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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1898)
t * . * " * " * " - * " - > * - * - K5T T" ? wew M. h- r * ! * . - THE OMAHA DAILY BEKt RATTTHDAY. tAPHTTj in. THE GREAT ARMADA Of 1898 ; A- PAGE FROM HISTORY NOT YET WRITTEN , ' " ' ' " " . MY MAYOMC IBNBR. I ( Copyright. IMS , by 8. B. McClure Co ) ( N.'iB. "The Great Armada of 1898" Is an Imaginative anticipation of history not yet made. Dut the reader need not regard it aa altogether fanciful , because the strange thing * herein narrated might actually oc- cur. , . .No Jem an authority than Rear Ad- f tnfrat bhcrardl , after having the story eub- Inltted to him , eaje : "Tho suggestion la a novel and striking coo end as a dernier reeort for defense would be worth consideration. Tbo USD ot vast quantities ot blazing oil In a place where a attong current OP tide would carry It In a desired direction , in a contracted channel , where \C8i < cls could not get away , would probably bo disastrous to the most powerful Beet. " Rear Admiral Erbcn endorses this state ment and Rear Admiral Luce has already been quoted as eaylng that the plan afforded an excellent means ot protection to cities located as are New York and Philadelphia. ) The work of the diplomats waa ended , Rtoro than four months had elapsed olnco the destruction of a United States ship of war -In - a Spanish harbor. For over a month representatives of the two governments had been In .Paris . engaged In an attempt to et- tlo by peaceful means the differences grow ing out of that fateful event and the more recent occurrences which had added to the long-existing bltterncsu between the two na tions. The American commissioners bad ntcadlly pressed their clalma for full repara tion for the Injury upon their nation. Theto demands had been met by postponement ? , excuses and vague promises from the repre sentatives of Spain. It was evident that the latter were de pending on the policy cf delay which had In Oio past been the. chief reliance of Spanish diplomacy. At Uat the attempt to reach a peaceful settlement was ocen to bo hopeless. On the morning of June 23 ncwt'iiapt-ro printed the Information that the representa tives of the United States had quitted Paris for London. They had presented Spain the ultimatum that unless the government ot Washington was Informed within a vcck that Its terms bad been acceded to peaceful relations between tbu two nations would como to an end. The news waa received with satisfaction in thoTJulleil Stated. The American people ple , with more than ordinary patience , had listened to the repented pleadings of their leaders to wait. I3U there was in every jutrlot heart a stern determination that the deaths ot the blue jackets who had perished Jn tlio turgid water of Havana bay should not go unavenged. Now that every peaceful resource had been exhausted the president and his advisers felt that the only dignified and honombte course was to compel by armed force the reparation which patient negotiations had failed to secure. Had thla not been their determination they would have been driven to It by the temper of the people , which would brook no further delay. For four centuries Spain had tyrannized over some part of the western continent. At last she Jiad attempted to bully the chief nation of- that hemisphere , nnd Its citizens felt tb tbo time had como to drive the Spaniard , ti JVer'trom the new world. v'li " The result of the expected bost\iea wna awaited with . confldenco.by thejftjnfe of the ( United State * . Thanks to th/ time v warn " ing of evwts. it had bem/ftle ; to "re- - ' In a measure , at fearer the struggle , jand forces of theji ? untry nad beca luflaltll Jltaiy * " * * ' . within striking dis tance of-'tho Sparilirfi possessions in Cuba. lAt Key West Admiral Slcard had collected a fleet .composed of the finest fighting ves sels , , ot the American navy. In Asiatic waters a smaller fleet was gathered ready to , pounce down upon the Philippines at the , y first. annnQunceraent of war , Spain had w three war ships at jHavana ; the remainder n'pf : her fleet , which , as a whole , was Inferior to that of the United States , was on the vother side of the Atlantic. It seemed Im \ possible that slro could strike a single ef / fective blow In the approaching contest. One thing only marred the serenity with which the Americans viewed the Impending in conflict. 'It was known that Spata bad sfceen desperately seeking the aid of other European powers. Now. It was rumored ithat f ranee , yielding to the moneyed Influ ence by which see was dominated , and rtT "V'lL00 ' * , hvlng made large loans to Spain * * * "onjthe security ot her Cuban revenues , was 'S't * ivfiaj y Interested la the maintenance of : V 'Spanish power , had consented to an alliance. , .Tnl * report was vehemently denied by the French minister of foreign affairs , but It found .color in the fact that- the French - 'fleet warcongregated at Toulon , while most i * cf Spain's available war vessel * had as sembled at Barcelona , within a day's sail o : the Jormcr. place. War with Spain might give oo occasion ( or serious concern. At best she could not * muster more than twenty vessels In fighting trim. iBut It would become another and much more serious matter for * the United State * 1f the second naval power In the ( world -was , to be arrayed against her. On June 23 the Spanish fleet sailed out of the Mediterranean , and It was annnounced that It had departed for