An illustrated history of our war with Spain - its causes, incidents, and results (1898) (14579441969)

Identifier: illustratedhist00russ (find matches)
Title: An illustrated history of our war with Spain : its causes, incidents, and results
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Russell, Henry Benajah, 1859- Thurston, John Mellen, 1847-1916 Proctor, Redfield, 1831-1908
Subjects: Spanish-American War, 1898
Publisher: Hartford, Conn : A. D. Worthington
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto



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in the east room and state parlors. Awoman came in, and, as her first glance fell upon the impro-vised cloak-room, she exclaimed: Oh, you are not going on with the reception, are you,while a hundred American sailors lie dead in Havana ? Her voice trembled with feeling, though she did not knowthat instead of one hundred dead American sailors, there were260. That was given out later. There had been no order asyet to give up the reception, and the attendant to whom shespoke looked distressed, but could only reply: I _ I dont know. Up in the Cabinet-room the President was talking it overwith such members of his cabinet as were in town, and duringthe day the contents of the dispatches from Havana weregiven out from time to time. There was no disposition towithhold anything, and, indeed, it would have been very un-wise to have done so, under the strain of public excitement andanxiety. When the Attorney-General came out of the cabinet-room he was instantly surrounded by men of the press, who
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THE OFFICIAL AND THE GENERAL IMPRESSION 425 looked rather than asked the questions usually fired inquest of information. He stood his ground well, lookingthem squarely in the face as he said in cool, deliberate tones: Everything known about the disaster will be given out;the President directs it, and you will learn all from the Secre-tary of the Navy. Perhaps it is just as well, therefore, that Ishould say nothing more. Then, after an instants pause, he added: The Spanishgovernment at Havana tenders its sympathy. He bowed andpassed down the stairway. There was not a word of comment.Men of the press had become hardened to the friendly rela-tion phase of the Cuban policy. Ten minutes later the Secretary of the ISTavy came out ofthe cabinet-room. Three men who had been waiting for himw^ere at his side at once. On their return one was asked: Well, what is the impression — the official impression? Oh, the official impression is that it was an accident.And the other impression — the gen