Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-18

WASHINGTON. February 1.-THE gov
eminent has settled back into a waiting
attitude I'm respect to the terrible marine
dsaster in Habana harbor The great
shock caused by the news has given way
ta calmer and more judicial state of
mind and realizing from the events of
the cay that the court Of inquiry is the
sole dependence in the search for the
cause Of the Names loss. the naval Off
Gals are now resigned TO await the re-
suits OF inquiry by court ordered to-
day by the Naval Department There
,gas little new 10 add to the sum OF in
faimation as to the disaster during the
forenoon. No kilograms came and ali
that { I'd be cleaned was a denial of
some absurd story or other that had
crept into print or become current gossip.
The news Of the day all came in the late
afternoon. in the shape of Captain Sigs-
bees report Of the funeral of his dead
sailors. and General Lees graphic story
Of the terrible struggle for life in the
dark hull Of the Maine.
devoted the day to an effort to correct
the lists Of the living and the Dead TO
answering frantic telegraphic appeals
from relatives Of men on the battleship,
and last, but. not least, in meeting with
unwavering courtesy and patience the
demands upon them by press representa-
tives.
The list Of survivors Captain Dickens
has arranged as well as could be done
rom this distance The wounded sailors
In the Habana hospitals. also on the
Spanish flagship and elsewhere, when
not IN condition TO be brought back 10
key West. will be carefully looked after
by Miss Clara Barton. who has oeen
given carte blanche to buy any and
everything necessary-food. clothing,
delicacies hired nurses, and physicians.
The wounded able to get across to Key
West viii be taken care of in the Marine
Hospital there. The sound survivors Will
ns quartered in the spare army barracks
there.
AS for the Maine herself. notwthstand-
.le discouraging reports from Lieutenant
Hood as 10 her condition. the Navy De-
pariment viii make an effort to raise
her. While this is required by every
creditable sentiment. they say that they
Gfe bound TO remove the hull from :he
small harbor. I'm any case, and 1t may be
as easy or easier 10 raise her al it would
be 20 destroy the hull and machinery
slowly, by the use Of divers and dyna-
mite II is believed that this work can
best be done By private wrecking cor
porarons and negotiations are already
afoot for placing the contract. based on
work by the day. at an estimated cost
OF $4,000
No TORPEDO-B FOR CUBA.
Al the Navy Department specific denial
was given OF the report enanating from
Madrid that a torpedo hotilla was about
90 leave Key West for Cuba. 1t was
stated that only two torpedo-boats the
Cushing and Ericsson, are at Key West.
These have not been ordered and Will
NOT be ordered, according to present plans,
q cuba. II was also asserted that no
present purpose exists Of sending any
warship there.
senor Du Bose. the Spanish charge, had
received no instructions up to +. NJ.
g. 10 going 10 New York and stopping the
Spanish ship Vizcaya from entering the
port. and reports to this effect We're dis
credited.
The air Of suppressed excitement which
Characterized the movements Of the en-
pl0yees and visitors at the White House
yesterday was moi noticeable to-day.
There were comparatively few visitors
during the morning hours ana Tor con-
siderable time in the middle of the DAY
the White House bore an almost deserted
appearance only a limited number OF
members Of Congress called during lhe
morning. and the interviews were Drlei-
General Gary was me oiis
member Of the Cabinet who calico anu
DIS business related entirely 10 Depart
mental matters. ~,
Afsistant-Secretary Day saw the cai-
dent for "A few minutes. but he had no.
thing of importance 10 communicate, eX-
conf that he carried 20 the White houSe
5acial Information Of the Closing oi the
D. LONE letter incident -,
81, fsr as could be learned. the only IN
formation as 10 the situation IN haOdhd
that reached the President olrecl cam,
through the Associated Press Oh .n'
streets there was Uoiittab+f -"
ment than yesterday. when the people
were 10th 10 believe that under the CIR,
cumstances the loss Of the Maine cou'c
he traced 10 other than Spanish sources
All the flags throughout the clty' III
Guiding those on the Capitol and the ce-
pariment buildings. are 'i1s ,s.rs a. &c nsl1- con-
mast to-day and among the o,neis :, - ,,,tjnt tya
effc,ouslv that OF "Cuba Libre, wiScn
files from the stan on the Hotel isaisisn
fhe hsadouarters of the Cuban Junta'
no PERCUSSION HOLE
bulletin from Key West was Iso',ss. ,,,o,
here this morning, 10 the ehect ua' a
divers had found an S-inch percussion noi1 ou
in the bottom Of the Maine: also; tnat al
proofs Of the torpedo Work WIN os &C.
moved. The Navy Department aDso'u'e'
ly discredlts this story =. -,
Secretary Long says that there - ,,'a, =,
such thing az a percussion hyiS' a1
there is no s-inch torpedo, ard mere y .',a ~
other way 81 which sucn hoie 0'"''
be accounted for. shei
II Is. OF course, possible that S"''