Cuba. On the < nextjday ? U was followed 'by thirty battle- \ * Bjlps and cruisers of the French navy. In Paris the'destination of thla fleet was an- 'uoanced ( gibe/the cruising grounds off the me tetn.cest'bf Africa , where , U was said , certain evolutions were Jo be held. It was fft | _ denled tbat1" | ( s departure was In any way conriccted with the sailing of the Spanish , war ships. v ut the two event * were Im mediately Joined In the opinion of the -world at large , and 1t was generally believed that the French fleet was also destined for Cuban waters. As yet war had not been declared , but the vesels under Admiral Si- card's command lay at Key West , with team up , eight and day , ready to move at a moment's notice. On June 30 the time allotted to Spain by the American government expired and the 'Atlantic squadron was directed to move for ward and. capture Havana. r OnJuly 1 a lively little steamer came -puffins up New York bay , under full bead. Sue appeared to have an Important mission , ( or she halted but a moment at quarantine and then sped on toward her destination. Many glasses were turned on the little boat , and those who were familiar with the regular vlsltorn to the harbor recognized in her the Wadcap , the property of a New York news paper , and ono ot the fastest llttlo cruiser * > over built. A few ot those who saw her re membered that she had gone out eleven daya , before to watch the cioat naval maneuver * on-the other side of the Atlantic , and mondered why iho bad returned BO suddenly. { \Vlthln an hour their curiosity was satisfied. When the Madcap tied up at her pier , and ber rlnglo passenger , hailing a cab , went dashing up Broadway to a big newspaper office. Now York was as quiet as usual. It /was about S in the- afternoon , and men were hurrying about to finish up their day'a work. IA tow business men had already started for Jiome. An hour afterward the scene was very * * different. In front of the newspaper office dnto which the Madcap's pusenger had dls- , , * appeared was a huge throng that grew and grew until It spread over the broad , open Vepaco before the great building , blocked all the. itreete and covered the roofs ot the adjoining structure ! . Everybody craned hla f neck In order to catch a view ot the huge , pester that wa * being epread over the front -ot the newspaper offlce. Downstair * the ( fcttge preieei were thundering around and rrof9d at'terrlflc speed , but they could not - uftuiaut'-fupeiej feat enough to feed the neb thatsurged about the front , ef the 4 fcalUlag. and iwallowed up the damp sheet * * oa > BurHcane doee the leavej > t autumn. < 'Heaawalle every telegraph Instrument In the * aitjr1 waa badly clicking with mesaage * to * eVBrte ot ( be country ant the excitement ' * aea in New York oa that * memorable after- 'Monlwu reproduced on a leuer acalo la which tbt aw t IHtle bf < H | * t tm4.irhl < * 5 create * atictartlUv ttet great - % r ha4 - * * " , h * rd , U wa . Uec-4k taVVnaouucemenf tlat * "O VIMA rr f aH J akli feeta were veu thB.'proo edlag aef M the AtUntlc , oCrta. ' t'wWi thk | New Y rk C4tr.-M4 * totwUBl U * - e aiwr da r twe the country In a tumult on that quiet July day. It caused the people to leave their shope , their fields and their homes , to gather In excited and gesticulating groups ; It caused President MtKlnley and his cabinet at Washington to hurry Into secret confer ence and Governor Olack at Albany to Irauo a special proclamation to the state mllltla directing its members to report to their commanding officers and to bo ready for marchlrg orders at any moment. At Hist It was thought that the ncwa could not bo true , It was such a high-handed etep and there had been no whisper of It beforehand. 'But no sooner had one man raised this objection than a dozen othcro were ready to explain it away. Thus It was argued back and forth until almost every ono was convinced before the sun went down tha't ono of the strongest fleets ever gathered waa planning to elezo the greatest city In the country that In comparable city which lay apparently as defenseless as a rich field ot grain before tbo hurricane. The people were convinced. They knew that thcuo nations hnd resented what they considered the Interference of the United States In their affalru and had been burning with the dcslro fop vengeance. It was all true. They had planned to make their re- Tfcer affected io make light ef th * whole matter , eaylng that perbapo- -wee not. M serious M had at first been Imagined. It waa naturally conjectured that thli change of tone was connected with the visit ot the two men from New York , although In exactly what way It was Impossible to gun * . It was nlggttted by ono that per haps ( hey had come < offer a loan to the government , though the nectttlty for that could not bo seen ; by another that possibly the engineer bad some new icheme ot de fense calculated to bring confusion on the boBtllo Invaders , but none knew the exact truth ot the matter except the ten men who had gathered round the table In the president's council chamber , and their Ilpa were scaled. ' II. Ju t before du k on the evening of the 3d , two daya after the arrival ot the 'Madcap with the first tidings of the approaching In vasion , a message from Sandy Hook an nounced that the vanguard of the alien fleet had been sighted by a patrol boat fifty miles at eea. It had been Impossible to determine the exact strength or numbers of the in- Invadlag fleet , but enough had been ascer