Marshall County Independent, Volume 4, Number 16, Plymouth, Marshall County, 1 April 1898 — Page 9

President McKinley Sends a Message to Congress. SYNOPSIS OF BOARD'S REPORT Complete Details OH from tlio Tim of the Onter to Send tb Vit.rsliip U HaVMUl Harbor to the li'ue of tl.t lif plosion. Washington, March 28. The pre-i lent today ;.eut the following meaeag1) to congress: "To the Congress of the I nit d States: For some time p: ior to the visit of the Maine to Havana harbor our consular representatives pointed out iht advantages to flow from the vi.-dt of na tioiial ships to t'ul au waters, in ac us toming the people to the presence oi our flag a.s the symbol of good will and of our ships in the fulfillment of the mission of protection to American interests, even though no immediate need therefor might exist. Accordingly, on :he 2-fth of January last, after conference with the Spanish minister, in which the renewal of visit; of otir war vessels to Spanish waterswas discussed and accepted, th penin sular authorities at Madrid and Havana were advtaei Of the purpose of thi? governmead to resume friendly naval visits at Cuban ports and that in that view the Maine would forthwith call at the port of Havana. "This announcement was received by the Spaniaa government with appreciation of I be friendly character of the visit of the Maine and with notification of intention to return the courtesy by sending Spanish ships to the principal ports cf the United States. Meanwhih the Maine entered the port of Havana on the "'th of January, her arrival be ing marked with no special incident be ei lea the exchange of customary salutes and ceremonial visits. "The Maine continued in the harboi of Havana during the three weeks following her arrival. No appreciable excitem nt attended her stay. On the contrary, a feeling of relief and confi den ce followed the resumption of the long interrupted friendly intercourse S Dt ticca )le was this immediate relief cf her visit that the consul-general strongly orged that the presence of out ships In Cuban waters should be kept Cp bj retaining the Maine a; Havana, c." in The event of her recall, by sendtheir vessel there to take hei place. "At fortv minutes past 9 in the evening (jf the 18th of February the Maine wa destroyed by an explosion, by which the entire forward part of the ship waa utterly wrecked. In this catastrophe two officers and 260 of hei crew perished, those who were not killed outright by her explosion being penned between decks by the tangle of wreckage and drowned by the immediate sinking of the hull. Prompt assistance was rendered by the neighboring vessels anchored in the harbor, aid being especially given by the boats of the Spanish cruiser Alphonso XII. and the Ward line steamer City of Washington, which lay not far distant. "The wounded were generally cared foi by the authorities of Havana, the hospitals bring freely opened to them, while the earliest recovered bodies of the dead were Interred by the municipality in a public cemetery in the city. Tributes of grief and sympathy were offered from all official quart era of the island. "The appalling calamity fell upon the people of our country with crushing force and for a brief time an latente excitement prevailed, which in a community km just and self-controlled than ours might have led to hasty acts of blind resentment. "This spirit, however, soon gave way to thp calmer processes of reason and to the resolve to investigate the facts and await the material proof before forming a judgment as to the cause, the responsibility, and if the facts warranted, the remedy due. "This course necessarily recommended itself from the outset to the executive, for only in the light of a diapaasi nately ascertained certainty could it determine the nature and measure of its full duty in the matter. "The usual procedure was followed as in all cases of casualty or disaster to national vessels of any maritime state. A naval court of inquiry was at once organized, composed of officers ell qualified by rank and practical experience to discharge the onerous duty imposed upon them. "Aided by a strong force of wreckers and divers the court proceeded to make a thorough investigation on the spot, employing every available means for the impartial and exact determination of the causes of the explosion. Its operations have been conducted with the utmost deliberation and judgment and. while independently pursued, no source of information was neglected and the fullest opportunity was allowed for a simultaneous investigation by the Spanish authorities. "The finding of the court of inquiry was reached, after twenty-ihp'e days of continuous labor, on the 21st of March, and having been approved on the L:M by the commander-in-chief of the TJnited States naval force on the North i tlantic Htation was transmitted to the I "cutivp. 'It is herewith laid before congress, together with the voluminous testimony taken before the court. Its purport is, in brief, as follows: ' when the Maine arrived at Havana Bhe was conducted by the regular government pilot to buoy No. 4, to which he -was moored in from live and onehalf to six fathoms of water. "The state of discipline on board and the condition of her magazines, boilera

