The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-26
Board of Inquiry Nearly
Through With Labors.
WILL COME TO HAVANA
A PROBABLE VERDICT OF AN EN-
!, TERNAL EXPLOSION.
RAISING THE MAINE IS ABANDONED
Should the Disaster Prove to Be Other Than
Accidental, the Penalty of Indemnity
is Now Suggested. Authorities
Are Being Looked Up.
Are Being Looked Up.

IS NOW ouggeSleu'.HulloFlues
Are Being Looked Up.
Washington, Feb. 25.-In spite of the
stories that come from unofficial sources
in Havana as to sensational develop
ments in connection with the work OF
the divers 10 the Maine's hull the ad
ministration remains firm in it's state
ment that there ic no credible evidence
one way or the other as to the cause
uf the disaster and holds to its pur-
pose to await the conclusion of the in
vestigation now making by the Court OF
Inquiry. This position was emphasized
at to-day's Cabinet meeting. People
who looked for some startling announce
ment we're disappointed as the members
without reservation frankly admitted
that the subject of the loss of the Maine
had been discussed but said that the
government had received no information
from Havana since yesterday and had
no intention of changing its policy un-
iii there was something of substance 10
warrant it. The Spanish legation was
discoveries reported from sources that
are not cited. Secretary Long has been
under heavy and almost constant
strain ever since he was awakened III
the middle of the night a week ago last
Tuesday by the news of the loss of the
Maine, and now that matters are, al
least for THE time being, in a quieter
state he has gone away for a few days
lac Accs ots.rx
velt to manage the department. Thu
latter has been thoroughly advised al
every step of the Secretary's policy OF
treatment of the Maine affair so that
there is not likely to be any change
in that respect caused by the temporary
assumption of the duties of Secretary
by Mr.. Roosevelt. just before the de-
partment closed he had word of the
sailing of the cruiser Montgomery from
Tampa for Key West. Up to that time
the vessel had been given no orders so
that the date of her departure for Ha-
vana, if she is to go at all, is conjectural.
The ship went to Tampa instead of Key
West ON her return from San Domingo
in order to facilitate the speedy return
TO his duties in Washington of Captain
Crowninshield, the Chief of THE Nayiga-
tion Bureau, who saved a full day by
tic movement
The Castine. the second of the United
States war ships ON the South Atlantic
station, arrived to-day from Barbados
where She joined the Cincinnati. II
may be that the Castine win go to Mar
Unique to be docked as she is in need
of cleaning after her tropical service
REPORT EXPECTED NEXT WEEK
Since so much depends upon the re-
port of the Court Of Inquiry it may be
interesting to note that so far Secretary
Long himself does not know when TO
expect this important document, up to
this time having heard nothing from
any of the members on this point. He
rather expected that the court. which
has complete power to work on it's own
lines, would wind up its work at Havana
before leaving, so as to avoid the necp~-
sity for a return trip. One member of
tlie Cabinet had a more definite opinion
on the subject, expecting the receipt Of
the report from the court about the
middle of next week. There is reason
to believe that in the meantime we are 10
prepare for the reception of a report that
would show the disaster to be other
than the result of an accident. Some of
the officials of the administration have
been looking up the subject of indemni-
ties, SO as to lay the foundation of Il
case, in the event it should be decided
to resort to that method of settlement
There are large number of precedents
which win aid the authorities dn shal-
ing their action i'll this direction when
tile facts are fully established. Wbiif
none of the cases show the fearful loss
of life sustained by the Marine explosion
yet they include many instances II
which the United States has adopted
energetic measures to redress the killing
OF American citizens III foreign coun-
tries. In general way, these methods
of redress have included demands for
indemnity, proclamations excluding war
ships of the offending nation from our
harbors, display of force non-inter.
course, withdrawal of our minister. re-
prisal and blockade Some of these
steps border very closely ON war. al
though they are regarded as the move
ments just preliminary to actual hostiI-
itles, and as amounting to a threat that
force will follow if reparation is not
made.
The case of the Water Witch is consiJ-
cred to be the most analogous to that
of the Maine. should st be established
that the Maine disaster was not tbn
result of an accident. The Water Witch
was United States ship engaged il,
1866 in surveying the entrance to one
of the rivers of Paraguay.
SOMEWHAT ANALOGOUS CASE.
Without warning and by opders OF
President Lopez, of Paraguay force OF
troops opened fire on the Water Witch
killing the man at the helm and wound