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MAINE BLOWN UP FROM OUTSIDE. Board of Ioquiry Does Not Fasten the Responsibility. Spanish Flotilla Comes on Un? checked and Will be Augment? ed By Other Vessels Washington, March 25 -The court of inquiry appoioted to investigate the couse of the Maine disaster has re? ported that the los* of tho battleship vas due to an outside explosion. The ?tale department, bj direction of the President, has cabled' United States Minister Woodford at Madrid to notify the Span bb govern ment of flits conclusion. Tho Pr?siden t -and cabinet ad risers held two extended sessions to-day, one at 10:30 a. m. and another st 3 :30 p m , at which the report was considered io1 detail. Members of tbs cabinet stated after the meeHog thai never sisee the wrecking of tba Maine bas the sitastioQ "terned so critical. Tho Spanish government bas cabled moialiy to Washington that the Span bb naval commission bolds the disas ter to thc Maine to be of internal or: gio. The government of Spain, it can be stated positively, is not disposed to torn back the torpedo Flotilla now pro? ceeding from the Canaries and would be disinclined to consider a eng gestion from this government tending to inter? fere with the disposition by Spain of ber own naval forces. War preparation on an unprecedent? ed seale is being horned io completion by the war and navy departments, and the couotry practically is on a war foot The foregoing gives the record of one of the most eventful days the national capital has seen since the close of the civil war. It was a day of profoundly important action, of the deepest anxi? ety coupled with naval 'and military activity, one step following another in rapid succession. Representative meD of the administration, public men io all branches of official and congressional DO less than the public in general, abare io tbe tension to which the situa? tion bei been wrought. There was no effort among the highest officials, nor indeed was it possible from what was clearly apparent io the developments of the day, to minimise the situation. Viewed io detail, the findings of the coori of inquiry ?as. the most vital feature. Commander Marix. judge ad? vocate of the court of ioquiry, deliver? ed the report to Secretary Long early this morning, and shortly after it was earned to the White House and placed in the hands ot. tbe President. At 10:30 the cabinet assembled, half an hour oarlier than usual, and began the consideration of the momentoos docu? ment. Even the rigid ru lei of secrecy which prevailed at cabinet meetings vere made doubly strict io this case, asd no intimation of tbe results reach? ed by the court were known until 2 o'clock, wheo an Associated Press bulle? tin gave tho information to lbs country, as veil as the eagerly waiting officials throughout Washington. These re? sults, briefly stated, are that the loss of the Maine was due to an explosion from the outside, the court being unable }o fix the responsibility for th? explosion. The court doss not express ?o opinion as to the character of the explosive, but the testimony goes ts show that it vas a powerful submarine mine, the exact character of vb ich ie not deter- j mined by the testimony, though tbs belief vas expressed that it waa a float- j tag submarine mine. There were tvo ; explosions, the court finds, the first ) from the outside, and that set off one cf the smaller magasines. It vas this result, expressed in de tail sod vitb tho precision of a oourt deeply conscious of its responsibility, together vitb the evidence on vhich i; vas based, tbat occupied the attention of the cabinet throughout it? extended sessions of the morning and afternoon AH other and lesser subjects gavs vay to this foremost question. There vas ao change io the : plao of making the report public and submitting it to con? gress early next week, accompanied by a brfof message from the President. While interest was thus centered at the White House, the navy and war de? partments vere hurrying forward their work of preparations. The advance of the Spanish flotilla continued to receive the closest attention of naval officials, sod while so far as eonld bo ascertain od, oo definite Hoe of action was determin ed upon, the need cf intercepting this fleet vas urged by the highest naval au? thorities. From the standpoint of the Spanish govern moot, this move ai enc vas oot a menace, having beeo deoided oo many veeks ago. Oo the contrary tba Spanish government bolds tbat the extensive armament of the Dry Tortu? gos is s more direct hostile act against Spain tban any movement of the flotil? la. Instead of stopping the flotilla, the present attitude of Spain tends to? ward reeoforeiog it with other Spanish var vessels oot a menace, but from what thc Spanish government feels, is a requirement called for by the existing condition of affairs. Hardly less suggestive