. ' * THE E‘vmim GAZETTE BEGIN THE YEAR. Br CR1 , FOR THE -.4 vmm KEY, EAZETTE TAN] N. Y. WEEKLYTR BUNE. ' BOTH P APERS Sent to anv Address FOR One— Dollar! ADDRESS ALL ORDERS T0 GAZETTE. - will be most peculiar." 11101111 11:11 1 111111 The Dierst er to the 'l-Liaiue Was Not an Accfleut. FORE'_‘1°‘TO1‘:.TEL REPORT The Battleship Maine “’35 Destroyed in the Harbor of Havana by a. Sublnarine Mine Laid by Parties Unknown—Report; Win Beach ‘Washington are—urm-rmv.~ Key West, Fla, March 23.——From in- formation from a source which admits of no possible question it can be stat— ed positively that the Court of Inquiry will report that the battleship Maine was destroyed in 'the harbor of Havana on the night of February 15 by a. sub- marine mine, previously laid by parties unknown. The report, which left for Washing- ton at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, should reach there some time to—mor- row. Testimony of the su1vi‘. ms, particu- larly ofiiceis, all of whom were awake at the time, proved conclusively at the beginning of the sessions of the court that an accident could not have caused the disaster. This conclusion was reached, for the following reasons: The situation of. the ship’s boiler was so far aft that it was impossible it could communicate with the forward maganzine, either by heat or explosion. The explosion was all forward. The condition 'of the ship shows that the dynamo boiler could not explode, be- cause steam for dymos wassupplies from the main boilers. Spontaneous combustion of the coal in the bunkers was impossible, because they were thoroughly inspected, as is customary, on that day. The gasses arising from the wreck immediately after the, explosion, and which overcame several officers and men, were not due, in the judgment of the court, to the coal in the bunkers, but to high explosives which always throw out a'. bad odor and gasses. The gun cotton could not have ex- ploded, because it was regularly in- spected that day and found to be thor- oughly wet, which was necessary, and besides, said gun cotton was mostly situated aft under the ward room, and not in the forward magazine as sup- posed by the reporters all along. Lastly, had the explosion been inter- nal and in communication with any of the four magazines, all would have gone off, in which event not an atom of the ship would have been left and the greaterportion of Havana. would have been destroyed. One officer will always be on the watch while the report is en route to Washington. The same precautions are maintained as on shipboard one al— ways remaining awake. All are armed. Admiral Sicard says that the ”report This is taken to indicate that evidence of a most startling nature will be disclosed. The survivors could prove nothing. They could only give their personal ex— perience without opinions. The divers, however, explained everything through soundings. The report, leaving her: at the above time on the steamboat City of Key W'est, will reach Jacksonville this even- ing and Washington probably to-mof— row evening. President McKinley has alreo dy been informed by a cipher cable of the find- ings of the court. Unlike an ordinary inquiry, the find— ings in this report will not go to the Judge-Advocate General, but direct to Secretary Long, who will hand it to the President. BIG BANK FRAUDS. It Is Said $300,000 Has Been Secured Through Bogus Time Checks. Washington, March 23.—Infor'mation has reached the Government through a number of banks at St. Paul, Minn, that during the past year and more these and other nearby banks have been made the victims of colossal frauds through the suspected collusion of Government clerks connected with the commission having in charge the improvements on the upper Mississippi River. Full details of the affair have not yet reached the Government, but the statements submitted by the bank’s syndicate say that $300,000 or more has been procured from them through the fraudulent time checks for services never performed. ' Copies of some of these time checks are said to be signed by J. H. Southall. chie'f clerk of the United States En— gineers’ office at St. Paul, and are dated at different times during the year 1897. Others, it is understood, are dated in 1896. How the banks came to be imposed upon to the extent indi- cated and why the checks have been withheld until this time cannot be even conejctured. It is understood that the banks will make a claim for reimburse— ment, but the law is said here to be clearly against this contention. The Government will begin a searching in- vestigation at once into the whole mat- ter. Spanish lilinister TMakes a. Denial. Madrid, March 23.