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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1898)
win Ship- Was Blown Up By a Floating Mine. RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT FIXED Bimiu Notified of the Findings of the Naval Court Madrid Kefuses to lte call the Torpedo Flotllln and I Actively Fortifying Porto Rico. Washington, Maroh 28. The court of inquiry appointed to investigate the cause of the Maine disaster has report ed that the loss of the battle-ship was due to an outside explosion. Tho etato department, by direction of the presi dent, has cabled Minister Woodford, at Madrid, to notify the Spanish govern ment of the conclusion. The president and his cabinet ad visers held two extended sessions today, one at 10:30 A. M. and another at 8:30 P. M., at which the roport was consid ered in detail. Mombers of the cabi net stated after the meetings that the discussion was of a grave character, and that never since the wrecking of the Maine has the situation seemed bo critical. The Spanish government has oabled officially to Washington that the Span ish naval commission holds the disas ter to tho Maine to be of internal origin. The government of Spain, it can be stated positively, is not disposed to turn back the torpedo fleet now pro ceeding from the Canaries, and would be disinclined to consider a suggestion from this government tending to inter fere with the disposition by Spain of her own naval forces. War preparations on an unprecedent ed scale are being hurried to comple tion by tho war and navy departments, and the country practically is on a war footing. The foregoing gives the record of one of the most eventful days the national capital has seen since the close of the civil war. It was a day of profoundly important action and of the deepest anxiety, coupled with naval and mili tary activity, ono step following another in rapid succession. Hepresentutive men of the adminis tration, publio men in all branohes of official and congressional life, no less than the public in general, shared in the tension to which the situation has been wrought. There was no effort among the highest offlcials.nor, indoed, Was it DOSsihlft from what vena nlonrlv apparent in the development of the day, to minimize the situation. Verdict of the Court of Inquiry. Viewed in detail, the finding of the court of inquiry was the most vital fac tor. Commander Marix, judge advo cato of the court of inquiry, delivered the report to Secretary Long early this morning, and shortly afterward it was carried lo the White House and plaoed in the hands of tho president. At 10:30 tho cabinet assembled, half an hour earlier than usual, and began the consideration of the momentous document. Even the rigid rules of secrecy which prevail at cabinet meet ing wero made doubly striot in this case, ami no intimation of the results reached by the court was known until 2 o'clock, when a press bulletin gave the information to the country, as well as to tho eagerly waiting officials throughout Washington. Those re sults, briefly stated, are that the loss of the Maine was due to an explosion from the outside, tho court being un able to fix the responsibility for the explosion. . Tho court does not express an opin ion as to the character of the explosion, but the testimony goes to show that it as a powerful submarine mine, the "act character of which was' not deter mined, though tho belief was expressed that it was a floating submarine mine. f hero were two exposions, the court nude. Tho first was from the outside, aw that set off one of the smaller uugazmeg, will'!3 th'8' "Pressed in detail, and ma precision oi a court deeply conscious of its responsibility, together " uviuence upon which it was ; wwujiiou iiiu Hiienuon oi . 9 cabinet throughout Its OYtnrwluif ana. sums of the morning and afternoon. Other nh'iunta ..: f'ireiuoBt question. There was no n.-. . .. "un o' making there in" Public and transmit!,,,, it res, accompanied by a brief message om the president. until anernon cabinet session lasted until nearlv K-an ti. .: .j... "on . ,ii. , . . . . i . -'-uooni hi lent'Tfi. nnt nn . " w was reached. The Bitua- iruiiruea & i1nnl.Ii.rllt? .rWixal . mcro win Do great nHy o avoiding trouble. " lait.nr.xf t .... I .. . . the W ,;. ""cre" thus contered at pe White Hmm n. j- tiartm. ' "y anu war ae r" k of W6re harrrin f0rward urK 01 Preparation. THE, PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. No Recommendation In Made Regarding Action to lie Taken. Washington, March 29. The presi dent today sent the following message to congress: "To the congress of the United States For some time prior ,to the visit of tho Maine to Havana harbor our consular representatives pointed out the advantages to follow the visits of naval ships to Cuban waters in ac oustoming people to the presence of our flag as a Bymbol of good