The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-18
DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE
GOVERNMENT has SETTLED BACK
INTO 4 WAITING ATTITUDE.


INTO a WAITING ATTITUDE.
Sensational Rumors Set at Rest-Quiet at
the White House-Court of Inquiry
Maine to be Raised-Graphic Story of the
Was on Watch When the Explosion oc-
curred-Ha Heard That Havana Harbor
Victims in Havana-Au Havana At
tended-BeIieved at Navy Department
That Probable Result of Inquiry VIII
Not be Apparent Before Tomorrow.
Washington, D. c., Feb. 17.-In order
to answer inquiries from all sections of
the country regarding sensational ru-
mors, the following is made: The crui
ser New York has not been ordered to
Havana, Consul General Lee has not
been assassinated, there is no confer
ence of the cabinet congress Is not in
session tonight, both houses having
morrow; President Mckinley did not
go to the capitol, and the situation is
decidedly quiet.
Washington Office, Associated Press.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE govern
ment has settled back into waiting
attitude in respect to the horrible ma
rine disaster in Havana haroor. The
great shock caused by the news has
gwen way to calmer and more ju-
dlciaI state of mind and realizing
from the events of the day that the
court of inquiry is the sole depend
ence in the search for the cause of the
Names loss the naval officials are now
resigned to await the results of that
inquiry by court named to-day by the
navy department. There is little
now to add to the sum Of information
as to the disaster during the forenoon.
No kilograms came and all that could
be cleaned was a denial of some alb
surd story or other that had crept into
print or become current gossip. All
the news of the day came in the late
afternoon In the shape of Captain Sigs-
bees report of the authorization of the
funeral of his dead sailors, and Cen
eral Lees brief story Of the terrible
struggle for life in the dark hull of the
Maine.
Frantic Appeals of Relatives.
The officials at the navy department
devoted the day to the effort to correct
the lists of living and dead to answer
frantic appeals from relatives of men
on the battleship Maine, and last, but
not least in meeting with unwavering
courtesy and patience the exacting de-
mands upon their time Of the press
representatives. The disposition of the
survivors, Captain Dickins, acting chief
of the navigation bureau, has arranged
for as well as could be from this dis
tance. The wounded sailors in the Ha-
vana hospitals on the Spanish flagship
and elsewhere, when not in condition
to be brought back to Key West, will
be carefully looked after by Miss Clara
Barton, who has been given carte
blanche to buy everything necessary,
food, clothing. etc., and hire nurses and
physicians. The wounded able to get
across to Key West will be taken care
of in the marine hospitals there. The
sound survivors will be quartered in
the spare army barracks there.
To Raise the Maine.
AS for the Maine herself, notwith-
standing discouraging reports from
Lieutenant Hood as to her condition,
the navy department will make the ef-
fort to raise her. While this is re-
eluired by every creditable sentiment,
they say that they are bound to re-
move the hull from the small harbor
in any case and it may be as easy, or
easier to raise her as it would be to
destroy the hull and machinery by the
use of divers and dynamite. 1t is be-
lieved that this work can best be done
by private wrecking corporations, and
negotiations are already on foot for
placing the contract, based on work by
the day, at an estimated cost of $780,
900.
No Torpedo FIotilla for Cuba.
At the navy department specific de-
nial was given of the report emanat-
ing from Madrid that a torpedo f1otil-
la was about to leave Key West for
Cuba. 1t was stated that only two tor
pedo boats, the Gushing and the Erics-
son, are at Key West, and these have
not been ordered and will not be or
dered, according to present plans, to
Cuba. 1t was strongly asserted that
no present purpose existed of sending
any warship there. Senior Duborc, the
Spanish charge, had received no in
structions up to p. m. as to going to
New York and stopping the Spanish
warship Viscaya from entering the
port and reports to this effect were
discredited.
Quiet at White House.
The air of suppressed excitement,
which characterized the movement of
the employees and visitors at the White
house yesterday was not noticeable to-
day. There were comparatively few
visitors during the morning hours, and
for considerable time in the middle
of the day, the White house bore an al
most deserted appearance. Only lin
tied number of members of congress
gress called during the morning and
the interviews were brief. Postmaster
General Gary was the only member of
the cabinet who called and his business
related entirely to departmental mat
tiers. Assistant Secretary Day saw the
president for few minutes but he had
nothing of Importance to communicate
until after o'clock, when he carried
to the white house official information
of the closing of the De LONE letter In
oideOf So far could he 1aarpad tho