Admits There
an Explosion.
DIFFERS MUCH
A Full
FROM OURS
Synopsis of the Report of the
Spanish
Naval
Commission — Com
plete Text of the American Court of
Inquiry Into the Maine Disaster.
Washington, March 80.—A full syn-
opsis of the report of the Spanish naval
commission which investigated the de
struction of the battle-ship Maine is
here given. It is taken from a copy of
the original report, which is now on its
way here from Havana, the synopsis
being cabled and today being in the
hands of this government.
The conclusions are directly opposite
to those in the report of the court of in
quiry submitted to congress today.
The synopsis is as follows*.
The report contains declarations
made by ocular witnesses and ex]>erts.
From these statements it deduces and
proves the absence of all those attend
ant circumstances which are invariably
presented on the occasion of the explo
sion of a torpedo.
The evidence of witnesses compara
tively close to the Maine at the moment
is to the effect thut only one explosion
occurred; that no column of water was
thrown into the air; that no shock to
the side of the nearest vessel was felt,
nor on land was any vibration noticed,
and that no dead fish were found.
The evidence of the senior pilot of
the harbor states that there is abund
ance of fish in the harbor, and this is
corroborated by other witnesses. The
assistant engineer of the works states
that after explosions were made during
the execution of works in the harbor,
he has always found dead fish. The
divers were unable to examine the
bottom of the Maine, which was buried
in the mud, but a careful examination
of the sides of the vessel, the rente and
breaks, which all point outward, shows
without a doubt that the explosion was
from the inside.
A minute examination of the bottom
of the harbor around the vessel shows
absolutely no sign of the action of a
torpedo, and the judge-advocate of the
commission can find no precedent for
the explosion of the storage magazine of
the vessel by a torpedo.
The report makes clear that owing to
the sepcial nature of the proceedings
following, the commission has been
prevented from making such an exami
nation of the inside of the vessel as
would determine even the hypothesis
of the internal origin of the accident..
This is to be attributed to the regret-4
table refusal to permit a necessary con
nection of the Spanish commission with!
the commander and crew of the Maine,
and the different American officers
commissioned to investigate the cause
of the accident, and later with those
employed on salvage work.
The report finishes by stating that
an examination of the inside and out
side of the Maine, as soon as such ex
amination may be possible, as also of
the bottom where tlie vessel rests, sup
posing that the Maine’s wreck be not
totally altered in the processor extrica
tion, will wanant the belief that the
explosion was udoubtedly due to some
interior cause.
AMERICAN REPORT IN
*
À
DETAIL.
Full Text of the Findings of the Maine
Court of Inquiry.
U. S. S. Iowa, first rate.
Key West, Fla., Monday, March 21,
1898.—After a full and mature considera
tion of all the testimony before it, the
court finds as follows:
First—That the United States battle-ship
Maine arrived in the harbor of Havana;
Cuba, on the 21st day of January. 1898J
and w*as taken to buoy No. 4, in 5% to 9
fathoms of water, by the regular govern-
ment pilot. The United States consul then
at Havana had notified the authorities
at that place the previous evening of
the Intended arrival of the Maine.
Second—The state of discipline on board
the Maine was excellent, and all orders
and regulations in regard to the care and
safety of the ship were strictly carried
out. All ammunition was stow’ed away in
accordance with instructions, and proper
care was taken whenever ammunition
was handled. Nothing was stored in any
one of the magazines or shellrooms which
was not permitted to be stowed there.
The magazines and shellrooms were al
ways locked after having been opened;
and after the destruction of the Maine
the keys were found in their proper place
in the captain’s cabin, everything hav
ing been reported secure that evening at
8 P. M. The temperature of the maga
zines and shellrooms were taken daily
and reported. The only magazine which)
had an undue amount of heat was thef
after 10-inch magazine, and that did nos
explode at the time the Maine was de
stroyed. The torpedo warheads were all
etowed in the after part of the ship under*
the ward room, and neither caused nor
participated in the destruction of thé
Maine. The dry gun-cotton primers, ant)
detonators, were stowed In the cabin aft.
=1
A Famous Inventor.
