Middletown Daily Argus from Middletown, New York • Page 1

li! MlDDLETOWN DAILY ARGUS. JOB TA ARGUS Office. Best Work. Co-reel Prlcn. 1 VOL.

XX11I, NO.6,574. MlDDLETOWN, N. THUKSDA FEB. 17, 1898. 30 CENTS PER MONTH, PRICE 2 CENTS Wounded Sailors Outspoken In Tfceir Belie! ol Spanish Plot SIGSBEE SAYS TREACHERY Over Two Hundred and Fifty Men Are Reported to Have Been Killed, THEORIES ADVANCED FOR DISASTER Officers OB Board 111 Fated.

Sattlesfalp Tell Their Stories--All Washington Aroused--Opinions by Author- oa Cause of Tragedy. KEY WEST, Feb. steamship Olivette has arrived here with a large number of the wounded and many ol the survivors ot the Maine disaster. The officers were, as a the shi would be lost a Jenkins still missing. Suppose you ask that naval court of inquiry be held to ascertain jcause of explosion Hope our people will repress excitement and calmly await decision." Lieutenant Commander R.

Waln- wright of the Maine was half undressed and was smoking in his cabin next to that of Captain Sigsbee, It is said, when the explosion occurred and put out the "leetric lights. Lieutenant Commander Wainwright then lit a match and went to Captain Sigsbee's cabin. The captain, it appears, had been thrown fr-om his bed, but was uninjured. They both went on deck and ordered a- man to flood 2,500 pounds of gun cotton which was on board. The order was carried out.

the man never returned, but Havana was saved from a still more terrible explosion Four boats were lowered, all manned by officers, and. one of them was lost. Among the saved taken on board the City of Washington was a Mr. Dreesler IGustav G. Dressier of the who has lost both his eyes.

The passengers of the City of "Washington gave up their staterooms to the injured men of the American warship. An iron truss from the Maine fell on the pantry of the City of Washington, breaking the tableware of the steamer. An officer of the Maine who was taken on board the Ward liner City of Washington said: "I was sitting with two other officers In mensroom a heavy explosion occurred It was so heavy tbat we and followed In their chief. Captain Sigsbee, in saying that the cause of the explosion could only be ascertained by divers, but many of the sailors were outspoken in their declaration of belief that the explosion was a deep laid plot ol the Spaniards. They are greatly Incensed against Havana people, who have shown, them small courtesy, who looked upon theit presence as a national affront and who have published anonymous captioned, "JDown "With Americans'" They believe that the author of such expressed cowardly hatred would not stop at an act of such terrible vengeance as the blowing up of the Mnine.

These sailors, acquainted with the di Ills, discipline and enseitible of a. man of- pooh-pooh the idea of an as the last thing to be thought of. An Associated Press, correspondent haa been assured In a reliably quarter that Captain Is under 1m- that warship Maine was blown up by a floating torpedo and that he has communicated his irnpres- aame that the uavy department send naval ajjd mechanics to Investigate the explosion. Purser Denison of the Olivette civet the following brief account of the aster: "The explosion an mystery to every It occurred In the forward magazine, which Is forward of amidships and below water line. The coal huntttrs but separated by two feet of spacr.

According to cuutom the was inspected at 8 o'clock in the evening and the temperature found to toe 69 tnagazina was locked and given to Captain Sigsbee. The men. went to their hammocks In the forwa.nl part of the ship soon after 9 o'clock "The explosion occurred at 9-40. nnd hence the awful and overwhelming loss of life. No one can yet give a connected account.

About ten men xv ho ere in the forward part of the ship were saved and of these several had their hammocks slung- on the lower deck. The explosion split the big ship in two and threw these and me marine who was I sleeping on the supersttucture 40 fett In the air and into the water. "In the magazine were 25 tons of coarse powdor used for charging the big guns, there being no a i detonating powder torpedo heads, and nothing in fact that could be exploded by concussion. In the main magazine aft the high explosives were stored and this magazine did not explode There are no electric wires connecting i or near magazine. "It is not belittled that the Maine was destroyed bv a torpedo a as If this was the case the hold would --went -on uppfer rteck and found that the ship had btfn badly wrecked --tbat site waj on fire and THE BATTLTCSHIP MAINE.

