The herald., 1898-03-04
MAINE COURT
Has Sent Out No Word of
Its Findings
KEY WEST WORK DONE
THE COURT WILL REcoNvENE
AT HAVANA
RELIEF SUPPLIES FLOW IN
Almost Every Steamer Sailing for
Cuban Ports Carries Food and
Medicine for the Needy
THE COURT WILL RECONVENE
AT HAVANA
RELIEF SUPPLIES FLOW IN
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, March 3.-Secretary
Long said at the close of his day at the
navy department that no word had been
| received from the court of inquiry and
that no orders had been or would be given
as to the movements of the court from
Key West as the court was fully author
lied to shape its own movements. The
| original orders to the court were issued by
Admiral Sicard, and it has the technical
status of an admiral's court, reporting di-
rectly to him, both as to its movements
and as to its final report on the cause Of
the disaster. The understanding here is
that the court has not concluded its work,
but will return to Havana and take testi-
mony which has been delayed by the diff
culties in the way of the divers. That
| Admiral Sicard expects this move back to
Havana was shown by dispatch from
him few days ago, suggesting that ar
rangements be made for vessel to take
the court back. AS the lighthouse tender
Mangrove had been doing this service, the
treasury department was asked to assign
the Mangrove for the return of the court
to Key West, and this was done. With
these arrangements concluded, 1t is said
at the navy department that the court
will proceed without consulting officials
here.
Arrangements are being made for the
trip of the cruiser Montgomery and the
gunboat Nashville to Cuban ports with
relief supplies. The navy department was
advised that the Mallory line steamer
leaving New York next Saturday would
carry free of charge Is tons of supplies,
to be transferred to the Montgomery and
Nashville at Key West
The Mallory steamer is expected to take
about four days in the run down the coast,
SO that the transfer to the warships and
their start to Cuba cannot be made be-
fore next Thursday. The two warships
are poorly adapted for carrying supplies,
having scant quarters for their own sup
plies Of cordage, provisions. canvas and
ships equipments. 1t is only because they
| can make the run in daylight that any
attempt Is made to carry the 7ss tons Of
supplies. These will be stored on the
spar-deck, and with good weather and
daylight run. they will not be subjected to
damage. The relief measures are proving
unexpectedly successful, the supplies rum
ming into the carloads and hundreds of
TONS.
The state department has had notice
from the Cuban relief committee at New
York that there were shipped from New
York to Santiago on March 1st 100000
pounds Of relief supplies; on the I'd, to Ha-
vana, 5000 pounds; today, to Matanzas,
100000 pounds.
In these shipments are 100000 grains of
Quinine, consigned to each of the posts
except Havana.
Chairman Barton of the central Cuban
relief committee has advised the state
department that donations are coming
forward In great abundance, not only in
money, but more particularly in the form
of provisions, from all directions. The
Oregon comprises ten carloads and possi-
bly, twenty, and Omaha, Minneapolis and
other western committees are making
shipments by the carload. We had today
upon the pier of the Manson line nearly
100 tons ready for their steamer sailing
Friday, which they had kindly offered to
take to Matanzas and Sagua."
The Maine relief fund, under Mrs Long, s
management, today reached $3113
The only telegram relating to the Maine
disaster that came to the navy depart
ment during the day was the following,
| from Commander Forsyth, at Key West
"Bache arrived. Brought one body, un-
identified, and Paul LOTUS, private ma
rine; jeremiah Shea, coal passer; John
Heffner, ordinary seaman; Thomas j.
Waters. ordinary seaman. wounded, from
Tortugas. The wounded will be sent to the
army hospital. The funeral of the body
has started for the cemetery"
In the course of the inquiry into the
naval resources of the United States an
order has been issued to make test of
the machinery of the monitors at the
island navy yard. These are single-turret-
ed craft, armed with big, smooth bore
guns, but they would still be of service in
an emergency. There are eight of these
monitors at League island and the gov
ernment owns several others that are now
loaned to the naval militia organizations
of some states. Those at League island
4 <h4 Foil Avrytr rers M ~
Manhattan. Catskill, Jason, Lehigh, Mon
tauk and Nahant.
They are all between 1900 and 200 tons
displacement and draw very little water,
SO that they can take up advantageous
positions on shoals commanding channel
approaches. The intention Is to turn over
the old engines and work the machinery
| that is made to turn the turrets, If 1t can
| be made to work at all.
During the course of the day similar in
quiries to that made by the Japanese ,lega-
ton of the number of her subjects aboard
the Maine came to the navy department
from the German and Swedish Legations,
and It is expected that others will follow.
Nearly every nationality was represented
| In the Maines big crew.
The conference between Secretary Long
and Representative Boutelle, chairman of
/ the house naval committee, proved to be in
reference to the regular bill. and had no
connection with emergency measures.
Mr.. Long said that they had gone over the
question Of docks, equipment. etc., as pro-
vided in the regular BILL Capt. Crownin-
shield had been called in to discuss the
matter Of additional men and apprentices
which had been recommended. In no
sense. the secretary said. had emergency
questions come up. There was no need of
considering them now. he said, as no doubt
existed that congress would act promptly
should any emergency arise requiring sun.
plies beyond those Of the regular appropri-
alton bills.
CUBAN CONDITIONS
NEW YORK, March a--W. w. Howard
| Of this city returned from Cuba today on
| the steamer vigilancia.
II was In Armenia with Clara Barton. =