than the ap? proach of tbe torpedo flotilla, was the information received to-day by the high? est military authorities that the Spanish government had hurried to completion extensive fortification* oo the island of Puerto Rico, lyisg just off Coba, aod the only Spanish possession in this hemisphere other than Coba. The exact character of these new defenses bas been made fe now J bore, and they are being given weight with the military authorities as showing the dis? position of Spain. The orders issoed by the navy de? partment during toe day covered every branch of naval armament Tbe "fly? ing tquadroo" wa? definitely establish? ed with Commodore W. S Sch ley ic ooromsod. f?e will hoi?? hi? com? modore's flag on the flagship Brooklyn next Monday The sc.uadroo is to oon 8it of exactly ?ve phipi. Those of the rqoadroo will be tbe crack armored cruiser Brooklyn, the battleship? Mas? sachusetts and Ttxas aud the cruisers Colombia and Minneapolis. Other ships whiob are, cow or hereafter, at Hampton B ^sds, will not be of the fly? ing * qa ad roo, bot will helen g to the i North Atlaotio station coder Captain I Sampson. Tho flying squadron is to I be a small compact fleet of the best ships io the navy, for quick servioe at any poiot along the Atlantic. Why Prepare for War If McKin? ley is to Arrange a Backdown ? Washington, March 26 - President McKinley talked freely with his Con greseional visitors to day, both in re? gard to his plans for bis future and bis appreciation of tbe situation with reference to Cuba. His programme as thus outlined is as follows: To send tbe report of the Maine Court of Inquiry to Congress on Monday without recommendations, and with no explanation on bis part further than lo say tbat be bas acquainted Spain with the finding of the Court ; to follow this Toesdey or Wednesday with a message dealing with the con dition of the non-combatants in Coba, and asking for an appropriation of $500,300 for their immediate relief ; to present anew this condition to Spain, asking that country to make provision for the care of her own helpless people, and to come to some terms with the Cubans which will be satisfactory to them and pot an end to the war. PEACE JtesYY BE PRESERVED. This failing, to forcibly intervene on humanitarian grounds The Pres ident indicated to hie callers in abid? ing faith that peace still may be pre? served, and a determination on bis part to accomplish that end, if it may be done with honor to our own conn try and without disregard for the de? mands of humanity. He frankly and repeatedly averred to-day bis desire to prevent conflict, while at the same time indicating a firm purpose to se? care relief for the starving reconcen? trados Indeed, the latter purpose appear? ed to be the topic uppermost in the President's mind He dwelt upon tbe fact tbat the recognition of tbe belligerent rights or independence would not be of any material service to these unfortunates. He admitted that such action might be of assist? ance to the men at anns, the insur? gent army, but they, be said, bave shown a capacity to take care of themselves, and do not stand in pressing need of our kind offices. The President believes Spain will interpose no obstacles to our sending succor to ber indigent people, and be will ask Congress to act promptly that the aid to be given may not ar? rive too late to relieve the present pressing Becessities. This done, the President is hopeful tbat Congress will remain quiet while the executive branch of the Government continues its efforts to secure a peaceful set? tlement of the difficulty He thinks it not too late to do this, and he msde the assertion to day that Spain was willing to meet the United States half way in adjusting the entangle? ment without going to blows. He referred only casually to the sailing of the. Spanish toped 3 fleet, leaving the impression on his visitors that be considered that so far io this matter Spain is acting within the bounds of her own rights, and tbat no just com plaint, can yet be made by this coun? try in regard to this course. AUTONOMY A FAILURE. He did not enter into details re? garding the proposition he may make, or may have made, to Spain, for un? doo bt sly some are cow pending, but he left the impression that be would be satisfied with no settlement that would not give the Cubans a very liberal form of government. He admitted frankly that autonomy had proven a failure, and expressed the opinion that it would be as diffi? cult to satisfy the Americans with any settlement that might be made as it would be to satisfy the Cubans themselves He reasserted the pos 8ibilty of securing an agreome-.it on the part of Spain to allow Cuba to conduct her own affairs with absolute freedom, except that the island should be required to pay the mother country a specified sum in the way of tribute every year oct of ber reve? nues, seeming to think