The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-28

Havana, Feb. 81. via Key West
Many Americans and some Spaniards
here insist that the investigation into
the Maine disaster has thus far been
superficial and barren of vital results.
They claim that. though nearly two
weeks have passed, no knowledge has
been gained as to the condition of the
forward part of the hull, or as to
whether the six-inch or ten-inch am
munition magazines forward to the
starboard exploded. They insist, more
over, that expert divers, with enough
experience to make drawings of the
condition of things submarine, might
have been at work a week ago, and
might have settled the question as TO
the magazines at least ere this
Those VINO hold these views demand
that the hull forward should be raised
without further loss of time, and be-
fore it has sunk too deep in 40 feet of
soft mud.
POLICY OF DELAY.
There are some who go so far as to
charge the United States government
with adopting the Spanish policy Of de-
lay until the disaster shall be partially
forgotten or discounted Many of the
Spanish officials are said TO entertain
the opinion that this is the case, and
to be very we'll pleased with the no
ton On the other hand. however, good
judges say that all criticism in this vein
is made without a knowledge of the
facts, ana that none save the members
of the court of inquiry. and their super
Tors, is aware of ali the testimony de-
veloped, or of which submarine plans
have been made. Those also urge that
there is no use trying to raise the hull
until the Wreckage or armor, super
structure. engine. decks guns and.
InaStS have been taken out To do this
will take time, and the apparatus for
the work can only be found in the
north. II is said no company in the
world ever took the contract for such
work where the blowing up of tho
wreck by dynamite was prohibited left
important evidence be destroyed But
even the moderate strongly deprecates
any more delay than is absolutely
necessary, while all agree that the
American people are not likely to forget
so readily. Rumors of this that OF. the
other discovery, setting on foot this.
that or the other theory, are still rife
In most cases, when run down, they
are easily proved false.
INTEREST LESS INTENSE.
It is useless TO deny that the inter
est here is much less intense than it
was a week ago, but it is ever ready to
be kindled anew by any established
facts.
The court of inquiry is as quiet as the
statue of Memnon, as dignified and as
stern. Its members are courteous. but
they feel the deep responsibility resting
upon them. To talk indiscreetly might
not only cost a commission. but would
surely precipitate trouble either here
or in the United States. There were
not exclusive when on shore, and they
dined with Consul General Lee now and
h11f he L oil
prohibited topic.
If the memory did not give il a tinge
of tragedy, Havana's harbor would APP
pear commonplace enough today Sail
boats, tugs and launches ply to and fro
all day. Steamers, large and small.
arrive and depart, and the hustle of a
busy and not specially picturesque har-
Dor comes and goes in the usual fash
ion. In yonder mass of steel, which
seems to writhe in pain, lies all that
is mortal of more than 80 brave men.
1t is generally expected that the court
of inquiry Will return here after taking
testimony at Key West and it is likely
that efforts will be made by agents
during the courts absence to secure I
other testimony
The arrival of battalion of more
than 1000 regular troops from Barcelo- (
ma, as was -cabled, excited public in
terest for the day Guns were fired, /
''vivas" shouted, and decorations, I
which the rain spoiled. hung. but that
was all there was to it. These men, /
so it is alleged, are the advance guard !
of a division of II. 900 Spanish regulars. |
sent to take the place of the sick and |
wounded via have returned to Spain /
within the last few months
SPANISH OPINION OF PROCTOR. |
The Spaniards know that Senator |
Proctor is q close friend of President |
Mckinley. and despite his disclaimer
OF political mission. they continue to !
attach considerable Importance to his |
visit at this juncture. Some think that |
he has been sent here by the president |
to make a report on the situation, as /
Mr.. Blount was sent to Hawaii by |
President Cleveland.
The Spanish, who, in the main. are |
ignorant of American customs and po-
liticai methods, cannot understand why /
a former secretary OF war should come
to Havana, and there are many ex-
preSSionS of surprise that Senator
Proctor is not in uniform instead of l
civilian dress.
Great preparations are being made
to welcome the cruiser Vizcaya
Senior Rivera, editor of La Discus
sion, says; The general impression
here is that the United States court of
inquiry has already decided that the
disaster to the Maine was the result of
an accident"
The grippe is very prevalent in Ha-
Eana-
SABBATH IN HAVANA.
The dav has been clear and beauti-
ful and the first day of real rest for
Captain Sigsbee and his officers since
TIE disaster
Chaplain Chadwick tried to make az
rangefnents to send the body of Fred
erick Holzer north by steamer, but
found il impossible, owing to the health
regulations The body found last Fri
day was identified today as that of
lagos, the coppersmith, German
One of the bodies found yesterday is
still unidentified. The divers did not
work today