New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-01
MAINE COURT HEARD FROM.
FIRST OFFIC AL NEWS REACHES THu
NAVY DEPARTMENT
CAPTAIN SIMPSONS LETTER PUTS oUIErus on
RUMoRs THAT DEFINITE CONCLUSION
HAS ALREADY BEEN REACHED--THE

HAS ALREADY BEEN REACHED-THE
COURT WILL RETURN TO HAVANA.
[BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIDuNE.l
Washington. Feb 2s.-The first official newo
from the Maine Court OF Inquiry reached the
Navy Department to-day. and served 70 dispel
all doubts TO the discovery OF any Of the
alleged conclusive evidence which was pub.
lshed in sensa tional papers last week and utl-
lied to create a small war scare. This authen-
tic Information contained in the following
letter from the president Of the Court:
Havana, February g. 1898.
| The Secretary OF the Navy, Washington.
Sir: The Court has taken the testimony OF all
the officers of the Maine still here. Tomorrow
| we Will take such testimony as the divers have
accumulated. The Right Arm arrived here this
morning and reported TO Captain Sigsbee ao-
cording 20 the orders. trust some wrecking
| company will BE- given the entire job as no
| other plan will be feasible
| There are two citizens in the harbo: who have
| signifed their willingness 10 testify. although
| they have nothing important.
After taking this evidence and that OF the
| divers propose to return TO Key West and take
the evidence OF the officers and men there II
| may be necessary TO return here after further
| progress has been made with the divers very
| respectfully.
W. T. SAMPSON. Captain Z. s. Navy.
| Closely following this letter came q dispatch
| from Admiral Sicard at Key West. announcing
| the beginning of the Courts sessions At that
|
| They must resume sessions at Havana to OBJ
tain evidence Of divers after further work upon
| the wreck
| STRENGTHENING THE ACCIDENT THEORY.
| II appears from both the telegram and the
letter that the Court has not yet reached any
definite conclusion Captain SIMPSONS remark
regarding the two citizens TO whom 50 much
mystery was attached In several New-Yorf
4 nothing imDOP.
tant" and his clear intimation in closing that
something definite may yet be secured after the
wrecking company and divers have advanced
| further in their submarine Investigations. gives
a deep insight into his present opinion. This
preliminary report materially strengthens the
| faith Of those who have expressed the BELIEF
that the precise cause OF the disaster will never
be determined. and that the Court will not b
| able to do more than exonerate the officers and
| tell whether the explosion was from without OF
within.
| The certainty that the explosives In every
compartment OF the forward magazine were SGT
| off and destroyed all evidence Of the mystery
which initiated their firing has passed the stage
Of controversy among officers particularly those
| of the Ordnance Department who are most
| familiar with ammunition and It's eccentrici-
ties.
The Court Of Inquiry will have difficulty
in taking the evidence of the survivors at Key
| West in the next day or two, but the members
may not go back TO Havana for another week.
| delaying in order to give the wreckers time to
bring quantities OF debris and salvage to tho
| surface. Two wrecking steamers. with derrick
and lighters In TOW. on the way to
! Havana and until they arrive not murh addi-
| tonal evidence can be obtained
| This Will delay the report q the Court
week or two, and by that time. It is believed.
the country VIII be in better condition to re-
ceive 1t calmly whatever its purport
| BELLIGERENT FEELING SUBSIDING.
Secretary Long, when the Navy Department
closed today said to The Tribune correspondent
that the situation seemed to him decidedly i'm
proved. He referred 10 the remarkable sub
sdence of belligerency manifested last week In
| many quarters. due IL artificial condition
created by Of sensational and unfounded
| reports from Havana Some color TO these
fabrcations had unfortunately been given by
distorted presentation Of the facts regarding
| the efforts OF the Navy 10 secure long desired
action by Congress on essentially needed legsla-
ton. not much FOR The strengthening OF the
! Navy, which must go on all the time, but for
the maintenance OF the vessels the country
already possesses. The Secretary corrected tho
| misapprehension that he had begged authority
| for one thousand five hundred additional men
to man the ships. That proviso was already
in the Naval Appropriation bill. and 1t would
take some time 10 get the men after the bill be-
came a law AS /. s the loss OF two hundred
| and fifty men on the Maine makes that number
Of available vacancies which would be promptly
! filled enabling the Government TO commission
| the Puritan and perhaps another vessel.
| waS learned to-day that preparations had
already been made to enlist about three hum
dred and fifty men. making two hundred avail
able for the Puritan, and the remainder for the
Niantonomoh both OF those harbor-defence
ships being reported ready 10 go into commits
sion in about a week. The men will 90 to
receiving ships to replace experienced crews de-
tailed to the other vessels. Should 1t appear de-
| sirable 70 commission the ram Katahdn. which
| will be ready on Wednesday, the ninety men re-
| ouired for her complement may be readily OBJ
tained by details from the recevlng-ships. Tho
survivors OF the Maine now ar Key West Will
he ordered North directly after the Court OK In
ou,rv has listened to their statements. but they
u,,u receive a short furlough for the present. the
officers going to shore duty unless they ask for
transfer to sea service
The Minneapolis. which has been IN dock A.
most all winter and is now ready for SERVICE
nil, no kept In reserve at League lsiand IN.
sosr,,e,v and the Columbia. also In reserve.
u, 30 docked this week for cleaning paint.
ing and renewing her propeNer-snaft stumns'
hoxes which will take over week
TUE COMING ELECTIONS IN SPAIN.
,vv THAT THE LIBERAL PARTY WILL RD-
MAIN IN POWER
..,,u,or Feb S-The state Department to-