Salem, Mass.« March 80.— Abnew
Cheney Goodall. died here, aged 83
years. He perfected the first printing
pres8 that printed on both sides in onq
Operation.
He also invented tha
cracker machine and perfected the
preparation of copper and steel plates
for use by engravers.
and remote from the scene of the expIo-
pion.
The waste was carefully looked after
on board the Maine to obviate danger.
¿Special orders in regard to this had been
given by the commanding officer. Var
nishes, dryers, alcohol and other com
bustibles of this nature, were stowed on
or above the main deck, and could not
have had anything to do with the de
struction of the Maine.
The medical
stores were stowed aft. under the ward
room, and remote from the scene of the
explosion. No dangerous stores of any
kind were stowed below in any of the
other storerooms, or in the coalbunkers,
Of those bunkers adjoining the forward
magazine and shellrooms, four were
empty; namely, B3, B4, B5, B6. A15 had
been in use that date, aivd A16 was full
of new river coal. This ooal had been
carefully inspected before reoeivlng it on
board. The bunker in which it was stowed
was accessible on three sides at all times,
and the fourth side at this time, on ac
count of bunkers B4 and B6 being empty.
This bunker, A16. had been inspected that
day by the engineer officer on duty. The
fire alarms In the bunkers were in work
ing order, and there had never been a
case of spontaneous combustion of coal
on board the Maine. The two after boil
ers of the ship were In use at the time of
the disaster, but for auxiliary purposes
only, with a comparatively low pressure
of steam and being tended by a reliable
watch. These boilers could not have
caused the explosion of the ship. The
forward boilers of the ship have since
been found by the divers, and are in fair
condition. On the night of the destruction
of the Maine, everything had been re
ported secure for the night at 8 P. íd.
by reliable persons, through proper au-
thorltles to the commanding officer, At
the time the Maine was destroyed the
ship was quiet, and therefore the least
liable to accident caused by movements
from those on board.
Third—The destruction of the Maine oc
curred at 9:40 P. M. on the 15th day of
February, 1898, in the harbor of Havana,
Cuba, being at the time moored to the
very same buoy to which she had been
taken upon her arrival. There were
two explosions, of a distinctly different
character, a very short but distinct in
terval between them, and the forward
part of the ship was lifted to a marked
degree at the time of the first explosion.
The first explosion wras more In the na-
ture of a report, llko that of a gun,
while the second explosion was more
open, prolonged, and of a greater vol
ume. The second explosion was, in the
opinion of the court, caused by the par«
tlal explosion of two or more of the for-
ward fnaga zines of the Maine.
|
His
In Full Poiimnion.
Peking, March 30.—The Chinese gar
risons were withdrawn today from Port
Arthur and Talien-Wan. The Russian
standard and Russian flag were hoisted
at both places.
SIGSBEE'S
STORY
Detailed
Testimony
Before
Board Regarding the Diaaater.
the
WASHINGTON,
March
30.—Captain
Sigsbee, in testifying before the court of
| inquiry, said that he assumed command
of the Maine April 10, 1897, and that his
ship anchored in the harbor of Havana
the last time January 24, 1898. The au-
I thoritles at Havana knew of the Maine’s
coming, Consul-General Lee having in-
' formed the authorities according to offi-
, vial custom. Aft» r he took on an official
i pilot, sent by the captain of the port of
! Havana, the ship was berthed in the man-
of-war anchorage, off the Machina, or the
Shears, and according: to his understand
ing, it was one of the regular buoys of
the place. He then stated that he had
been in Havana in 1872, and again in 1898.
He could not state w’hether the Maine
was placed in the usual berth for men-of-
war, but said that he had heard remarks
since the explosion, using Captains Ste
vens, temporarily in command of the
Ward Line steamer City of Washington,
os authority for the statement, that he
had never known, in all his experience,
which covered visits to Havana for five
or six years, a man-of-war to be anchored
at that buoy, that he had rarely known
merchant vessels to be anchored there,
and that it was the least used buoy in
the harbor.
