The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-05
SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY
As Revealed by the Precept of
Admiral Sicard,
NO NAMES MENTIONED
But Spanish Treachery is
Amply Provided For.
NO NAMES MENTIONED


sleship Maine, has been received by the
navy department and was made public to-
day. 1t is important mainly in showing
the exact scope Of the inquiry and the ex-
tent to which the report will go. Aside
from the usual orders directing the court
TO report both findings of fact and its
opinions on these findings, Admiral Sicard
directs the court to record any informa-
ton as to person or persons mot con-
nected with the navy of the United States
who are, in its opinion, responsible in part
or wholly, directly or indirectly, for the
explosion and the loss of the Maine" with
names and the degree of responsibility in
each case.
The orders are dated at Key West, Feb
ruary Is, 1898, and are directed to Captain
Sampson, president Of the court. The text
Is as follows:
"A court of inquiry consisting of your
self as president, and Captain F. Z. Cald-
wick and Lieutenant William P. Potter
as additional members and of Lieutenant
Commander Adolph Mark as Judge advo-
cate, is here>y ordered to convene at noon
on Monday, February q, 1898, or as soon
thereafter as practicable, for the purpose
of inquiring into the circumstances con-
nected with the loss by explosion of the
United States battleship Maine in the har-
Dor of the city of Havana on the night
of Tuesday, February 15 1898 The court
Is authorized to hold its sessions on board
any ship of the North Atlantic squadron
or in the city of Key West, Fla, or in the
harbor Of the city of Havana, Cuba. The
attention of the court is invited to the
instructions concerning the particulars to
be investigated in the case of the loss or
grounding of a ship of the navy, contained
in the United States navy regulations.
THE following described papers relating
TO the loss of the U. S. S. Maine on the
occasion referred to, are attached to and
made part of this precept.
1.-THE copy of telegram sent by Cap
tain Charles Sigsbee at Havana, CUBA to
Commander James NJ Forsyth, U. S. N,
at Key West, Florida, without date but
probably sent on the night of February
Is, as it was received at Key West, Flor
ida, by Lieutenant Commander William
S. Cowkes. U. S. N, at o'clock a. m, of
February 16, 1898, and by the commander
in chief at $50 a. m. of February 16, at
Dry Tortugas, Fla
CA telegram sent by Captain c. D.
Sigsbee, U. s. N, to the commander in
chief at Key West. Florida, dated Ha-
vana, Cuba, February 16, 1898.
1.-THE court will diligently and thorough
Iy inquire into all the circumstances at
tending the loss of said vessel on the date
named and upon the conclusion of the in
vestigation will report to the commander
in chief its proceedings, all the testimony
taken, and the facts which it may deem
established by the evidence adduced, to-
gether with its opinion as to what further
proceedings, If any, should be had in the
matter. The court will also report wheth-
er or not the loss of said vessel was, on
the occasion named, in any respect due to
fault or negligence on the part of any of
the officers or members of the crew of
said vessel, and If so, the names of such
officers or members of the crew and in
what extent or in what prospect any or
either of them were so at fault OF negli-
gent.
'If the court shall be of the opinion that
further proceedings should be had in the
matter it will include in it's report a sue
cinct statement as TO the person or per-
sons against whom and the specific matter
upon which such proceedings should be
made The court will also report its opin-
ion as to the cause or causes of the eX-
plosion or other incidents that bore direct
ly or indirectly upon the loss of the
Maine.
lit will also record any information that
Il may be able to obtain by testimony and
evidence as to any person or persons not
connected with the navy of the United
States who are in its opinion responsible
IN part or wholly, directly or indirectly,
for the loss of the Maine and will include
their names in it's opinion, together with
the degree of such responsibility in each
case. Signed: NJ. SICARD.
--Rear Admiral. Commander in Chief
United States Naval Force on North At
lantic Station"
CABINET KNOWS NOTHING.
Washington, March 4.-Todays meeting
of the cabinet occupied about three hours
and at its conclusion it was announced
that nothing Of an important nature had
occurred. No information of any charac-
ter. 1t was stated, had been received from
either General Lee or the court OF in
quiry. nor had any intimati ton reached the
government as to the character Of the
information so far obtained by the court
or as to when the court would conclude
its investigation and make its report
INACTIVITY AT KEY WEST.
Key West. Fla. March 1.-The United
States naval court of inquiry appointed
TO inquire into the loss OF the Maine is
still here and inactive, awaiting orders
from Washington. Hulk. the courts chief
stenographer, has returned to Washing
ton, leaving Bissell, his associate. here
All the Names survivors received
months pay yesterday and their claims
for lost personal property have been filed.
Schwartz, a cook of the Maine. put in
his claim for s1.22s which he SAYS he had
in his chest which was blown TO pieces.
Many other enlisted men lost the savings
OF years.
There were no movements of the fleet
today except in the case Of the Nashville
which towed a coal barge out to the
Iowa.
AMONG MIDDIES AND SAILORS.
Cleveland. O.. March 4.-Dr. H. +. Big
gar. one of the most prominent physicians
and surgeons of Cleveland, has lust re-
turned from Key West where he was in
the midst of the excitement which fol-
lowed the blowing up OF the battleship
Maine and conversed with several of those
who were on the Inflated ship al the time
Of the disaster
He found that all of those who ,vera
willing to discuss the matter at all were
convinced that the explosion had been
caused by an outside force. probably
+ornafo