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coal bunkers and storage compartments are passed in review, with the conclusion that excellent order prevailed and that no indication of any cause for an internal explosion existed in any quarter "At 8 o'clock in the evening of Feb 15 everything had been reported secure and all was quiet At 9:4u the veaael was suddenly destroyed. "There were two distinct explosion-; with a brief interval between them The first lifted the forward part of the ship perceptibly, the second, which wai more prolonged, is attributed by tin court to the partial expolsion of two oi more of ihe forward magazines. "The evidence of the divers establishes that the afterpart of the ship was practically intact and nk in that condition a very few Minute after the explosion. The forward part was completely demolished. "At frame 17 the outer shell of the ship, from a point eleven and one-half f.jet from the middle line of the ship and six feet above the keel when in its normal position, has been forced up so as to be now about four feet above the surface of the water; therefore about thirty-four 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 fifteen feet broad and thirty-two feet in length (from frame 17 to frame 2), is doubled back upon itself against the continuation ol the same plating extending forward. At frame 18 the vertical keel is broken in two and keel bent into an angle similar to the angle formed for the outside plates. This break is about six feet below the surface of the water and about thirty feet above its normal position. In the opinion of the court this effect could have been produced 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. "The conclusions of the court are: ' That the loss of the Maine was not in any respect due to fault or negligence on the part of any of the officers or members of her crew. "That the ship was destroyed by the explosion of a submarine mine, which caused the partial explosion of two or more of her forward magazines; and, "That no evidence has been obtainable fixing the responsibility for the destruction of the Maine upon any person or persons. "I have directed that the finding of the court of inquiry and the views of this government thereon be communicated to the government of her majesty, the queen, and I do not permit myself to doubt that the sense of justice of the Spanish nation will dictate a course of action suggested by honor and the friendly relations of the two governments. "It was the duty of the executive to advise the congress of the result, and in the meantime deliberate consideration is invoked. "(Signed). WILLIAM M'KINLEY. "Executive mansion. March 28, 1898." RKKKKKKU WITHOUT OK BAT K. MeMiKe Received With Hurst of Applause In the Housf. Washington, March 28. There was an outburst of applause in the galleries and on the floor of the house when the message was concluded. Immediately afterward the death of Representative Simpkins was announced. The president's message was referred without debate to the committee on for eign affairs under the rules. No motion was made. Immediately after the announcement of Representative Simpkins' death the house, at 12; 28 p. m., adjourned. In neither senate or house was there any debate on the reference of president's message or other documents to committees having charge of Cuban relations. TKXT Of COl'RT'S REPORT. Main Destroyed hy Kxplonion of Min imh-r Her ltottoiu. Washington. Mart h 28. Tb following is the full text of the report of the court of inquiry; "After full and mature consideration of all the testimony befoe it, the court finds as follows: "1. That the United States battleship Main- arrived in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, on the 25th day of January. 1898, and was taken to buoy No. 4, in from five and one-half to six fathoms of water, by the regular government pilot. The United States consulgeneral at Havana had notified the authorities at that place the previous evening of the intended arrival of the Maine. "2. The state of discipline on board the Maine was excellent, and all orders and regulations in rgard to the care and safety of the ship were strictly carried out. All ammunition was stowed away in accordance with instructions, and proper care was taken whenever ammunition was handled. Nothing was stowed in any one of the magazines or shellrooms which was not permitted to be stowed there. The magazines mid shellrooms wer- always 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 having been reported secure that evening at S p. m. "The temperatures of the magazines and shellrooms were taken daily and reported. The only magazine vhi4' had an undue amount of heat was the after 10-inch magazine, and that did not explode at the time the Maine was destroyed. "The torpedo war heads were all stowed in the after part of the ship under the wardroom, and neither caused nor participated in th destruction of the Maine. "The dry gun cotton primers and detonators were stowed in the cabin

aft and remote from the scene of the explosion. "The waste was carefully looked after on hoard the Maine to obviate danger. Special orders in regard to this had b'-en given by the commanding officer. "Varnishes, dtyers, alcchol and other combustibles of this nature were stowed on or above the main deck, and could not have had anything to do with the destruction of the Maine. "The medical stores were stowed aft under the wardroom and remote from the scene of the explosion. No dangerous stores of any kind were atowed below In any of the other storerooms. "Th coal bunkers were inspected. Of these bunkers adjoining the forward magazines and shellrooms. four were empty, namely. B 3, B 4. B 5 and B 6.

