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4 - -- ---* ~ J. v.z 4. eii'berrp eniW inib WEEK,. "~TABLISIJED 1865. NEWBERRY, S. C,q TUJ(F SDAY, MAXICH 29, 189.TIEAWE,S0AYA A Submarine Mine Blew Up the Maine 80 1IPORT8 THE UNITED STATUS NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY. The OtultIon Is Extrenely Oritica--War Preparations on an Unprecedented Sualo Are Bplng Hurried to Conpletion Our Warsisip,s Ready for Any ruergenoy-A Oerman Tor. pedo Boat Purchased On the Verge of var. Washington, March 25.- The Court of Inquiry appointed to inves tigate the cause of the Maine disas ter has reported that the loss of the bAttle,AVip was due to an outside ex plosion. The State Department, by direction of the President, has cabled United States Minister Woodford at Madrid to notify the Spanish government of this conclusion. The President and Cabinet ad visers held two extended sessions to day, one at 10:30 a. m. and another at 3:80 p. in., at. which the report was considered in detail. Members of the Cabinet stated after the meeting that the discussion was of a grave character, and that never since the wrecking of the Maine has t4e situation seemed so critical. The- Spanish government has cabled officially to Washington that the Spanish naval commission holds the disaster to the Maine to be of in ternal origin. The government of Spain, it can be stated positively, is not disposed to turn back the torpedo flotilla now proceeding from the Canaries, and would be disinclined to consider Na suggestion from this government tending to interfere with the disposi tion by Spain of her naval forces. War preparation on an unprece dented scale is being hurried to com pletion by the War and Navy De partments, and the country practical ly is on a wpr footing. The foregoing gives the record of one of the most eventful days the national capitalhas seen sincetheo close of th6 Civil War. It was a day of profoundly important action of the deepest anxiety, coupled with naval and military activity, one step fol lowing another in rapid succession. Representative men of the adminis tration, public men in all branches of official and congressional life, no less than the public in general, shared in the tension to which the situation has been wrought. There was no effort among the highest offlcials, nor indeed was it possible from what was clearly apparent in the develop moents of the day, to minimize the situation. REPORT OF MAINE COURT OF INQUIRY. Viewed in detail, the findlings of the Court of Inquiry was the most vital featture. Commander Marix, judge advocate of the Court of In quiry, delivered the report t,o Secre tary Long early this morning, and shortly after it was carried to the White house and placed in the hands of the President. At 10:30 the cabi net assembled, half an bour earlie.r than usual, and bogan the considera tion of the momentous document. Even the rigid rules of secrecy which prevailed of cabinet meetings were made doubly strict in this case, and no intimation of the result reached by the Court were known until 2 o'clock, when an Associated Press bulletin gave the information to the country, as well as the eagerly wait. ing officials throughout Washinigton. These results, briefly stated, are that the loss of the Maine was due to an explosion from the outside, the court being unable to fix the responsibility for the explosion. The Court does not express an opinion as to the character of the explosive, but the testimony goes to show that-it was a p)owertIi) submarine mine, the exact character of which is not determined by the testimony, though the belief was expressed that it was a floating submarine mine. There wvore two explosions, the court finds--the first freom the outside, and that set off one of the-smaller magazineP, It was this result, expressed in do tail And with the precision of a courit deeply conscious of its responsibility, together with the evidencen on which it was based, that occupied the at. tontion of the'cabinet throughout its extended sessions of the morning and afternoon. All other and lessor subjects gavo way to this foromost question. There was no chango in the plan of making tho report public and submitting it to Congress early next week, accompanied by a brief message from the