Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-02-27
The Register Has the Only Sunday TeegraphC News Service

Il
That IN many quarters positive state
ments We're being made that mines ex-
listed within Havana harbor and in
the vicinity of the Maine. Under such
circumstances, he was asked for a di-
rect statement bearing on this point
with view to clearing up any misap-
prehenslon that might exist In view
OF this request. Senior Du Bose set on
root an inquiry by cable which gave
MIN the information, which up to that
time, he had not possessed. Naturally
the inquiry was distasteful to the
charge and to the Spanish authorities,
as they deeply resent any even i'm
piled imputation that the catastrophe
to the Maine could be due to mines or
other external influences. But for the
purpose of giving the one essential
statement of fact in the knowledge of
those having the only direct informa-
ton on the subject, the official state
ment was secured and made public by
Senior Du Bose. 1t is not, however, it
is explained at the legation, state
ment of the Spanish government, for
the government has not felt called
upon to repel insinuations, which, from
it's standpoint, grossly reflect upon its
honor. The purpose of Senior Du Bose
was to make the statement as one of
fact, established from the best official
authorities, and not to make it az
government utterance, which he re-
garded as unnecessary.
AS A STATEMENT OF FACT,
however, it is given by Senior Du Bose
with the greatest positiveness and
from sources of Spanish information
whose authority he says is not open to
question.
When seen to-day. Senior Du Bose
had no details to add to his statement.
The information reaching him confined
itself to the one succinct declaration
that no mines or submarine defences
of any kind existed inside or outside
of Havana harbor With emphasis he
expressed his indignation that he
should feel it to be his duty to repel
the insinuations and statements that
Havana harbor was mined, which as
sertionS were inspired, he SAID, by
those anxious to stir passion and re-
sentiment between the two nations.
He considered such suggestions an in
suit to Spain, and without deignlng to
answer to them he submitted as
bare fact that there were no mines or
submarine defenses of any character
in or about Havana harbor. He would
not discuss the subject further, saying
il sufficed to make the one essential
statement of fact.
When the attention of Prof Philip
Alger of the bureau Of ordnance OF the
Navy Department, was called to Senior
Du Bosses statement, he said he had
been looking for some such express
sion. as it seemed the natural thing TOT
the Spanish authorities to make sucn
a. statement in case no mines existed
in Havana. From the first, he said he
had maintained the view that the ex-
nlosion of the Maine was probably the
result of an accident and if Senior Du
Roses statement could be proved TO De
true. it would in his opinion render the
tornedo or mine theory of the eXplo-
sion entirely untenable
Notwithstanding the repeated ex-
plantations by Captain Sigsbee, couched
in language as broad as consideration
for the feelings of the relatives OF the
deceased sailors would permit, to snow
that it is practically impossible TO
bring the remains of the victims of the
explosion
TO THE UNITED STATES FOR IN
TERMENT,
some of the relatives continue in their
efforts to overcome his decision. Re
Gently an application was made
through the friends of Reyes, one OF
the victims, to the State Department
for permission to have his remains
brought to the United States. Reyes
had already been inferred for several
DAYS. his body being among the first
to be recovered. The request was re-
ferred to Consul General Lee, who has
lust replied to the State Department
that the Spanish law forbids the ex-
humation of dead bodies. This legal
obstacle. in addition to the other
serious objections that have been made
to the removal of bodies, such as the
danger of bringing contagion into the
country. the impossibility of accurate
ly Identifying the remains and other
reasons, will probably be sufficient, it
is thought, to deter the prosecution OF
further applications of the kind
Judge Advocate General Lemley has
received a telegram from W. f.
Uumphrey. president OF the Boston
TOM BOAT AOlipoiSf ohN "
Germs engaged in the wrecking OF the
Maine. stating that the big tug Under
writer sailed from Boston Yesterday
for Havana to join the Merritt com
nanvs boat now at that place. Inc
frnderwriter is to stop at New YORK
an her way south and pick up the Mer-
ritz G Chapman floating derrick
aCs;efn and later on the big derrick
"Nonarch" will follow.
THE PRINCIPAL FUNCTION
If the latter craft, which is especially
engaged at large expense, will be to
undertake to lift off the turrets and
hig guns of tue Maine, weight be-
yond the capacity of the smaller der
diclx "The Chief to handle.
No word has yet come from the
court of inquiry at Havana touching
tbe time when they will leave Havana
for Kew West. nor, in fact, has the
court been heard from in. any manner
since the last published report
Ex-CONFEDERATFS READY TO
FIGHT.
-, Nv Fabruary 26 A