The herald., 1898-03-05
THE ADMIRAL'S ORDER
WHICH CONVENED THE COURT
or INQUIRY
MEMBERS NOW At KEY WEST
Waiting Orders to Return to Havana.
Spanish Divers Working
ON the Wreck -t
Associated rrsss special. wire

Associated Frsss special Wire
WASHINGTON. March 4.-Admiral
sicard's precept convening the Court OF
Inquiry now investigating the disaster
to the battleship Maine, has been re-
ceived by the Navy Department, and
was made public today The orders are
dated at Key West, Feb. 10. 1898. and
are directed to Captain Sampson, Presi-
dent OF the Court. The text is as fol-
lows: ff
"A Court Of Inquiry consisting Of
yourself az President ana Captain r: Il.
Chadwick and LieutenantC Commander
William p. Potter as additional men,
bers,; and Of Lieutenant Commander
Adulph Mark as Judge Advocate. is
hereby ordered to convene at noon on
Monday, February 81, 1898, or as soon
thereafter as practicable, for the pur-
pose Of inquiring into the circumstances
connected with the loss by explosion OF
the United States battleship Maine in
the harBor Of the city of Havana on the
night Of Tuesday, Feb. Is, 1898. The
on any ship Of the North Atlantic Squad
ron or In the city Of Key West, Fla; Of
in the harbor Of the city OF Havana,
Cuba. The attention Of the Court is In
vited to the instructions concerning the
particulars to be investigated In the case
Of the loss or grounding OF snip OF the
navy, contained in the United States
Navy Regulations.
"The following described papers, re-
iating to the U. 8. 8. Maine on the occa-
sion referred to are attached to and
made part OF this precept:
"First-The copy OF a telegram sent
by Captain Charles Sigsbee at Havana
to Commander James M. Forsyth, U. s..
N, at Key West, Fla, without date, but
probably sent on the night Of Feb. Is.
as 1t was received at Key West Fla, by
Lieutenant Commander William $.
Cowles, u. 8. NJ, at o'clock am. Of Feb.
16. 1898. and by the commander-in-o chief
at $50 am. of Feb. 18, at Dry Tortugas.
Fla. Z.
'second--A telegram sent by Captain
c. q. Sigsbee. U. 8. N, to the conf
mander-in-chief at Key West, Fla,
dated Havana. Cuba, Feb. 16, 1898.
1.-The Court will diligently and thor
oughly inquire into all the circumstances
attending the loss of said vessel on the
date named and upon the conclusion of
the Investigation will report to the COM
mander-in-chief its conclusions, all the
testimony taken and the facts 1t deems
established by evidence adduced, to-
Kether with Its opinion as to what fur
ther, proceedings. IL any, should be had
In the matter. The Court will also re-
port whether or not the loss Of said ves-
sci was on the occasion named in any
respect due to the fault or negligence on
the part OF any OF the ofiicers or men,
bers, of the crew Of the said vessel. and
II 30 the names Of such officers or men,
bers Of the crew. and in what respect
and to what extent any or either Of
them was SO at fault or negligent.
"If the Court shall be of the opinion
that further proceedings should be had
In the matter, 1t will include in its re-
port a succinct statement as to the
person or persons against whom such
proceedings should be had and as to the
specific matter on which such proceed
ings are based.
1.-THE Court win also report its opin-
ion as to the cause or causes Of the ex
plosion or other incidents that bore d.
rectIy or indirectly upon the loss Of the
Maine.
"It will also record any information
that it may be able to obtain by testi-
mony and evidence as to any person or
persons not connected with the Navy Of
the United States who are, in its opin-
ion, responsible in part or wholly, direct
ly or indirectly. for the explosion and
the loss of the Maine. and will include
their names in its opinion, together with
degree Of such responsibility in each
case.
"(Signed) M. sICARD,
''Rear- Admiral. Commander In Chief,
''North Atlantic Squadron"
WAITING FOR ORDERS
KEY WEST, Fla. March 4.-The
United States Naval Court of Inquiry
appointed to inquire into the loss Of the
Maine Is still here inactive and await
ing orders from Washington.
Hulse, the Courts chief stenograph-
er. has returned to Washington. leav-
ing Bissell, his associate, here.
All the Maine survivors received
months pay yesterday and their claims
for lost personal property have been
filed. Schwartz, a cook Of the Maine,
has put in claim for 1926, which, he
says, he had in his chest. which was
blown to pieces. Many other enlisted
men lost the savings of years.
There have been no movements OF the
fleet today except that the Nashville
towed coal barge out to the Iowa.
Later in the day 1t was said on good
authority that the Naval Court of In
quiry will leave here at five o'clock this
afternoon for Havana, unless orders to
the contrary are received from Admiral
Sicard.
SPANISH INQUIRY
HAVANA, March 4.-warm, rainy
weather prevailed here today and every
thing has settled down today and every
Lenten quiet.
So far as can be observed the divers
at work are working slowly but steadily
during such hours as 1t is possible to
do so in the turbid water. The big barge
has been found go useful in carrying bic
pieces Of wreckage that 1t is a wonder
1t was not sent here before.
The Spanish divers have been down
but little to the wreck Of the Maine and
reports sent as coming from them are
likely to be incorrect.
A number of beautiful wreaths and
floral pieces were sent to the Colon
Cemetery today by the Americans Of
this city to decorate the graves of the
victims Of the Maine disaster. The flow