The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-24
BOILERS MAY NOT HAVE BURST.
STEAM UP IN ONLY TWO AT THE
TIME OFF THE DISASTER.

These Two Located In the Aft Boiler
Space-They Could Not Have
Wrecked the Forward Part of the
Ship and Left the Aft Part I'm
harmed-NO Interview Given Out
by Any of the Divers Working at
the Wreck.
washington, Feb. 23.-The arrival Of a
mail in Washington from Key West this
afternoon brought several private letters
from naval officers lately attached 10 the
Maine, which caused excitement to run
over the departments and the capitol, for
there were all sorts of rumors as to the
contents of these letters, very few of
which rumors, in point of fact, had any
sound basis.
The only feature. SO far as could be dis
covered, of real Importance as throwing
any light on the cause of the explosion
contained in the letters was the statement
that the two aft boilers in the aft boiler
space were all of the eight boilers of the
Maine that were under steam at the time
Of the explosion. This fact had a negative
value, for it disposed a once of the theory
that an exploding boiler had caused the
wreck. The experts all said that by no
possibility could the aft boilers after the
explosion have wrecked the fore part of
the Maine and left the aft part unharmed.
Much interest is shown in dispatch re-
ceived shortly before o'clock from Ad-
miral Sicard, giving the recommendations
of Capt. Sampson of the court of inquiry
as to the raising of the wreck. The view
of the naval officers was that Capt. Samp
son, and his associates were giving this
advice, not as court, but as officers in a
position TO speak as to the best methods TO
be adopted for wrecking the Maine.
Various interpretations were put on the
expression forward half completely de-
slroyed." This was regarded as a partial
confirmation of the theory that the for
ward magazine had exploded, as that is
one of the most important portions of the
forward half of the ship. AT the same
time it was held by some naval authori-
ties that the destruction of the forward
| half of the ship did not necessarily mean
that the forward magazine had exploded,
| as this might still be intact, although
part of the general wreckage. AS to the
forward part of the vessel, there was not
very much talk.
| contract be made with the best
| wrecking company to remove ina
| terial and lift the ship without
Gelay was in line with the action already
| taken in closing a contract with the two
largest wrecking concerns in the country,
| by which their combined facilities will be
at the service Of the government. The
| contract contains a clause binding the
| wreckers to use their utmost efforts to
| expedite the work. the department feeling
| that everything has been done to carry out
the views expressed by Capt. Sampson.
Evidently the president of the court Of
inquiry is fearful of the effect on the pub
lie of alleged attempts to account for the
destruction of the Maine, for this after
noon he telegraphed Secretary Long,
doubtless having in mind certain publ
cations Of the morning, as follows:
Havana, Feb 23.-The reported inter-
views with divers untrue. Extra preoau-
ton has been taken. officers always
present"
This brief statement disposes of any al
legation that has been made pro and cob
as to the blowing up of the magazines.
A formal order was made out this aft
ernoon for Lieutenant Commander Wain-
wright to take station al Havana and look
after the governments interests while the
work of wrecking the Maine progresses.
The big double-turreted monitor Terror
remains in Hampton Roads until further
orders