tained to verify In every detail the report given out on the afternoon of the 1st. That a powerful fleet of the strongest battleships of Europe would within twenty-four hours , unlouj stopped by the guns t Sandy Hook , bo throwing their shells Into the heart of the metropolis , became at once a fact Instead of a supposition. That the defense of the , Hook would prove Inadequate was almcot a certainty In the minds ot the thousands who thconged about the bulletin boards on tfic receipt ot the news that the enemy were Indeed at our very doors. That the tor- CAUGHT IN A SEA OF FLAME. vcngo servo also as the occasion ol tnc most bitter humiliation of the great western re public. The plan was such an unexpected yet such a simple and natural one. All through the night of the 1st men lioM their breathe as In the presence of a gnat calamity. Morning brought little change. Telegiamo from the capital reported that the president and his cabinet had been in session all night long dlacugstng the situa tion , but that they had made no announce ment ot any proposed action for the defense of the city. Throughout the 2d all eyes were turned toward Washington and the movements of the" " government officials were watched wlUf the" irftenaest Interest. The ncwupapers printed 'extras every half hour , filled for Iho most part with Washington dispatches , and every word wua eagerly de voured. The first Important news was the publication of an official proclamation by the president ot the United States , accompa nied by an official statement to the people , which was implemented by reports from the secretaries ot war and navy. The presi dent's statement said that while the gov ernment ; was called' upon to face a very grave crlala , every effort would be made to meet the Impending danger by drawing upon every available resource. Tbe secretary of war : reported that the com mander ot tbo department of the east had been ordered to collect all. or aa many as possible , of the troops under his command at New York , and that the governors of New York and New Jersey had been requested to call out the mllltla otVthose states and to concentrate them at Now York City. The report ot the secretary of the navy waa least satisfying. It showed that only two armed vessels were available for Immediate use In defense of the threatened city. Ono waa the Terror at Norfolk , the other the ram Katabdln In New York harbor. All tbo other vessela of the Atlantic squadron were with Admiral Slcard at Ha\ana. There were two i dynamlto cruisers which happened to be at New- York at the time , and one gunboat undergoing repairs at the Brooklyn navy yard. These were the only vessel * that the United States could inuater at a moment's notlco to oppose one ot the flncat fleets of battleahlps ever gathered In a single array. As the day wore on the Intensity of the excitement grew greater , Initead ot decreai- ( V. It WM .ee n' that the authorities at Wathlngton were greatly alarmed ; that they . were. In fact , at their wlta * end. Later In the day , however , there was a change In thla quarter. The cabinet met again , and waa In eesilon for several hours. During a part of that time a prominent' Kew York capitalist and an equally prorala- at engineer were closeted with the council. They chad i cone from the , metropolis that aerate * . * . O B ae they emerged from . the eeafereace , they hurried t aok again , re- fuslag taMy A word to thereporter * who. thronged abevt them. Aa hour later the eahlset meet la- adjourned , and It wai at cce > Me * that .there wai a distinct change U the atmosphere. The oHclale refused to ay anything a to what had taken place In the meeting but they acemed te be much . ore oafldeot thaa they k4 beea pedoca that had been hurledly pUccJ bejond the narrows might prove an obstacle to the progress of the fleet threw little cnSouragemcut on the situation. N'lne out of every ten persons In the city bellevei In their hearts that before the sun went down on the evening of the following day , the proudest city on .tho western continent would be In ruins or suppliant at the feet of the forelgu admirals. That , * he ships would not begin their attack until the'fol lowing morning was probable ; their com manders would scarce venture too near the land at nightfall. It was the morrt/w that the country dreaded , for it the fleet suc ceeded In passing the batteries .at Sandy iHook iXew York would lie at the" mercy of tbo Invaders. On board the foreign fleet there was a feeling of confidence on tbatwarm autumn evening. That there would bo a battle in the morning was expected , for the guns behind the distant sand embankments would speak with a voice that would be heard around the world. But what would a little fighting amount > to In the face of the great victory that waste follow ? A few sailors might be kllleJ. poslsbly a ship sunk In the melee , but behind would press oo the flags ot two great powers of the old world a force invincible , Impregnable. " "RENT APAUT AS THOUGH ITS PLATES WERE PASTEBOARD. " All that nlgbt throngs ot sober-faced men and women passed soberly from the city toward the scene ot the Inevitable conflict , and when morning dawnedJhe shores -which flanked the expected passage ot the fleet were black -with spectators. They might have been mistaken for sightseers ca a holi day outing except for one thing : the profound silence which held them all like a spell , as they turned their eyes toward the distant line , where sea met sky. and strained their ears to catch the flrst sound ot the guns which would announce that the batteries at Sandy Hook had sighted the enemy. It came , rolling back over the greeo-tUd htlli , a deep-toned knell to the waiting thousands. Before It died away there came another , more distant , more muBed report , though In answer to the flrit , and then It was as though some mighty volcano belched forth on a sudden all the stored-up fury ot agee In one thunderous intonation that seemed to let the very grou-ad beneath the feet ot the anxlouawatchers rocking In It * foundations. Few of them had ever heard euoh be&w cannonading and /with white faces they looked at each other as though to aekIf some craat catastrophe bad engulfed one. or the other ot the com batant * at the very outset ot the tm gle. But the deep-toned reportsicontUued.