The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-18
HOW THE TWO OFFICERS DIED.
Cen. BIauco Oners q Public Funeral 10 the
Dead gaiIora and It L. Aeeopted.

Con. BIauco Oners . Public Funeral 10 the
Dead Sailors and IL Ii Accepted.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE first details of
the manner in which Lieut.. Jenkins and Assis-
tant Engineer Merritt mot their deaths came
from Consul.General Leo In . despatch to tho
| State Department this afternoon. Merritt was
nearly saved. Gen. Lees account follows:
Merritt in junior officers messroom. Jenkins
In wardroom messroon at time Of explosion.
Jenkins left before an officer who was saved.
but must have gone wrong way. Lights out i'm
mediatoly and water rushing In. Merritt got to
hatch with Cadet Boyd. Boyd climbed through
and tried to pull Merritt up. but latter lot go
his hand. fell back. and was drowned. Bodies
of these officers not yet found: possibly In wreok.
Sailors funeral to-day at 3. Will be immense
procession"
One OF the saddest things about tho terrible
disaster 10 that the bodies of tho dead will not
BIO brought back to this country for interment.
They will be buried in Havana. This decision
was caused largely by sanitary reasons and
partly on account Of tho fact that many Of
the bodies are unacceptable. There IL no
fund for paying the funeral expenses of sailors
who die abroad. and 1t will be necessary to get
q special appropriation for the purpose.
The following telegram telling Of funeral ar
engagements was received by Secretary Long
this afternoon from Capt. Sigsbee:
Gen. Blanco called on me personally at the
hotel last night, also the Mayor of the city. They
have requested me to permit the Government TO
give @ public burial TO tho dead already found.
In order that public sympathy here may DO ex-
pressed thereby. and honor shown the
dead. Ground for burial has been 30.
cured. 1t Is assumed that I am ex-
pected by tho department to bury the dead here.
In fact, 1t would be impracticable to transport
tha s.n,aina IN tha IInitad Stataa Mama md
facilities are lacking. have accepted the offer
OF the authorities. and there will be a public
funeral at 3 O'Clock to-day. All here from the
Maine will go. also a delegation from the Fern.
Fifteen bodies recovered. Diving operations
prevented BY rough weather."
This reply was sent by Secretary Long:
Telegram received and action approved.
Express to Captain-General Blanco and to the
Mayor and people OF Havana the thanks OF the
department and its appreciation Of their action
In extending the honors you have reported to
those lost on board tho Maine"
All day long clerks Of the Bureau of Naviga-
ton were kept busy getting up corrected lists of
tho survivors and victims and sending out tele-
grams In answer to frantic inquiries about mon
who were on the battleship. The department was
fortunately able TO relieve many heartaches by
ascertaining that Q number OF apprentices and
Beamen who had been ordered to the Maine were
not sent there. and are now aboard tho Texas and
the Detroit. To all inquiries as to men not on
the list of the saved the Navy Department sent
answers that these sailors and marines were
probably lost. Two teIeRrAmS were sant TO Capt.
Sigsbee telling him TO hurry up the list OF saved
before o reply was received. 1t was not until
nearly 9 O'Clock In tho afternoon that his first
telegram Of the day came. and this gave rise to
the report that the cable between Key West and
Havana had been out No explanation Of the
interruption TO communication was furnished
the department.