The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-01
TO RETURN
TO HAVANA
Maine Investigators VIII Again Visit
Cuba'S Capital.
NO THOUGHT OF A BOND ISSUE !
Secretary Gage Sets at Rest an Unauthor-
ized Report-Meantime an officer Of
the Maine Declares That the
Maine Was Wrecked by
Design.

Washington, March Late yester-
day afternoon a telegram came to the
navy department from Admiral ST.
card, at Key West, announcing that
the court of inquiry in the Maine dis
aster will resume session at Havana
to obtain the evidence of the divers
after further work upon the wreck.
This communication sets at rest ru-
mors that have been current for some
days past that the court was not to re-
turn to Havana for the reason that
it had discovered the cause of the
sinking of the Maine, which was not
an accident, and that they had no fur
ther business in Havana.
one important deduction to be
drawn from the message was that the
report of the court of inquiry can
scarcely be expected for several weeks
to come. The court will be occupied
at Key West for some days at least
in taking the testimony of the sur
vivors there. Then upon the return
to Havana it is expected that a good
deal of time must elapse before the
divers can get through the mud which
now encompasses the lower part of
the wreck of the Maine and examine
the bottom. After this is done the
court must deliberate in order to Sc
sure an agreement upon their findings.
The prevalent belief at the navy de-
partment is that up to this moment
the court has not once undertaken to
compare notes.
A Cuban mail was received during
the day, and with the candor which
has so far characterized all his deal
ings with the public in this matter
Secretary Long caused 1t to be given
to the newspaper reporters as soon as
he had read it himself. 1t was made
up of one letter from Captain Sampson,
dated at Havana, Feb. %, and although
1t is simply a statement of events that
had already been reported by tele
graph, one fact is significant, viz, a
statement that the testimony of GER
tain civilian witnesses before the court
would be of no Importance.
The reports that came from Key
West about great activity and the OBJ
servance of unusual precautions among
the few soldiers quartered there was
received with amusement at army
| headquarters here. 1t was said that
no orders had gone forward from this
city to explain the hustle, but there
was the best reason to suspect that the
commandant was simply brushing up
the post and putting his best foot for
ward against the expected appearance
| there on his tour of inspection of Cen
eral Merritt.
The gunboat Wilmington sailed yes
terday from La Guayra for Barbados
travelling over the ground covered a
few days before by the Cincinnati and
Castine. All Of the boats are slowly
cruising around in the Caribbean, and
will be so employed until April, when
they will go south again. Secretary
Long said at the close of office hours
that no orders had gone out to send
another warship to Havana, reports
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
At the White House the utmost quiet
prevails. Many offers have come
from organizations and individuals oi
their services in case of a conflict
Some of the congressional callers also
have stated to the president that theii
states would furnish full quotas Of men
Secretaries Long and Alger and
Representative Dingley We're among
the presidents visitors yesterday, but
it was stated that they had nothing
of Importance on the Maine affair t
discuss with him. Mr.. Dingley spoke
afterWard in strong terms against re-
ports that financial circles in New
York were being sounded as to the
readiness with which funds could b(
raised in an emergency. The atten
tion of Secretary Gage was called t
the published statement that he wa,
making preparations for a bond issue
, and that the bureau of engraving an(
printing was preparing the plates. Th
r secretary pronounced the statemen
, unqualifiedly false. No such actor
. his even been considered, he said.