that this would form a basis upon which both Spain and the Cubans could agree without the sacrifice of too mncb pride on either side. THE MAINE INDEMNITY CAN WAIT. Mr. McKinley reverted often in his conversations to his desire to maintain peace, and dwelt upon the fact that war meant not only the loss of life and property, but that it also would injure our public debt, add to our pension roll and result in many ways to our disadvantage and dis tress He also made clear that what? ever course he might pursure in the future, he would not at present de mand any indemnity at the hands o I Spain for the loss of the Maine, pre ; ferring to leve '.that matter to the ad juatment of a more quiet period. Th< President also spoke of possibh complications with other nations but did not manifest any uneasinesi on this score. Senators who bav< visited the President have, withou exception, so far as can be learned, as sored him that the Senate appreciatec his efforts to preserve peace unde; proper conditions, and have told hie that there is no danger of precipitate action in that body. They got th< impression, that if the worst comes and it is absolutely determined that oe other course will avail, the Presi dent will be found ready for armec intervention On the score of politics he assur?e them that he would rather see th( Republican party fail of future suc? cess than to wage an unjust war ; bu! that if war must come, it must be s war of humanity and that this fact mus? be made so evident that he will have the entire nation behiud bim in f conflict at arm Manley's Note Spanish Answer. London, Maroh 28 -Tbs Madrid correspondent of The Standard says : "I am able io state that the follow? ing is the real course of negotiations : Daring tho past week, on Wednesday, United States Minister Woodford had an official interview with the minist?re of foreign affairs and tba colonies, Se? ?ores Gallon and More*, at the private residence of the former. It lasted two hours Gen. Woodford left with them an official note explaining folly the views and intentions of the American government. In this document no in? timation was made nor any date fixed, bat it was clearly and firmly stated that the United States government could not longer withhold from con? gress tho correspoodence and consolar reports which riot only pat io fall light the condition of the distressed rural population of Cuba, the inadequate re? lief and the persistence of disaffection, but also showed that the Bew colonial policy and other efforts of Spain had not produced the results that would juftify holding out the prospect of early pacification. "Consequently, the American note lays stress upon tba fact that contin? gencies are now fast approaching for the action which was foreshadowed io Presidential messages and diplomatic correspondence so folly and clearly during th? last three years. "Tbe American note and tbs lao of Gen. Woodford io his conferences with Senor Guilon leave oo doubt that it is the intention of the Washington government to act very soon, begin? ning-with the communication of above document and the Maine report to con? gress and sending relief to the dis? tressed Cubans." "On Friday," continues the Madrid correspondent of The Standard, "Gen. Woodford bad by appointment another official interview with Senor Gallon, io which he reoeived the official reply of the Spanish government to the Ameri? can memorandum of March 23 The Spanish reply, couched in firm lan? guage, says that the Spanish govern? ment cannot agree with the conclu? sions the American government has drawn from inaccurate information, that does not tally with the recent ac? tivity aod progress of tba militar^Hfep' orations in Cuba and the visible ff^k. larity and progress of the new colonial institutions, which have been loyally accepted and are supported by even the old adversaries of home rule in the colony "Spain/' :he reply continues, "can? not, naturaly, admit the interference which is foreshadowed in tbe American note, and deprecates the seeding of of fioial relief and war vessels to Coba as being thc very clements that have re? tarded the pacification of the colony. Spain reminds the American govern? ment of all tbs concessions the has made to preserve peaceful relations and to conciliate the United States, the last proof being her willingness to sub? mit the conflicting oomoais?ion reports as to the Maine to arbitration. "In conclusion, the Spanish reply shows that tue government believes it bas reached the extreme limit of coo cessions compatible with the honer and dignity of Spain and will not admit en? croachments on her rights of sovereign? ty in the west. "The matter now rests with the Presi dent, and both governments evidently consider the Maine affair a mere inoi dent in the more important issue about to ba raised by the United States." CONFIRMED IN OTHER QUARTERS. Berlia, March 27.