The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-03-08


fact remains that only the members Of
the court of inquiry know all the testi-
mony elected, and no one is authorized
to make public matters in advance
of the final judgment.
A good deal of surprise was ex-
pressed here at learning that the
Spanish divers were to be permitted to
make an examination of the wreck OF
the Maine, especially as it was also
said that American naval officers
world give such divers all consistent
facilities and would throw no Obsta-
cles in the way of a thorough sub
sion was not accorded until after the
court of inquiry had finished its work
here and gone to Key West is regarded
as significant. 1t opens wide field
for speculation. Some assert that the
court now has no objection to Span
isll inquiry for one of two reasons:
Either the court has sufficient evidence
already of accident OF malice-evidence
that cannot be contrOyerted by the
SDaniards-or, after a diligent search,
the mystery remains at deep as ever
and the court does not think the
Spanish will reach 4 conclusion where
the Americans have failed That any
important testimony before the court
has found its way to the pubic is
very unlikely. Some of the witnesses
have told certain correspo ndents of al
legged testimony, but in every case IN
yestigation has showed their stories to
be wildly improbable and contrOverted
by known facts OF else absolutely H.
relevant. There are no signs OF dem
onstration against Americans.
Sn0rQt9rV
Long said at the close of his day at
the navy department that no word had
been received from the court OF in
quiry and that no orders had been, or
would be given as to the movements
of the court from Key West, as the
court was fully authorized to shape ITS
own movements. The original orders
to the court were issued by Admiral
Sicard, as commander of the fleet to
which the Maine belonged, and it has
the technical status of an admlraIs
court, reporting directly to him. both
as to it's movements and as to its final
report on the cause of the disaster.
The understanding here is that the
court has not concluded its work, but
will return to Havana to take teStl-
mony which has been delayed by the
difficulties in the way of the divers.
That Admiral Sicard expects this
move back to Havana was shown by
dispatch from him few days ago suS-
costing that arrangements be MADE Tor
a vessel to take the court back. AS the
lighthouse tender Mangrove had been
doing the service the treasury depart
ment was asked to assign the Man
grove for the return Of the court to
Key West, and this was done. with
these arrangements concluded IT is SAID
at the navy department that the court
will proceed without consulting Of
ficialS here.
Their Mission of Charity.
Arrangements are being made for
the trip of the cruiser Montgomery and
gunboat Nashville to Cuban ports with
relief supplies. Chairman Barton, of
the Central Cuban relief committee,
has advised the state department that
donations are coming forward in
great abundance, not only in money,
but more particularly in the form of
provisions, from all directions. The
Maine relief fund, under Mr., Longs
management, has reached total OF
So, 113.
The only telegram relating to the
Maine disaster that came to the navy
department during the day was the
following from Commander Forsyth at
Key West: "Bache arrived. Brought
one body unidentified, and Paul LOT
tus, private marine; Jeremiah Shea,
coal passer; John Heffner, ordinary
seaman; Thomas ]. Waters, ordinary
seaman, wounded, from Tortugas.
the wounded will be sent to the army
hospital. The funeral of the body has
started for the cemetery"
During the course of the day similar
inquiries to that made by the japanese
legation as to the number of her sub
jects aboard the Maine, came to the
navy department from the German
and Swedish legations, and it is ex-
pected that others will follow, Nearly
every nationality was represented III
the Names big crew.
o
Washington, March Cit was de-
veloped yesterday afternoon through
Geographic correspondence between
Secretary Long and Admiral Sicard
that the court Of inquiry is unable to
fix an approximate date of the con-
clusion of it's Investigation into the
disaster to the Maine.
Sharing the general anxiety for
some information on this point, Sec
rotary Long, at the instance Of the
cabinet, sent telegram to Admiral
Sicard asking him when it was prob
able that the report of the court would
be made, and late last night the fol-
lowing reply was received:
"Have talked with the president of
the court of inquiry and agree with
him that it is not yet possible to fix a
date for the finding as so much de,