-with now.aad then a sharper.and mere piercing * ound , and presently a cloud ef imokecould be 'eee .v I t&-theee thward , drlftlag up from tie spot where 4h twe kemlepheree were'battling tor the supremacy , , _ And with strained Jeeei turned toward" , the'a' the IleafueWMece stood and watched the cloud grow darker and troader , and grayed ta the god of the coatlct to grant the vic tory to the men eo nobly strlvUg' tot the Bailee's honor from belnd the yellew aand- hllls whose crest they could , barely ace. There is ) a volot loe.iiMt that el wall n < * no mariner t Impatience came tronMhe ellent thwiMndi M they stood and listened to Ita awful He * * * while the sun cllmbedjiip mtern' < hevcns , and , passIng - Ing the meridian , began -to link again , -But then the steady root1 which bad shaken the great city andslta environs since daybreak began to low In volume , the heavy boom ot canno * > behtnd the randhllls be came lew frequent. What could It mean ? Wcro the asrallanta so soon defeated , had they already turned back ? Or had the huge guns behind the embankment been hurled from their place * and so rendered power less to * peak for the defense ot the land ? And at the sickening fear which clutched e ch heart at the thought ot thta possibility the ellenco which held the throng became absolutely painful Indti tendency. But although tfcb breathless throng which covered the ehorer , standing dark und silent under the shadow ot an expected calamity , knew not the nrtunlag of this sudden lull In the terrific cannonading those who had gathered on the- ) sandy shores beyond the Narrows , where the-more open sea spread out to their vlew , . comprehended that a crltla waB Indeedmt hand. As the clouds of smoke belched ftom the great guns behind the yellow embaakmanta thinned and drifted away before the evening breeze the vanguard of the enemy'a fleet' arot's out ot the mist far out at sea. Theiaistance was as yet too great to dtslngulsb the number of the alien force , but thosonwho turned their glasses toward the southeast made out a long black double line of giant crulwrs lying like a great double-headed acrpent atwlxt the rca and sky. And ad they looked , appalled at the majeaty of thq sight , there came a bright led flash , bursting an jagged forks of light ning along the side of the sepent's finale und from tholow sandhills surmounted by the milleti guffs of the defente aroi-e a yellow clouda < The great thlrtcen-lnch shells hurled from the guns of France and Spain rained as a mighty storm ot ball across the Inter vening i\a\ea upon the narron point of land , the bccsted defense of the proudest city In the western world. But there came no answering flush from the American guns , no tlgn of life from the low sand embankments except the flutter ing of the crimson-barred flag floating de fiantly above the fortress , turned for the time Into a .ve.yffair below. Strong men hcaught'thelr breatHjM-m&nr * < hand-tlashttl I away the tears whlett dimmed the e ea that ' watched BO eagerjy for an answering de fiance from the iforti at Sandy Hook. This thca was to be < he end ? The guns Ifon had been feared by all the world were si lenced when tho-time for them io apeak most eloquently had coma ? Five "hours of day light yet remalncditanif In that time the ullen admirals could brjng their ahlps be yond .the danger ! of the guns along the ehore. On- the vessel * of the foreign flcei the allow were cheering.till the echo of their shouts almost reached the cars of the waitIng - Ing multitude four pintles away. What If the passage to the city -was lined with sub merged torpedoes- and all the obstacles of modern naval wirlare ? The great guns of the enemy had been silenced , and al though the foremost slips perished , there were a score behlod , to press on over their shattered hulls. The great double-headed serpent bean to move slowly forward , feelIng - Ing Its way carefully , yet pressing on as though urged by an Irresistible force , and as each ship drew near the silenced forts each sent a storm of shot about the spangled flag ; all the hate of a decade of bridled wrath waa In the useless firing on an ap parently defenseless foe. Tbe message that flashed over the wires tp New York , -Washington and to to the telegraph offices of even ; city Jn the laud paled the cheeks of the millions who waited breathlessly for nerws from the scene of strife. The alien fleet had passed ( he guns at Sandy Hook ; men had dreaded such news , but when It came there were few who com prehended It. At Washington a wild mob surged about the building of the chief ex ecutive ; what i\ould he do , what excuse had he and his cabinet to offer that .they had allowed 