amount of work has beet
accomplished hero during the last thlrtj
days In coaling and provisioning. The ex
penditures during the month of March , dm
to war preparations at the Key West nava
station , amounted to $132,000 , of which $72 ,
000 was tor ammunition. This was dlstrlb
utcd among the ships and docs not Includi
$70,000 worth In store , nor largo shipment :
now cnroute.
The Iowa Is to have a protection ot sand
bags , the preparation being now in progress
The Detroit took the patrol -duty tonight
Many families , fearing' that war Is a
hand , will leave Key West tomorrow to
Miami. ,
'Ensign ' Gherardl , now on the gunbon
Nashville , will leave tomorrow to take com
mand of the tug Sioux , now at New York
The Mangrove- which was lying at th' '
dock here , received orders to proceed ti
Havana tonight and sailed Immediately. Th' '
usual exciting rumors regarding trouble li
Havana lan riot after Its departure.
NO HELP FOR UECOXCiXTHAUOS
No Effort Made to Put Ilecont Ordc :
Into Effect.
WASHINGTON , April 4. Rev. Engen
May , who has been traveling in Cuba , re
turned to lilo home hero yesterday. HI
report of the conditions In the Island differ
In no essential detail from that of Senator
Proctor , Thurston , Galllnger and others wh
have recently spoken and written on th
subject. Tr. May says In addition : ' "Th
recent revocation of the reconcentrado orde
Is a farce , as the people to whom It appllc
are too III to work and have nothing wit :
which to start had they the strength
Blanks have been Issued to the ttarvln
wretches which are to be filled out wit
requisitions for whatever they need and sen
to Havana. The mockery of It Is that Ih
farce ends In the blanks. Nothing more 1
over heard of them. The relief work I
going forward rapidly In 210 tounu , but ther
are nearly 100,000 roconcentrados who mus
die , however great tbo relief. "
" "
uo "NOT WANT * .imnsTicr
Independence the Only IlimU 01
AVhleh They Will Trent.
WASHINGTON , April 4. Senor Quebadi
representing the Cuban junta In Washlngtoi
said to the Aassoclated Press today : "Th
Cubans will never consent to an armlstlc
until Independence la recognized. Until the
time they will not cease fighting. When ! t
dependence la recognized the Cubans wC
consent to an armistice for settlement <
conditions In the Island. "
Thla statement Is made In reply to
query as to what the Cubans would do wit
regard to the recent appeal by the Cuba
autonomist cabinet.
lumiruciit * Ueft-ut Spaniard * .
HAVANA , April 4. A Spanish report 0aj
that a party ot 200 Insurgents , at the plant !
tlon of El Dequle , Puerto Principe , rcccntl
surprised twenty-five Spanish soldiers by an
buscade , killing one 'officer and twelve BO ]
dlors , and wounding six aoldlera. A detact
mont ot 100 Spanish troops went to the i
alstance of the.- surviving Spaniards , wb
were lurrounded , and dispersed the Iniui
gcnti. Inflicting considerable IOM upon U
enemy. -i ,
TOMORROW THE DAl
President's Mosiago on Onbi Will Then B
Given to Congress
MPORTANT DOCUMENT IS COMPlETE
t is Read to Cabinet Members and \ < v >
Approvctl ,
ILL MIET THE APPROVAL OF CONGRESS
iopoits from Cuban Consuls Will NotB
Submitted ,
IPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE WITHHELD
lenMiHo Will lli-iil nidi the * HlMtnry ;
of Spniilxlii 'Itnle- ' from the llonli > - .
, mill Will ) lnke Some
ItecommeiKlnlloiiM.
WASHINGTON. April 4. The president
as completed his Cuban message , and It
vlll bo presented to congress on Wednesday.
'iccrctary ' Long , after the Bpcclal cabinet
iieettng tonight , authorized ttio Associated.
'recs. to make ttils statement.
The mevaago which Is In Itself long , will
lot be accompanied by the consular ceporta
callng with the state of affairs In Cuba.
These \\111 go to the committee on foreign
elations of the senate for their private In-
'orrcatlcn ' , and \\111 not bo mailo public Juat
ow.
ow.Tho
The diplomatic correspondence between the )
United States and Spain will not be submit-
ed at present.