-The Madrid cor respondent of the Frankfort Zeitung says : "Senor Gillon, the minister of for? eign affairs has informed me that an exceedingly threatening note bas ar? rived from Washington regarding the cessation of war in Cuba. Ho added .No matter bow ene regards the affair a rapture caa now hardly be avoided." The Medrid correspondent of the Berliner Tageblatt a?ya : "Spain will not only refuse to allow American interference ia assisting tho bti?anug Cu Dans bat will decline to pay (indemnity) uoless it ii chown un? mistakably tbat the Spanish authorities were responsible for the Maioe explo? sion. If Piesident McKinley demands these two things war is unavoidable." aV ! SPANISH REPLY _ i ! It Suits the People Who Be for Peace. Washington, March 28-To-day h? beso 008 of aoiioa io every branch < official life. Seldom has a day bec replete with BO many diverse and ia portant phases of a single sabjec And yet, throughout thu activity, ti prevailing tooe, as received from ac miniittratioo sources, hes been moi assuring, more in the line of peace than it bas been for some days. Th was the impression conveyed by Cab net effiosrs after the speoial Ctbioi session. The sentiment characterize the diplomatic conferences at tc State Department But in Congrasi whioh afforded the greatest field fe anti Spanish and warlike expression) a strain of discontent and uceasincf prevailed after the President's mei sage and tb? Maine report was sat milted, especially on the House side. I Tbe President's message submittio j tbe Maine report and aocompaojin f-videccc wa? the ooa?n event of tb day. Those who had anticipated tbs the message would contribute to th aggressive spirit were disappointed It contained no surprises. A speoial Cabinet session was hel to go over the President's message and more particularly to consider th developments in the negotiations no proceeding with Spaio. These had af sumed a wide field, embraoiog nc only the Maine question, bat the ct tire Cuban problem. The answer c Spain was in band'to tbe firm not seat through Minister Woodford las week, stating that the condition c Cuban affairs had become so intoler abie that the United States could no much longer remain inactive towart it. The general tooe of tbe Spanis! answer impressed the President act Cabinet officers most favorably, s mach so that after the meeting it wa stated by members that the oolloo! was far more assuring, and that Span had shown such a conciliatory too that it was believed she would maki concessions sufficient to permit ai amicable adjustment of tbo presen ! strained relations. This was qualified however, hy the statement that tb* danger point ha; DOL yet passed, ant : that war, while no longer a probabiii ty, was yet a possibility. CONCUSSIONS BY SPAIN. Meantime,, at the State Departmen cablegrams were being received frou Minister Woodford, and the Spaniel Minister, Senor Polo y Barnabe, was it lengthy conference with Judge Day at to the prospective adjustment. The meeting between the Spanish Minister, and Judge Day came after the cabinet conference, so that such representation as Spain submitted through him did not get before the cabinet. At leas! two cf these new phases submitted by the Minister were of exceeding impor? tance. Tho Spanish government made it known that no objeotion would be -made to tho humanitarian objects ol the United State? government io ex? tending relief to the sufferers in Cabs on a far greater scale than hitherto had been contemplated. On the contrary, Spain bas made known that it recog? nizes the hamaca purposes animating this country, and tb^.t it does not doubt these purposes will bs executed in such a way as to avoid all opportu? nities for friction. It is not expected that the relief ?ill be carried io warships, as this would r^tkirodace a political aspect into a pro jeo?^wfcish ls-^purely humaae This "S(*tjttksj&s?3-by-Spain ol?jars the way for the President's message/of the next few days, asking a larger/appropriation f ;r the relief of destitution in Cuba SPANISH INQUIRY REPORT Another important Spanish document which reached the government during the day was the abstract of the report of the Spanish naval commission wbioh investigated tbs destruction of the Maine. It is the only answer Spain has tbas far made to the action of this govern? ment io submitting to Spain through Minister Woodford the fiodiogs of the American court. The conclusions rcaohed by tho Spanish commission are directly ?he opposite of those of the American court. No demands have been made in connection with the Maine, and therefore there is no re? sponse beyond the submission of the Spanish repert Following the call of thc Spanish minister at the State Department, the French ambassador, M. Camboo, bad a cenference with Judge Day This renewed the talk of European media? tion, wbioh is assuming tangible form. There ia good reason to