The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-04

y
department from Havana came late
tonight in the following telegram from
Captain Sigsbee:
The Bache leaves today for Tortu-
gas with all the wounded men now
here, five in all, as follows. Mattison,
Cahiil, Allen, Webber and Mack. All
are able to walk except Mattison,
whose jaw was broken. The Bache
takes one unrecogniZed body. It viii
Tortugas to Key West. The Bache
will report TO the flagship Thursday be-
fore entering Key West. 1 cannot tell
when more bodies may be expected a I
Key West, but the Bache should re-
turn promptly"
THE COURT OF INQUIRY.
wey West, March 1.-The second
days session of the court of inquiry
is over, and nothing new is known re-
garding the fate of the Maine, at all
events outside the members OF the
court. Some who confidently declared
a week ago that the court had already
found that the vessel was intentionally
blown Up, have modified this conVic-
tiOn and, for the most part admit that
such reports must have been based
largely on speculation. Even naval
officers are apparently as much in the
courts opinion is at the present mo-
mnt. Excellent progress has been
made in the examination and the court
win probably finish it's work here to-
morrow, when its members will be
taken back to Havana on the Man
grove. Interest in the proceedings
tagged somewhat today, owing to the
utter futility of all attempts to crafty
the general curiosity.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press placed before one of its mem
'bers of the court the letter signed
'tMaquinista' (machinist) giving al
legged details of the filling of the
Names torpedo holes with dynamite
cartridges and their subsequent explo-
sion by electric wires. The member Of
the court in question said that neither
the letter nor it's developments had
been Officially before the court. The
Cubans here are constantly receiving
mysterious missives from Havana
purporting to reveal the method by
which the Maine was sent to de-
structiOn, but, as there are as many
Suggestions or theories as there are let
tiers, little reliance can be placed upon
any.
Most Of the morning session of the
court was devoted to verifying testi-
mOny previously given. -Four engi-
neer officers and eight enlisted men Of
the Maine were examined. The engi-
neers examined were Passed Assistant
Engineer Morris, Assistant Engineer
Bowers, Cadets (engineer division)
Washington and CrenshaW.
The afternoon session of the court
began at o'clock and an adjournment
was taken about 4 o'clock until 10 to-
morrow morning. The whole number
day is ten.
TO PROHIBIT POPULR DEMON
iSTRATION AT THE FUNER AL.
Admiral Sicard has requested DR..
Malloney, the mayor of Key West, to
prevent a local demonstration when
the funeral of the Names dead occurs.
He has asked that in the event of a
parade being formed by the residents
only American flags shall be displayed.
Mayor Malloney has promised to carry
out Admiral Sicard's wishes as far as
possible, but doubts whether the strong
Cuban anti-Spanish sentiment can be
suppressed. All of the funeral ar
rangements will be under the direc-
tion of Commander McCalla, of the
Marblehead. AS now planned, small
details of marines will be landed from
the vessels here and at the TOrtugas,
and the artillery at barracks will join
Ill paying the last uOHOIS. LIE SCI
vices will probably be held Thursday.
Interment will take place in the city
cemetery.
The general situation here remains
the same. The fleet. has not moved,
though there are signs of activity,
which give rise to ru1rtor that an i'm
pOrtant naval step is contemplated.
kt1, -a1 o,-1 1l1 ON,
this point this afternoon, merely re-
iterated his remark of yesterday.
There is no movement today. The
ships have steam UP always, and they
can go anywhere"
The tug boat Merritt passed here at
sunset with a large score in tow and
other wrecking apparatus. She is
bound for Havana.
REPORTS OF REMNANTS OF A
MINE DENIED.
The report that remnants of sub
marine mine, alleged to have been rails
ed by the United States naval divers
at Havana, with the electrical wires in
which they had been entangled, were
brought here Sunday by the MangroVe
and are now in the warehouse OF the
department, is denied IN
high official quarters.
A high naval afficer said today:
perhaps the court of inquiry may re-
turn to Havana on board the cruiser
Marblehead or on board the Nashville,
instead of the coast survey boat Bache.
The Marblehead would be specially
suitable. She has a remarkably strong
electric light plant"
THE DIVERS DOING BETTER
WORK.
Havana March 1.-The divers on the
Right Arm got to work this morning
in earnest. Captain Everett, chief or
the divers was in charge and the water
being lower than usual, it was seen
that the Steerage hatch was parity
clear. though blocked TO some extent Dy
one of the smokestacks. The divers
succeeded in entering the after torpedo
compartment where they hoped to nnd
the bodies Of Lieutenants Jenkins and
Merritt. as Well as the remains of mem
'bers of the crew OF the battleship. The
officers mentioned were last seen in the
after torpedo compartment. Up to this
morning. the divers feared to enter 1t,
there being great danger that the life
1ix ;crpEt Rf