Tlie Maine's Snrronniling«,
In describing the surroundings when
first moored to the buoy. Captain Sigsbee
stated that the Spanish man-of-war Al
fonso XIII wus anchored in the position
now occupied by the Fern, about 250
yards to the northward and westward
from the Maine. The German ship Grie-
senau was anchored at the berth now oc
cupied by the Spanish man-of-war Le
Caspo, which is about 400 yards due north
from the Maine. He then located the
German man-of-war Chariote, which came
into the harbor a day or two later, which
was anchored to the southward of the
Maine’s berth about 400 or 500 yards. In
describing the surroundings at the time
of the explosion, Captain Sigsbee stated
that the night was calm and still.
The
Alfonso XIII was at the same berth.
The small Spanish dispatch boat, Le
Caspo, had come out the day before and
taken the berth occupied by the German
man-of-war, the Griesenau, which had
left. The steamer City of Washington
was anchored about 200 yards to the
________
south
and east of the Maine’s stern, slightly on
the port quarter.
The Coal Was Safe.
The Maine coaled at Key West, taking
on about 150 tons, the coal being regularly
inspected, and taken from the government
coal pile. This coal was placed generally
in the forward bunkers. No report was
received from the chief engineer that any
coal had been too long in the bunkers,
and that the fire alarms in the bunkers
w’ere sensitive.
The regulations regarding Imflammables
and paints on board, Captain Sigsbee
testified, were strictly carried out in re
gard to storage, and that waste also was
subject to the same careful disposition.
The inflammable© were stored in chests
according to the regulations, and Inflam
mables in excess of chest capacity, were
allowed to be kept in the bathroom of the
admiral’s cabin.
Regarding the electrio plant of the
Maine, Captain Sigsbee stated that there
was no serious grounding, nor sudden
flaring up of the lights before the explo
sion, but a sudden and total eclipse.
As for regulations affecting the taking
of the temperature of the magazines, etc.,
Captain Sigsbee stated there were no spe
cial regulations other than the usual regu
lations required by the department. He
examined the temperature himself, and
conversed with the ordnance officer as
to the various temperatures, and the con
tents of the magazines and, according to
the opinion of this officer, as well as Sigs
bee, the temperatures were never at the
danger point.
“I do not think there was any laxity in
this direction,” said the captain, replying
to a question of Judge-Advocate Marix.
He had1 no recollection of any work go
ing on in the magazine or shell rooms be
fore the explosion. The keys were called
for in the usual way on the day in ques
tion, and were properly returned.
Condition of the Wreck.
Fourth—The evidence bearing on this
being principally obtained from divers,
did not enable the court to form a defi
nite conclusion as to the condition of
the wreck, although it was established
that the after part of the ship was prac
tically intact, and sank in that condition
a very few minutes after the destruction
of the forward part. The following facts
In regard to the forward part of the ship
are, however, established by the testi
mony:
That portion of the short side of the
protected deck which extends from about
frame 30 to about frame 41, was blown
up aft and over to port. The main deck
from about frame 30 to about frame 41
was blown up aft and slightly over to
starboard, folding the forward part of
the middle superstructure over and on top
of the floor part. This was, in the opinion
of the court, caused by the partial explo-
sion of two or more of the forward maga-
zines of the Maine.
Fifth—At frame 15 the outer shell of the
ship from a point 11% feet from the mid
dle line of the ship, and six feet above
the keel, when in its normal position, has
been forced up, so as to be about four feet
above the surface of the water, there
fore about 34 feet above where it would be
had the ship sunk uninjured. The outside
bottom plating is bent into a reversed
V-shape, the after wing of which, about
15 feet broad and 32 feet in length (from
frame 17 to frame 25), is doubled back upon
Itself, against the continuation of the
same plating extending forward.
At frame 80 the vertical keel is broken
in two, and the flat keel bent into an
angle similar to the angle formed by the
outside bottom plating. This break is
now about six feet below the surface of
the water, and about 10 feet above its
normal position. In the opinion of the
court, this effect could have been pro
duced only by the explosion of a mine,
situated under the bottom of the ship, at
about frame 18, and somewhat on the
port side of the ship.
81xth—The court finds that the loss of
the Maine on the occasion named was
not in any respect due to fault or negll-
gence on the part of any of the officers
»or members of the crew of said vessel.
i Seventh—In the opinion of the court,
the Maine was destroyed by the explo
sion of a submarine mine, which caused
the partial explosion of two or more of
her forward magazines.