will and of our ships in fulfillment of the mission of protection to American interests, even though no immediate need therefor might exist. Accordingly, on the 25th of January last, after a conference with the Spanish minister, in which a re newal of the visits of our vessels to Spanish water was discussed and ac cepted, the peninsular authorities at Madrid and Havana were advised of the purpose of this government to re sume friendly naval visits at Cuban ports, and that with that, end in vi the Alaine would forthwith call at the port of Havana. "This announcement was received by the Spanish government with ap preciation of the friendly character of the visit of the Maine and with notifi cation of an intention to return the courtesy by sending Spanish ships to the principal ports of tLe United States. Meanwhile the Maine entered the port of Havana on the 25th of January, hor-arrival being marked with no spe cial incident besides the exchange of customary salutes and ceremonial visits. "The Maine continued in. the harbor of Havana during the throe weeks fol lowing her arrival. No appreciable exoitement attended her stay. On the contrary, a feeling of relief and confi dence followed the resumption of long interrupted friendly intercourse. So noticeable was this immediate effect of her visit that the consul-general strong ly urged that the presence of our ships in Cuban waters should be kept up by retaining the Maine at Havana, or in the event of her recall, by sending an other vessel there to take her plaoe. "At 40 minutes past 9 o'olock in the evening of the 15th of February, the Maine was destroyed by an explosion, by which the entire forward part of the ship was utterly wrecked. In this oatastrophe, two officers and 260 mem bers of her crew perished, those who were not killed outright by her explo sion being penned between decks by the tanglo of wreckage and drowned by the immediate sinking of the bull. Prompt assistance was rendered by neighboring vessels anchored in the harbor, aid being especially given by the boats of the Spanish cruiser Al- phonso XII and the Ward line steamer City of Washington, which lay not far distant. Tho-wounded were generously cared for by the authorities of Ha vana, the hospitals being freely opened to them, while the earliest recovered of the bodies were interred by the munici pality in the publio cemetery in the City. Tributes of griof and sympathy were offered from all offloial quarters of the island. "The appalling calamity fell upon tho people of our country with crush ing force, and for a brief time intense excitement prevailed, which, in a com munity less just and selfishly con trolled, must have led to hatsy acts of blind resentment. This sprit, how ever, soon gave way to the calmer pro cess of reason and to a resolve to in vestigate tho facts and await muterial proof before forming judgment as to the responsibility, and if the faots warranted tho remedy due.- This courso necessarily recommended itself from the outset to the executive, for only in the light of a dippassionately ascertained oertainty could it deter mine the nature and measure its full duty in the matter. "The usual procedure was followed as in cases of casualty or disaster to national vessels of any maritime state. A naval court of inqpiry was at once organized, composed of officers well qualified by rank and practical experi ence to discharge the onerous duties imposed upon them, and, accompanied by a strong force of wrecRers and div ers, the court proceeded to make a thorough investigation on the spot, employing every available means for an impartial and exact determination as to the cause of the explosion. Its oper ations have been conducted with the utmost deliberation and judgment, and while independently pursued, no source of information was neglected and tbe'fullest opportunity was allowed for simultaneous investigation by the Spanish authorities. "The findings of the court of Inquiry were reached after 23 days' continuous labor, on the 21st of March, and hav ing been approved on the 22d, by the commander-in-chief cf the naval force of the North Atlantio station, were transmitted to the executive. It is herewith laid before congress, together with the voluminous testimony taken before the court, which is in brief as follows: "When the Maine arrived at Havana she was conducted by a regular govern ment pilot to buoy No. 4, to which she was moored in from 8tf to 8 fathoms of water. The state of discipline on board and the condition of her maga zines, boilers, coal bunkers and storage compartments are passed in review, with the conclusion that excellent order prevailed aodthat no Indication of any can Re for internal explosion existed in any quarter. "At 8 o'clock in the evening, on February 15, everything had been re ported secure and all was quiet. At 40 minutes past 9 o'clock the vessel was