20 enemy to force so easily the very gates of the nation ? But within the room where the cabinet had gathered there was a calm that contrasted strangely nlt'h the tumult of the millions throughout tbo land ; did not'the president and those who served him comprehend that the honor of .tbo nation \\ua at stake ? It was a few minutes to 6 o'clock , Just at the hour when the foreign fleet was drawIng - Ing near to the Jaws of the Narrows , that the president took out his watch. "In half an hour , " said he , calmly , turnIng - Ing to the secretary of war , "we will know the end. It was at 0 that " He closed the case of the watch with a snap , and picked up an evening paper which lay on the table , . III. The end had como. The vanguard of the enemy were well In toward the mouth of the narrows , paying no heed to the flro of the forts that flanked the moving line on either side. Those , who watched from the ehoro had seen one of tie foremost ships suddenly dart back , had seen a great mass of seething water and 1 spray rlso from the surface of the sea nnd the Iron sldca cf the cruiser rent apart aa though Its plates had been of pasteboard , but the rrat ot the line kept Its course. There bad como moro convulsions from the deep , a second , a third ship had been- rent by the great torpedoes , 300 Bailers had beea killed , but the line yet pressed on ; as the admiral of the Frenchman had eald to the head ot the government at home : "What matters It If half the chips bo blown up , If we gain the prize for which we seek ? " And so , sul lenly. their ildei aflame , the line of war ships , now stretched out in single file , moved onward. Between ltnd the prize hovered the little fleet of American vessel * hastily gathered to oppose 4fce invading boat. The multitude gathered' ppon the surrounding helghU watched tba tdvance of the brilliant trl-color of Fraqjie md the proud standards of CMtlle and Aragpenwith much the same > feelings that th , .l * * elltea ot old must nave experienced wb alh r Tr the giant Goliath tearing down upn tielr youthful champion. But this modern E vld bad no resource * that 'were- BeT T m tched by those of hla antagonist , and nan ? of the crowd turned to leave rather than reaMln to view a ipectacle which they had otriWbeart to look upon thu ot their > w j aw fall and bumllla. A few of the JMT fcserrtaff , however. In cluding maet 'Si tbeM famMUr wKh the Jwrter. bed twnfcl.-lfcelr gue from the approaching preaching * fleet ioview a ne ; wonder. Throughput the > 7 'the HUT , breeze had chimed. , the ? watffefT the bay lnt . foam- flecked , eh pPyw * * Mmt now a'ltoe of emlm epMred , > egMnlBg e little wtthii\Jbe Varrewe perhef * Barter f a all * ahead of the e > etwhere h * American et WM u4a rea4iic Mnei ftlMet tr shore to chore ) , It wae M though eome giant band had smoothed out the furrow * of the angry d ep nd some omnipotent voice had Mid : "Peace , be gtltl. " Dut what did It all meant * WM k an omen of good tor the de- fcnJert or a preparation ( or the triumphal entry of the fc 7 No man could answer that question , but In their Interest In watching Uio strange phenomenon many of the on looker * forgot that the destiny of a nation was likely to bo decided within the next few momenta. The lliio of calm crept on , turning the mirfaco of the wavca Into a glossy green , and borne outward toward the approaching fleet by the tide , which bad begun to flow seaward again. Rrom the flagships of the Invading squadrons the foreign admirals eaw and won dered at It , but no thought of staying their course crossed their mind. And still the Ilpa of thoae frowning gunw that looked from the bulwarks of the American vessels were sealed. A murmur that deepened Into a roar went up from Iho watchers on the helgh/a. It was the same sound thlt had been hiTard from the crowd before on that day a growl of disapproval at the Inaction of their de fenders. As though In answer to It thcru cuiiio tlic fltst hcijtllo demonstration from the American fleet. A puff of white rmoko roao from the Destroyer , one of the dvnamUo cruisers , 'which ' was lying Inshore across the bay * clcBC to the huge blac'.t oil Unka on Constable Hookj From out this white cloud sped a black projectile , ilslt.g awlftly , but not too swiftly for the cyo to follow , In a graceful curve high above the waters of the bay. From tin alincat perpendicular height It fell upon the forefront of tlat line of ad vancing calm , midway between the two grim forte which stand the .Mlenl guardlanu of the harbor , and In the very face of the ad- \ancliif , ' squadron. An It touched the glassy Burfaco of the water there canio a blinding f.ash , and a column of dcahiig spray aro.e 100 feet Into the air. And hero , the last and greatest wonder of this eventful day was unfolded to the on- Icokets. As ' the column of foam hesitated for a moment , poised In midair , It turned oud- denly to a gigantic pillar of flame. An lnr ftant It trembled fiere and then descended In myriad Jets of fire which were caught up 0:1 : every side and rose at > though fanned from bomo Inferno , a wall of flame fifty feet high , extending from sho'D to here and sweeping down lllw an avenging denron on the hostile fleet which but a moment before had been ercuro In Ita cipectcd triumph. At the same Ini'tant ' , when the terrific. ! spectators were drawing back frcm the awful heat which picsscd upun them from the water's edge , the operator t/tatlonert / at the instrument in the loom at WtiDhlniitCM in which the cabinet had assembled clucked off the massage which llcohcd fro.n the little ofllco hidden amongtitho oil tanks at tidewater : "Harbor aflame ) ; success Ui urcJ. " In anilustant it v.ao clear alike to friend and faff Ifco trap had been sprung , alul the ted of fire lad become the arbiter of the unequal .contest. Then men unde otood s\r < at meant- the silence of the guno nt Sandy hook , the lioMlnsr lack of the alien fleet until the outgolng-llde Ehould aid In hurrying down upon tjio Invading force the seething mass of burning oil , carried from the wclh of 1 cnnaylvunla through the great pipes of the company which controlled the supply of the world to a point under the watera of the harbor. 