Eighth—The court has been unable to
obtain evidence fixing the responsibility
for the destruction of the Maine upon
any person or persons.
W. T. SAMPSON.
Captain, U. S. N., President
A. H. MARIX,
U. S. N.. Commander. Judge-Advocate.
The court having finished the inquiry it
>was ordered to make, adjourned at 11
A. M., to await the action of the con
vening authority.
W. T. SAMPSON,
Captain, U. 8. N., President.
A. H. MARIX,
U. S. N., Lieutenant-Commander, U. S.
N., Judge-Advocate,
U. S. Flagship New York. March 22,
1KW, Off Key West, Fla.
The proceedings and findings of the
court of inquiry in the above case
M. STCARD,
are approved.
Roar-Admiral, Commander- n-Chief. U. S.
Naval Force of the North Atlantic.
CAPTAIN
Relations With Spanish Anthoritles.
:
|
!
j
I
i
Speaking generally of the relations with
the Spanish authorities. Captain Sigsbee
stated that with the officials they were
outwardly cordial. The members of the
autonomistlc council of the government,
however, seem to have brought to the at
tention of the navy department the fact
that he did not visit them, and that fact
brought embarrassment to the govern
ment at Washington. He took the ground
to the department that It was unknown
etiquette to call on the civil members of
the colonial government other than the
governors. Without waiting for such an
order, Captain Sigsbee made -a visit after
wards, and, as he states, was pleasantly
received and his visit promptly returned
by certain members of the council. A party
of ladies and gentlemen called, and the
president of the council made a speech
which Captain Sigsbee could not under-
stand, but which was interpreted to him,
to which he replied.
‘‘My reply,” said Captain Sigsbee, “was
afterwards printed in at least two papers
in Havana, but the terms made me'favor
autonomist government in the island. I
am Informed that the autonomistlc gov
ernment in Havana 1s unpopular among
a large class of Spanish and Cuban resi
dents.
I have no means of knowing
whether my apparent interference in the
political concerns of the island had any
relation to the destruction of the Maine.”
Exhibition
of
Anlniostty.
When asked whether there was any
demonstration of animosity by people
afloat, Captain Sigsbee said there was
never on shore, as he was informed, but
there was afloat. He related that on the
first Sunday after the Maine’s arrival the
ferry-boat, crowded densely with people,
civil and military, returning from a bull-
fight at Regia, passed the Maine, and
about 40 people on board Indulged In yell-
ing, whistling and derisive calls.
Every Precaution Taken.
I
During the stay in Havana, Captain
Sigsbee took more than ordinary precau
tions for the protection of the Maine by
p>acing flentries on the forecastle and
poop, quarter line and single decks, on
the bridge and the poop.
A corporal of the guard was especially
instructed to look out for the port gang
way, and the officer of the deck and quar
termaster were especially instructed to
look out for the starboard gangway, a
quarter-watch was kept on deck all night,
sentries’ cartridge boxes filled, their arms
kept loaded, a number of rounds of rapid-
fire ammunition kept in the pilot-room
and in the spare captain’s pantry, and
under the aft superstructure were kept
additional supplies of shells, close at hand
for the second battery; steam was kept up
in two boilers instead of one, and positive
instructions were given to w’atch carefully
all the hydraulic gear and report defin
itely.
He said he had given orders to the mas-
ter-at-arms to keep a careful eye on
everybody that came on board, and to
carefully observe any packages that
might be held, on the »upposition that
dynamite or other high explosives might
be employed, and afterwards to inspect
the routes these people had taken, and
not to lose sight of the order. He state*
that very few people visited the ship,
Lieutenant-Commander Wainwright be
ing rather severe on visitors.
Spanish Officers on Board.
Rewlwtanea rrged.
Yokohama, March 30.—The unoffi
cial section of the prese is actively urg
Great preparations are being ma<fa ing the government to resist Russia’s
for the atockgrowers’ convention to be action in China, but the official press
is silent The diet will meet May 3.
held in Denver next January.
