Evening star., 1898-02-19
DENIED TO SPAIN
The Privilege Of Examining
the Maine S Wreck.
OUR DIVERS TO LOOK FIRST
Decision Reached at a White House
Conference.
PLANS OF COURT OF INQUIRY
Mangrove Brings More Survivors
to Key West.
LIST OF THE IDENTIFIED

The first dispatch that came today 10 the
Navy Department relative to the Maine
6isas.er was one from Admiral Sicard. dat
ed at Key West last night. speaking of the
assembling of The court of inquiry. The
message was as follows:
Secretary of the Navy:
..Bache sailed from Key West for Havana
with divers and stores for the Maine. The
Iowa comes to Key West on the 18th and
the Sampson court of inquiry the Maine
assemblies on the arrival here of Mark
The Massachusetts and Indiana at Tortu-
gas. Fifteen officers and forty-seven men
from the Maine have been distributed at
Key West Marine Hospital and the army
barracks More are due here on the 18th
by the Mangrove. 1 shall hold all at hey
West pending the court of inquiry. No one
of the twenty-one apprentices that the
Texas took from New York city for the
Maine was on board the Maine az the time
of the explosion, as no opportunity had Of
fered to transfer them from the Texas
where they still remain
Mark, referred to by Admiral Sicard, is
Lieutenant Commander Mark, on his
way from Washington to Key West. who.
with Captain Sampson. Captain Chadwick
and Lieutenant Commander Potter. will
The judge advocate of the court and lay
down the line of procedure, being somewha. /.
of an expert in that matter. 1t is believed
at the Navy Department that he cannot
reach Key West early today from Tampa
owing TO the lack of a regular boat, but 1t
Is thought that he will be there in time to
conduct the investigation when it opens
next Monday. While the court is entirely
master of its own proceedings, the depart
ment does not doubt that after a few
preliminary sessions in Key West. which
will lay the foundation for further investi-
CATION through the taking of testimony of
the survivors now at Key West the board
Will proceed to Havana. AT that place the
work can be conducted rapidly to finish
with the assistance of Captain Sigsbee and
the information which will be gathered by
the divers from the wreck.
Touching this question of examination OF
the wreck by divers the naval officials be-
heve that there is no cause for apprehen-
sion as to the fairness and completeness of
the investigation. Captain Sigsbee has
telesraphed that he has made an arrange
mefit with the Spanish officials for the
prosecution Of this inquiry, and that there
Is no friction. that the officials believe
that there is no reason now to interfere
with the naval officer in the discharge of
his duty.
Ine apparent difficulty attending the
sending down of divers to the Maine was
renewed oy the statement today of Senior
Du bose' charge d anaires of the Spanish
legation. that the most complete and har-
monious understanding between Capt. Sigs-
bee and the authorities at Havana was had
the nF
Ism authorities viewed the Maine as extra
territorial; that is. part of the sovereign
territory of the United States, the same
as a United States legation situated In for
eign territory. With the Maine holding its
status as extra territorial all doubts as to
the supervision of work on the wreck are
removed The waters of Havana harbor
are OF course Spanish territory and some
confusion had been aroused by the idea
mat this juriS d!ction over the waters at
tached also 10 the wreck in its present help
less condition at the bottom of the bay L,
appears. however, that there is no disposi.
tion TO extend this Jurisdiction to the ship
and that the Spanish authorities freely as
sent to the Maine's being regarded as ex.
ira territorial, and under the immediate d.
rection of Capt Sigsbee. as the representa-.
tive of the United States
accofuine 10 the view taken by the Spa n.
ish authorities, there can be no trouble at.
tending the work of the divers Cant Sigs.
bee will be recognized as the one to direc,
operations and to send down the govern.
ment divers for such inspection as he sees
proper 10 make
Mr. Du Bose hopes. however that Cant
Sigsbee will extend equal facilities tn tbe
Spanish divers. so that the inspection ma,
continue together. As to what divers Cant
siSsbee VIII employ the feeling amons
Spanish officials here is that this will h.
wholly a matter OF discretion with Can,
Sigsbee. as the ose in charge of a piece ot
property having the attributes OF American
SOIL But at the same time the belief is ex
pressed that this discretion will lead to tn,
ehoiee OF authorized divers of the Navy De
partment. rather than those representa-.
newspapers. ----.
Notice to Gen. Lee
The attitude of the State Denartmen oy
this question is shown by the foIlowins
teieeraphic correspondence:
HAVANA, February is. 1888.
Assistant Secretary Day Washington.
Slgsoee begins tomorrow with divers sen,
him from the United States to recover al
bodies stin left In wreck of Maine as vel
as personal effects of officers and men and
whatever else can be obtained that vay