'At the touch of the engineer who controllc 1 tell- mighty flood of petroleum the dangerous liquid had Asjcited Its ascendancy over water , and poured Jn a torrent to thu surface , to bo United by the shell fired from the- gun of the little cruiser that lay in midincss for tno signal flashed from the Jersey shores Then men Knew of the mean ing of the , \ialt to Washington of the capitalist and the engineer , and of the strange unconcern that marked the demeanor "f the x > mclals of ( he government. In an liwtant the trlumphful adv"ano of the alien ( lest had teen turned to consterna tion. Swept onward by the swiftly outgoing tide , the mighty tliect of flame , hotter and more fierce than a thousand gigantic fur naces , bare down upon the Ircaclad ves.'e'a of Franco and Spain. To press onward In the faca of such a demon meant death ; no ships or men or courage could withstand the god of fire. In mother ten minutes the heat of the burning oil would reach the .magazines , and the ships would be blowu to atoms by tUelr own ammunition. Not sullenly now , but es one who flees panic- stricken before a supernatural power , the great crullers turned" to fly7"but life very narrowness of the course brought destruc tion. Huddled together , each striving to gain the sheltsr ofthe open sea bejonj , the mlsh'.y fleet . - , the.-prlda of two nations , became a sp tacloof demoralization , a- hai-vest ripe for the sickle. And now from the guos of Forts Wadanorth and Hamil ton , and from the low- embankments at Saady Hook , there flashed the avenging flrc of the hnherto apparently subdued defend ers. No answering shots came from the fleet ; It required every energy to escape the fiery demon that like a racs horse galloped mady ! In , their rear. Torpedoes hitherto avoided lent aid to the work ot destruction. Here a ncblg ship arose In the air , pierced by the steel that had lain so tranquilly beneath ( too surface of the deep ; here agalu the goJ of fire seized upon Its victim , turnIng - Ing the grim Iron to a ruddy glow , until In a majestic burst of brilliancy ship , guns and men tank tucieath the surface of the harbor , or wera Scattered like chaff to the four winds ot heaven , In which still waved the crlrcson-parrcd banner , the emblem of the greatest republic on earth. Two upura later tbcrc- crept from the shores of America what remained of the proud flcefitlmt hadcon1 e to deal a blo.v to the prldd of "the United States , end throughout rtho land there arose a paalm of thanksgiving that cchosd from the rocky walls ot&ffa Sierra Nevada mountains to the greatffcfad hlls ! of Vermont. And In bis char&Jjer at ; . Washington , surrounded by hoi cabtywt , * the < president of the United States/of America turned to a gentleman In clerical attire * who , bowing his head over the ; table "whereon Jay the menage announc ing the nation's triumph , said In the solemn voice of his order , "Let us pray. " Thlrty-flvo icars make a generation. That Is how long Adolph Fisher of Zanesvlllo , 0. . suffered from pllea. He'was cured by uslug three boxes ct DeWitt's Witch Hazel Sahe. "TUU YA.Mvr.li : KI\G. General Dniilel il" . Mclclr * ' Influence iiii Spiinlnh rolltlci. General Daniel E. Sickles , who Is now 75 years old and permanently retired from active life , has recently been reported as saying virtually that lei his opinion there will bo war between the United States and Sraln unless It bo prevented by the business Influ ences of the civilized world , which are now stronger than the/ were In 1873 , when they prevented war between the two countries over theVlrglnlus'affair. , General Sickles should bo well qualified to talk with intelligence concerning Spain , since as minister to Msdrld from thla country from 1869 to 1874 ho made himself exceedingly pop ular with all classes. His service there began soon after Spain had thrown over Queen Isabella to accept General Prim and the republic. Later I'rlm was dropped that an Italian prlnco might be made sovereign , but his reign was ohort- llved , and after Its close Cattelar waa placed at the head of the republican government. Costelar and Sickles were chose friends , and the American general's advice to the Spanish statesman was ot great value , fit waa followed so Implicitly. In fact , that Sickles was long termed "The Yankee King" In Spain , and there Is no doubt In the minds of come who are familiar with the facts and situation that the republic would have pre vailed had bo not been rcjcalled at the time of the Vlrglnlus affair , through the Influence of tbo late Hamilton Fish , then secretary of elate. Deiplte General Sickles' popularity In Spain and his tympathy with that country In many things , he wes much averse io yielding a single point with regard to the Vlrglnlua , and this waa the cause o ! his re call , since the business Interests ot this country , as well u the rent ot the world , believed the Incident not of sufficient Im portance to cause war. General Sickle * had never met Isabella when be w recalled , but be met her soon afterward io Paris , where be spent lome months before returning to thii country , Th.e me tinc was la ber apartment ! , where he called by special appointment , and the coaveriatlon WM opined by the general , < wha tated that , although he had aevtr teen hla hoateB before , he could pot ( all ot recog nising ber anywbere , atace be kad- & come familiar with ber feature * from her-i-rtralt , which still adorned the .walla of-It\ royal palace In Madrid. TbU later ? < * , the thronelei * monarch at once. 