Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-23

Blown Up Intentionally.
hey West, Fla, March 22-The Uni
yea states court OF inquiry into the loss
81 the battleship Maine has finished
lts laborious work of investigating the
| disaster and has submitted its report
to Rear Admiral Sicard. He has point
ed out some alterations which he con
slders necessary, and the report prob
ably will be taken to Washington to-
day by Lieutenant Commander Mark,
judge advocate Of the court. 1t is pos
sible, however, that the arrival in
Washington may be delayed several
days longer, as Admiral Sicard said
last night:
i could scarcely say that the report
will leave tomorrow. The court has
practically finished its work; but some
details may engage its attention long
enough 20 keep the report here several
days. ! trust, however, that the navy
department will have the documents
In very short time.
Inc decision reached by the court is
still matter of surmise. Perhaps
some significance may be attached and
conclusions drawn from a remark
made by Admiral Sicard last night
When ne SAID TO correspondent: THE
case 81 the Maine is most peculiar,
perhaps the most peculiar which has
ever occurred in the history Of the
world
From the general tone Of his remark
II might be inferred that the court
hndlngs do not definitely solve the
mystery of the explosion. This is fur
ther borne out by the Admiral's state
ment that even after the report had
been sent TO Washington the DEPART
ment may acquire further investiga-
ton. 1t is certain in any case whether
the report leaves to-day or later in
the week, that the court will remain
III existence at the call Of Admiral
Sicard, the converting and reviewing
authority.
All rumors as to the report being al
ready on its way to Washington were
SCI at rest yesterday afternoon when
Judge Advocate Mark walked into the
motel and asked for Admiral Sicard.
Behind Lieut.. Commander Mark was
an armed orderly with large dis
patch bag slung across his shoulder
ana In that bag was the report of the
Maine court of inquiry. In the little
writing room Of the hotel Lieut.. Mark
personally delivered the report to Ad-
mlral Sicard. Commander West. of
Admiral Sicard's staff. then Joined
Lieut.. Mark and the trio walked up
stairs to the admiral's rooms For two
hours they We're clOseted together. go
ing over the voluminous papers. Lieut.
Commander Mark then personally
took the papers on board the Nash
vile. which lies close off shore
If the report can be finally prepared
to-day to the Admirals satisfaction,
there is little doubt that it will be
taken on the afternoon boat to Miami
The feeling here last night after it
had become known that the report had
been turned over to the Admiral, was
one Of relief. Naval officers and 9th
ers discussed the possibilities of the
courts finding until late hour. The
general impression continued to pre-
vail that the court had found that the
Maine was Intentionally blown up, but
no new reasons were adduced for this
conclusion.
The United States battleships Texas
and Massachusetts passed here at five
O'Clock yesterday afternoon on their
wav to Hampton Roads. The United
States battleship Indiana arrived here
Yesterday from the Tortugas Islands
and Is anchored beside the battleship
Iowa and the cruiser New York, six
miles from shore.
New York, March 22-The Mail and
Express to-day prints a special dis
patch from its correspondent at Key
West. Fla, in which are the following
statements:
THE report (of the Maine board of
inoniry) will start for Washington at
o'clock this afternoon in charge of
Judge Advocate Mark. 1t should
reach there some time Thursday even
ing.
zone Of the officers will always be
On watch while the report is enroute
to Washington. The same preeau-
tions will be maintained as on ship
board, one always remaining awake.
All will be armed.
"The report Of the court, In posses
sion Of Lieut. VIM. G. P. Muir and
guarded BY Orderly McCaley, was, at
S.45 O'Clock this morning, put ashore
from the Detroit, where it spent the
night for safe keeping, and was car
RED directly to the hotel at Key West
for the final approval Of Admiral
Sicard who. having created the court,
has the right to review the evidence.
..The session at the hotel lasted some
time. The judge advocate, who stayed
ashore last night for the first time in
month, went over the findings with
Admiral Sicard The latter signed the
report at $50 o'clock.
"Tt il now ready for the trip to
Washington via Miami and Jackson
Vile"
T<ev West. Fla. March 22.-Lieut.
Commander Mark. judge advocate Of
the United States naval court OF IN
nuiry into the loss Of the battleship
Maine, left Key West this afternoon
III His way To Washington, by the
div of Key West bound for Miami.
taking with him the report Of the
court On the disaster
MAI. STEAMER WRECKED.
Marseilles. March 22-The general
transatlantic Company's mail steam
eli Willie de Rome has been wrecked off
Port Mahon Balearic Islands.
The Vile de Rome had on board III