President. RUsHINO WAR PREPARATIONs. While interest was thus controd at the White Houso the Navy and War Departments %oro hurrying forward their work of preparat'o is. The ad vance of the, Spanish flotilla con tinued to receive the closest atten tion of naval oficials, and while so far as coudd be ascertained, no def inito line of action was determined upon, the need of intoreepting this fleot, was urged by the highest naval authorities. From the standpoint of the Spanish governmc1t, this move mont was not a menace, having been decided upon many weeks ago. On the contrary, the Spanish gov ernment holds that tho extensive ar manent of the Dry Tortugas is a moro direct hostilo act against Spain than any movement of the flotilla. Instead of stopping the flotilla, the prosent attitude of Spain tends toward re'enforcing it with other Spanish war vossels, not as a menace, but, from what the Spanish govoinment feel, is a requirement called for by the existing condition of affairs. Hardly less suggestive than the approach of the torpedo flotilla was the information received today by the highest military authorities that the Spanish government had hurried to completion extensive fortifications on the island of Porto Rico, lying jubt off Cuba, an'd the only Spanish possession in this hemisphero other than Cuba. Tho exact character of those now defenees has boon made known here, and they are being given weight with the military au thorities as showing the disposition of Spain. OUR FLERTS AND SQUADRONS. The orders issued by the Navy Do partment during the day covered oveiy branch of naval arfinament. The "flying squadron" was definitely es tablishod, with Commodoro W. S. Schley in command. He will hoist his commodore's flag on the flagship Brooklyn next Monday. The squad ron is to consist of exactly live ships. Those of the squadron will be the crack armored cruiser Brooklyn, the battleships Massachusetts and Texas and the cruisers Columbia and Mini neapolis. Other ships which are, now or hereafter, at H-amp1tonl Roads will not belong to the North Atlantic station, under Capt ain Sampson. Tho flying squadr-on is to be a small, comn pact fleet of the best ships in the navy, for quick service at any point along the Atlantic. At the same time, the North At lantic station, under Captain Saimp son, is to be further augmented. The cruiser Cincinnati, wvhich left Port Antonio three days ago under sealed orders, is to report at Key WVest and become a part of Captain Sampson'sa fleet. Theogunboat Wilmington, also en route fromt Port Antonio, wvil likewise report to Captain Sampson01 at Key West, as wilt the gunboat Viocsburg, now at Hampton Roads. Late today the Navy Department gave out the following list of vessels, as showing the exact character of each fleet: "The followving vessels compose the North Atlantic squadron: New York, Iowa, Indiana, Mumtonomoh, Fern, Puri tan, TJIerroi-, Mar-blehmoad, Montgomery, Castine, Nashville, Hl ena, Wilmington, Vesuvius; torpedo boats Foote, Dupont, Ericsson, Cush ing, Porter, Winslow; tugs Leyden and Samoset. "The following vossels compose the Flying Squadron: "The Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Texas, Minneapolis and Col umbi a." OTHER IMPORFANT DEvEL.OPMEiNTS, Some of the other important de velopmnents of the day may be sum marized as follows: Requisitionsa were made on the naval ordnance bureau for a large number of quickir.m fr 'ponder an six-pounder guns to be mounted on the revenue cutters and the steam yachts about to be purchased. Tho bureau determined to use the quick firo guns for these craft which had been originally intended for the At lautio liners St. Paul and St. Louis. Captain Bradford, chief of naval equipment, completed plans for so curing a naval coaling station in waters South of Cuba, and the papers are now ready for final action. The stntion will not be on Navassa Island, as has boon suggested, but is likely to be at ono of the several fine har bors of Hayti or San Domingo, or else on the Danish Island of St. Thomam, which is opOn to purchase from Denmark for a considerable sum. Late today the battleship Texas was ordered from Hampton Roads to the New York navy yard to ropair her machinery for hoisting ammunition and guns. Favorable answers were received