suddenly destioyed. There wero two distinct explosions with brief in tervals between them. Tho first lifted the forward part of the ship very per ceptibly, the second, which was more prolonged, is attributed by tho court to the partial explosion of two or moro of the forward magazines. "The evidence of the divers estab lishes that the after part of the ship was practically intact, and sank in that condition a very few minutes after the explosion. The forward part was com pletely demolished. "Upon the evidence of concurrent exteral cause, the finding of the court is as follows: '" 'At frame 17, the outer shell of tho ship, from a point 11 feet from the middle line of the ship and six feet above the keel when in normal posi tion, had been forced to about four feet above the surface of the water, there fore, about 84 feet above where it would have been had she sunk unin jured. The outsido bottom plating is bent into a reversed "V" shape, the after wing of which, about 15 feet broad and 33 feet long (from frame 17 to frame 26), is doubled back upon it self against a continuation of the same plating extending forward. " 'At frame 18, the vertical keel is broken in two and bent into a singular angle, formed by the outsido plates. This break is about six feet below the surface of the water and about 30 feet above its normal position. " 'In the opinion of the oonrt this effect could have been produced only by the explosion of a mine situated un der the bottom of the ship at about frame 18, and somewhat on the port side of the ship.' "The conclusions of the court are: " 'The loss of tho Maine was not in any respect due to the fault of or negli gence on the pnrt of any officer or member of her crew. " That the ship was destroyed by the explosion of a submarine mine, whioh caused a partial explosion of two or more of her forward magazines, and that no evidence has been obtain able fixing the responsibility for the destruction of the Maine upon any per son or persons.' "I have directed that the finding of the court of inquiry and the views of this government theron be communicat ed to the government of her majesty, the queen regent of Spain, and I do not permit myself to doubt that the sense of juBtice of the Spanihs nation will dictate a course of action suggested by honor and friendly relations of the two governments. "It is the duty of the executive toad vise congress of the result and in the meantime deliberate consideration is invoked. WILLIAM M'KINLEY. "Executive Mansion, March 28, 1898." PERISHED ON AN ICE FLOE. Terrible Fate of Forty-Soven Sailor on a Newfoundland Seullng Steamer. St. John's, N. F., March 80. The steamer Greenland has reached this harbor with a grewsome cargo. Twenty four corpses were on deck and 55 men were moaning in terrible suffering in the hold in the pain of frostbitten limbs and bodies. The dead bodies were on the decks disfigured and almost unrecognizable. The effects of the ter rible suffering whioh they had endured presented ono of the most horrible sight human eyes evor beheld. The frostbitten men number 55. All will recover. The Greenland set sail from St. John's about the first of March on her fateful voyage. She was .commanded by Captain George Barbour, and car ried a crew of nearly 800 sealhunters. The steamer proceeded northward with the rest of the sealing fleet, but after a couple of hours she diverged on a separute tack, and reached the hunting grounds not long after. All went well until Tuesday last. Seals were quickly encountered, and several good packs were secured. " On Tuesday morning the huntors left the ship about 7 o'clock, as usual, when the lookout reported ice plentiful around them. The men were clad in light clothing, for tho slaughtering of seals in exhausting work. Scattered over the Ice field, they wandered far from the protection of the ship, and a gale and snowstorm shut them out from view. The ice floe parted and they drifted away from the steamer. Long ere the storm subsided many of the un fortunate fellows had succumbed to the terrible cold and exposure. Those who did not die were terribly frosbitten and suffered excrutiating pain. The long night passed, but morning brought no help, for the storm still raged and the atmosphere was thiok with snow driven by the galo. Snow continued nearly all day, and tho evening brought no cessation to the high wind. Another night was passed in untold agony. Some of the victims had already given up hope, and in de spair laid down and died. Every hour witnessed at least two deaths. Toward morning the storm subsided and dear weather enabled the turvivors to see that the Greenland was not far away, searching for the missing. The steamer bore down on the drifting field of ice, and began the work of picking up tne star Douies oi the dead and the lifeless bodies of the living A WARNING TO SPAIN. Two Note Cabled by the President