There were only two or three of the
Spanish military officers came on board,
but, according to the captain, they were
constrained, and not desirous of accepting
much courtesy. The visit was during the
absence of the captain. He said he made
every effort to have Spanish officers to
visit the ship to show his good-will.
Description of the Explosion.
A
He then went into a description of the
explosion when he felt the crash.
He
characterized it as a bursting, rending
and crashing sound or roar of immense
volume, largely metallic in its character.
It was succeeded by a metallic sound,
probably of falling debris, a trembling
and lurching motion of the vessel, then
an impression of subsidence, attended by
an eclipse of electric lighu» and Intense
darkness w’ithin his cabin. He thought
Immediately that the Maine had blown
up and she was sinking, lie hurried to
the Btarboard cabin, hut changed his
course to the passage leading to the super
structure.
He detailed the manner of
meeting Private Anthony, which is much
the same as has been published.
Lieutenant - Commander
Wainwright
was on deck when Captain Sigsbee
emerged from the passageway, and turn
ing to the orderly he asked for time,
which was given aa 9:40 P. M. Sentries
were ordered placed about the ship, and
the forward magazine flooded. He called
for perfect silence. The surviving officers
w’ere about him at the time on the poop.
He was informed that both forward and
aft magazines were under water. Then
came faint cries and white floating bodies
in the water. Boats were at once ordered
lowered, but only two were available, the
gig and whaleboat. They were lowered
and manned by officers and men, and by'
the captain’s directions they left the ship
and helped to save the wounded jointly
w ith other boats that had arrived on the
scene.
Fire amidships by this time was burn
ing fiercely, and the spare ammunition in
the pilot-house was exploding. At this
time Lieutenant-Commander Wainwright
said he thought the 10-inch magazine for
ward had been thrown up into the burn
ing mass, and might explode any time.
Everybody was then directed to get into
the boats over the stem, which was dbne,
the captain getting into the gig, and then
proceeding to the City of Washington,
where he found the wounded in the dining
saloon being carefully attended by the
officers and crew’ of the vessel. He then
went on deck and observed the wreck for
a few minutes, and gave directions to
have, a muster taken on board the City
of Washington and other vessels, and sat
down in the captain’s cabin and dictated
a telegram to the navy department.
Spaniards Express Sympathy.
WARNING
TO
SPAIN
Detail»» of tlie Second Explosion.
Coni Bunkers Not Hot.
Captain Sigsbee, being recalled, stated
that he had detailed Lieutenant-Com
mander Wainwright, Lieutenant Holman
and Chief Engineer Holman, all of the
Maine, to obtain information in regard
to any outsiders who might have seen the
explosion. Captain Sigsbee also gave as
his opinion that if coal bunkers A16 had
been so hot as to be dangerous to the 6-
lnch reserve magazine, that this condition
would have been shown on three sides
where the bunker was exposed, and that
men constantly passing to and fro by it
would have necessarily noticed any un
due heat. Captain Sigsbee was recalled
and examined as to the ammunition on
board the Maine. He stated that there
were no high explosives, guncotton, deto
nators or other material in magazines or
shell rooms which the regulations prohib
ited. He testified1 that no warheads had
been placed on torpedoes since he had
had command of the ship.
ITEMS
OF
INTEREST
COMBINE
Populists. Silver Republicans and
crats of Oregon Join Issues.
Madrid. March 3D.—President Me-
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, perhaps, meiely
preliminary.
For the destruction of the Maine,
the president demands no indemnity.
He merely acquaints the Madrid gov
ernment with the fact that the court
of inquiry finds that the ship was blown
up in Havana harbor by an external
agency ami that nothing but a mine or
toqtedo of the largest sizo 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 the war in Cuba, President
McKinley advised the Spanish govern-
ment in the politest t er in g that the
time is fast 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. The
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.
Three state conventions met in Port
land last week, the Populist, silver
Republican anti Democratic. A union
of forces or fusion ia the result. AU
parties united on the platform adopted
by the Populists at Friday’s session,
and agreed to a division of the offices
by a conference committee. The plat
form as adopted reads:
part of Spain for even a temporary
peace a direct result of President Mc
Kinley’s diplomacy, and they naturally
are disposed to contend that the presi-
, dent should be left free, for the present
' at least, to pursue a policy which prom
ises much in the way of preventing war
between this oountry and Spain; also
of bringing to a close the hostilities in
Cuba. Hence there will be an efforj
on the part of the peacefully inclined
in congress to hold that body in check
I and to prevent inflammatory utterances
I
there until this promising diplomatic
lead may be exploited.