A 15 had been in use that day. and A 16 was full of New River coal. This COOl had been carefully inspected before receiving 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 account of bunkers B 1 and B 6 being empty. This bunker, A 16, had been inspected that day by the engineer officer on duty. "The fire alarms in the bunkers were in working order, and there had never been a case of spontaneous combustion of coal on board the Maine. "The two after boilers 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 four forward boilers have since been found by the divers, and are in a fair condition. "On the night of the destruction of the Maine everything by- been reported secure for the night at 8 p. m. by reliable persons, through the proper authorities, to the commanding officer. At the time the Maine was destroyed the ship was quiet, and therefore least liable to accident caused by movements from those on board. "3. The destruction of the Maine occurred at 9:40 p. m. on the 15th day of February, 1898. in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, being at the time moored in the same buoy to which she had been taken upon her arrival. "There were two explosions of a distinctly different character, with a very short but distinct interval between them, and the forward part of the ship was lifted to a marked degree at t'ae time of the first explosion. "The first explosion was more in the nature of a report like that of a gun; while the second explosion was more open, prolonged and of greater volume. This second explosion was, in the opinion of the court, caused by the partial explosion of two or more of the forward magazines of Che Maine. "4. The evidence bearing on this, being principally obtained from divers, did not enable the court to form a definite conclusion as to the condition of the vreck, althojigh it was established that the after part of the ship was practically 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 ship are, however, established by the testimony: "That portion of the port side of the protective 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 after part. "This was, in the opinion of the court, caused by the partial explosion of two or more of the forward magazines of the Maine. ".". At frame 17, the outer shell of of the ship, from a point eleven aud one-half feet from the middle line of the ship, and six feet above the keel, when In its normal position, has been forced up so as to be now about four feet above the auiface of the water; therefore, about thirty-four 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 flTteen feet broad and thirty-two feet in length (trom frame 17 to frame 2r. is doubled back upon itself against the continuation of the same plating extending forward. "At frame 18 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 bellow the surface of the water, and about thirty feet above its normal position." "In the opinion of the court this effect could have been produced 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. ". The court finds that the loss of the Maine, on the occasion named, was not in any respect due to fault or negligence on the part of any of the officers or members of the crew of said vessel. "7. In the opinion of the court the Maine was destroyed by the explosion of a submarine mine, which caused the partial explosion of two or more of her forward magazines. "The court has been unable to obtain evidence fixing he responsibility f,or the destruction of the Maine upon any person or poisons." rgo if anafceaaaa Fwir. New York. March 28. The Atlantic transport liner Michigan, which arrived from Indon today, brought 200 cases of smokeless powder to order. Information as to the destination of the powder could not be obtained, but it is believed to be the navy department. Cabinet in ifi ml Stition. Washington, March 28. Notices were sent from the executive mansion this morning for a special cabin, t meetlug at 10.30 o'clock.

TOPICS OF TOD-iY.