to Minister Woodford. Madrid, March 29. President Mc Kinley has cabled two notes, to Spain through Minister Woodford. One deals with the Maine, the other with Presi dent McKinley's plan of humanitarian intervention in the Cuban war. Both notes are expressed in strong, firm lan guage, without a suggestion of a threat. They are, periiaps, merely preliminary. For tiie destruction of the Maine, the president demands no indemnity.' He merely acquaints the Madrid gov ernment with the fact that tho court of inquiry finds that the ship was blown np in Havana harbor by an external agency and that nothing but a mine or torpedo of the largest size could have wrought the destruction. The presi dent submits the facts to the Spanish government, and waits a reply. Mr, Woodford did not even demand an early response. As to tho war in Cuba. President McKinley advised the Spanish govern ment in the politest terms that the time is faBt drawing near when the United States would be compelled to act upon the warning so often given to Spain since the struggle in Cuba began. The president clearly intimated that the war in Cuba must cease, but he fixes no date. The note makes the question of Cuban intervention para mount to the Maine case, which the president's memorandum refers to merely as a lamentable incident. Tho issues and problems of the Cuban war, the United States government now calls urgently to the attention of Spain, de claring that the conditions prevailing in Cuba, so near to the shores of the United States, have long been intoler able to the American people. Negotiations to End the War. Washington, March 29. The de velopments of the day in the Cuban situation indicate progress in the nego tiations of this oountry and Spain look ing to the maintenance of peace, for the present at least. There is good au thority for saying that Spain's wish is to secure a cessation of hostilities in Cuba, rather than to engage in a war with the United States, and that it is more than probable that the negotia tions with the Sagasta ministry will take such a turn in the immediate future. The present Spanish minis try lias expressed a pacific disposition from the beginning, and the indica tions are strong now that it will avail itself of the good offices of the United States to the fullest extent that public opinion in Spain will allow in bring ing to an end the hostilities in Cuba. To what extent the United States may go in assisting Spain in her pres ent design of securing an armistice is not determined, but the conservative element in the administration consider the manifestation of this desire on the part of Spain for even a temporary peaoe a direct result of President Mo Kinley's diplomacy, and they naturally are disposed to contend that the presi dent should bo left free, for the presont at least, to pursue a policy which prom ises much in the way of preventing war between this country and Spain; also of bringing to a close the hostilities in Cuba. Hence there will bo on effort on the part of the peacefully inclined in congress to hold that body in chock and to prevent inflammatory utterances there until this promising diplomatic lead may be exploited. . On tho part of tho administration it is 6tated that the development of the situation will not require a great length ot time, and hence tlioro will be no ex tended delay. A policy has been fully determined upon by the president. It is to bring the Cuban war to a(closo. This will be accomplished by pointed interven tion, if necessary, but it is considered far preferable that the end should come as the result of peaceful negotiations than that it should be accompanied by hostile demonstrations on the part of tho United States. Hence the disposi tion of the president is to give Spain an opportunity to secure an armistice with the Cubans and allow her a rea sonable time to come to an understand ing with the hostilcs. It is stated that there is no abate ment of the president's intention to see that the war is terminated, and that it is closed on terms that will render the CubanB practically a free poople. Friends of the administration feel that the situation is very delicate, and much will depend upon the course the Cubans may pursue. The Spanish Klectlnns. Madrid, March 29. The elections for tho popular branch of tho oortes have passed quietly. The indications are that the government of Senor Sa gasta will have an enormous majority, estimated at 800 of the 432 seats in tho chamber. Disorders are apprehended at Bilboa, where the polling caused great excitement. The military judge at Bilboa issued a warrant for the ar rest of three socialist municipal coun cilors. One of them wus taken into oustody, but the other two escaped. Spain's Ilefusal. Berlin, March 29. The Madrid correspondent of tho BorlinerTagoblatt says: "Spain will not only refuse to allow American interference in assist