All directed to lowering and saving lives, but the Maine settled quickly to the bottom at harbor, only her upper decks remaining above water." Another officer said the explosion occurred somewhere In the forward part of the amidships section of the battleship. Many of the crew who were below at the time of the eTplosion were unable to escape, and those who succeeded in reaching the upper deck aaveI their i great rllffli-ulty. i the assistance of officers" and ttfn While the correspondent of the Associated Frees was going ashore from the wreck there was another terrific explosion. At same i hoath from fhe Spanish HteamerH Colnna and Mexico were a i Bounded men ashore, after a i them from the A LONG'S OPINION. TUlnki Hint lite KxploMoti Was Caused liy A I the Magazine.

A I Feb. 1 7 A a day of Intense i at the navy department ind t-iaewhere growing out of the i tion of the battleship Maine in a a a harbor, the situation, aftei the exchange of a ol cable- I grama Washington and Ha- I Is a blsr ship, others large hax-e heen raised nnrl at a the new floating drydock would receive her if she could be gotten the water Captain Sigsbee iie-ntly is taking an interest in the of the ship, for he sept a to Commander Forsyth at Key that -was promptly transmitted to Secretary' Long, suggesting that a lighthouse vessel or some such small craft be stationed in Havana harbor on a over the wreck The latter, evpn if beyond resurrection contains valu-tble ordnance and other property that doubtless can be secured by divers It said at the navy department that this disaster is the greatest of the kind in naval history since the sinking of the big British warship Victoria hv collision with the Camperdown in the Mediterranean off Malta, June. 1893 By that accident the British admiral commanding, 22 officers and 336 men lost their lives. The Spanish legation was early advised of the horror by Captain Genera! Blanco, who expressed profound regret and added that the occur- tence was a accident the undoubted cause being the explosion ol the boiler of the dynamo. This was the only specific cause assigned from an official source during the day.

Senor du Bosc, the Spanish charge d'affaires, called at the state department to express his profound regret, and the entire Spanish staff left theii cards at the navy department as a mark of personal condolence. At all ol the foreign establishments there "was deepest the affair, and during the day Em- bassador Cambon of France, Sir Julian Pauncefote of the British embassy and other foreign representatives called on the president or at the state department to express their regrets. A Spanish official of long residence at Havana stated that the hour of the accident was the one when excitement at Havana is at its height. Up to midnight the theaters, cafes and clubs are crowded, and strangers find their greatest interest in seeing the city at that time. For this reason, he said, it was the time when naval officers usually secured their shore leave, the leave running from 8 to 12 o'clock.

This ot' n-'ed i i i oom as Irotion of and if s-ueh an explosion i i i i i bc more i to hnvp caused a fire a to deslrov i Rear Helkn.Tp paid it was a very significant i a Maine should have blown up in a a i harbor at a i i i a i In the absenoe of i a i to the cause of the explosion lie a Ihe most significant indication in the whole a A StartUnc Story From York NEW TORK. Feb 17 --The World morning i a story to the effect that Dr Pendleu-n -who has just arrived from a a a that he overheard a conversation in which it was declared there would shortly conr 1 a great sensation a there were wires a i around the Maine and that she coula be blown to pieces at a moment's! nvtice He has hastened to Washington to i news to the "White House The Journal boldlv asserts its belief a the disaster was the work ot fiends and offers a reward of $50.000 for information that will lead to the i-onviction ol ihe perpetrators of ihe deed. PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 17--Lieutenant Lewis X.xori designer of the battleships Ir.aiana Massachusetts and Oregon w-hc.

is an expert or. naval construction auc armament r.a.s stated an 'nterview that in his opinion, i would be possible for spontaneous combustion tc have caused the explosion in the magazine of ihs battleship Maine THE A I TRIAL. BLIZZARD HOUSE EXCITED. Eastern Part of the Country Swept by Wind. Resolution of Sympathy the Maine Victims.