FIGHTING BY MACHINERY. Warfare, like manufacturing, has degenerated into machine work. The preparations for a real or apparent danger of war make this conspicuous. The great battleships are fighting machines not constructed to kill human beings, but to attack and destroy or disable other fighting machines like themselves. To man such fighting engines requires a small force, and a battle with modern ordnance does not of necessity involve great carnage. This was exemplified in the Japanese-Chinese conflict. In fact, nations settle their v-ontentions by a mere comparison of strength with that of their antagonist a quick estimate of their own lighting machines, their armor and armament, their speed and coal capacity. A like estimate of the enemy, a footing of figures and the battle is postponed by one or the other belligerent to enable further preparation and augmentation of the enginery of modern warfare. MOVEMENT IN LOMBARD STREET. A London cablegram says: The imminence of the Cuban crisis has prompted financiers to make efforts to avert war. A movement to this end Is on foot in Lombard street, and American bankers, who are leading it, are supposed to have the sympathy and perbapa the co-operation of the Rothschilds. The American bankers are emb-aoring to secure the influence of financiers and governments, representing to them the damage to the commerce of all nations which a war would involve. The financiers are willing to invest liberally to prevent war, but apparently they are unable to devise a plan promising success. The American bankers tell the diplomats that if the United States demands an indemnity, and Spain is willing to pay, financiers will gladly furnish the funds. LIGHT ON NEBRASKA DECISION. When the decision of the federal supreme court In the famous Nebraska maximum freight-rate case was handed down the summary of it given in the press dispatches from Washington indicated that the opinion merely reaffirmed principles enunciated in former decisions of the court. A perusal of the text of the opinion, however, shows It to contain features that are new and of far-reaching importance, especially to the western states. Theoretically, the decision giis to states the right to regulate rates within their borders. In practical operation, the ruling of the court is likely to make state control of transportation rates, in the west at least, impossible of realization. THE APPEAL FROM SILENT LIPS. The masterly address of Senator Thurston of Nebraska upon the Cuban situation opened with these memorable and melancholy words: "Mr. President: I am here by command of silent iips to speak once and for all upon the Cuban situation." If any one had felt inclined to comment upon the good taste of the senator in making a public speech so soon after his wife's death, that comment was suppressed by the first words that fell from his lips. Every criticism was hushed, and added solemnity and emphasis were lent to the speaker's eloquence as he fulfilled the mission of love and duty, cf sympathy and pity, which had been intrusted to him by the noble woman who died while on an errand of mercy among the helpless victims of Spanish cruelty. RUSSIA WINS AT LAST. Russia's schemes for obtaining possession of the Chinese ports of Port Arthur and Ta-Lien-Wan have been crowned with success. While she anPeara to have submitted to a modification of her demands by accepting I a lease for twenty-five years, no one Deed doubt that the result will be practically the same, as the Russian government has never been known to release its hold upon any territory of which it has once gained possession without reaping an advantage in some other direction. IOWA'S BOARD OF CONTROL. The board of control bill has been passed by both houses of the Iowa legislature and signed by Governor Siiaw. who has already appointed the members of the board. Hereafter the institutions of that state, except educational, will all be under the control and direction of a single board of three members. NEW YORK PRIMARIES. The unanimous vote cast by both houses of the New York assembly in favor of a new primary law is significant of the power that is lodged in the popular demand for state control of the party nominating machinery which is sweeping over the country. Member of Congress Dead. Washington, March 29.- Representative John Slmpkins of the 13th district of Massachusetts died Saturday night at his residence In this city, 1717 K street, of heart failure, Induced by gastric complications. Kugasta KeUins II I Tower. Madrid, March The parliamentary elections that were held Sunday have gone by a large majority in favor of the liberals, the party now In power. .Strengthen Spanish For tic Manila, Philippine l.-lands. March 2tV The defenses and forts have been Strengthened with a view of guarding against a possible sudden sea attack. St. Petersburg Ethan Allen Hitchcock, the new United States ambassador to Russia , had an audience with the czar and presented hla credentials,

PROPERTY UKB INT. Irnmense Damage by Floods in Ohio and Indiana.

