The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-02
Maine DISASTER STILL
CLOTHED IN MYSTERY.

nected with the Government, then the
question of SPANS responsibility would
be still open.
Mr.. Long was much surprised that
so much attention had been given TO
his passing allusion.
Aside from this incident, the day
brought forth few developments of i'm
portance relating to the Maine. NO
dispatches of any character from Key
West, where the court of inquiry IS
sitting. We're given out during the day,
and as the rule of publicity is still in
force, presumably nothing came from
that quarter. The vessel movements
announced during the day were devoid
of significance.
The two outrages on Republican Post
masters in the South discussed occur
red at Lake City, S. c., and Ada. Ga.
Freeman, the Postmaster at the latter
place, was assassinated before he en-
tered upon the discharge CT his duties
as Postmaster. The President, it is
said, is very much disturbed by these
acts, though he views with satisfaction
the fact that the whole Southern press
has expressed it's Indignation. The first
impulse of the officials in cases like
those cited, it is said, is TO abolish the
office where the outrage occurred, al
though it is realized that such a step
would dc rive of their postal facilities
large numbers of citizens who have
nothing to do with the killing. The
President. therefore, finds it difficult
TO lay down a rigid rule that can be
applied in all cases. The office at Lake
City has been abolished, but so fan
nothing has been done regarding the
cases at Ada.
Orders went out from the Navy De-
partment late this afternoon to put the
ironclads Miantonomah and katahdin
into commission on the 10th inst. They
are now at the League Island Navy
Yard, where they have been laid up for
a year or two past. 1t is said at the
department that the purpose of putting
them in commission is to make berths
for the survivors of the Maine now at
Key West. waiting on the court of in
quiry. which, without doubt, Will have
finished with them by the 10th inst.
The Miantonomah is a formidable
double turreted monitor. carrying four
10-inch guns. She is of 1890 tons dis
placement. and steams 1012 knots per
hour In addition to her main battery,
she carries a good secondary battery
of rapid-firing guns, and her turrets are
clad with liz inch armor. Her COM
mander mas not SET peen definitely Sc
lected, but the remainder of her Off
GERS will be as follows: Lieutenant
Commander Wilson, executive officer;
Lieutenant Underwood, navigator;
Lieutenants Hoog. Gill and Ensign Col
man, watch officers; Passed Assistant
Surgeon Weaver. Chief Engineer Parks.
The Katahdin. otherwise known as the
Ammen ram, is freak in naval archl-
lecture, and although opinions are di-
vided as to her qualities, there is little
doubt that her presence in any harbor
would make an enemy anxious. She
lies mostly under water. with a turtle
back Of steel varying in thickness from
two and a half inches to six inches. and
the theory of her designer, Admiral Am
men. was that this armor plate could
not be struck directly by shot from an
other vessel and that any such shot
would be harmlessIy DETECTED by the
sloring steel deck. In action, the con-
ming tower and smoke stack are about
all Of the ship that would present a
mark The former is made Of steer,
eighteen inches thick The katahdin is
a ram, pure and simple. having in the
way Of weapons OF offense nothing ex-
cept her sharp steel beak and a few
small rapid fire guns to keep off boarders
or toroedo boats. When she was de-
signed her speed was placed at a very
high mark. but she did not realize ex-
pectations. owing to her peculiar OBJ
StIUGiibA UDQti Ndlti iilptaci- liti pei
sonnet viii be as follows: Captain,
Commander Wilde, at present Naval
Secretary Of the Lighthouse Board: Ex-
ecutive officer. Lieutenant Lowe; Navi-
gator. Lieutenant Culver; Chief Engi-
neer. Being and Ensign Campbell.
The two vessels have crews respect
i,-a1x. Of T10 and 90 men
II was just learned at the Navy De-
partment to-day why the Maine was tied
VI 10 a buoy in Havana harbor instead
Of amchcring, a fact that has been the
base for some of the theories as to the
cause oc the disaster It is stated that
rot only is a man-of-war al buoy in
much better place for quick service than
when anchored, but it appears that if a
ship casts her anchor in Havana har
Dor. so foul and polluted with yellow
fever and other disease germs is the
mud that adheres TO it when it is
hoisted. that the ship must so into quar-
artine upon her return to any Florida
port.
sHRoUDED IN MYSTERY.