OSE DEATH REPORTED FROM BOSTON THE BANKRUPTCY BILL DISCUSSED. Theater Wall Collapses In Clinton. Miua. Churcfr Spire Shattered In New York--Gigantic Roof Blown Off In Meriden, Conn. BOSTON, Feb.

second great storm of the month reached JNew England yesterday. The wind came from the west and gained in energy as it approached this section. About IS inchea of snow fell in Vermont and some parts of Maine. The storm amounted to a blizzard at many points, a westerly wind sweeping along at the rate of from 45 to 56 miles an hour. It was blowing 40 miles an hour In Boston harbor.

The stations on the Massachusetts coast report a fearful gale. A blinding snowstorm prevailed all day. making it impossible to discern vessels from the shore. The storm has placed an embargo on most outward bound shipping. George Manning, a.

small boy, was killed in South Boston by being struck and thrown into the street by a large gate which was blown outward by the just as- he jja.sslng'. Death was caused by a fracture of the skull. Continuation ot Evidence In tbe Case of tne Acciued Deputies. Feb. day's proceedings in the Martin trial John Feri testified that he was standing- near Steve "Wuch and Mike Cezlak when the shooting commenced at Lattimer, and both men fell.

He ran, and when he came back a deputy, Frank Clark, came up "and kicked him. Storm In JTew York. NEW TORK. Feb. eastern of the country and along the coast the center of a big windstorm.

Right tn this city the wind is blowing a gale, and at one time its velocity reached 48 miles an hour. The gale moaned at a great rate around the tops of the skyscrapers and blew down several cable wires on Nassau street, tore electric light wires from their supports. The bay and rivers were churned into foam, harbor craft were beaten about and flags on the office buildings were split, many of them in- Debate on Const Defenses a Feature ot Senate Proceedings--Senator Morrill Speaks on Hawaiian Treaty--Othor Bosluew In Congress. Feb. on the bankruptcy bill, which is to continue until Saturday, when a vote will be taken, opened in the house, but it attracted little attention, the interest of the members being entirely absorbed by the disaster to the Maine.

At timea the hall of the house was almost deserted, the members being congregated in the lobbies or cloakrooms discussing the accident and speculating upon Ha probable consequences. Just before the house adjourned MIY Boutelle, chairman of the naval committee, presented a resolution, whicfc was unanimously adopted, expressing regret for the disaster, condolence wltlv the families of those who lost their lives and sympathy with the injured. The speakers on the bankruptcy bill were: In favor of the measure--Meaara. Henderson Lanham Tex) and Burke Tex.) In 03 position to it--Messrs. Underwood Bell Henrjr McRae Ark.) and Cochran I In the Senate.

1 WASHINGTON. Feb. discussion upon coast defenses was the Interesting feature of the senate yesterday. Many senators took the ground that the appropriations should ba fop the amount of the estimates by tha war department instead of some four millions less. Senators Perkins and Hale said tbat it was the policy of tha appropriations committee to make an annual expenditure of $10,000,000 a year sence of some of the officers from the Maine and the consequent small death list among the officers.

At the same time, the leave to the sailors usually curtailed between 8 and 12, for the reason that the hours of excitement at JJavana those in which it -WAS desired the seamen should not partici- AD RID EXCITED. hour. He Pight dead men lying along- the road after the shooting. Peter Pazgon of Cranberry told nothing- new. Edwin P.

Strauss of Hazleton testified as to Deputy Turner hem a brother of the proprietor of the Valley hotel at Hazleton, corroborated Suauss' story relative to Deputy John Turner's remarks. have been torn In the bottom. ani tho vana. can he summed up in the words i Bhip would not have been riven to of Long who. asked, atoms, as the case, part of the ship sank In three minutes, and the officers and survivors of the crew escaped a clothed.

Pieces of the wreckage flew a distance of 500 yaids. One large piece of cement i the quarterdeck of thu CHy of Washington of the Ward line, which anchored ahead of the Maine 20 minutes bcfoir the explosion." HUNDREDS A DEAD. Consul Keport. IOO Men as i i the I'lnHnter. HAVANA.