On the part of the administration it
is stated that the development of the
j situation will not require a great length
, ot time, and hence there will be no ex
tended delay.
|
A policy has been fully determined
i
upon by the president. It is to bring
I the Cuban war to a close. This will
j be accomplished by pointed interven
|
I 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
the 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 hostiles.
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
Cubans practically a free people.
Friends of the administration feel
that the situation is very delicate, and
much will depend upon the course the
Cubans may pursue.
I
‘ j
i
I
The Spanish Elections.
Madrid, March 29.—The election«
for the popular branch of the cortoa
have passed quietly. The indications
are that tlie government of Senor Sa
gasta will have an enormous majority,
estimated at 300 of the 432 seats in tlie
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 was taken into
custody, but the other two escaped.
Spain's Refusal.
It is stated that sharks have now pen
etrated into the Mediterranean through
the Suez canal from the Red sea.
In France there have been found only
two criminals whose measurement by
the Bertillon system coincided.
The Adams homestead at Quincy,
Miss., has been restored under the di
rection of the Quincy Historical Society.
The largest room in the world under
one roof and unbroken by piHars ia at
St. Petersburg. It ia 620 feet long by
120 in breadth.
Ginger ia a tropical production of
Mexico, where it growa wild. It haa
been cultivatded from an early period
to tropical Asia.
The oldest city in the world la Nip-
pur, the "Older Bel’’ of Babylon; th*
foundations were laid 7,000 years B. C.
and the ruins have lately been un
earthed.
PARTIES
Two Note. Cabled by the President to
Mini.'.r Woodford.
Various Spanish officials came on board
Negotiations to Kn<l the War.
and expressed sympathy and sorrow for
the accident.
Tlie representatives of
Washington, March 29. — The de
General Blanco and of the admiral of the
station were among the Spanish officials velopments of the day in the Cuban
who tendered their sympathies.
About situation indicate progress in the nego
four or five men were found that night tiations of this country and Spain look
who survived. By the time Captain Sigs ing to the maintenance of peace, for the
bee reached the quarterdeck it was his
impression that an overwhelming explo present at least. There is good au
sion had occurred. When he came from thority for saying that Spain’s with is
the cabin he was practically blinded for to secure a cessation of hostilities in
a few seconds. His only thought was for Cuba, rather than to engage in a war
the vessel, and he took no note of the
phenomena of the explosion. In reply to with the United States, and that it is
the question of whether any of the mag more than probable that the negotia
azines or shellrooms were blown up, the tions with the Sagasta ministry will
captain «aid it w’as extremely difficult to take such a turn in the immediate
come to any conclusion. The center of
the explosion was beneath and a little future. The present Spanish minis
forward of the conning tower on the port try has expressed a pacific disposition
side. In the region of the center or axis from the beginning, and the indica
of the explosion was the six-inch reserve tions are strong now that it will avail
magazine, which contained very little
powder, about 300 pounds,
The 10-inch itself of the good offices of the United
magazine W’as in the same general re States to the fullest extent that public
gion. but on the starboard eide.
Over opinion in Spain will allow in bring-
the 10-inch magazine In the loading room
of the turret, and in the adjoining pas ing to an end the hostilities in Cuba.
To what extent the United States
sage, a number of 10-inch shells w’ere per
manently located. According to Captain may go in assisting Spain in her pres
Sigsbee it would be difficult to’ conceive ent design of securing an armistice is
the explosion involved the 10-lnch maga
zine, because of the location of the ex not determined, but the conservative
plosion, and none of the reports show that element in the administration consider
any 10-inch shells were hurled into the air the manifestation of this desire on the
because of the explosion.