TOTAL WILL REACH $6,000,000. Ball rue lit Have Saffered severely -Tea Lives Ltwt in the Ufaunl alley in hi nfteea llumlr.-.l Familie Homeless at Zuwc tile. Sensational reports of loss of life by Hoods in Ohio and Indiana have proved unfounded, but the property loss la those two states alone will run hiph up In the millions. Indiana railroad men say the roads in hoosiordom have suffered damage amounting to at least $800,000, and their loss in Iowa is likely greatly to exceed that sum. The damage to residence property, manufacturing establishments and farmers will bring the grand total up to between $5.000.000 and $G.000.000 in those two states, without counting the hundreds of thousands of dollars lost by labor because of being temporarily thrown out of work. Hm Leas in Weal Virginia. The loss to the West Virginia lumber manufacturers is enormous. The damage to the Ohio River railroad amounts to thousands of dollars, and even more than th damage done in the flood of 1884. I am;. to Railroad Property The overflow from the Scioto at Columbus. Ohio, has receded somewhat, disclosing broad scene of devastation. It is estimated that the damage to railroad property alone will reach $1,003. 000. Fifteen Hand red Families Boaaelese. Fifteen hundred families are hom.ess at Zanesville, Ohio, five lives have been lost and nearly $1.000.000 worth of propei ty has been destroyed by tha floods. Ten I.I oh Lost In the Flood. Ten lives wer elost In the Hood in the Miami valley, Ohio. The estimated damage at Hamilton is $000.000. THE TRADE REVIEW. Dun & t'o. Kapell Basfaseas in Exeetleat Shape. R. G. Dun & Co.'s Weekly Review oi Trade fays: "A waiting state of things always hinders business to some extent. With more than $34,000,000 gold received or on its way since this movement began, with ample bank reserves and treasury reserves, and a redemption of notes in all ways nearly a third smaller than in February to date, with no stringency on the money market and sterling exchange weak; with the volume of business at clearing houses outside New York larger than in 1892 by G.9 per cent this month, and with failures nearly 30 per cent smaller than last year and 52 per cent smaller than in the same month of 180J. there is not much visible ground for panic, even if earnest efforts should fail to keep peace with honor. The nation is surpassing all records for marketing products. '"Failures for the week have been 2TA in the United States, against -91 hist year, and twenty-one in Canada, against 50 last year. SEALEmJONJETLOES. Forty-Fight Men of the Steamer t.reiilan.l I .-... i or MUsing. St. Johns, N. F.. March 29. The steamer Greenland, returning from the seal fisheries, put into Bay de Verde and reported a terrible disaster. Last Wednesday while her crew was traveling about the floes in search of seals a storm arose, accompanied by a blinding snow, which drifted rapidly, and a severe frost. The members of the crew who were on the ice could not regain t he vessel, and were exposed to the terrible weather throughout the night and all the next day. Forty-eight men perished or are missing and sixty were so badly frostbitten that the amputation of one or more o.' their limbs will have to be suffered by all of them. The Greenland succeeded in recovering the bodies of twenty-five of the victims. From the circumstances of the dis::.ter it is feared tha; other steamers have Buffered in a similar manner. Th city is in a state of great excitement. The disaster is the worst recorded in the history of the sealing industry. Went Miners Kllh'd. The firing of a dynamite cartridge in a coal mine near Liege, Uiusse's, caused an explosion of oal g:is. Twenty miners were killed. To I .nt IixIImi..- Minen. The Indiana miners elected William Van Horn of Washington president. V scale committee was appointed to meet with the operators. KusHian Ship for 4'hlneae Wala. Three of Russia's largest battleships will shortly proceed through the Boaporus for Chlneae waters. QkMMfVl Strike .f t oal linr. It is said a call will be issued at once ordering I strike on April 1 of all the coal miners in West Virginia. Indiana Teachers Adjourn. The southern Indiana teachers' B8SOciation will meet next year at Shelby -ville. J. P. Punk, principal New Albany high school, was elected president. Truman lluinlv I Demi. Truman P. Handy, the old il actire banker in the United states, died at Cleveland, Ohio, aged L Kallroi.l Km ploy es V ill Strike. The employes of the Union i'acific railroad system will strike in the even! of salaries being reduced.

