The herald., 1898-02-28


simply being filled up and he did not knov
how many men were wanted or where IN
recruits will be assigned.
ARRIVED AT KEY WEST
KEY WEST, Fla, Feb. N.-The light
house tender Mnngrove. bearing the mem
hers Of the court of inquiry, arrived IRON
+ Havana at o'clock this morning IN
4 court will resume its session In the Unites
States district court room In the federa
building at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning
and will probably return 70 havana ma OF oa
Wednesday. The most important witness
to be examined here is Lieut.. Blandin, TIT
officer Of the deck when the explosion or
the Maine occurred.
The testimony of the other survivors will
take only a short time.
Capt Sampson, Chaplain Chadwick ane
Lieutenant Commander Potter came
ashore and arranged preliminary oetalis
for the sessions of the court.
Martin Redding q diver, returned mere
today. He was taken to Havana 10 WORN
on the wreck, and his arrival today caused
much comment, it being said he had talked
too much at Havana and had been removed
in consequences On his arrival he held
forth at considerable length before street
corner audience and but little credence
could be given to his numerous statements.
Rear Admiral Sicard has held frequent
conferences with Captain Sampson and the
other members of the court of inquiry at
the hotel.
He said tonight: II think they ought to
get away on Wednesday. AS yet there Is
nothing that can be said about their work ="
In reply TO a question as to the removal
of the warship to Cuba, Admiral Sicard
said: 1.-The fleet is not moving and
know nothing about its going to Cuba.
Still you know l have steam up and could
go anywhere if ordered"
He was asked if anything had happened
to justify the statement that the situation
was more serious today than it had been
and he replied: They know at Washing
ton about that. Just how strained our re-
lations are with Spain 1 am unable to
say
The excitement yesterday after the arri-
val of the Cuban filibusters, headed by
General Nunez and Captain John O Brien
completely eclipsed all the doings and say
ings of the court of inquiry. Their quick
departure prevented very much being
learned as to the expedition, but the Gu
bans here are elated. An expedition has
been preparing to go from Key West for
some time. but it will probably be de-
layed, as the plot has leaked out through
two Spanish spies.
COMMENT AND CRITICISM
HAVANA (via Key West), Feb 27.-Many
Americans and some Spaniards here in
sist that the investigation into the Maine
disaster has thus far been superficial and
barren of vital results. They claim that,
though nearly two weeks have elapsed, no
knowledge has been gained as to the for
ward portion of the hull or as to whether
the six or ten-inch ammunition magazines
forward to the starboard exploded. They
insist. moreover. that expert divers. with
enough experience to make drawings of
the condition of things submarine. might
have been at work a week ago and might
have settled the question as to the maza
zines at least ere this.
Those who hold these views demand that
the hull forward should be raised without
further loss of time and before it has sunk
too deep in forty feet of soft mud. There
are some who go so far as to charge the
United States government with adopting
the Spanish policy of delay until the disas-
ter shall be partially forgotten or dis
counted.
Many of the Spanish officials are said
to entertain the opinion that this is the
case and to be very we'll pleased with
the notion. On the other hand. however,
good judges say that all criticism in this
vein is made without knowledge of the
facts and that none save the members of
the court of inquiry and their superiors are
aware of all the testimony developed or of
which submarine plans have been made.
They also urge that there is no use trying
to raise the hull until the wreckage or
armor superstructure, engine decks guns
and masts have been taken out. To do this
will take time and the apparatus for the
work can only be found in the north 1t
is said no company would take the contract
for the work because blowing by dynamite
was prohibited lest important evidence be
destroyed.
Rumors that this. that or the other dis
covery is probable on this, that or the other
theory are still rife. In most cases, when
run down, they are easily proved false
1t is useless 10 deny that the interest here
is much less intense than 1t was a week
ago, but is ever ready to be kindled anew
by any established facts
The court of inquiry Is as quiet as the
statue of Memnon-as dignified and as
stern. Its members are courteous but they
feel the deep responsibility resting upon
them to talk indiscreetly might not only
cost his position, no matter how high the
rank of the holder, but would surely pre-
cipitate trouble either here or in the United
States. They were not exclusive when on
shore and they dined with the consul gen.
eral now and again, but the wreck was a
prohibited topic
If memory did not give q tinge of tlrag-
edy, Havana's harbor would appear COM
tugs and launches ply to and fro all day
Steamers large and small, arrive and de-
part and the hustle of busy and not
specially picturesque harbor comes and
goes In the usual fashion. In yonder mass
of steel, which seems to have writhed in
pain. lies all that is mortal of more than
eighty brave men. 1t is generally expected
that the court of inquiry will return here
after taking testimony at Key West and 1t
is likely that efforts will be made by agents
during their absence to secure other tes-
timony.
The arrival of battalion of more than
1000 regular troops from Barcelona as was
cabied excited public interest for the day
Guns were fired, "vivas' shouted and
decorations, which the rain spoiled, were
hung. The men, so it is alleged, are the
advance guard of a division of II 900 Span
ish regulars sent to take the place of the
sick and wounded who have returned to
Spain within the last few months.
The Spaniards know that Senator Proc
tor is close friend of President McKn-
ley, and despite hfs disclaimer of a polit-
ical mission, they continue to attach con-
siderable importance to his visit at this
juncture. Some think that he has been
sent here by the president to make re-
port upon the situation, as Mr.. Blount was
sent TO Hawaii by President Cleveland.
The Spanish who. in the main, are ignorant
Oh American customs and political meth
ods, cannot understand why former sec
fetary OF war should come to Havana and
there are many expressions of surprise
that Senator Proctor is not in uniform in
stead of in civilian dress.
Great preparations are being made to
welcome the cruiser Viscaya. Senior Ri