Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-17

PRESENT. AT LEAST, NO OTHER
W,RSHIP WILL BE SENT TO HA-
BANA."
WASHINGTON. February 1s.-After a
day of intense excitement at the Navy
n.nariment and elsewhere. growing out
Of the destruction of the batteship
Maine in Habana harbor last night. the
situation tonight after the exchange of
number of cablegrams between Wash
inston and Habana. can be summed up in
the words Of Secretary Long. who. when
asked as he was about TO leave the de-
partment Tor the day whether he thought
iac disaster was the work Of an enemy.
sad: Il DO not. in that / am influenced
by The fact that Captain Sigsbee has not
yet reported 10 the Navy Department on
rl. cause. He is evidently waiting 10
write a fun report So long as he does
uot express himself i certainly cannot.
] should think from the indications. how
ever that there was an accident-that the
magazine exploded. How that came
about I DO not know For the present at
least. no other warship will be sent TO
Habana."
The appalling nature Of the disaster
aF the gravity of the situation that
would arise should investigation give a
basis for the undercurrent of suspicion
of treachery and foul play that ran
through all minds, had a SOLDERING effect
on public men Of all shades of political
onnion. The fact stands forth, and ii
- rl-.
sr1he resolution was introduced. nor a
srlle speech made in either house of
nlgress bearing on the disaster, save
-re of coincidence with the families of
n ~ killed. offered by Mr.. Boutelle. and
A. ,'bteo by the House or Representatives.
n ubllc l1en expressed their opinions
n tn reserve when approached for inter
Views but everywhere there was a de-
nand for an investigation and full de-
balls. in the light of which, the horror
may be justly viewed.
Secretary Long undoubtedly summa-
rized the general opinion of the majority
of the naval experts in finding ii impos-
sihle just now 10 state the cause OF the
destruction Of the Maine. There are a
great number of theories, but most Of
. them are OF a character that makes II
easy 20 prove or upset them by simple
Investigation by diver Secretary Long
has taken immediate steps to make this
Investigation.
INVESTIGATION ORDERED.
Late this afternoon he telegraphed TO
Admiral Sicard. at Key West, 10 appoint
a board of naval officers TO proceed at
once 70 Habana. employ divers, and gene
rally 10 make such inquiry as the regu-
lations OF the navy demand shall be
made in the case Of the loss of snip.
rt Is said that this work Will take some
time and while there are officers who
say that I'm their opinion II will not be
-.ssible on account Of the disrupted con-
dirion Of the hull. 10 make out the cause
of the explosion. the opinion OF the ma
f0ritv is that the question viii be easily
settled By the simple observation or the
condition OF the ships hull-plates IN the
r.iqbborhood of the hole which sunk her,
whether or not they are bulged out as
would be the case If the explosion came
fr,rn inside or whether they were driven
ir as would result from the attack or
t0rredo or the explosion Of a mine De-
Meath the ship.
Tho large majority Of naval officers are
Inclined to the belief that the explosion
resulted from spontaneous combustion III
coal bunker. the overheatng OF the IRON
partitions between the boilers ana tne
magazine or the explosion OF a Doiler'
The list Of survivors that came 10 the
Navy Department this afternoon III an
sv.r IN kilograms. was inaccurate, ana
r,odo out The loss OF life eight more thah
fhe summary originally given by captain
srsbee in an earlier telegram 50 oecIe-
tarv Long telegraphed for another co,
rected list. and also one that "ouiu
show who were and who were not
wounded Of the survivors. at. a,,.,,,,
II was found necessary 10 90 TINS V"tne el
~ the great number OF pitliui eppo'.iS -, 49,
Information as 10 the salety "l s,o' ero,o
fortunate on the Maine tha' 0"'''0
al parts Of the country
snip NAY BE RAISED.
The naval constructors, IN lhe ns", toot
the dispatches thus far recelNeo' ,,s,ne
cs,,ot he raised and again carry the mas
Tbev Saw mat while she IS Dig Siip'
otbere 81 large have been raised, anu q.
Vahana the new floating dry~doch ~ "ou'u
,,..i,.o bor n she could once De sOl'en
above the water. ..,,,no an
cartain siqsbee Is evidently taxing an
interest in the future OF me on'p, i,,..',,, no
sent telegram 20 Commanoer roi i, - nv
at Kev west that was promptly trans
rnitto8 10 Secretary Long, snsseStins ~, e1",
ID ugtthouse vessel or some such sina'
craft be stationed in HaDaha ""' W.
watch over the wreck. ros,-rec-
The latter even II beyond reSurieo,
non contains valuable ordnance an"
other property that doubtless can Dc
cured by divers. ,..o,, that
IL Is said al the Navy Department s s"1
this disaster Is the greatest Oh t"e .n@
IN naval history since the sinking =, sm
big British warsh.p Victoria py ,a'' coips'o"
with the Camperdown. in the Meai'ea, 1,',,
ranean. on Malta I'm June, 1886. by e'','
accident. the British Admiral coiniiia',ue comm. .s,e
ing reported twenty-five officers ana '''
men lost their lives.
BLANCO's THEORY.
The Spanish Legation was carry au,
vised of the horror by captain-oene.." e."'
Blanco who expressed his profound as ,e
gret and added that the occurteh0e - ~"
chance accident. the undonpteo s".s ~
being an explosion Of the Doler o,.,. "a
dynamos. This was the only spees.e ~
cause assigned from an official source ~
T.ng the day. ,~e
senior Du Bose. the spanish charge.
called al the state Department ;"