Evening journal., 1898-03-25
BIG CROWD TO GREET IT
Spanish FlOtilla Sails From the Cana
rieS For Puerto Rico.
WAR MEASURES THEN FOLLOW.
President Advised by Long and Roose-
welt That This Fleet Mnst Not Reach
Western waters-sampson TO Com
mand Fleet ut Key West.

WASHINGTON, March 25.-The re-
port of the naval board Of inquiry into
the Maine disaster was received in
Washington at 9:S5 last night. The four
naval officers who have guarded IT,
watch and watch, since its departure
from Key West were hustled at once
into a carriage by an attache OF the
navy department and driven TO the bb-
bitt House. where they tried TO catch a
little much needed sleep and at the
same time withstand the crowd of news
paper men who thronged the lobby in
hopes of some stray bit Of information
which had escaped the scrutiny of
numerous correspondents along the
route.
The party consisted Of Lieutenant
Commander Mark, Lieutenant John
Hood, Lieutenant Carl Jungen, Passed
Assistant Engineer Bowers, A. 7.
Mark, a nephew OF the judge advocate,
and Ship Carpenter Helms Of the
Names m fated crew. There was an
immense crowd waiting at the depot
when the train pulled In. The naval
contingent was In the last sleeper on
the train and deftly avoided the crush
of citizens by alighting at the upper end
Of the platform and going out across
the tracks.
All were thoroughly tired, and Com
mander Mark was asleep In the corner
of his seat when the train pulled in
and was gently shaken into sensibility
by his companions, who were on guard.
The party was met at the steps of the
car by Cadet Ward OF the navy depart
ment. who was the sole representative
of Secretary Long. He informed Com
mander Mark that the secretary would
not receive the report then, and, gath
erlng the tired travellers under his pro-
tecting wing. he made for the hack stand
through the rapidly thickening crowd
which. ballSed of its prey at the gate,
had swarmed out over the pavement to
get glimpse at the outside OF the
much heralded report.
Lieutenant Hood. as the most muscu-
lar member OF the party, carried the
bulky document In a white canvas bag
slung under his arm. IL must have
weighed ID or 20 pounds without It's
carrylpai enaf. and portended endless
reamsf " eomnlicated testimony to be
digested by the administration before
the next step in the progress Of the
Maine incident can be taken.
That the whole party carrying the re-
port was armed was demonstrated in a
rather theatrical way Just as they were
about to get into the carriage The
crowd closed around the party and jos
tied them considerably Some one ran
against the end Of the mysterious can
vas bag IN which the report was con-
oealed. Quick as a flash Lieutenant
Hoods hand went back TO his hip and
Lieutenant Jungen laid his hand on
the butt of a revolver that was stick
ing from his side pocket The move
ments were sufficient to prevent further
jostling.
On being driven 10 the Ebbitt House,
the whole party retired. first having orr
dered some light refreshments 20 their
rooms II was not long before the re-
port of their arrival spread, and the lob
by was filled with a curious crowd of
idlers, while the negro bell boys worked
over time carrying up cards from the
various correspondents In search of an
interview. Young Mark was deputed
as sort Of a press committee and met
all inquirers with the stereotyped. repl,
OF II don't know to every question. II
may be said. however, that the report
in due process Of law must first be de
livered 70 the secretary Of the navy, anC
this, according 10 all precedents, will b,
at the navy department. II will thei
be submitted to President Mckinley
upon whose decision its future migra
tiOns will depend,