The captain went into details aa to the
location of the email explosion. He said
that he did not believe that the forward
or 10-inch magazine blew up. The loca
tion of the gun cotton was aft, under the
cabin. He stated that he had examined
the wreck himself, conversed with other
officers and men, but, as the Spanish
authorities were very much adverse to an
investigation, except officially, on the
grounds, as stated by the Spanish admir
alty, that the honor of Spain was in
volved, he forebore to examine the sub-
mr.rlne portion of the wreck for the cause
of the explosion until the day the court
convened.
He said the discipline of the ship was
excellent. The marine guard was in ex
cellent condition. The report of the medi
cal department shows that about one
man and a quarter per day were on the
sick list during the past year. In the
engineers’ department the vessel was al-
ways ready and always responsive. He
paid a tribute to the crew, and said that
a quieter, better-natured lot of men he
had never known on board of any ves-
sei in which he had served. He had no
fault to find with the behavior of any
man at the time of the disaster, and
considered their conduct admirable.
On
his examination by the court, Captain
Sigsbee said that the highest temperature
he could discover was 112, but that was
in the after magazine, the temperature in
the forward magazines being considerably
lower. There was no loose powder kept
in the magazines. All the coal bunkers
were ventilated through air tubes, exam
ined weekly by the chief engineer, wnd
were connected electrically to the annun
ciator near his cabin door. The forward
coal bunkers on the port side were full,
The forward coal bunkers on the star
boat side was half full, and it was being
used at the time of the explosion.
POLITICAL
Berlin, March 29.—The Madrid
correspondent of the Berliner Tageblatt
Bays: “Spain will not only refuse to
allow American interference in assist
ing the suffering Cubans, but will de
cline to pay indemnity, unless it is
shown unmistakably that the Spanish
authorities were responsible for the
Maine explosion. If President McKin
ley demands these two things, war io
unavoidable.“
A Fand to Bay Warship..
Madrid, Maroh 29.—The latest intel
ligence from the United States has oc
casioned a great patriotic movement
throughout Spain. A large number of
persons have announced their intention
to give up a day’s f>ay for services in
order to raise a fund to purchase war
ships. A committee, over which the
bishop of Madrid will preside, has been
organised to receive the subscription*.
MV
Dei
United tn a oomtnon cause for th« sacred
purpose of preserving the principles of gov-
eminent by the whole people. In fact as well
as in name, restoring and malnt&'nlng
equality, under that government, of all
classes, we, the people's democratic and sll-
ver-republloan parties of the state of Ore
gon. waiving all minor points of diffsrsnc%
and uniting for ths purpose of carrying out
lhe great underlying principles upon which ;
we are all agreed, do make and present
to the people of this state the following dec
laration ot principles, and to ths carrying
out of whloh we solemnly pledge each and
every candidate upon our united ticket:
First—We demand the free and un rest dot
ed coinage of silver and gold at ths pres
ent legal ratio ft 14 h- I, without wilting
for the consent of foreign nations; and we
are unalterably opposed to the policy of ths
present republican administration in de
manding the retirement of greenbacks, and
the turning over of the money-making pow
er of the government to the national banks,
as presented by the bill drawn by the repub
lican secretary of the treasury, and Indorsed
by President McKinley; and we especially
denounce the avowed attempt by said bill to
fasten the oountry Irrevocably and forever
to the single gold standard.
We demand a national money, safe and
sound, issued by the general government
only, without the Intervention of banks of
Issue, to be a full legal tender for all debts,
public and private; also a just, equitable
and efficient means of distribution direct to
tlie people through the lawful disbursements
of the government.
We demand that the volume of circulating
medium be speedily Increased to an amount
sufficient to meet the demands of the busi
ness and population of this oountry, and to
restore the just level of prices of labor and
production.
We favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the demonetization of any
kind of legal-tender money by private com-
tract.
We demand that the government, tn pay
ment of its obligations, shall use Its optlow
as to the kind of lawful money In which
they are to be paid, and we denounce the
present and preceding administrations for
surrendering this option bo the holders of
government obligations.
We demand that there shall be no further
u«ue of United States Interest - bearing
bonds.
We demand that postal savings banks be
established by the government for the safe
deposit of the savings of the people and to
facilitate exchange.
We demand the election of United States
senators by direct vote of the people.