—The Spanish Gov— ernment has received a dispatch from its Minister at Washington, Senor Polo y Bernabe, saying that the report of the United States Naval Court appoint- ed to inquire into the Ices of the battle ship Maine holds that the explosion was of external origin. W'ashington, March 23.—Senor Polo, the Spanish Minister, said yesterday that the report from Madrid that he had notified his Government that the American Naval Court of Inquiry's re- port was that the explosion was of external origin was an error. He added that he had not notified his Gov- ernment what the report would be for the reason that he did not know, and did not send cablegrams to his Govern- ment except when he knew what were the facts, and in this case he was not in possession of the facts. Wire Combination Efl‘ected. Pittsburg, March 23. —The rod, wire and nail combination/has been char ter- ed in Illinois with a capital stock of $24,000, 000, fourteen plants in the com- pany. One-half of the stock is pre- ferred and one-half common. The ag- gregate output of the companies i111 e1- ested is estimated at 750, 000 tons an- nually. Active work commences on April 1. Neither the Olivers nor the Pittsburg Wire Company are interest- ed in the combination. 1 interview LAUNCHING NEW WARSHIPS. [he Kearsarge and the Kentucky Are Ready to Slide 011‘ their Stays. Newport News, Va.., March 23.—The delegations who are to attend the chirstening of the ,new battleships, the Kentucky and the Kearsarge, are ar- riving here to-day. Everything has been made ready and the christening is expected to occur without a. hitch. Work on the big boats has been rushed week days and Sundays, so as to get the boats ready for their first ride into the waters. The launching of these two battleships at the same time will be the first double launching of war- ships that ever took place in the world. MISS CHRISTIE E BRADLEY. Miss Christine Bradley will chirsten the Kentucky with a bottle of water taken from the spring from which Abraham Lincoln drank when a boy; while Mrs. VVnislow, wife of Lieutenant “Vinslow, U. S. N., will break a bottle of champagne over the bow of the Kearsarge. Governor Bradley, of Ken- tucky, and staff will be present, as well as many prominent Government ofl‘i- cials, who will represent President Mc- Kinley. Neither of the vessels will be finished and ready for service for at least two years yet, so that they are not regarded as factors to be counted on in the event of an outbreak of hes- tilities in the immediate future. SPAIN’S TORPEDO FLEET. Delay Due to an Injury to the Ariete— Press Aroused by Events. Madrid, Spain, March 23.411119 papers here publish full reports of the move- ments of the United States war ships and of the defensive preparations be- ing made by the United States. It is reported that the Spanish war ship selected to convoy the torpedo flotilla has sailed from Cartagena for the Canary Islands. It appears that the delay in the voyage of the torpedo boats is due to the fact that the Ariete, one of the Spanish torpedo boats, sus- tained some slight damage while on her way from Cadiz to the Canaries. The Spanish newspapers advocate further strengthening of the naval squadron in Cuba. so as not to be caught at a disadvantage in the event of war. The Heraldo thinks that in view of the “ostentatious preparations” of the United States Spain has full liberty to make similar preparations. The Globe insists that injury has been done to Spain by the United States squadron remaining close to the seat of war. It gladly notes, however, that the “verbal suggestions of Senor P010 to Secretary Sherman have led to the withdrawal of a portion of the squadron, thus demonstrating the cor- diality existing between the two coun- tries.” The Imparcial expresses the opinion that the action of the United States has completely checked the advantages which Spain might have derived from granting autonomy to Cuba, and al- leges that the United States has “prac— tically strangled autonomy at its birth.” The Imparcial also thinks Spain fail- ed diplomatically in not having ob- tained the removal of Consul-General Lee, “nor the withdrawal of the ship from Cuba,” and expresses fear that. “althoughmilitary action will be keen- er than ever,” it will not suffice to pac- ify Cuba, “owing to circumstances cre- ated by the United States." The Correo (Carlist) does not expect help from Europe, but hopes the Latin nations of America will support Spain. SAYS WAR IS INEVITABLE. Opinion of Speaker Sleeper, of the Ohio House, the President’s Friend. Cripple Creek, 001., March 23.