The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-02-19
WAR4IKE
RUWORSI
Are in Every Case COntradicted
From Official Sources.
CAPTAIN SIGSBEB PRAISED.
Secretary Long Applauds the Action
of the Names Commander.
RECOVERING THE DEAD BODIES.

The Navy Department Issues n Sum-
mary Giving the Total Death List at
21S-Of These 1875 Bodies Have Been
R~ecovered-The Injured Number 81.
Arrival of the Spanish Warship viz
caya in New York Harbor, and Ex-
ira Precautions Taken to Protect
Her From Cranks.
Washington, Feb. 19.-The feature of
yesterday at the navy department was
the large number of rumors of a war
like tendency that came to the atten-
ton of the officials as requiring atten-
ton, and as in every case c~ontradicted.
Sc formidable has grown the list that
at the close of office hours Secretary
Long was induced to make the follow
ing statement as the easiest manner
of disposing at one time of all these
stories:
Really no information has been re-
ceived since Captain Sigsbee's first dis
patch adding anything to our knowl-
edge of the disaster. All we know is
that the Maine blew Ut There is
ABUNDANT room for speculation of all
sorts, but no conclusion can be arrived
at until an examination has been made
by the divers, and more facts obtained.
1t is a simple fact to say that such a
thing might happen by design or it
might happen by accident. AS yet
there is no indication of design. There
fore my impression has been all along,
and 1 rather think the general opinion
dependencies in the same direction,
that it must nave been accidental.
- IL
was not discussed except as any body
of men talk about an event of that kind,
and most of that talk referred to the
terrible loss of life and expressions of
sympathy for the sufferers.
TT certainly was a kind thought in
the president to send flowers to the
families of Captain Sigsbee, of Execu-
tive officer wainwright and of the lost
seamen whose residences are in Wash
ington.
you may say absolutely that there
has been no secret cabinet meeting, that
nothing has taken place in abine that
the public lave not been informed
about; that the whole policy of this
department has been to give the public
all the dispatches; that the department
has no more knowledge on the sub
; ject of the cause of the disaster, or
wen of the circumstances attending
!, it, than nave the public, and that the
: report to the effect that Captain Sigs-
bee had warned the department that
the Maine was in danger from sub
marine mines or tOrpedoes is utterly
without foundation, no such report
yer having been received from him or
from anybody else."f
The secretary also denied briefly and
Complementary Wild rumorS that he
had requested the chief of police of
> New York to guard the Vizcaya and
that he had selected Constructor
Bowles to go to Havana and raise the
Maine. The last work of the day for
him was to consult the representatives
f of the wrecking companies who prob
ably will nave charge of this work and
endeavor to arrange for both of them
: to work together, so as to secure the
1 use of each peculiar plant and to save
time.
The secretary when asked what was
6 the departments estimate of the con-
duct of Captain Sigsbee in the terrible
situation in which he had been placed
replied:
Il think I express the feeling OF the
president, as well as my WI when
say that Captain Sigsbee has conducted
himself as an officer of our navy should
He was the last to leave his ship wher
l. she went down. His dispatch to me wa!
so complete that since then l have
ct thought of no question of fact to ash
sr him which is essential to the situation
IL and which he could answer, which II
not covered by that dispatch. Its tone
too, is that of a discreet and level head
ed man who realized the impression an!
a word from him at that time would hav
on the public mind. Nothing is harde
than for a naval officer to lose his ship
so that l have great sympathy for him
l await, with confidence, further re
ports"
During the day the department was fl
receipt Of an number of kilograms from
different parts of the country asking
in behalf of relatives of the dead sailors
y that their remains be brought back t
the United States for interment. Amoni
% them were queries from friends of tn
- two officers, Merritt and Jenkins. TIL
department forwarded these to Captain
Sigsbee, whose reply was that the of
fcers' bodies have not been found; tina
v as to many others, Identification is no
possible, and throwing great doubt up
on the p~racticability Of taking any 0
the remains from Havana.
n While no decision has yet been reach
of ed formally upon the application of tn
"a Spanish government for authorlzatio
at to examine the wreck of the Maine I
rs ascertain the cause of the explosion tn
a officers seem inclined to regard her re
m quest as one that could not properly b
i'll refused, and it Is likely that each gov
eminent viii make an investigation {
this character conchrrently.
Az The navy department has compile
the following summary showing the tC
tai result If the Maine disaster frol
all available Official Information up
~ the close Of the department last nigh
Ia Total officers and men on board Main
he s55; total officers, ~; total men, 1923; t
no tai officers saved, "A; total men save
ny 76; total officers lost, 2; total men los
246; total men injured, 81; doubtful,
The seven men appearing as Doubt
ia probably represent hat number, or les
H. who's lives have been saved, but wi
es cannot be identified at present on a
,rs count of errors in hhe transmission
! telegrams, The 81 appearing as iniur,