from the Now York naval militia of their readiness on short notice to supply officers mid men to man the singlo-turret monitors now called into so vice. Orders were issued today to have all the warships paintod black, a color tLtt is better adapted to hos tilities, because the vessels will not afford as good a target. A TORPEDO B3OAT PUROIIASED. The navy dopartment was informod by coblegramn from Lioutenout Col well naval attache to the United Statks embassy at London, that agents of this government had pur chased a "Schischau" torpedo boat that had boen constructed for the German government. The new ac quisition is of the general type of German torpedo boats and is ro. garded as a valuable addition to our navy. One feature regarding her that affords special gratification to the ofliciala of the navy department is that she is now ready for son. It. is expected that in a few days she will leave for the United States. She will. be able to make the journey across the Atlantic without difficulty, as she is a good sea-going vessel and her coal capacity is ample for the trip tothiscountry. Shuis28knot ves sel, and about 150 feet long. While of the same general typo as the Rodgers and Foote, of the United States navy department the precise dimon sions of the now boat could not be given. The price paid for her the navy officials declined at this time to state, but it was said to be very reason able.. WVork on the vessel has just been completed, she never having been in service. She is supposed to carry threo toi-podo tubes and two small calibr-e rapid-fire guns. Nine to twelve men will be needed to man her. FRIEE JiURIAI MAIILs systemn t, be Tested iu On nigressmtan Stokes Dlistrict. [Special to The Register.] WVashington, March 24.-Con gressman Stokes has completed ar rangements at the Postoflice Depart ment for extension of rural free do livery of mail in his district in South Carohina. Natur-ally, he feels some elation over this, as he wvas largely instr-umental in procuring increased facilities for the rural district when the appropriation bill was pending last week. Hlis argument on the bill in general, and especially on the fr-ee delivery then, was considered by his fr-iends als strong and convincing. CJongressmn Stokes' dlistrict is p)erhapsH one of the happiest selec tions for a test of the system. Though it has about .180,000 popu)1 lation, it is almost wholly a r-ural community, there being only threo Presidential offices in its limits, and they of the third class. It is none too well supplied with ovemn the p)oor facil ities afTordled by the four.chass p)ost offices and star routes, there hi inig only 188 p)ostoflices within its limits. ilukien's Arnica, 5lv.. Tlhe b)est Salve tn the world for Cuts, BruIses, Soreis, iTicers, S alt Rheum,il F'ever Sores, Totter, Chaiipped iiatids, ChilbIlis, Clorns, andi all Skhin ErupI tions, and positIvely etires Ple or no pay requIred. i t is guaraniteed to givye perfect satisfactionu or money refundled. Prc 5cents per box. F"or sale by mohertson & 4lutor. BRIEF AND FORMAL THIC lICtIOUT OF T11i MAINgC (CtT OF INQUIUY. A Con,p!ete Abstract-The flattleship Wav Wrciked h,y t ho IpIonion of a Stab. nurinie Mino-Itesponsill Ity Not Fixed. Washington, March 27.-The As sociated Press presents herowith a complete abstract of the report of the Court of Inquiry which investi. gated the wrecking of the battleship Maino. This abstract is made from the report itself, accoss to which was obtained today, despite oflicial so crecy unparalleled in the handling of official papers. The report is made up of eight parts, as follows: 1. The Court finds that at the time of the explosion the battleship Maine, was lying in five and one-half to six fathoms of water. 2. The discipline aboard the ship was excollett; everything stowed ac. cording to ordors-amtunition, guns, stores, etc. Tho temperaturo of the magazines at 8 p. i. was normal, except in the after ton-inch magazine, and that did not explodo. 3. The explosion occurrod at 9:40 o'clock on the evening of February 15. Tore wore two explosions, with a very short interval between them. The ship lifted on the first explo sion. 4. The court can form no definite opinion of the condition of the wreck from the divers' ovidenco. A MINE 'WAS EXPLODED. 