'ft "What ! " aba excltlmtd. "do Uo e odloua rebels tlll tolerate the preaec ot my per' tmlt lir the' palae t'A. < v'- < rtill 4 U general ; Abbott toring's Germ-Killer Inhalant Cures Diseases if the Chest , Umjs and fieri Nt Other Remedy Cai Pass theEpJtottls ; and Cure Deep-Seated Disease. v. No Other InhalerCan Send the Medlclwe to the Rf ( ht Place A Never Failing Cure for All Forms of Throat , Chest and LHMJ Disease x Read the Proof. Writing from her residence on Georgia avenue , Mrs. Mnry Kcllar Uyrncs , nays ; OMAHA , Nob. . Mnrch 10. U9S. Lorlng & Co. , Chicago , Now York and Bos ton : Gentlemen I hail .grip last winter nnd It left my lungs and firont In n precarious condition : Indeed , Rome phyalclnns doubted If I could cscnpo consumption , und my friends were \cry much cancerneil .nbout me. Medical treatment did mo little Rood until I got hold of Abbott Lorlng'B Germ- KIKcr Inlmlnnt nnd Anti-Germ vnporlzlnjr Inhaler. Thl * treitmcnt gave mo wonderful relief tit once nnd In three weeks has ef fected n practical cure. The soreness nnd distress arc gone from my chest , I hnvo no moro caugh or catarrh nnd my general health Is very good Indeed. I FWU nil praise to Abbott Loring's wonderful discov ery. Truly lila Germ-Killer remedy cures. Respectfully. MARY KULLAR BYRNES. Complete lloinc Treatment. This treatment , consisting of Lorlng's Germ-Killer lor Inhalation and Abbott Lor- IUK'M Anti-Germ Vaporizing Inhaler , tl.OO. For Gome chronic and spisinodlo diseases which require special treatment special medicines have been prepared by our phjsl- clins and chemists. No , 1 Special Mcdlcina For Tonnllltls , LnrilnRltls. Cntarrhnl , Hiiy Fever hnd D phthcrla. Pile > . cpnts. No. 2 Special Medicine For Con sumption nnd UronchltK Price , 50 cents. No. 3 Special Medicine Per Asthma , Whooping1 CoiiKh nnd Croup. Price , 50 rents. Antl eptic Giuze For use In the In- huler , 4-yurdi 40 cpnts ; ' ,6-ynul , 75 cents ; 1 jnrcl , J1.50. Anti-Germ Dalm An antiseptic prppiratlon for external application , vvhloh laUes the soreness out of the lungs , hastens the cure or catarrh , assists In the cure of all throat troubles and cures Cracked Lips. Chapped Hands and Kczeinu. Price 25 cents. " IorltiK'N firrm-lCIIIcr Tnliloin. TTO vvondtrful Germ-Killer element dis covered by Abbott Lorlng Is contained In each of the Abbott "Lorlng Germ-Killer Tablets. It constitutes the basis ot the control of the symptoms und conditions In cident to Kiici ailment. It has been abun dantly proven that any one of the Germ- Killer remedies quickly gains control over the system , nnd experience shown that each remedy effects a "complete cure of the dis ease for the treatment of which It Is spe cially prepared. Tne governing principle of fie Germ-Killer1 remedies Is In perfect har mony with the principles of that .greatest of nil scientists. Nature , In curing disease * Send for book giving history of Abbott lior- Ings strnnga discovery. Us Interesting nnd mysterious origin end Its wonderful cura tive power. It Is a product of the RoontKcrx or X rny , and you should know nil nbout It. The book Is sent free. When catarrh Is dcep-sentcd In the itom- nch or bowels where ozone does not pene trate. Lorlng's Germ-Killer Dyspepsia Tab lets should be used. They quickly control the digestive functions and Immediate bciie- llts follow. No other dyspepsia medicine can cure dyspepsia. Lorlng's Oerm Klllsr Dyspepsia Tablets CO cents a box. Lorlng's Germ-Killer Rheumatism Tab lets , no cents a box. Lorliifi's Gcrm-Klllcr Heart Tab'ets , | 2.00 a box , I/rlng's Germ-Killer Laxative Tablets , CO cents a box. Don't skip this It Is for your good. Every enterprising druggist carries nil our other remedies In stock. It you sea It you will not want any other. Our book furnished with the Inhaler will give you full Information. It Is the Gcrm- Klller Medicine that cures. Abbott Lorlng's 25-cent book on "Diseases of the Throat , Lungs , Chest nnd Head nnrt How to Cure Them , " sent free , with full Information nbout treatment , all postpaid. Write us fully nbout your case and wo will advise you Fltun OF CHARGD. Tills treat , ment Is cheap. You can get It by mall post paid. You can take It nt hbrne. Order now nnd prevent dcaJy. Mention department number below on your envelope when you write Use only the nearest address. LORING&CO.1138 VON. fi8OVnlinRl ! > Avo. , Chloniro , 111 * No. 42 W. 22d St. . New York City. No. 3 Hamilton Place , Boston , Maes. in . ui.wTftv I.IBW * ias ivimili < ! rtlio tlon of n famoui 1'rcncli physician , will quickly euro > on , o f all lief. yous ordiseasesolthegcacraUve [ orpan , nucli ni test Manhood. Insomnia , ' In , . 1'alns ( ho BackSeminal Kinlsslnn * , Nervous , - 1 Imp cs , UnUtncsi to Marry , Kilinusilnif Ornlns , Vnrlcocclo - Constlnatlon. It itoin n 1 losses by day or night. 