Feb. Each stiCKepdingr hour is brinRing more and, tnore to light the horrors then a the destruction of the United States 4 hattle- ehip Maine In the harbor here, hut S'et nothing definite is to be learned regarding the cause of the explosion. The wreck took fire and sank, and tha harbor was I i a by tho lurid glare of flamen, fed chiefly by Inflammable cellulose contained In the foiward and after ends. The wreck burned the long night through, ami broke the solemn, i i ln.wn. dark wreaths of smoke were i curl- Ing- upward from the shapeless r.i,i«» Consul General Lee has sent the I'ol Jowmg dispatch to the state a ment: "Profound sorrow expressed by he was about to depart for the day, whether he had reason to suspect tha.t the disaster was the work of an enemy, "I do not.

In that 1 am influenced by the fact a Captain Slgs- has not yet reported to the navy department on the cause. He is i waiting to write a report So long as he does not express himself, I cei talnly cannot. I should think, from the indications, however, that there was an accident--that the magazine exploded How that came about I do not know For the present, at least, no a ship will be sent to Havana," The appalling nature of the disaster and the gravity of tVie situation a would should investigation give basis for the undercurrent of suspicion of treachery and foul piny that ran through all minds had a sobering effect on public men of a shades of opinion. The fact stands Cotth and la little than remarks hie that not a Dingle resolution wan Introduced or a speech madu In nlther house of congress bearing on the disaster, snve one of condolence i the of those killed, offered hy Mr Huiitelie ixnrl adopted bv the house of Public men their with reserve when approached for In tervlews. but everywhere there was demand Tor an I i a i nnrt details.

In the light of which the horror may be Justly viewed. Secretary and i i a authorities, consuls of foreign nations, organized- undoubtedly bodies of all sorts and citizens generally. Flags at half mast on governor palace, on shipping In a in city. Business suspended; thea- itre closed. Dead number about "Officer! 1 In rear and forward whers took place, fot greater proportional loM of Merrill and plnlon of the a i of the a a experts In i i It Imposulhle now to state the of the destruction of the Maine.

naval constructors, In the Tight of thus far received, that It la hy no means certain that tho Maine rannot and ftjrftlri car ry the They My that while Tbe Premier I i tlie Queen of the Iigniter--Kress Comments. TWA minister. Genera! Stewart L. "Wood- forrt. did not receive news of the loss of the Maine from Washington.

His first intimation of the news came frorc the Spanish rear admiral, who called at the United States legation to express, in behalf of the Spanish government, regret for the disaster which hao befallen the American warship. The premier. Renor Sag-asta. personally In- formed the queen regent of the 01 the Maine Immediately after he received the news oC the The following semiofficial note has heen Issued: "The news of the dlsastet of fhe Maine has caused a. painful im- pression In Madrid.

It was at first feared a hart heen some a.ei of imprudence to Ihe catastrophe was attributable. A a as details arrived, the fears took the form of feelings of a and sorrow for the misfortune which has occurred. I "The captain g-enTal. the comm a a of the arsenal, the sailors 01 th- rulser A XTI, the" ol the a vessels a the avail- ahle forces a to succor the injured The government has expressed to i i Woodfotd it. feels at the catastrophe, more especially as it occurred in waters i i Spanish ju- i i An admiral in i In the a of the i i of a i and the Spanish cabinet, called on General Woocjfonl nnd informed him th.lt the government had telegraphed tc the authorities In Cuba to i utmost to relieve the distress of the m- lurerl and to i i the officers and of the Maine i i they may need.

Admiral Chacon, the commander in chief of the Spanish navy, in the course of an Interview, sairl the United States warship Maine had on board a "new explosive based on gun cotton, a factured by a special process Such explosives, he added, a Kferous, the slightest i i causing an explosion. He believed the disaster was clue to such a cause. The Bpoca sav. "Whatever the relations between Spain and the i States, Christian feelings and a i ty compel us to regret the catastrophe. The spectacle of so many lives suddenly launched I eternity inspires passion." The Heraldo remarks- though the Americans try to represent us as a people devoid' of virtues, we must facp this horrible misfortune sin- i cerely and express feelings" of compns- I slon In the face of provocative A leans we shall ahvays remain a pioud people, in the face of men in mis- i of a a i a i our tieartB always of pity." five wounds In his had passed through his arm, 1s shoulder, and the others were imbedded in his body.

