The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-02-25
WASHINGTON QUIET.
No Important News Received at the
Capital About the Maine Wreck.
The MAINE COURT OF INQUIRY.
Two of the Battleship's OTcers Examined
Tuesday for the Wreck
The War Department VIII
Refuse Information.

eminent departments were closed in
Washington yesterday save the navy
department, where few of the Off
Gals assembled to receive any dis
patches that might arrive and to close
the contract with the wreckers for the
recovery of the effects on the Maine
and the vessel herself, II that be prac-
ticable. The signing of the wreclting
contract was the most important event
Of the day, and, this concluded, the
officials closed up shop and went home
to enjoy q respite from the rush of the
past week. Capt. Sigsbee was heard
from in dispatch which indicates
that close attention will be given to
the coal bunkers by the naval court of
inquiry. Washington officials unques-
tionably have been for some time pre-.
pairing for any emergency that may
arise, but appearances at the depart
ment yesterday would indicate that
any necessary orders already have
been given, and that the situation was
not one calling for immediate activity
at Washington.
The naval officers assert that the re-
port to the effect that the movements
of the south Atlantic squadron, now
under way, are with view to the
early assembling of the vessels near
Havana is without foundation. This
movement, they say, is in direct ac-
cordance with the plan outlined in De-
cember last by Capt. Chester, of the
Cincinnati, in command of the squad
ron and approved by the department.
In explanation of the order given
MAnAatt 20 ha
officials To have the Terror In condi-
ton for service, Secretary Long said
this order had been given to replace
the Maine, 1t being deemed desirable
that the armored fleet should not fall
below a certain number. There was
very little work to be done on the
Terror, and As hours should suffice to
finish IL. The Terror is our most
powerful dou ble-turreted monitor, and,
although not as effective as seaboat
as battleship, in the smooth waters
of the harbor she would probably be
able to hold her own against almost
any craft Criticisms lately passed
upon the state of the army and our
Notifications have caused increased
activity in military matters, and to
some extent this is responsible for re-
ports arriving from various quarters of
movements at army posts.
MAINE COURT OF INQUIRY.
HAVANA, Feb. 23.-The Maine court
of inquiry opened at 1890 yesterday
and took a recess at 1880. Lieut.. Hol-
man, navigator and ordnance officer of
the Maine, was examined at the morn
ing session. The court met for the
afternoon session at 1870, and Lieuten-
ant Commander Wainwright executive
officer of the Maine, was called to the
stand. Lieut.. Wainwright has been
in immediate charge of the wreck
since the explosion. Four divers were
at work, two in the fore part of the
ship and the others aft. Nearly all
the possible salvage has now been
made from the cabin aft. The efforts
to reach the ward and messrooms are
frustrated by some unknown obstacle.
The work of securing the bodies under
the hatch has been most difficult in the
dark, but it is hoped that the electric
lights will be of great assistance. The
bodies are much mutlated and are
partially burned.
On the Mangrove, the sessions of the
court were held in the captains cabin.
The proceedings were very quiet, no
one but the witnesses and the short
hand reporter being admitted. The
arrangement is that the stenographer
shall write out his notes day by day
and the court will adjourn from time
to time TO give him the opportuni ty
INDEMNITY FOR THE WRECK.
CHICAGO, Feb. %. The journal has
the following special from Washing
ton: Should it be proven that the
Maine was destroyed by an outside ex.
plosion with the knowledge of Span
ish officials, President Mckinley will
demand an indemnity of from Sl3, 200,
600 TO sis, 900, 900. This statement was
made yesterday by an officer of the
navy department who Is thoroughly
conversant with the present Spanish
situation. ut was decided at con-
ference of the president and several
cabinet officers to-day" he continued,
that the Spanish government was
bound to protect the vessels of friend
ly nation in one of its harbors, and
that II the Maine was destroyed by u
submarine mine or torpedo, whether
with the knowledge of officials or not,
that government must be responsible
The value of the vessel is estimated at
$1,000, 900. The rest is to be paid to
relatives of officers and men who lost
their lives by the destruction of the
vessel
WAR DEPARTMENT SECRETS.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 28.-"Acting I'M
der the positive orders of the secretary
of war" said Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn, mo information whatever
concerning the military forces of the
United States and Spain will be di-
vulged by the war department. This
rule, which applies to maps, plans and
descriptions of Notifications in this
country ard Cuba, was issued several
weeks ago 1t is not the outgrowth ot
the DE LONE incident, or the recent
disaster to the Maine, but was done
90. o,,r nxxy,