believe Spaio is ready aud anxious for this move, and bas been encouraging it at the Euro? pean capitals WAR PREPARATIONS. At the War and Navy Departments the stir of preparations continued as usual. The Navy Department made plans for a ' mosquito fleet," to be composed of tugs and steam yachts receutly purchased and armed as an auxiliary fleet The War Department made numerous shifts in the location of troops in the Went, with a view to eir speedy concentration, th General Plagier, the chief of ord nance of the War Department, awarded to a number of companies contracts for furnishing the depart ment with disappearing carnages for the eight, ten and twelve inch gun emplacements, which are now being constructed at the seacoaet for tifications After the adjournment of the House to day there was considerable discu8si?u over a proposed consoii dation ol the force in the House who favor some form of immediate action on the Cuban issue. There was a strong feeling shown over the avoid ance ia the message of any outline of a definite administration policy and a decided disposition apparent not to await 8ny further delay or resort to temporizing measures The project to furnish ad libitum relief supplies to the Cuban non combatants is meet ing with opposition, to which mern bera on both sides of the House have given voice in private discussion, on the ground, first, that Spain alone is responsible for the Cubans on the island, and, second, the extending of such large and probably continued aid abroad is unjust to the people of this country. The steps taken to day on this Hne were of an informal na ture. Representative Hull of Iowa, chairman of the House committee on military affairs, is leading th? move? ment for prompt action. A number of senators and repre? sentatives of both parties conferred with the President at the White House to-night. It is said the opin? ion expressed by moat of these who talked with Mr. McKinley was thal Congress was inclined to object to further delay toward a settlement of the Spanish situation, and that unless the next message was more definite the radical members could noe be held in check. At the raeetingjof the Senate committee on foreign re iations on Wednesday, Senator Frye will move that the committee remain in continuous session until the ques? tions relating to the Main, Cuba and Spain tire settled Mr Foraker wii! introduce to mor? row a resolution recoguizing the in? dependence of Cuba. NEGOTIATIONS WITH SPAIN London, March 28.-The Madrid correspondent of the Daily Mail gives a version of the negotiations between United States Minister Woodford and the Spanish Cabinet last week differing somewhat from that given yesterday by the Stan? dard's Madrid correspondent He says : "The note which General Woodford prepented ou Wednesday was of com minatory nature It demanded that Spain put an end to the war in Cuba immediately, recapitulating the damage done to American interests, and farther, hinting that the war was a danger to the public health of the United Statee, the continual smuggling between the coasts of (Juba and Florida being the means of conveying the yellow fever AN ENERGETIC REPLY. "Spain's reply was energetic. It declares that the war would have been ended long ago but for the ms terial and moral help and support the rebels were continually receiving from the United States The Span? ish note complains of the polioy fol? lowed by the United States in de? manding from Spain the termination of a war which the United States were virtually maintaining by the presence of a squadron iu the neigh? borhood of Cuba and by organizing r sueco for the reconcentrados in a manner that would be offensive to any nation, as well as by keepiog in Ha vana a consul who is publicly the agent and representative of the re bela "Public opinion rejects all idea of yielding and apparently neither de? sires nor fears war with the United States Yet Spain knows she is cou fronted with the most serious conflict she has had to face since the Napo? leonic wars There is an ominous ab sence of excitement among the peo pie, whose one topic is the possibility of war It is the calm before a storm, which will break when the American ultimatum comes." CAPT. MARSHALL'S MUR? DERER CONVICTED. Chester, S C , March 25.