The large gilt cross on the spire of St. Senators Stewart, Hawley. Chandler Theresa's Roman Catholic church, at and od Ke spoke in favor of IncreasM. Henry and Rutxers streets, was blown a Teller also advocated liberal down by the wind and shattered on the expenditures and i his remarks street. Part of the scaffolding- on the a significant allusions to Cuba and western part of the Syndicate -Tn the early part of the day in course of erection on Park row, was tnere vv 'as a discussion of the Kansaa blown down.

i Pacific railioad sale, but no action, was taken. A Blizzard Around Wlnsted. Feb. terrific Senator Mbrrill of Vermont occupied the entire time of the executive session DISPATCHES. Mr.

Gladstone started for England yesterday from Cannes, France. The New Jersey legislature adjourned yesterday until next Wednesday. operation--svas successful4-v--pet- wind has been blowing throughout a speech opposing the ratification northwestern Connecticut. The wind tlve has assunfed'the vioijuice'of a Blizzard TT erfe The trains on the Philadelphia, Head- tne speech owing to the advanced u.fm ing and New Kngland railroad are con- i of senator and to the fact that siderably behind time, as huge i i is the Republican senator -who are encountered between Winsted and nas so far spoken in opposition to the Campbell Hall, N. Y.

Wind Blew a Roof OK. MKTUDEN. Feb. rool treaty. He read from manuscript and received the careful attention of all senators present.

Mr. Mori-ill's speech waa intended to show that the acquisition formed upon Mme. Sara Bernhardt in Paris. Governor Voorhees of New Jersey has gone to to be a guest Of Vice President Hobart. Lord Salisbury and his son had a narrow escape from serious injury in an accident to their brougham in London.

Prince Henry of Prussia and the Uer- man vessels under his command sailed from Colombo, Ceylon, on their way to of the-Meriden Bronze company's build- thtt Hawaiian islands would alnst bot policy and feet. was blown off i the high dltions of thls i and caused an estimated damage of J5.000. Several workmen had narrow escapes from injured by pieces ol timber which crushed through the ell of the factory. Knights of Pythian Elect Officers. TRENTON, Feb.

New Jersey grand lodge of the Knights of Pythiasv which is holding its annual sessions In this city. last night elected these officers- Grand chancellor, De Witt C. Pohh or Trenton: grand vice chancellor. the Nelson House in Ponghkeepsie -was identified as Ernest Anders, a professor of music. The Kansas Pacific road was bought in at Topeka by A W.

Krech, representing the reorganization committee, for A sensation was caused in the Zola trial at Paris by the statement jf General Pelheux, that daiiKer might be nearer than people supposed. Theater AV.UI Collapses. CLINTON. Feb. tht midst of a terrific windstorm here the Somers T.

Champion of Atlantic rear wall of the Cannon theater i lands, grand prelate, John P. Dexheim- insr. a four-story i collapsed. er of Orange: grand keeper of No one was i The da.m;ij;e and seals. George E.

Pearson of Wood- not be estimated until an examination y- grand master of exchequer, John Patrick of Rutherford; grand master at arms, John H. Conger of New wlck, grand inner guard, P. Hall Packer of Seabright; grand outer guard, is made. Station Burned. PHILADELPHIA, Feb.

Phil- Blennlal Session Bill a Party ALBANY, Feb. 17 Rr i a adelphia, and Reading freight station at Shanley of Jersey City: supreme rep- Front and Noble streets wai completely resentatlves. Charlea W. Bilbourn of destroyed hy lire, together i a laigf New' Brunswick. De Witt C.

Bolton ot quantity of merchandise i i both Paterson and Italph. Donath of incoming and outgoing i The City, loss Is estimated at $100 000 to $125,000. The company carries Us own Insurance. A i a tlolknop Torpedo. BOSTON, Ken.

17 a A i a George 15 BtMknap. wna seen heie He i th.U he was I i to i a the WAS Mown up bv torpedo "I rlo not see." he 'how explosion of Ihe a magazine could a i The keys of tho nvtfro are a a kept in the custody of the a i All Ihe a i i a a In the form ol nnd explosion bv selves Is next to impossible shite the whole fiow of the niown rtfr. It is apparent a etploslon could not been cintsed hy the or coal i ItMted. I do not how It orai4 have ed to make it a partv measuie The vote on the ptoposition was taken at i i and tesulttd--ayes. 27.

nayev. absentees. 6. Those vollntf absolutely against the proposition uere Senators Malhy, Ford and Fllghie. Those absent were Messrs.

