Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-24
SOME EXCITEMENT.
ysiI From Maine OflCsrS Gives Rise to
RumOrS,
ONE FACT OF NEGATIVE VALUE.
I DiSpOseS Of Theory That Boiler Ex-
plOSiOn Caused Main Wreck.
FORWARD nALF DEsTRoYED.v
mis- Regarded as Partially Conarm-
ing Theory That Forward Maga-
zine ENpioded-Habana Belief That
Explosion Was from Outside.

WASHINGTON, February &--The ar
rival OF a mail in Washington from Key
West this evening. bringing several prl-
,.te letters from naval officers lately at
,sehcd TO the Maine, caused a wave of
,Ncitcmont at the departments and the
Ceptol. for there were all sorts of ru-
raors as to the contents OF the letters.
very few of which rumors. in point OF
fct having any sound basis.
The only feature. so far az could be dis
covered. OF real importance as throwing
irht ON the cause of the explosion which
was contained in the letters was a state
ment that the two after boilers in the
arcr-bollcr space were all of the eight
boilers Of the Maine that were under
steam at the time of the explosion. This
fact had a negative value for it dis
posed al once OF the theory that any ex-
r.os.on Of the boilers had caused the
wreck The experts all gay taat by no
possibility could the after-boiler explo-
s.on have wrecked the forepart Of the
Naine and left the after-part almost un-
harmed
Much interest was shown in a dispatch
received shortly before o'clock from
Admiral Sicard, giving the recommends
ton of Captain Sampson. of the court Of
inquiry. as 10 the raising Of the wreck.
The view of naval officers was that Cap
tain Sampson and his associates were
giving this advice. not as a court, but as
officers in a position to speak as to the
best methods to be adopted for raising the
Maine.
FORWARD HALF DESTROYED.
Various interpretations were put on the
expression, Forward half completely de-
stroyed." This was regarded as partial
confirmation of the theory that the for
ward magazine had exploded, as that is
one OF the most important portions Of the
forward half of the ship Necessarily,
then. some conclude that the magazine
must have exploded. In the absence of
an explicit statement as TO the forward
magazine. there was a disposition not to
accept any implied statement as to its
destruction.
Captain SIMPSONS recommendation that
O contract be made with the best-equipped
wreclxing company, to remove material
and lift the ship without delay. was in
line with the action already taken in
closing a contract with the two largest
zrecking companies in the country, by
which their combined facilities viii be at
the service Of the government. The con-
tract contains a clause binding the
wreckers TO use their utmost efforts TO
expedite the work, so that the department
feels that everything has been done TO
carry out the views expressed by Captain
SAMPSON. A clause of the contract
itemizes the amounts TO be paid for each
branch OF the wrecking work-viz:
Wrecking tug Underwater, $50 per day;
wrecking steamer Jones. 500; lighter Sey-
mour. SO: derrick Chief, So; barge Lone
Star. so: wrecking tug Right Arm, 5000;
wrecking master, SIS; wreckers, $3.50 each;
divers. $50 each
Evidently the president of the court oil
inquiry is fearful Of the effect upon the
public Of in-judged attempts to account
for the destruction Of the Maine, for this
afternoon he telegraphed Secretary Long,
doubtless having in mind certain publica-
tions Of this morning, as follows;
"Habana. February 23.-Any reported
interview with divers untrue. Every pre-
caution has been taken. officer always
present"
This brief statement disposes Of rumors
Of alleged statements by divers pro ard
con. as to the blowing up Of the forward
magazines.
CoAL-BUNKER TALK.
The officers here are still thinking Of |
captain sigsbee's request of yesterday |
30 be furnished with the plans Of the /
Names section through the magazines I
and coal-bunker' pockets. The reference !
to the latter is particularly interesting |
and leads to a desire 10 be informed on /
the exact quantity and quality Of the coal !
supplv AT the time Of the explosion.
II IS said that these pocket-bunkers
are rarely emptied. being designed as
much for the protection of the snip |
AGAINST eunshots as for capacity to hold
coal one expert said that these bunk
srs IN bis own experience, have not been
pn,tied in months. All of this has to DO
with the spontaneous combustion theory
7s the bunkers abut on the magazines
and might have set off even the saie
brown powder. II the latter were exposed
.o degree Of heat above 600 degrees for
some time
The request. besides, may show that
Captain slgsbee is not yet satisfied as 10
ho cause Of the explosion, notwithstand-
nr the expressions that have been at
ribufed 10 him by unauthorized persons
One of the private letters received mere
o-day. in speaking Of the disaster says
L was an over in five minutes. ibe
writer was ashore and heard the noise
BE hastily took a boat and started ior
ne Maine. arriving there in about TWEEN
y-fve minutes. Then all was quiet ana
smooth: and. IN fact. as he said in hve
minutes after the blast the Maine was
n about her present condition.
srcARD's ILLNESS.
Some solcitude was expressed at the
Savy Department over the report Of Ad-
niral sicard's health. II is said how
.ver. that there Is no occasion for re-
ieving him now: that the flagship New
FORK is not 70 leave Key West, ana even
T she should. Captain Sampson or Cap
ain Taylor can assume charge OF 'no