The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-25
MAINE REPORT ARRIVES.


Prssih.nt Until This aiornlng. 5F
WASHINGTON, March 2i.-The re-
port OF the naval board OF Inquiry; into
the Maine disaster was received in
Washington at s:a5 tonight The four
naval officers who have guarded It,
watch and watch, since its departure
from Key: West. were hustled at once
Into a carriage by an attaehe Of the
navy department, and driven to The
Ebbitt house. where they tried to catch
a little much needed sleep and at the
same time Withstand the crowd of
men who thronged the lobby
In hopes of some stray bit OF iinforma-
.tiou which had escaped the scrutiny. OF
numerous correspondents along the
route. q IS 8
The party consisted OF Lieut.. Com
mander Mark. Lieut.. John Hood. Lieut..
Carl Jungen, Passed Assistant Engineer
Bowers, A. T. Mark. o nephew OF the
Judge advocate. and Ship Carpenter
Helms, OF the Malne's ill-fated crew.
There was an immense crowd waiting at
the depot when the train pulled In. The
naval contingent was In the last sleeper
on the train and deftly avoided the
crush OF citizens by allghting at the up
per end of the platform and going out
across tracks All were thoroughly
tired and Commander Mark was asleep
In the corner OF the seat when the train
pulled In and was gently shaken into
sens!bility by his companions who were
on guard. 5{5sS5 ri. l9;38f.
Z The party was met at the steps OF the
car by Lieutenant Ward, Of the navy de-
partment. who was the sole representa-
tive Of Secretary Long He Informed
Commander Mark that the secretary
would not receive the report tonight,
and gathering the, tired travellers under
his protecting wing, made for the hack
stand through the rapidly thlckenfng
crowd. which baked of It's prey at the
gate had swarmed out over the pave.
ment to get a glimpse OF the much her,
aided report from the outside .Lieuten-
ant Hood, as the most muscular member
OF the party. carried the bulky docu-
ment in a white canvas bag slung under
his arm. It must have weighted ten or
twenty pounds without its carrying case
and portended endless reams OF: compli-
Gated testimony to be digested by the ad-
ministratIon before the next step in the
progrese OF the Maine incident can be,
taken. i. i,s '''53sSsls.
That the whole party carrying the re-
port was armed was demonstrated in a
rather; theatrical way just as they were,
about to get In the carriage. The crowd
closed around the party and joetled them
considerably. Some one ran against the
end OF the mysterious canvas Dag in
which the report was concealed. Quick
rs a flash Lieutenant Hoods hand went
back to his hip and Lieutenant Jungen
laid his hand on the butt OF a revolver
that was sticking from his side pocket.
These movements were sufficient to pre-
vent further Jostling. ;s J 5S4tt7Iss.: z 8
ION being driven to the Ebbitt House
the whole party retired. first having
ordered some light refreshments sent
to their rooms: It was not long before
the report Of their arrival spread, and
tho lobby was filled with q curious
crowd OF idlers, while the negro bell
boys worked over tlne carrying up
card. from the various newspaper COR
respondents In search OF an interview.
Young Mark was deputed as q sort Of
press committee, and met ell inquirers
with the stcreotyped reply Of Il don't
know" to every question. 1t may be
said, however, that the report In due
process OF law must first be delivered
to the secretary OF the navy. It will
then be submitted to President McKin-,
ley, upon whose decision Its future
migrations Will depend.