The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-23
PROBING THE MYSTERY
GAEAL C0URT or INQUIRY STILL IN
SESSION At HAHANA
Nothing Discovered Throwing Light
on the Maine Disaster or at
Least Nothing Was Made Public
by the Authorities-Dfve nt
Work in the Hull of the Ship.

HAVANA, Feb 22-Tne naval court
of Inquiry investigating the cause of
the explosion of the Maine resumed its
work this morning Lieut.. q. F. HOl-
man, navigator and ordnance officer of
the Maine, was examined at the morn
Ing session.
The court net for the afternoon ses-
sion at half past one, and Lieut.. Com
mander r Wainwright, executive Off
Ger Of the Maine was called 70 the wit
ness stand Lieut. Commander VAIN
wright mas been in immediate charge
of the wreck since the explosion
Four divers are a. work. two in the
fOrepart of the ship and the others afr.
The task is most Iaborious, and the
men are naturally extremely careful,
as they have had TO work in complete
darkness, and several have had bad
falls Electric lights from the Man
grove are now available and much good
is expected from them.
Nearly all the possible salvage has
now been made from the cabin aft The
efforts to reach the ward and mess
rooms are frustrated by some unknown
obstacle It is expected to find bodies
in those rooms. Two cases of teu-lnch
ammunition have been found. the one
having exploded, the other full Of pow
der. These were found forward
The work of securing the bodies un-
IN the dark. but 1t is hoped that the
electric lights will be of great assist
ance. The bodies are much mutilated
and some are partially burned
Wreck Visited.
The officers of the court Of inquiry
Paid another visit TO the wreck today.
Capt Sampson, after the visits of the
members of the court by the captain
I'D
said the reception extended them had
been polite and cordial The captain
general and admiral had expressed deep
sympathy and the hope that nothing
would interfere to prevent a thorough
investigation. They offered 10 give any
help in their power. Capt. Sampson,
referred TO the visits as tending to
promote better understanding"
George W. KoebeIer, of Brooklyn,
died today at the military hospital An
the other injured show some improve
ment.
La Lucha in an editorial today COM
ments upon the ''unfairness of the
United States in making Capt. Sig>-
bee the adviser and assistant of the
court Of inquiry"
The editorial IS evidently based on
Incorrect information from the United
States, as naval officers here say it IS
impossible under the rules constituting
naval courts of inquiry that the cap
tain commanding the ship destroyed
should have anything to do with the
finding Of the court, being in one sense
on trial himself. It is made CaDt
Sigsbee's duty 10 give all the testimony
as to the facts in his possession.
La Lucha claims also that the court
Of inquiry Is not constituted as 1t
would be by any other of the great
powers, but in this particular the
paper is evidently Iaboring under
further misinfOrmation.
Gunner Morgan in Charge.
Gunner Charles Morgan, Of the
cruiser New York, who is in charge of
the divers, viii devote special attention
TO examining the ammunition In the
fore part of the Names hull and to
asCertainiug the condition of the plates,
magazines and engines. He is grad
uate in gUnnery and is regarded as
entirely competent, as indeed are all
the divers under his direction. He Is
under strict orders not TO give out
anything on the subject of his Investi-