The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-01
SESSION AT KEY WEST
\ WITNESS SAYS EVIDENCE
POINTS TO DESIGN.
BUT THE PROOF THUS FAR is NEGATIVE
Proceedings of Court Kept Close Secret
Dissolution of The CorteS and New
Election in Spain in Which Cuba
viii Participate.

WIZ ! uSiPAeS'
Washington, d. c., Feb. 28.-At the
close of office hours telegram came tOl
the Navy Department from Admiral
Sicard at Key West, in the following
terms:
"Key West Feb. %.
"1o the Secretary of the Navy, Wash
ington:
Court of Inquiry will commence ses-
sions at Key West to-day. They must
dcnce of divers after further work upon
the wreck.
(Signed.) 'SICARD."
The important feature of this communi-
cation is the declaration that the court
viii return to Havana. 1t sets at rest
rumOrs that have been current for some
days past that the court was not to-
return to Havana for the reason that it
had discovered the cause of the sinking
OF the Maine, which was not an accident,
and that they had consequently no
further business in Havana. One inn
portant deduction To he drawn from the
message WAS that the report Of the
Court of Inquiry can scarcely be eX-
pected for several weeks TO come The
court will be occupied ut Key West for
some days at least in taking the testi-
mony of the survivors there. Then upon
the return to Havana it is expected that
Il good deal of time must elapse before
the divers can get through the mud
which now encompasses the lower part
of the wreck OF the Maine and examine
the bottom. After this is done the
court mnst deliberate in order TO Sc
cure an agreement on their findings. The
prevalent belief at the Navy Department
is that up to this moment the court
has not once undertaken to compare
notes and endeavor to reach such an
agreement.
Secretary Long went to the White
House early tonight and remained in
conference with the President for some
time He returned to his hotel about
ten o'clock and Immediately retired,
leaving word that there was no news.
LETTER FROM CAPT. SAMPSON.
\ letter from Captain Sampson, dated
February %. was received during the
day, and with the candor which has
so far characterized all his dealings with
the public in this matter, Secretary
Long caused it to be given to the news
paper reporters as soon us he had read
it himself. Although it is simply al
statement of events that had already
been reported by telegraph, one fact is
significant, viz. the statement that the
testimony of certain witnesses before the
court would be of no Importance. His
letter is as follows:
February %, 1898.
"Sir: The court has taken the tes-
timony of all the officers of the Maine
still here. Tomorrow we will take
such testimony that the divers have ac
cumulated. The Right Arm arrived here
this morning and reported to Capt. Sigs
bee according to orders.
II trust some wrecling company will
be given the entire job as no other plan
will he feasible.
There are two citizens in the harbor,
who have signifed their willingness to
testify, although they have nothing i'm
portant.
After taking this evidence and that of
the divers, | propose to return to Key
West and take the evidence of the
officers and men there.
at may be necessary to return here
after further progress has been made
with the divers.
every respectfully,
(SigneO wv. ". SAMPSON,
Captain U. S. n"
The reports that came from Key West
about great activity and the observance
of unusual precautions among the few
soldiers Ouartered there, was received
with amusement at army headquarters
here. 1t was said that no orders had
gone forward from this city to explain
the hustle, but there was reason to sus
meet that the commandant was simply
brushing up the post and putting his
hest foot forward against the expected |
onnearance there on his tour of inspec- |
tion of General Merritt, the commanding |
gennrol of the department of the east.
tTbe gnn boat Wilmington sailed to- |
dow from La Guayra for Barbados, |
Prevailing over the ground covered a few |
do,.s before by the Cincinnati and Cas- |
tine An of the boats are slowly cruis- |
;no+ aronnd in the Caribbean and will |
ia so omnloyed until April when they |
1"iu on south again. Secretary Long |
soid IT tbe close of office hours to-day |
that no orders had gone out to send
anotbar war ship to Havana, reports to |
the contrary Notwithstanding.
OIjlET AT WHITE HOUSE.
A. tho White House the utmost quiet |
prevails. Many offers nave come ltoin
proaniaations and individuals Of their
eso,.u;na IN case of a conflict. Some of
tha congrossional callers also have stat