1'rei pnti unlck- utss ot lilbclinrgp , n hlcU U not chrrkml loads to bpermntorrlran and AFTER 2' ' ' .tlio horrors ntlmpotency. CUI inKNI3clcoiiacsUieUvcr , Uio > . . ; V klilncyaoncl tin- urinary orBansoI all impurities. - . rr.M : nlrcnsthonsnna restores ftnall weak organs. Ilia reason minprfr-inro not cured by Doctors 1 1 licnmso ninety per cent arc tronbled with IrooCallfl * . COrinnNK In the only Isnott n rempcly to curawliboututiopi ration. SOOOtrntlmonl- nK A wrlttnnBiiKrnnti'OBlvpaanilmnncjrroturnKl If six Imxps rtocs notcllect n Dcrinancutcurn. , $1.00 a box , six lor f" . by mall. Homl for men circular unU testimonials , l tnuuumi ym Address DAVoli. . fIXIDICIA B CO. , P. O. Cox 3370 , Bra Francisco , Cot IbrSate bo MViitS-niII , < ) \ D1IUG CO. . S. E. Coi 10th uud Fnriiaiii , Oiunlin. "A GOOD TA E WILL BEAR TELLING SAPOLIOI USE APOLIO Pictures of the Navy and Cuba The Bee has arranged to supply its readers with a set of Portfolios which answer many important questions they have been asking themselves and their friends for sometime past. The Bee prints the news concerning Cuba , the Ha waiian Islands and the American Navy , but where is the reiader that , \vould"not like to see these things as they really are. The sot will comprise Ten Portfolios of Photographic Reproductions presenting 160 views , accompanied by concise explanatory text. They furnish much valuable information about HAWAII , CUBA , Countries where America has largo interests to bo protected , and THE AMERICAN NAVY which will figure prominently in the protecting. Naturally everyAmerican wants to Know what sort of ships Undo Sam uses in arguing1 nautical ques tions , und The Beo's offer affords the means of knowing the strength of bis lojric in heated disputes. THE FIRST Five PARTS ARC NOW READY. HOW TO GET THEM , The Omaha Bco will please send to the Fill out the annexed coupon * reader legibly , stating how many you undersigned PORTFOLIOS as nlsh. and bringer ( send ) It to The Bco with 10 cents In coin Issued , for which * Is inclose * for each PORTFOLIO wanted. j It will be moro convenient to semi Jl.OO at the outsit , as you Narao ' can thereby avoid writing a letter and enclosing a dime for Sti-cot each , of the successive ISBUCB. They wilt * ) o sent out ns fast as they como from the presses. City State Get One for Dime Indicate In plain figures how ninny Portfolios a ; are wanted and how muuli money Is loclosod. Boml no stamps. 10 for a Dollar , Parts I to VI Now Ready. On sale at the Business Office of The Omaha Bee , "and the palace Also contains many other souvenirs of your majesty. " It was with difficulty she could be made to believe this , and when she accepted the fact she fell Into a soliloquy , the burden of which ran : "In my palace ! In my palace ! It Is unexplainable - explainable 1 Why are these things allowed to remain there when I bavo been drhen out ? " General Sickles then assured her that her downfall was not so much due to personal unpopularity on ber part as to the odious politico that bad flourished under her reign. The Spanish people continued to love her , bo aid , In tplte of all , and ho bad heard many expressions of tender feeling toward ber. It waa remembered that she bad always been averse to signing' death warrants , and that many a wretch condemned to the girrote had been pardoned through ber Influence. He concluded by thq statement that , while In hla opinion. he might never resume the throne , the Spaniards might some time be ready for monarchical rule again. Later he received news through private rourcea that the republic waa tottering to a fall , and , meeting her son , AlfoMO , then only a lad of 16 , the general communicated the nowa to him. Alfonso wae engaged In roller skating on ono of the boulevard * with a lot ot other young twe when the general spoke to him , and , though be wes greatly Interested , as was eoen shown , be aKected to receive the taformaUoB with the jreateet .Jedlterence. The tefieral'e MMiige 4e thv Htatt wae de cidedly staple. * "It wlU Mt ) M k g , " MM SHeWe , "before the people ot 'Madrid will bo sending ton you. " \ Alfonso stopped to adjust a skate strap before making reply. Then ho straightened up. up."Is It so ? " he Mid , nonchalantly. "Pcr 4 haps I ehall bo ready to go. " Then , alter omo commonplace remark , he glided away to join his companions. In spite of his assumed nonchalance , Alfonso left off katlng a * soon aa possible- , hastened home. to hie mother and advised her to tend tor tbo American at once. She did * o and the general responded to beiv summons. She was exceedingly curloue a * to the ource ot hla Information , but thli ha could not make known to ber. Ho succeeded/ however , In aattifylng her that It wae probi atly correct , and be advised her In the strongest tonne to abdicate In favor of her ? eon , that he might be able to take the thron In regular course In caio the people felt dis posed to accept him , - , i Before be left her she Informed blm that be MW much of wisdom In his advice , an * . the event proved that be had fully convince * her that It waa the only thing to do , for she- f ° ° ? . * , ' .ter reil n a elalroe to the throne , and Alfonio XII ascended , A little boy asked for a bottle of "get u 1 In the morning fait you can , " tbV druEglit recognised a household name fer "DeWltfe Little Karly Hl er . " aid gav him a bottle of'thoee famous UttleVpUl * fo IS 11 * ' " "M' "r' * tWB