5. Techmeal dotails of wreckage from which Court (ledices t)at a mine was exploded under the ship on the port sido. (3. The explosion was duo to no fault of those on board. 7. Opinion of the Court stating that the explosion of the mine caused the explosion of the two magazines. 8. The Court declares that it can not find evidence to fix responsibili ty. The report is unanimous and is signed by all the members of the Court. It does not refor to tie ox istence or non. existonce of mir os in the harbor of Havana, except in the finding that a mine was exploded under the ship and the opinion that the explosion of the two magazines was caused by the explosion of a mino. FORMAL AND DIUPASSIONATE. The report, as a whole, ig a formal dispassionate recital of facts, and bears the stamp of that strict offi cialism wvhichu marks naval procedulre. It is briof, not exceeding 1,800 words, and among the eight parts goes to the greatest length under the second heading, which deals with the discip line and ordler of the shi p. The nor mal temperature of the large forward magazines at 8 o'clock, only an hour and forty minutes before the explo sions, disposes of the qJuestion of accidental combustion within the magazines. WVhilo the Court holds t hat these magazines did not explode from internal causes, they neverthe less of the opinioti that the explosion of the mine under the port of the ship caused the exp)losion of thme two magazinies. This will explain t he re markable dlestruction wrought, the explosion thus being shown to have combined the force of a mine with out and two magazines within. T1he explosions which the Court finds t.o have occurred, with a very short, interval betweed t hem, in an additional detail showing that two forccs operated in causing thme do struction. Thme finding that. theoship lifted on the first explosioni indicates an external source anid one .of t ro monQidots power to ho able to lift a battleship of thmousanuds of tonas. Th~ie chanracter- of t he wvreckaige, technically described ina the Iiifth part of thme report, from whlich the Court (deduces that a mine was ox p)lodod unider t.hi ship )Onl thme port side, suMt.ains thme vi"a t aken by comoc ex pertk shortly after the dlibast or, that the force of the explosion was exerted from p)ort to starboard. slosBEE5 EXONEaIATJD, Tbe feature of the repom t of doep est interest to the navy is the com pnteon oma ion of apai:n Sig-b au( all on board, contained in tho sOC >nd finding, setting forth the pe -- fee order and discil lino prevailir g on ho ship, and that directly stat, I in ho sixth finding, which declar s the disaster to be duo to no fault t f tho e un board. 1 he inability of the Court to liti ovi.onco to fix responsibility, i s state',d in the eighth part, makes the rop .rt so guarded in expression of blame that. neither Spain nor the Spanish are mentionod throughout. FARMICs' INSTITUTE. Announcement Fron the Premident cf Clenson. Clemson Collogo, S. C., March 26.--Farners' institutt a will be hold in is many counties as practicable froi1 the present timo until noxt Sop tomejor. Last year institutes wer( hel in South Carolina. As a rulh tho meetings woro largely attendo( and thoroughly appreciated. Th( obj At of the farmers' institutes is t( diffi so knowledge of tho most scion title and practicable methods of ag ricu turo. The course of instructiot shal be so arranged as to prosent to thoL in attondanco the results of the mos recent investigations in thoorot ical aind practical agriculture, and as far is possible to mako the subjects disc-iissed at each instituto moot the spec al needs of the locality whero it is h Id. It other States where institutes hav( been hold regularly for m,ny year . the most gratifying results are ovid nt. They have fostered friend ly r( ations among the planters them solv< i; thoy havo aroused desiro fo. a m, re liberal education of the boy and girls as a means to higher sue cons and happines on the farm: they havo nwakoned a profaisiona' prid in the scienco of farming; the3 havc oponed tip now avenues of op port nity; they have given the far mer a clearer recognition of his duti< s and priviloges. South Caro lina :an not afford to noglect her in stitu es. Tho scopo and character of the vork should be broadened year afte year. It- order to work towards this do desij ible end the professors of Clem son -ollego have prepared an at tract ve programme of lectures fo! this year's work. If an institute it destiod in any community those in tores -zid are requested to writo for full :nforination and particulars. As it is to our mutual interest to have dates arranged as early as practica ble we suggest thtat ap)plications be sent in at once. Respectfully, IIIY S. IIAR'T.o(. Johnson 's Chill and F ever T onic Cures Fever In One Day. V'ANTED. TO 111OW UWill' VtCOK Spaian iie fused t ho Rieist anda she tias MIoney for War. M11 d1rid, March 24.