Wieman, Pavev, Bums. Lexow, Bracket and Lamy. Messrs. Coggeshall, Raines and voted by proxy. Senator Charles Davis presided, and Senator a was secretary.

Points of MlnerV Convention. ALTOONA, Feb. J7 At the session of the miners' i resolutions were adopter! i i i the officers to bring a a i conference of the operators and miners of the eastern Held i a view to a a of and hours of railing In which a convention of rs slui.ll he called on or i a Ti for tho purpose ot i a a of prU-e-s honr-j of Ui'ior to KO inli. effect 1, The oornp.uiy store system was condemned. 1 ue I AgAlnst Owen Murphy.

I i Fob Fall held rrraml i near- i i i i i i in a bill of In the first a a i A i lemnu-o of a ford i a i his ami a i i of i i imaliist Owen of walk, who i i i the ffu of Jennie i i u-hir i i disflmired Hie i ofiense Is by i impusonrneiil. PontnianterH Appointed. WASHINGTON, Feb Fourth postmasters have been appointed as fol- Steals Money to Fln.l More. lows. New Hampshire--Marlow, Charted NF.W TORK, Feb.

17 --Willie, some- I A Clapp New York--Hague. Lee J. times called Eddie. Zeller is off for the Palmer, Husteds. Pharles D.

Hamilton; i and It Is charged a $3.000 Schultzeville, a a Budd; Wyan- i to his a has gone i a Wlnfield J. him Hence a request i i the eklpi Zeller to the police to cause the J. Hagey. Mlnneg.ua, Samuel Manor the argonaut on his i a to the land ley, Pomfort, Sylvester O. Relnhard.

of gold. He Is large -Gouldshoro. Rhodes. Henrietta. Coxe's Dead.

BUFFALO Fob 1 7 A i a tele- i a grntetender employed gram from Geneva, announces a a a of i by nn Kxprens Train. KVERETT. Feb. by Boston and Maine railroad at East Ev- ttrett. was killed by an express train i Coxe.

i ot the la'e RI Hev yesterday a had stepped upon A i a Coxe, I) i rac to see a was com of westein Yo, k. died mg. the snow i i i BO that ha In the ot 1ld not I a I a 3O near ftJnj A i a Woman Cairo. A I Feh 17 'J h- a i a a I agencv hy i ho Rev Mr a i He was 48 years old and unmarried. In nieuiorr of a CAMBRIDGE.

Mass. Feb 17--In i i i i ft, i I i i i I i i i i sponse to what seems to be o. general of Luis de an.1 a perma nent memoHa will a of at HarvaM to Marshal Newe who was killed on last Christmas I be present ol Consul jVru-i a I i i son for Til Feh 17 Dovie. who a convicted oild degree weeks i i i A I a i a at Comet some ago. has been se tcnced to i a a i at Springfield.

Mass It has been sug- Bested that a new gate to the collepa I yard would be most fitting, but Its location has not yet been determined. Feb 17--The ter block one o' the blocks in a i burneJ out ISM r. eH i a to a a firmt of a Centenarian. Train CoIIiMon Tn MaKRach QUINCY. Feb 17 --A freight train on the New York New Hai'en and a railroad collided i a Ware a i at the Quincy station, and both were from the track The I Conn Fob.

1 i was to The only a xvidow of Thomas a is dra! 100 years old i a a a i of a to a few. i ot her death retained all her a a i i i person I i was Engineer Frank i of the freight train He was badly shaken up and I a Clnrn Nevadn LOUT. I Canary Islands. Feb. i Compagnle Generale Trantat- a i i i steamer Flachat, bount rr-T TT" I I I I 11 tT OUITtl 1 1 1 7 1 WUiI14 ZM r- from Marseilles for Colon, was totally telepram from a i i a wrcckPC on A naga point, this l.lanl, the Queen arriveo a a i second offlcer from a i i A a a i revv and one pasS enger wer.

of loss of ih- ty. i ht of the crew and a a mgin.