The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-28
SUPERFICIAL AND
BARREN OF RESULTS
So Many Americans at Havana
Think.
An Attempt to Raise the Hull Forward
Should be Made.

Good Judges, However, Say That
None but the Court Of Inquiry
Know Anything of the Facts
Developed by the Investigation
Two Thousand Troops Arrive
! From Spain, the Advance Guard
Of Eleven Thousand.
| HAVANA, Feb. 81 (via Key West,
Feb. 2O.-Many Americans and many
Spaniards here insist that the investi-
cation into the Maine disaster has thus
| far been superficial and barren OF
vital results. They claim that, though
nearly two weeks have passed, no
knowledge has been gained as to the
condition of the forward part of the
hull or as to whether the six or ZEN
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 week ago
and nigh. have settled the question as
to the magazines at least ere this.
/ Those who hold these views demand
that the hull forward should be raised
without further loss of time and be-
! fore 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 disaster shall
be partially forgotten or discounted.
Many of the Spanish officials are said
! TO entertain the opinion that this is
the case, and to be very well pleased
with the notion. On the other hand,
| however, good judges said that all
criticism in this vein is made without
a knowledge of the facts, and that none
save the members of the Court of IN
quiry end their superiors are aware
of all the testimony developed or Of
which submarine plans have been made.
Those also urge that there is no use
trying to raise the hull until the wreck
age or amor, SuperStructure, engines,
decks, guns and masts have been taken
out. 70 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 without blowing up by dyna-
mite, and this was prohibited, lest i'm
portant evidence be destroyed.
Rumors of this, that or the other
discovery seeming on foot and this
| that or the other theory are still rife.
In most cases when run down they
are easily proved false. 1t is useless
to deny that the interest here is much
| less intense than it was a week age,
but it is ever ready to be kindled anew
| by any established facts
| The Court of Inquiry is as quiet as
the statue of Memnon, as dignfied and
as stern. Its members are courteous,
but they feel the deep responsibility
resting upon them too much to talk
indiscreetly as it might not only cost
his position, no matter how high the
rank of the holder, but would surely
United States. They were not exclu-
sive when on shore, and they dined
with TIE Consul-General now and
again, hut the wreck was prohibited
topic.
If memory did not give a tinge of
tragedy. Havana's harbor would ap-
pear commonplace enough to-day. Sail
boats, tugs and launches ply TO and fro
all day. Steamers, large and small
arrive and depart. and the hustle of a
busy and not specially picturesque har-
Dor comes and goes in the usual fash
ion. In yonder mass Of steel. when
! seems 10 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. ard
it Is likely that efforts would be made
by agents during their absence to Sc
cure other testimony.
The arrival of a battalion of more
than 2.0CG regular troops from BARGE
Iona, as was cabled, excited public in
terest 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 600 Spanish 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
Proctor is a close friend of President
Mckinley, and despite his disclaimer
! of a political mission, they continue 10
attach considerable Importance to his
visit at this juncture. Some think he
has been sent here by the President 70
make a report upon the situation, as
Mr. Blount was sent to Hawaii by Pres
ident Cleveland The Spanish, who, in
the main, are ignorant of American CTS
toms and political methods. cannot IN
derstand why a former Secretary of
War should come to Havana, and there
are many expressions of surprise that
Senator Proctor is not in uniform IN
stead of ir civilian dress.
Great preparations are being made
to welcome the cruiser Vizcaya. Senior
Rivera, editor of La Discussion, >
says:
The general impression here is that
the United States Court of Inquiry has
already decided that the disaster to
the Maine was the result of an acci-
dent
The grip is very prevalent in Ha-
vana.
FIRST DAY OF REST.
Capt. Sigsbee and His Officers En-