-Jim Anderson, the negro who on the 7th of January last shot and instantly killed Capt. J. K Marshall was to? day tried, found guilty and sentenced to bo hanged on April 15 The court room was crowded all day and the verdict was a foregone conclusion. Judge Klugh complimented the people of Chester County on allowing the law lo take its course and not resort to lynching. On both continents Mark Twaiu is being congratulated upon paying off his debts The London "Academy" says : "Mark Twin's success in carrying out tbe project io which be dedicated himself on the failure of his business will ?be matier for satisfaction to all his very numerous fiieuda He has worked hard to amass the neces sary funds, and has done so single? handed, and we are proud to con? gratulate him on a noble achievement. It will be remembered that early last year, when sick at heart and poor in health, Matk Twain accepted the offer of a public subscription which was made by a New York paper But in the course of a few days that accept? ance was revoked, and he determined that not from without, but from with? in, the debt should be paid Honor be to him for such a decision Mark Twain has told us that his favorite motto is : 'Be good and you will be lonesome ; He must be very lone? some now.r-Augusta Chronicle. Americans Frozen to Death. Forty-Eight Perish and Sixty Seriously Frostbitten, S St. Johns, N. P., March 26 -The steamer Greenland, returning from the seal fishery, put into Bay de Verde tonight and reported that on Wednes? day lass, when among the ice floes, while her crew were travelling about the floes in search of seals, a terrible storm arose, accompanied by a blind? ing 6now, which difted rapidly, and a severe frost The members of the crew who were on the ice could not regain the vessel and were exposed to the weather throughout the night and ail of the next day. Forty-eight men perished and between 50 and 60 were so badly frostbitten that the am? putation of one or more of their limbs will have to be undergone by all of them Yesterday the Greenland suc? ceeded in recovering the bodies of 25 of the victims, but the remaining 23 were buried beneath the snow drifts From the circumstances of the dis? aster it is feared that other steamers have suffered in a simillar manner. The city is in a terrible state of ex? citement. The disaster is the worst recorded in the history of the seal? ing industry. Most of the victims were married Eliminating the Negro. A New Suffrage Plan for Louisiana. New Orleans, March 25.-By a vote of 95 to 28, with ll delegates absent, the Louisiana constitutional convention to day adopted a suffrage plan. The session is to be of seven? ty days duration, and it was agreed to dispose of suffiage before taking up any other question It took forty-five days to reach a verdict The convention is almost solidly Democratic, and the avowed purpose was to eliminate the negro from Louisiana politics. The meas? ure adopted, by providing for edu? cational and property qualifications and a poll tax. is presumed to answer the purpose effectively. At the same time, it was desired to let in as many white peor/'e as possible, and this is accomplished by exempting natural? ized voters, as well as those who were voters in 1867, with their sons sod grandsons The latter clause was advised against by Senators McEoery and Caffery, who said they had consulted the ablest constitution lawyers in Congress and found them unanimous upon its unconstitutionality. These opinions led to its being abandoned, but the convention was so hopelessly divided upon a substitute that it was finally decided to reinstate the clause and take the risk. A Lesson For the Sooth. How the War Craze has Al? ready Paralyzed the Cotton Movement in Texas. St Louis, March 27.-A special to the Republic from Austin. Texas, flays : The cotton bajera and broker* of the State are becoming alarmed at the situa? tion io their business brought on by war rumors. They God it impossible to secure in#uranoe on export cotton from either Galveston or New Orleans, as tbe ir^urnnoe people will not accept the colton raith the present war cloud hoveriog over tbe country A Spanish skip to* in Galveston, ia attempting to load cotton for Liverpool, has been refused insurance for fear of seizure on the high ?pa<?. Several foreign firms havo wired their State buyers to ship on Bri:i8b bottoms only, es they are considered the ooly safe means of trans? portation iu case of war. At least a third of the Texas cotton crop is to be moved yet, and the preseas war scare is foi; seriously in the markeii&g of the product Efforts are being made lock iog to relieving the pit nanon, but at present the local buyers say that the situation is critical. The militis bai been called out io Houston, Texas, to keep striking street car-employes in el)6ok The city was in darkness last night thc electric light power house having been destroyed by an explosion. There was a double murder in Union yesterday Jerry Andersoa killed Allen Gest ted Joe Sanders, and made his escape. All parties are negroes. A terrific tornado io tho Indian Ter? ritory yesterday caused tbe death of three persona and the destruction of a groat deal of property. asy to Take asy to Operate Are features peculiar to Hood's Pills. Small in size, tasteless, efficient thorough. As one man said : '. You never know you have taken a pill till it is all over." 23c. C. I. Hood & Co., Proprietors, Lowell, Mass. ?he only pills to take with Hood's Sarsaparilla. Pills