The cabinet meeting lasteA from until 9
intll after 11 and was devoted entirely to
ho careful reading and dlscumlon of the
preslde'.it's ' draft of Ills message. Every ,
member of the cabinet was present. Tito
document \\ao gone over point toy point andi
met with the approval of the cabinet In
every material respect , The only cJiangc
made were In a few points of verbiage.
When the meeting was over and the mem
bers dispersed , there was a general air of
ellcf and satisfaction on all faces as though
ho air had been cleared of doubt , and the
members , ( Irmly resolved on what they ,
deemed the proper course of action , had set
out to follow the course to Its logical craw
elusion , The suspense evidently was over.
Secretary Long apparently had been de
puted as spokesman for the meeting , and
ave the above brief statement. As to the
character of the mcscago ho refused to
speak ,
WILL SATISFY CONGRESS.
It was learned from other sources , how *
over , that the message la In part a review ,
Spain's course In the present and previ
ous wars hi Cuba , That It will contain some *
definite recommendations may bo Inferred
rom the remark of one member :
"While I can say nothing explicit con
cerning the details of thu message , " said he ,
'I may aay It Is a strong , explicit state
ment and ono with which congress will 1)9
horoughly In accord , "
It was suggested that congress was prett/
.horoughly In accord with the Foraker rcso-
utton , but nothing moro explicit could bo
obtained. ,
It Is understood that while the consular
eports on Cuba are withheld from the pub
ic at present , out of regard for tkelr au-
liora who are still hi Cuba , that their pub-
Icatlon Is not deemed essential by the cabi
net.
net.One
One 'member ' la discussing this point saldj
'They contain only Information which hoc
by this tlmo been quite thoroughly pre
sented to the public from other sources. "
From the fact that the diplomatic corre
spondence Is not to be presented with the
message It la Inferred that Its main features
are touched upon In the message Itself ,
whether In the form of extracts or merely In
substance.
The { act that itho autonomous cabinet In
uba has Issued an appeal to the Insurgents
for an armistice , with a view of arranging ;
peace , Is regarded here by the best Informed
members of the administration to bo simply
a. covert effort to tnduco < the Cubans to sur
render. It la-not taken seriously , as the
opinion la general that the Insurgents will
consider nothing of the kind ,
DAY'S EVENTS.
The two foremost branches of the
Cuban question In Washington today ,
were the president's message and Euro
pean Intervention , which lias taker *
an actlvo form in the courts of Europe ,
according to the advices received at foreign
embassies hero , though no proffer has been
made to the United States.
Regarding the first Is can be said ibat It 1
fully expected by tfao administration that
the message will bo sent to congress on
Wednesday and certainly by Thursday.
The members of Mr. McKlnley's cabinet ,
and his'friends In congress , stated definitely
today that It will deal vigorously with the
question , will Include the Malno incident ,
and will make definite recommendations to
congress.
As to the Intervention of Europe and the
pope they declare tbat these powers must
exercise their suasion on Spain , for this
government will Insist on Independence ot
Cuba as an ultimate slno qua non , unless
the Insurgents thomeelves chould consent to
lea ? , and this they have flatly refused to do.
Speaking on this point one of the cabinet
oHeera ( said today : "You can nay for tna
that all the powcra of Europe and the heads
of all the churches may propone mediation
to Spain If they desire , but the United States
will positively not listen to mediation of any
kind that does not lead to Independence for
Cuba. " „
Notwithstanding the many report *
ot European mediation , they assumed their
first tangible form' this afternoon when at
least two of the foreign establishments la
Washington received Information that an
exchange of notes between the great powen
was now In progrcea with a view to arriving
at a basis on which they could make a Joint
proposition for mediation.
NOT YET AGREED.
It Is evident that there Is not a common
understanding reached , as tbo ambassadors
and ministers at Washington have received
no Instructions. .Their only Information thus
far Is that the notes are passing by tele *
graph between thu capitals.
It had been understood that France nut
Austria wuro most active In bringing about
thla movement , and that Great Britain hat )
held aloof from It , but It developed today ,
that the British government waa afoo tak
ing part In the exchange , and that In cat *
of concerted action by the power * , Great
'Britain ' probably would att with the othev * .
What common ground the power * are tcife *