Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-03
The MAINE WRECK.
Any Reported Interview with
Divers Declared to Be Untrue.
SPAIN Will Have TO EXPLAIN.
HFsaident Mckinley Waiting for the Ver
Diet Of the Court. Warahips Assembling
Every Survivor to Testify-Work
Ruahsd on the Minneapolis.

WASHINGTON, Feb. A.-The arrival
Of . mail in Washington from Key
West yesterday afternoon bringing
several private letters from naval Off
eers lately attached to the Maine.
caused wave OF excitement TO run
over the departments and the capitol,
for there were all sorts Of rumors as to
y the contents Of these letters, very few
Of which rumors, in point Of fact, had
any sound basis. The only feature, SO
fsr Is could be discovered, Of real i'm
portsnce as throwing any light on the
cause Of the explosion contained In the
letters was the statement that the two
after boilers in the after boiler space
were oil Of the eight boilers OF the
Maine that were under steam at the
time Of the explosion. This fact had
negative value, for it disposed at once
Of the theory that boiler explosion
had caused the wreck. The experts
oil say that, by no possibility, could
the after boilers explosion have
wrecked the fore part Of the Maine and
left the after part almost unframed.
Much interest was shown In dis
patch received shortly before three
o'clock from Adm. Scard, giving the
recommendations Of Capt. Sampson, Of
The court Of inquiry, as to the raising
Of the wreck. Various interpretations
were put on the expression, forward
half completely destroyed" This was
regarded as partial confirmation OF
The theory that the forward magazine
had exploded, as that is one Of the
most important positions Of the for
ward half of the ship. At the same
time 1t was held by some naval au-
thOrities that the destruction OF the
forward half Of the ship did not neces-
ssrily mean that the forward maya
sine had exploded, as this might be
still intact, although part Of the
general wreckage. In the absence Of
On explicit statement as to the for
ward magazine. there was disposi.
ton not to accept any implied state
ment rs to Its destruction.
Evidently the president Of the court
Of inquiry is fearful Of the effect upon
the public Of Ill Judged attempts to &C.
count for the destruction Of the Maine,
for yesterday afternoon he telegraphed
Secretary Long, doubles having in
mind certain publications Of yesterday
morning, as follows:
HAVANA Feb % Any reported interviews
With divers are untrue Every precautlon has
beon taken, Oificers always present
This brief statement disposes Of all
the allegations that have been made,
pro and con, as to the blowing up Of
the forward magazines.
SPAIN WILL HAVE TO EXPLAIN.
CHICAGO, Feb. 24.-Walter Wellman
telegrsphs as follows from Washing
ton TO the Times Herald:
II the finding Of the court Of inquiry should
b that the battleshlp Maine was destroyed by
v, .uumsr I'LL, s lne or 'orpoaS r,esaens Mc-
SPANISH government This demand for an az.
PLANTATION will be made instantly upon receipt
Of the verdict Of the court It will then de-
volve upon SPAIN 70 give suon lnIor IN ~
~ vSich tho sbin was Ses,roved EvorvtS I
tkst the administration has learned concerning
that dsplorable disaster has been given to
the public every Intelligent reader OF the
,Ss sIou, sns
tAere il . feeling here that Gen. Blanco and
the other Spanish authorities In Havana know
= 1000 deal more than we 40 For one thing
ss s WITH srn1os,ns nUI ,Dsa %hoU
whether or not such n submarine torpedo av v"s
under the Maine, and they must know, too,
who had access TO the electrical wires connect.
= VAN mat bomb
3 wARsHIps ASSEMBLING
WASHINGTON, Feb. A-The Dattle-
euip texas ana 'ne Ruhooa. NashV,ile
leis ualves1on' lex'' yesterday ior
Aey "es'' wnere .ney Will relo'n 'ne
osner VESSELS OF Aam' Sicaros squaa'
ron ~ 'na' point Simultaneous WIN
me departure OF tne lexas ana NASH
viiie irom uaivestoh ior hey "eso, inc
Aarpieheaa ieiI new orieans anu 'he