The record-union., 1898-02-21
The Naval Court Of
Inquiry.
II Sailed From Key West
Yesterday.
Admiral Sicard TeIegrdphed to
Secretary Long.
II Awaited the Arrival Of Lieutenant
Commander Mark.
Experienced Divers viii Have to be En-
ployed, as Only Such Can Make Their
Way Through the Twisted
Masses Of Wreck.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-The naval
Court of Inquiry appointed to investl-
gate the Maine disaster will begin its
work at Havana tomorrow. This
news came to the Navy Department
this morning from Admiral Sicard at
Key West He simply telegraphed as
follows:
The Court of Inquiry sails for Ha-
vana Doth by lighthouse steamer Man
grove. Mark arrived to-day"
This prompt action is undoubtedly
due to the express direction of Score
tary Long, sent yesterday, to nave
the investigation begin at the earliest
possible moment. The telegram was
dated yesterday, so the board arrived
there before nightfall and Will be
ready to begin its work tomorrow
morning BY an error incident TO the
haste with which the orders were got
ten out. the first accounts placed Lleu-
tenant Commander Seaton Schroeder
on the board as the third member,
while. as a matter or fact, Lieutenant
Commander Pollock, the executive Off
Ger Of the flagship New York holds
that Mace The board undoubtedly
would have started previously but for
the necessity of awaiting the arrival at
Key West from Warrington OF Lieulen-
ant Commander Mark, q naval officer
we'll skilled in the intricacies of marine
law. who was to be Judge Advocate or
the court. Captain Sigsbee was heard
from late last night. but the telegram
was not delivered at the Navy Depart
ment until this morning. His message
goes TO confirm the press reports of the
events of Yesterday in Havana harbor
so far as they relate TO the exploration
of the wreck 1t reads as follows:
HAVANA Feb. 19.-Only most ex-
perienced wrecking divers can Go ef-
fective work on the Maine. In the up
per works I can use service divers. Did
some work to-day. but with little sue
cess. Will do better tomorrow Parts
Of the Maine, especially the supersuuc-
ture and connections. are one confused
mass of metal
Another brief telegram from Captain
Sigsbee read: Havana, Feb. 10
Bache." which means that the coast
survey steamer has arrived at
Havana. bringing on board all
the diving apparatus sent from
the squadron. The statement re-
ferring TO experienced divers is eX-
planned at the Navy Department as no
reflection upon the men now engaged
in the work. they being enlisted men
belonging to the navy 1t is the prac-
tice on board men-ofwar TO assign a
few men. always volunteers on account
Of the hazardous nature OF the work.
to duty as divers in connection with
their regular work. The scope of their
work IS the exploration Of the ship s
bottom generally. the Acknowledgement
of cables from the propeller's shafts
and sometimes the search for a lest
torpedo or anchor.
Such work rarely carries them deeper
than twenty-five feet in the water and
II is said for operations in deeper wat
er. such as would be involved in exam
nation OF the Names bottom, their
training has not fitted them. They
are also lacking in that kind Of skill
necessary to enable diver to grope his
way safely through the internal parts
OF mighty ship like the Maine, torn
and dismembered as she is, and this
work Is highly dangerous. Creeping
through iron bound passages and CROP
ing for the doors of the water-t tight
bulk heads which divide the nun INTO
COMPARTMENTS, on Shiny floors and in
perfect darkness requires the highest
expert skill and that is why Captain
Sigsbee with only his sailor divers al
command. has not been able TO do much
so far towards unravellng the mystery
Of the Names untfmely end. 1t is tc
meet Just this emergency that the Navy
Department is making every effort tc
hasten the beginning of t-1e work Of
recovery of the goods and perhaps the
raising Of the hull by professionals
To that end Captain Lemley, the Judge
Advocate General of the department
was at work to-day in his office with
representatives of wrecking companies
trying to draw no contracts for the
immediate prosecution of the work. de
has been at the task now two days and
IL has not been easy to dispose of. This
IS owing TO an apparent disposition OF
the part of at least one of the concerns
to drive a hard bargain. leaving the
department in the dark as to tht
amount OF money to be paid for theil
services.
But 1t is believed the obstacles have