The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-18

formation as TO the situation in havana
that reached the Pres dent direct cam
through the Associated Press. On the
streets there was nOticeably less eSclle'
ment than Yesterday when the people
were 10th to believe that under the ca
cumstances the ioss Of the Maine couiu
be traced to other than Spanish sources.
All the flags throughout the city IN
cludlng those on the Capitol and the Dc
psrtment buildings are flying az nan
mast to-day. and among the others -
conspicuous that Of cuba lAble Whlch
flies from the staff on the Hotel kai' ish'
the headquarters of the Cuban Jah'a'
IMPROBABLE STORIES.
A bulletin from Key West was re-
cslved here this morning to the effect tSat
divers had found an esht-inch percus
sion hole In the bottom Of the Maine
Also that all proofs Of the torpeco Work
will be removed The Navy Department
absolutely discredits this story.
Secretary Long says that there Is no
such thing as a percussion hole. mat
there is no eicht-inch torpedo and there
Is no other way IN which such hole
could be accounted for.
II Is Of course possible that sheH
exploded inside Of the ship pierced hole
CT that kind in the outer skin. but that
would be readily revealed by ;hc charac-
ter OF the angle and whether or not me
skin was bulgcd In or out around the
puncture.
II is more likely n there is any hoe
al all of the kind that il is simply the
out.ct of one Of the numerous pipes from
the inside Of tho Maine.
DENIES THE SIGSBEE STORY.
Secretary Long positively denies that
captain sigsbee has m any suppressed
1eiegram expressed the opinion tnat q
torpedo caused the disaster or that II
came from an external cause. The cap
tam SAID on the contrary that he could
not venture TO express an opinion.
me Key west bulletin regarding the
finding of a hole IN the bottom Of pate
OF the Maine and referring 10 the work
OF a torpedo was sent 10 the White House
by the Associated Press. and was shown
TO president Mcninley. His only COM
ment was that 1t was the first he had
heard of Il.
The President does not wish 10 make
any statement concerning reports that
come regarding the disaster. but he per-
miited the fact 10 be known that the
administration had no advices tending
TO confirm the Key West report.
COURT OF ENQUIRY.
The Navy Department received de-
sratch this morning from Admiral Sicard
in command OF the North Atlantic squa-
dron. giving the detail Of the court Of en-
qury TO investigate the Maine disaster
Captain samson. president OF the court:
Captain Chadwick, eutenant-Command-
or Schroeder, ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Mark.
CAPTAIN Sampson. the president Of the
Of no & & IA
IOWA, now at the 1OrtuFas CAPITA = Chad
wick is commander Of the New y ork, at
Rev West: Leutenant-Co Commander
schroeder is executive officer OF the bat
,ieship Massachusetts now at the Tortu-
gas Commander Mark Is ox-
ecutive officer of the Vermont. lie was
formerly with the Maine as executive
officer. before the detail of Lieutenant
Commander wainwright who reliNed
him.
Admiral Sicard's board has ample au-
tboritv TO make the most searching IN
vestigation into the cause Of the disas-
ter
The Fern and the Mangrove reported
arriving at Havana last evening. Inc
former Is provided with diving apparatus
and as every warship's company includes
at least several experienced divers,
there will be no lack of men 70 make
the necessary search. These men can
be depended upon To report the exact
facts They, however, will be suiJeci
to the orders to the court of enquiry in
every particular and as they are familiar
with the bottom Of a warship OF the
tvpe of the Maine they are not likely 10
oe led into the mistake Of suppos.n ng the
outlet hole or pipe from the interior 10
be q torpedo hole.
THE INVESTIGATION.
II is believed that under the most IA
vorable circumstances, this investigation
cannot be made for several days.
Lieutenant Commander Mark. who will
be q member of the court of enquiry left
Washington at II O'Clock to-day by train
for Key West and he is supposed TO be
assigned to duty as judge advocate Of
the court.
Probably the board will be conveyed
from Havana TO KY West by the Oil
vette or one of the lighthouse tenders,
as it IS again stated to-day that the
Navy Department has no intention Of
sending another man-0f-war to Havana
Immediately
General fear Is expressed by the older
officers at the Navy Department that
the destruction OF the Maine has been
so complete at least in the forward
portion Of the ship where the explosion
Is believed to have occurred. that II would
be perhaps impossible TO find sufficient
evidence in the wreck OF the hull to be
able TO declare with certainty the cause
OF the disaster.
II may be said. however. that nothing
has yet developed IN the news from Ha-
vana as to the appearance of the wreck
OF in the conflicting stories OF the sur
viVors to change the opinion OF the ma
iority Of the officers stationed in the
Navy Department that the Maine sunk
as the result of an internal explosion.
THE COAL USED.
AS 10 the origin OF this explosion there
rs stu a wide difference OF opinion. but
tne coal unSer theory to-day finds very
many more strong supporters than any
other theory.
rms theory Is based on the suppositon
tnat spontaneous combustion In one of
the Dunkers. which in the Maine are
separated from the magazine forward by
a single partition of iron. ignited the
magazine and caused the destruction Of
the vessel. Proofs Of similar fres on
other vessels Of the navy are being pro-
ouceG In proof at the Navy Department
to-day.
Captain Royal Bradford to-day produc-
ed the quarterly report required by regu-
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