The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-04
THE COURTS MIssroN
Fully Set Forth in Admiral Sicard's
Order Concerning It.

Washington, March Admiral Sic
ards precept, cOnVening the court of
inquiry, now investigating the disaster
to the battIeship Maine has been re-
ceived by the navy department and was
made public today
1t is important mainly, in showing
the exact scope of the inquiry and the
extent to which the report will go
Aside from the usual orders directing
the court to report both findings of fact
and its opinions on these findings. Ad-
miral Sicard directs the court to report
any information as to person or per-
sons mot connected with the navy of
the United States who are in its opin-
ion, responsible, in part or wholly di-
rectly or indirectly, for the explosion
and the loss of the Maine" with names
and the degree Of responsibility in each
case.
The orders are dated at Key West,
February 10, 1885, and are directed to
Capt. Sampson, president of the court.
The text is as follows:
"A court of inquiry consisting of
yourself as president, and Capt. F. Z.
Chadwick and Lieut.. Commander VIM.
P. Potter as additional members, and of
Lieut. Commander AdOlph Mark as
judge advocate, is hereby ordered to
convene at noon on Monday, February
q, 1898, or as soon thereafter as prac-
ticable, for the purpose of inquiring in
to the circumstances connected with
the loss by explosion of the United
States battleship Maine in the harbOr
OF the city OF havana on the nISnI Ol
Tuesday, February Is, 1898. The court
is authorized to hold it's sessions on
board any ship of the North Atlantic
squadron, or in the city of Key West,
Fla, or in the harbor of the city of
Havana Cuba. The attention of the
court is invited to the instructions con-
cerning the particulars to be investigat-
ed in the case of the loss or grounding
of a ship of the navy, contained in
the United States navy regulations.
THE following described papers relat-
ing to the loss of the United States
steamer Maine are attached and made
a part of this report: First-the copy
of a telegram sent by Captain Charles
Sigsbee at Havana, Cuba, to Command
er James NJ Forsyth, U. S. N, at Key
West, Fla, without date, but probably
sent on the night of February Is, as it
was received at Key West, Fla, by
Lieutenant Commander VIM s. COwles,
U s. N. at / o'clock a. m. of February
16 1885, and by n-chlef at
5:3O a. m. of February 16, at Dry Tor
tugas, Fla.
F'Second-A telegram sent by Capt. c.
D. Sigsbee, U. S. N, to the commander
in-chief at Key West, Fla, dated Ha-
vana Cuba. February 16, 1898.
1.-The court will diligently and thor
oughly inquire into all the circumstanc-
es attending the loss of said vessel on
the date named and upon the conclu-
sion of the investigation will report to
the commander-in-chief its proceedings
and all the testimony taken, and the
facts which it may deem established by
the evidence adduced, together with it's
opinion at to what further proceedings,
if any should be had in the matter The
court will also report whether or not
sion named in any respect due to fault
or negligence on the part of any of the
officers or members of the crew of said
I vessel, and, if so, the names of such Of