ing the suffering CubanB, but will de cline to pay indemnity, unless it ia shown unmistakly that the Spanish authorities wore responsible for the Maine explosion. - r READY TO BUY LIBERTY. Cubans Would Welcome Such, a Solu tion of the Problem. New York, March 28. A special to the Now York Tribune says: General Gomez, commander-in-chief of the Cuban army of liberation, reaffirms tho willingness of the insurgents to pur chase independence by payment of a reasonable indemnity to Spain. Gen eral Gomez expresses the hope that the price of Cuba's liberty may not neces sarily be war between tho United States and Spain, and doclnres thero can be no doubt as to tho ultimate tri umph of tho Cuban cause, even though the insurgents receive no outside aid. The Spanish Version. Madrid, Maroh 28. The report of the Spanish board of inquiry into tho loss of the Maine says emphatically that tho explosion was of internal ori gin, that it is "scientifically and prac tically demonstrated that tho explosion was internal." The United States minister, General Woodford, had a long conference this evening with tho minister of foreign affairs, Senor Gullon. Absolute reti cence is observed as to what transpired. JOHN LEONARD HANGED. Murderer of Jacob Malqulst Fays tho Death Penalty. Colfax, Wash., March 28. Tho legal execution of John Leonard for the mur der of Jacob Malquist, at Texas City, occurred this afternoon, in the presence of fully 1,000 peopla Leonard was brought from tho jail and ascended the soaffold stops unas sisted, at l:16o'clock. Father KearnB, at the request of Leonard, read a short final statement protesting his innooenco of willful murder. At 1:21 o'clock Leonard stepped on tho trap and shook hands with tho offi cers and reporters. At 1:24 ji voice called out, "Good bye, Jack," ond Leonard responded in full tones, "Good-bye, Charley." As the last word left his lips the trap was sprung, and Leonard dropped six feet, the body rebounded Blightly and then hung Btark, not a movement of tho. muscles being noticeable. The body hung 16 minutes, when he was pro nounced dead by the attending physi cians. Leonard on the scaffold, although showing nervousness, looked about at the surrounding crowd. Tho body was at once taken in charge by Father' Kearns, and convoyed to the cemotory and funeral exeroises held. CLERKS UNDER SUSPICION. Fraud! on a Number of St. Paul Bank! Keoently Unearthed. Washington, March 28. Information reached the government through a number of banks at St. Paul that dur ing the past year and more these and other nearby banks have boon made tho victims of a colossal fraud through the Buspectcd collusion of government clerks connected with the commission having in cjuuge ho improvements on the upper Mississippi river. Full de tails have not yet reached the govern ment, but the statements submitted by tho banks Indicato that $300,000 or moro has been procured from them through fraudulent time checks for services never performed. How tho banks camo to be imposed upon to tho extent stated and why the checks have been withhold until this time, cannot even be conjectured. It is understood the banks will make a claim for reimbursement, but the law is said to be clearly against this conten tion. The government will begin a searching investigation into the wholo matter. STORM IN UNITED KINGDOM. Hurricane Sweep the Coasts Causing Great Loss of Life and Property. London, March 28. Tho storm con tinues throughout tho United Kingdom. Trains are imbedded in heavy snow drifts telegraph wires aro down in many parte of tlio country, people have been frozen to death, while a hurricane has Bwept ull the coast, and terriflo seas have been running. The channel lervioe is suspended, there havo been a number of wrecks of small oraft, many people have been savod from drowning and shipping everywhere is seeking shelter. Much damage has been done at the harbors, niers have Imnn away, and high tidos are flooding the streets. A Swedish brig went ashore near GriniHbv thimiinrninu. Tim nw perished. The greatest excitement la leu tor tne saioty oi tlio fishing fleets. The Hit Selected. La Grande, Or., March 28. Tho selection of a site for the sugar fac tory has been made and the stakes have been set for the buildings. Tho fiio tory grounds will bo on the north 80 Bores of tho Williamson farm. Tho selection was made by Messrs. Eccles and Granger and Engineer West last evening, and was approved by Engineer Bellinger, for the O. K. & N. Co. The site, which is located noithcast of the city limits, lies between the county road and the Williamson resi dence, is a half-mile south of the rivor and within a half-mile of tho city limits. Deficiency In the Interior Department. Washington, March 28. Tho secre tary of the Interior lent to the houso an estimate calling for appropriations of over f 8 000,000 to meet a deficiency iq the funds. ' ' ' "