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FOR BARGAINS IN y FOR SA1E OR TRADE. No 1 80 acre in Center townahip, 3 miles son th of Plymouth. 70 acres improved, 5 room house, barn 26x40, wagoa rhed and corn cribs, a good o retard of all kinds of fruits; price $37.50. No 2 80 acres in West township, 6 miles west of Plymontb 70 acres improved, balance in timber, House n u f. r iy new, with 7 rooma, ontaide cellar, 'a:r barn, two good orchards, all kinds '? fruit Will trade for good reaidenot property in Plymouth. No 3 62 acrea in Waat township, i milea from Plymontb. 62 acrea in cultiration, balance m Umber, a good bonaa led barn, a fine orchard, black walnat and; price $2,600. No 4120 aerea 5 milea weat of Arg oa i)0 acrea improved, good bones with 7 roomB, barn 22x00, other oat buildings i'j J good orchard; will trade for emaller farm and give long time on difference. No 5116 acrea '6 miles from Donaldson . 79 acres improved, balanee io meadow and timber, fair house and s iood barn, with other oat buildings; will all for $21.50 per acre or trade for oity property. No6 100 acrea 7 milea weat of Plymonth. 85 acres in cultivation, balance id timber, 1 mile from Donaldson; will e!l cheap or trade for business property No 7 80 acrea milea west of Plymontb. 70 acrea in cultivation, balance in timber, good honse and barn, good or shard and wind mill; will trade for 40 acres or town property; price $40 per acre. No 8 100 aoree 8 milea from Plymontb with fine improvements, frnite of all kinde, heavy timber land; will aell cheap if sold soon. Anyone waDtiDg a farm cheap oan get it b oalhng at oace, No9 A $4,000 stock of general merchandise in a village near Plymouth, doing a good business; will trade for ac improved farm. No. 10 A fine farm of 135 acrea mile from Donelson, Ind. . ! 2 miles fr to Plymontb, with fine large house, two big barns and all other outbuildings needed on a farm, with a big orchard of all kindc of fr nte, wind mill, stone milk house, etc together with horses, cittle, bogs, poultry implements and grain. Will sell cheap $1500 cash, balsnre on time to suit purchaser or will trade for Chicago improved property. Nc. 11 50 acres ou Miohigan road be tween Plymouth and Argos. Well improved. Will sei; cheap or trade for town property. No. 1260 acres in Weet township near Donelson, with good lmprovementa. Will sell on terms to suit buyer. Chear. No. 13 80 acres in Polk township near school house, with good improvements. Good and. Will trade for 120 ems and pay cash difference. Must be within 3 or 4miles of Plymouth. No. 14 2173 a acres near Sligo in west township. A good two-story house good b&rD and other outbuildings. W ill trade Cor smaller farm or town property. No. 151 have a Dew house on Waat Garro street, new barn, a corner lot; wili srll cheap and on monthly pay men te. No. 16 Im uae and two lota on Walnut Etreet near ouurt house and school. For sale it a bargain if taken eoon. No. A flue house near the new school building on poutb aide of river. Will trade for 40, 60 or 80 acre farm and aa snme incumbrance from $1,000 to $1,500 Now ia your chance, Tt you want to buv a farm, trade for a farm, sell a farm, or buy or sell town property, 1 can suit you, having property of all kinds in any part of town, or anywhere in or o jt of the state. We wili try to suit you if given a chance. Yours for business, S N. JOSEPH.

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