-A semli.ofli. cial .ote just issued says: "A t the cabinet meeting yesterday Sene Sagast a (t he prom icr) roadi a tlilt-a fromt Caiptanin Gilenra BIai :o saying that the captain of the faiino reqinested permission to blow uip wreck with dyniamito, and that >ormiissiont to d1o 8o had1 beeni refu d( htir. ' he cabinet e()Ooered the imin inter af foreign affairs (Sonoer Gul ion, to wv tch the situat ion with the view of se aimg justice (1ono( anda defendiing the i ghts of Spain. "'1 he( miister of inaneo (Signet Puip serveor) declared the resource, were suifiicienut for war exp IOnsos3unti the I (ow chamblhers mieet.'' Ti o note is absolutely reserved i: roga d to the Spanish commission' report ou the loss or the Manie MR. Ji tMES NORTON TALKS HE UIVI OUT AN INTERtVIRW TO PIOVI THAT lIN A NIP TiC UOV. EM.NORAHE FIElND)LY. No March -'onveition This Yvar-The 3Ury Ru ppec Ah was Not Intendr as the Opo !(Ig of tie 3rate 431mpIg a. Washiigton, Mlarch 23.-Con. grossman Norton, who was one of party visiting Duo Woit on Bryan day, was asked if it wits understood that the Bryan demonstration was the opening of State campaign in South Carolina. "No, I think not," was his reply. "Vo have about quit opening cam. paigns in March down there. Too few of them1 hav been successful since the irst one. March is a revo lutionary month and we are not ox pooting a ny revolution just now. Only two )f the six candidatos al ready ann>unced were at Duo West. While the political situation in the State was not unconsidered, no big campaign launching was or was expected. "The po litical situation down thoro seems to I o gotting pretty compli cated. B it with Governor Ellorbo, of Marion Col. It. B. Watson, of Sa. luda; Col. George Tillnan, of Edge.. field; Stat i Senator Archor of Spart anburg, ni f ex-Solicitor Schumport of Nowbot -y, in the race, there is lit tio danger of the people making a serious m itnkm. All of theso are good mon any one of thoi could be expected I ) servo the Stato credit ably. "(0overi km Ellerbe, who is stand ing for ro. iloction, bus, of courso, the vantage g -ound. It has becomo a precedent. if not a custom, to give a somOid tor a to otir governors and this fiwt v 11 boar strongly in 0ov. Ellorbo's favor. Opposed to him are somo ( xcollont men, too-mon of high char tctor and broad intelli genco. ( ul. WVatsou aid Senator Archer sta id liiglt in the councils of their resp etive churchos and are by no means vithout oxperience in pub lie affaire (Jol. Georgo Tillnan, well know i from his long service in Congress, H a strong 1111111 with the courage of his coniviction, of ripo ago and much experience. Mr. Schumper is a man of lino abilities who served his circuit for a long time as solicitor. O." those only Governor Ellerbo and Col. Tillman vore at Dto West. Both were re ceived with bearty appllause by frionds in the large gathering. 'The comnplimiotary introduction b)y Dir. Grior, president of Erskinoe college and the flattering reception by the audience of Governor Ellerbe showed that he is held in high re gardl in that community. Tis as wvell as im,'ressions gathlered in oth or parts of the Stato seeom to warratt lhe opinion of his friends that there hats booni (quto a reaction of senti mont in fai ior of the Governor since the adjour. mnut of thle General As. semnbly." Thore hia hebon a report. General, of some p irsonal and political Cs. trangemoni, between youirsel f and Governor . Cller bo. "I uam gtad you mention that ro por-t. I may1) say it is (du1 to a mis applrehonsi>ni of the facts anid, I think, star ed from some1 comp)licaI tions grownag out of the appointment uand electic .' of myi) snecessor. But ma mutt. ra as8 this adjust them selves. I <now1 (of no reaison for any friction oi ill1 feeling between the governor n 1(1 myself. Neither of us, of con rHe, aul be expect ed to be0 a partisan o. the other. Our 1)o1iticail pat hs (10 i >t touch or cross. Het de sires re- eb etion as governor of I he Stato and (1( re-elect ion to Con An amb) tious young mar. w rote to an author for advice. "'I a-n only mnakin g $ I ) a month at my businters,"' he wrote, "and I think I could mauko a success i I lite'ratulro."' 