—In an here Hon. D. S. Sleeper, Speaker of the lower house of the Ohio Legislature and a personal friend of President McKinley, said: “I consider war with Spain inevita- ble. The matter has gone so far that diplomacy cannot avert a combat. The struggle will probably be very short. Cuba will be freed, the United States will get whatever indemnity she has demanded, and that will end the mat- ter. “As to the President being on the verge of mental breakdown, I do not believe it. I was~in Washington and ’ had a. long talk with Mr. McKinley less than two weeks ago, and there was no signs of any weakness on his part. He will not break down.” r---—'_""’"~" Admiral Slcar'd Will S'oiin Retire.‘ Washington, March 23.-—Owing to the continued ill-health of Rear-Admiral Montgomery Sicard, commanding the North Atlantic Squadron, arrange- ments are making for his detachment from that duty as soon as it becomes apparent that such a step is necessary. Several weeks ago Admiral Sicard ask- ed for a. short leave of absence in con- sequence ot a severe attack of malarial fever. His request was granted, and he spent a short time on shore. He is again ill, and it is now feared that it will be necessary to give him a shore consignment or else a leave of ab- sence. Pennsylvania Directors lie-elected. Philadelphia, March 23.—At the an- nual lection of the Pennsylvania Rail- road yesterday the old Board of Direc- tors was re-elected. It consists of Frank Thomson, Alexander M. Fox. Alexander Biddle, N. Parker Short- ridge, William A. Elkins, A. J. Cas— satt, Clement A. Griscom, Benjamin B. Comeg'ys, Amos R. Little, William H. Barnes, George Wood. C. Stuart Pat- terson and Eflingham B. Morris. The total number of shores voted was 1,: 147,740. 5,000 Bayonets Ordered. Chicopee, Mass... March 23.——The Ames Sword Company has received from the United States Government a rush order for 5, 000 bayonets and scab- - bet-do. *00000000 00209090 00909099099999v000000000* NORWALK BUSINESS DIRECTORY. Norwall; Fire Insurance 00. “IN—— SUCCESS bFUL OPERATION SIN CE 1860. NO OUTSTANDING CLAIMS. Pie} Bros’ Real German Lager, ON DRAUGHT AND IN BOTTLE» _at_.__ RATCHEORDS’ - - — 44 Main street. S- B- WILSON, PRA CTIC A L. CONTRACTOR & BUILDER. EStimatcs chceifully given. Large buildings a. specialty. in any pa1t of the Countrv. Steam mill and yard, Wall sti eet, N01 walk, Conn. -:- $lfl€i its Contracts taken 8 Cross street. . -m. -:- l$l.00 Warranted Solid Gold. . Beautiful Chased Holder." You may think it cannot possess merit or durability, the price is so low; but the “Lincoln” is a $2. 50 pen reduced to $1. 00. It is durable, always ready to “go” but never drips, the ink flowing steadily and uniformly. Thev are in use in this oflice, giving the best of satisfaction, and they are in use in the ba 5, insurance and business offices and among all classes of users of pens in Norwalk and vicinity. Orders are received from all parts of the country. Samples to be seen and orders received at the GAZETTE ”OFFICE. o0 M oM<1MMMMMewwwwwwwwew<><> <> 0 0 000* fiTENOGRAPHY, Bookkeeping, Banking, Correspondence) etc.. thoroughly taught, by new and exclusive methods Six months with us equal to a. year in any other school- wanted, Unemployed Young Men, _ whose education has been finished in Public Schools, 1 Academies and Colleges, to writef or our plan of cnstructz‘on by mail. We train for practical work and always secure sit. New York Business lnStitute 81 E. 125111 51., New York. or the REWARD Dto any one for first information of a. va-<> acaucy for a Bookkeeper, Stenographer, 0 Clerk or Telegraph Operator which we succeed" in filling. Busi- '<> ness men supplied with competent assistants without charge. If <> stamps for five easy. lessons 1n Shorthand. Students commence workg any time. No vacations. Boardand otherexpenses moderate. Railroad Z fare paid. If you expect to go to College write for our free catalogue. <> Address (mention this paper), 0 CLEMENT c. GAINES, President, Poughkeepsie, N. x. Z weMoreMMowMMMr/MMMOMoMMMMOMMW’ 512533.59: rinmfififi i=L‘-=1=:'_‘=_‘-.1‘= 81.1111 T011111 11311111113 B10011 .4 POSITIVE 01/35 FOB 11131121311. 1111111111. 11111115 .11 111131 111111: 11110113111333. 816K 11...1111.11 CONSTIPAIIOH .11 11111111 111111111. Sand for Pamphlet. \ ’- V" 1371???? f . , . PRICE 1110 0138. d SHEEN. AT ALL Will Keep your Stomach in Heailhy Condition. DRUGGISTS. 49 and 51 Marion St, N. 1'. \Vom'm ought to l e \"iLlthl the 811‘ El: YER-xi 11‘ REMEDY (SUPPOSITORIES .. . £._1L‘.¢~—.nrfl3~am None genuino except “Trade 11m" blown in every bottle. 0 SAVER LIVER PILLS 25 CENTS. LP Purely Vegetable. W111 cure Biliousness, Consdpation, Files. Sick- Headache, and “I Dyspepsia". Small Easy taken. AIIVEHTISI . I} 11111 1111. The successful Merchants in Nor- r-Jl—ir—dfigr-Jgs#EFJ:;%:SHB=§HHHEH:F=FEE5%Z N . cease-.1513. walk all advertise in The GA "-,ETTE because it keeps them in touch with the entire purchasingcommunity. '\ Office, 92 - 000000006066¢¢¢¢000000000¢¢¢ you are seeking employment and willing to study, send ten two-cent : p
Norwalk Chronicler