The herald., 1898-02-26

on the wreck of the Maine. Those who
were sent here from the Battleship Iowa
and the cruiser New York were exam
lined.
While, Of course. the members of the
Icourt will not talk for publication, am
informed on the highest authority that
the evidence of Diver Morgan as to the
condition of the Maine shows almost
beyond the possibility of doubt, In
the opinion of my informant, that the
Maine was blown up by an outside
agency.
"FHrthermore, Morgan'sreport Is veri-
fed by the other American divers who
descended today.
"The court will finish its work here
tomorrow and proceed at once to Key
West, to take the testimony of the sur
vivors there. 1t has also been decided
not to return to Havana, all the in
| formation as to the cause of the disas-
ter having already been secured. 1t is
believed that a. decision has been practi-
cally reached. The witnesses yet to be
examined will hardly change the ver-
| dict.
"The court has decided against any
attempt to raise the ruined battleship.
would be useless, as she could not be
kept afloat and the Spanish authorities
here will be informed that If they wish
the wreck removed from the harbor
they must attend to the work them
selves. This decision gives better
idea of the terrible havoc wrought in
the Maine than columns of description
could.
"The Merritt wrecking Company, 1t
was announced today, wanted $4,000, 900
to raise the wreck. The companys re-
port made this demand after viewing
the condition of the ship.
THE wreckers today turned their at
tention to saving the great guns. These,
at least, can be recovered in sufficiently
good condition to warrant the effort.
Twenty unknown bodies of the crew
were recovered from the wreck by the
divers at noon today, The bodies were
frightfully burned and mangled and 1t
may be impossible to ever identify some
of them.
"Holzer, who made such a brave fight,
died in the hospital today. All the
wounded will leave here Saturday on the
Bache for Key West. The physicians
consider it safe to move them now."
A RUMOR DENIED
NORFOLK, Va, Feb. 25.-The rumor
that the government is securing from
railway companies estimates of their
capacity for moving troops and muni-
tions of war between Atlantic and Gulf
ports and the interior, is officially denied
by Vice President st. John, of the Sea-
board Air line, whose road was men,
n1 tn hn Arto Me- ToI ,otI
today that he is ignorant of any such
move on the part of the War Depart
ment, and as to contracts for moving
troops, he has heard nothing of them.
IN THE CABINET
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The first
full meeting of the Cabinet in some
weeks was held today, both Secretaries
Alger and Sherman, who have been sick,
being present, The Cabinet talked about
the Maine disaster at some length as
a current topic of vital interest, but no
action was adopted. No intimation, 1t
was stated, has yet come from the Court
of INJURY as to how long it will be oc-
cppied with its work, and consequently
no conclusion can be reached as to when
its report will be available. The situa-
ton otherwise. 1t was stated, Is un-
changed and after the Cabinet meeting
1t was announced that there was no news
at the State or Navy Departments that
would add anything to the situation as
shown by Saturdays dispatches.
NO FACTS WITHHELD
CHICAGO, Feb. 25-Mr. H. H. Kohl
saat, who Is very close to President Nc
Kinley, publishes the following in the |
Chicago Evening Post today:
"It can be stated positively that |
neither the President nor Secretary Long |
is in possession of single fact or report |
In regard to the Maine disaster that |
they have not made public And, |
while they cannot confirm or deny the
stories daily published
the country, as to the pro-
gress of the Court of Inquiry, they know
Of the court will be made public in ad-
vance of the report. Every official con-
nected with the inquiry into the cause
IF the disaster to the Maine, from Cap
tain Sampson down to the divers and
inemen, Is under oath of secrecy. For
the time being the divers are under naval
discipline. When above water each is
attended by petty officer of the Court
Of Inquiry. The Maine itself is sacredly
guarded from unofficial APPROACH.
These facts account for the equa-
nimity with which the American people
read the daily sensations from Havana
and the stock -jobbing forebodings of
war from New York and Washington.
This much is absolutely true: Pres
ldent Mckinley knows nothing about
the wreck of the Maine or the testimony
as to it's cause that he has not made
public. He will not withhold any infor-
nation when he gets 1t. He has not come
to any conclusion as to whether the dis
aster was accidental or designed, or
it was caused by an internal or
external explosion.
When he receives the result of the
Court Of Inquiry he will know the facts,
which he will make public, with his con-
illusions and policy"
A DOUBLE LAUNCHING
RICHMOND, Va. Feb. 26.-The off,
,ers Of the Newport News shipyard an
that the double launching of
he battleships Kentucky and Ksar-
sarge will take place March gath and will
De the first double launching of first
class battleships In the world.
Governor Bradley and staff will come
from Kentucky and Miss Christine Brad
ey, his daughter, will christen the Ken
lucky with bottle of water taken from
he spring from which Abraham Lin
,oln drank when a boy, while Mrs. Win
slow, wife of Lieutenant Wislow, u. s.