'VThut ior rep)lied: "'I amn o ily averaging $U) a mothl at miy bus1 ness8. To'll mro what yotuis is, and-if on are anixiouis to jump nito litera tnre, Ill sapa with you" The Reply Of Spain TO A ICVNT NoTrw 4) TilE UNI ID STATES. PropoalS lIteJeCted-n UAICUlake Exto uIse I.11n1t of conce%otimn Compatibe Wl 1 the Itor aid Dilgilty of the Ntlovi. London, March 28.-On Friday, Bays the Madrid correspondent of the Standard, Uen. Woodford had an official interviow with Sonor Oullon, the mmistor of for, iga affairs, in which ho received the oiflicial reply of the Spaniah government to the American momoranduim of March 3. The Spanish reply, couched in firm language, (iys that the Spani"h govbriment cannot agroo with the conclusi( n the Amu,ri( a 1 govrnm i-n has drawn from inanourato inforn a tion, that does not tally with tho ro cent activity and progress of the military operations in Cuba and tho visiblo popularity and progress of the now colonial i ist itut ions, wh cl have beenl loyally acceptel and 1r0 suppoited by oven the old advr sarios of home rulo in the colo y. "Spain," tim reply continmos, "cmn not naturally admit the intorform co which is for-iadowiig in tk- Am( ri canl voto and deprecatos the slendiig of official roliof and war vessels to Cuba as being the very olomont that h1as rotarded thie paciicatiin of t li colony. Spain reminds the Amt ri can govornmlent of all the colic3s moi she his made to preservo peacofil rolations and to concili to the Unlited States, the last boing bor willingness to slbilit the conflicti oig commii1ission reportk as to tho Ma no to arbitration." In conclusion, the Spanish rc..ly shows that the goveirmient bolo es it 1111 reacleed tho extromo limit of conces0sioiis complitiblo with tho lion. or and dignity of Spain, mid will tot admit. oiormichmentsi on her rig its of sovereignty in the west. The matter now rests with the Prosident, anlid both govornimeoi s ovidontly considor the MAitino affti a more incident in the more importi nt issuos nbout to be riiisvd by tho ccn duct of the Ullit-md St at'Is. Take JOHNSON'S CHILL & FEVE1R TON INII, I W HIcl 15 w ilIICH. Effectvely De,.mamnstrateud by 1'at. [Newv York Advort iser.] "'Vot you do v id demi glaisses ?"' asked the bartomb-r of a half tiplsy bult w(ll dre'ssed Span11iard. ''If I blreak I pay you, signor,"' roplied the Spaniard, re4sumi1nig opo0 rations un01 the two wine glass( i. He gently struck one( aigainst theo other, anid othetr customiors andt the b)artond(or gazing lit the plroceedini .s wit,h curiosity. TheI( twvo glasses retmaiined unin juredl, and1( tho Spanliard, munrmnurinig something in his naltive tongue, i o pleated to plerformnrce, t his tii 'o briniginig the glasses together with a more energetic miovemenOIt. As are suIt one glass was smatsheod, while the other remnainoed intact. A lok of triumpjh camoIl into the Spaniard's (eye. "Tis is the Unlitedl States,"' lie said, pointing to Ithe fragments of te brokoni glats, "andit thmis,'' lie ad 1 od1, as lie struck a meilod ramtIipt il s - tuire an .1 p)laced1 his finiger' ontt te iin harmed glass, "and1( t his is Spain.'' Thero was a1 palu8o. For 80ono1 secondts te bystandt(ers dlid not sel mt to kniow wheother to1 hmiigh or to g e anigry. Themn a heurley I rish-.Ame ri - cani who hadh ho(nI stanidinig with a half dlrained'( schooner ini his 111.dt, glainig at th lis cene, qutiiet.ly swaille wv. ((d the remlainling beer in h' s ghl as and, stoppjinig nup to the Spaniard im a miatter of. fact, way, knioci ed h.mi downi. "Th'liis ini511 Spa," h1e said, poin ti ig to the poor follow on1 thie Iloor', "a1 id this,'' pointing hiis i niger to hiis o vn breast with an imitation of the d -a-* mnatic flonrish of te Spaniard, "is thle Unit.ed Stat.es, seo?"