The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-02
TO HELP THE MAINE BOARD.
CONSTRUCTOR HooTER AND oARPEN-
TER HELM SENT TO HAVANA.

They Go 60 Give the Court or Ibauiry the Ben-
ent % Thetr TechuicAl skill In IdentiryiuE
Pieces or MISUNDERSTANDING LonE Ex-
pieaes = Canard-The Situation ouieter.
WAsHrNeToN, March 1.-Members Of the Cab
inot wero decidedly reticent about tho Maine
disaster after the Cabinet meeting to-day.
When asked whether It had been considered ut
the session, they branched Off into an account
Of u discussion by tho Cabinet of the re-
cent attacks on negro Federal officials in
the South. It was learned, however.
that the Maine disaster had been q topic OF dis
cussion, but that nothing or o sensational
character resulted from tho exchange of
views on tho situation. Everything now
depends on the report Of the board OF in.
Quiry, and tho President and his advisers
agree that the policy OF taking no action beyond
preparation for meeting any emergency. until
Capt. Sampson and his colleagues have sub.
mitted their finding. is tho only one that can be
followed.
An ATTEMPT was made to-day to make It ap.
pear that some simple remarks Of Secretary
Long In response to Q casual question contained
an official acknowledgment by the Admins.
tration that this Government had decided
not to hold the Spanish Government responsible
in any way for the destruction of the Maine.
Secretary Long did not say anything that would
bear such a construction. After the Cabinet
meeting no was asked at the White House by q
newspaper man II the situation in regard
to the loss OF the Maine had not
assumed q quieter phase. He remarked
that this was true. and that in his
opinion the element of Spanish official partici.
patton in the destruction of tho ship had been
eliminated. Later in the day, when wild ru.
mors were In circulation that the Administra-
ton had decided not to take any proceedings
against Spain. no matter what the Board Of In
CURRY reported, Secretary Long was asked by
The Sun reporter to tell exactly what hc meant
by his remarks at tho White House.
why" answered the Secretary. 81 meant
exactly what I said, which amounted simply to
this: 1t seems to mo that things are growing
quieter. At any rate tho element OF official
participation Of the Spanish Government in tho
blowing up Of tho Maine 10 practically elimi.
mated"
Does that mean.' Mr.. Long was asked,
that the Administration has decided that tho
Spanish Government will not be held RESPONSE.
BILE for tho loss OF tho Maine II the disaster was
caused by the act of q Spanish Official without
The knowledge or sanction Of his Government T.
Certainly not" was the answer. 1.-THE opin.
ion given was purely my own. It was not Off.
cial. 1t was o casual question, and was
answered casually. I have been Influenced in
making It by the disclaimer of the Spanish rep
resentative here that there were any submarine
mines in Havana harbor."
1t was suggested that the denial Of the Span.
fish Charge d'Afaires was merely personal, and
had been expressed only through the news
papers.
"No." said Secretary Long, It was official"
The Navy Department has decided to send o
naval constructor and o ships carpenter to
give tho benefit Of their professional aud
mechanical knowledge to the Board Of In
quiry In the investigation of tho cause
Of the disaster. Naval Constructor Hoover
and Carpenter Helm. accordingly. have
been ordered to report to the board at Key
West. They will not DO members Of the tn.
bunal Of inquiry, but will assist 1t In Identifying
parts Of the wreck and explaining what tho dis
tribution of debris from tho force of the explo-
sion indicates.
Only one telegram from Capt. Sigsbee was re-
ceived to-day. 1t came late this evening. It
follows:
"Bacho leaves to-day for Tortugas with all
wounded now here. five in all, names as follows;
Mattison, Casill. Allen, Weber. and Mack. All
able to walk about except Mattison. whose jaw
was broken. Baohe takes one unrecognizable
body.
Tortugas to Key West. Bache will report to
flagship on Thursday morning before entering
Key West. Cannot tell when more bodies may
be expected ct Key West, but Bache should re.
turn promptly"