The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-01
May Be Several
Weeks to Come
Before Investigation Is
Completed.
viii Return to Havana TO Take
More Testimony.
No Orders Given to Send Another
Narship TO Cuban Waters.
Secretary Gage pronouncaS as False the
Statement That He Is Making
Preparations for
Bend Issue.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S-At the
close Of office hours telegram came
to the Navy Department from Admiral
sicard at Key West in the following
terms:
Key West. Feb 2S.-To the Secre-
tary of the Navy, Washington; Court
of Inquiry Will commence session at
Key West to-day They must resume
session At Havana to obtain evidence OF
divers after their work upon the wreck
"SICARD."
The important feature of this COM
munication is the declaration that the
court will return to Havana. 1t sets
al rest the rumors that have been cur
rent for days past that the court was
not 10 return to Havana, for the reason
that il had discovered the cause OF the
sinking of the Maine. which was not
an accident, and that they had conse-
auently no further business in Havana.
one important deduction TO be drawn
from the message was that the report
of the Court of Inquiry can scarcely
be expected for several weeks to come.
The court will be occupied at Key West
for some days at least in taking the
testimony of the survivors there. Then
pected that a good deal of time must
elapse before the divers can get through
the mud which ROW encompasses the
lower part of the wreck OF the Name,
and examine the bottom. After this
is done the court must deliberate in
order TO secure an agreement upon
their finds.
The prevalent belief at the Navy
Department is that up to this moment
the court has not once undertaken to
compare notes and endeavor to reach
such an agreement.
A Cuban mail was received during
the day. and. with the candor which has
so far characterized all his dealings
with the public in this matter, Score
tary Long caused it to be given to the
newspaper reporters as soon as he had
read ii himself 1t was made up OF
one letter from Captain Sampson. dated
at Havana. February I'D, and although
Il Is simply statement Of events that
had already been reported by telegraph
one fact is significant. viz: the state
ment that the testimony of certain
civilian witnesses before the cour:
would be of no Importance. His let
ter is as follows:
February %. 1s9s-Dear Sir: The
court has taken the testimony Of al
the officers OF the Maine still here. To-
morrow we viii take such testimony as
the divers have accumulated. The
Right Arm arrived here this morning
and reported TO Captain Sigsbee. ac-
cording TO orders
Il trust some wrecking company viii
be given the entire job as no other plan
Will be feasible.
There are two citizens in the har-
Dor who have signified their Willingness
to testify. although they have nothing
important
After taking this evidence. and thai
of the divers. I propose to return 4
Key West and take the evidence of the
officers and men there.
TT may be necessary to return here
after further progress has been made
by the divers. Very respectfully.
IVY. T. SAMPSON.
Captain L. 8 n"
The reports that came from Key
West about unusual activity and the
observance of unusual precaution.
among the few soldiers quartered there
was received with amusement at army
headquarters here It was said iha
no orders had gone forward from thi:
city 10 explain the hustle, but there
was the best reason to suspect that th'
commandant was simply brushing III
the post and putting his best foot for
ward against the expected appearance
there on his tour Of inspection of Gen
eral Merritt. the commanding Genera
of the Department Of the East
The gunboat Wilmington sailed 10
day from La Guayara for Barbados
travelling over the ground covered
few days before by the Cincinnati ant
Castine. All Of the boats are slowl,