We demand the Initiative and referendum
system of law-making in its optional form,
local, state and national, and the submis
sion by oongress of all important national
Questions for an advisory vets of the peo- ,
pie, until such time as the national oonst^
tut ion shall have been amesided so as bo
provide for direct legislatkxx
We oondemn as dangerous and unjust th*
surrender, in all departments of the govern- '
ment. to the Influence of trusts, aorporatlone
and aggregations of wealth generally; and
the packing of tlie highest courts of the land
with corporation lawyers, too ready to do
the will of their late employers, and to set
aside valid and wholesome laws passed by
the legislative deportments of the states and
government, upon flimsy pretexts, at ths be
hests of suoh institutions.
We ass opposed to goverrnneot by injuno
Mon.
(A stats matters^ ws demands
A slinpbs and well-guarded MgMratkn
law.
A more equitable mode of appointing
judge« of election.
j
Stringent law» to regulate the operation of
fish traps, fish wheels and aU âshîng gear
in the waters within the Jurisdiction of the
state.
We denounoe and condemn the corrupt and
extravagant repuhfican legislative assem-
bllee, and charge that the republican party,
In itg eaaemes^ for the ecoil• of office, hoe
become divided into warring factions, so
that K is Incapable of government as es-
emplifled by the oondltlon existing In the of-
floe of the state treasurer, there being at
this time more than $500,000 therein wrung
from the people by the process of taxation*
while state warrants ars stamped ‘‘Net
paid for want of funds.”
We demand that all district and oounty of
ficers be placed upon salarie« commensurate
with the duties to be performed by them.
Inasmuch as railroad and other oorperato
property is not bearing Its proportion of
taxation, we demand that such property
shall bear Its just and equal share of tha
expenses of government.
State Nominations.
For governor—W. R. King, populist, of Baker
For congressman—First district, R. M. Veatch,
democrat, Linn; Second district, C. M. Donald*
son, silver republican, of Baker.
For secretary of state—II. R. Kincaid, sllvei
republican, of Lane.
For supreme judge—W. A. Ramsay, democrat^
of Yamhill.
For attorney-general—J. L. 8tory, populist, of
Wasco.
For state printer—Charles A Pitch, populist,
of Clackamas.
For superintendent of public Instruction—H.
8. Lyman, populist, of Clatsop.
District Nominations«
First district—Judge, E. C. Wade, silver re»
publican; prosecuting attorney, A. N. Sloiss,
populist; member of board of equalization, C,
A. Worden, populist.
Second district—Judge, J. W. Hamilton, dem«
ocrat; prosecuting attorney, H. Denlinger, jr.,
populist.
Third district—Judges, R. P. Boise, populist
and P. II. D'Arcy, democrat; prosecuting au
torney, S. L. Hayden, democrat; member of
board of equalization, John P. Robertson,
populist.
Fourth district—Judges, J. V. Beach, demo»
crat, department 1; Themas O’Day, democrat,
departments; Dell Stuart, silver republican;
prosecuting attorney, no nomination.
Fifth district—Judge, W. D. Hare, populist;
district attorney, no nomination.
Sixtn district—District attorney, J. T. Hinkle,
populist.
Seventh district—Judge, W. L. Bradford, dem«
ocrat; prosecuting attorney. A. Van Vactor,
populist.
Eighth district—No nominations.
Ninth district—Judge, M. D. Clifford, demo
crat; district attorney, E. Hicks, democrat;
in am tier of board of equalization, J. R. Gregg,
populist.___________________
St. Paul Bank Wrecked.
fit. Patil, March 28.—The Bank of
Merriam Park, this city, failed to open
today, on account of a time-check
fraud. The bank’s capital is $50,000,
of which $80,000 is reported to have
been invested in Southall government
time checks.
Robbers Make a Rich Haul.
Traver, Cal., March 28.—North
bound paaeenger train No. 18 was held
up at CroM creek bridge, four mile*
south of Traver laet night, about 10:55,
by two trainrobbers. The mon boarded
the train at Goahen, and soon after
pulling out climbed into the engine
and compelled the fireman to cease fir
ing. When the train reached CroM
creek the steam gave out and the trai#
«topped, lhe express car was then
blown up with dynamite. It was com
pletely demolished.