The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-22
COURT OF inquiry AT HAVANA.
Capt. Peral in Consultation with the
American Officers.

capt FeraI in Consultation with the
American Officers
Havana, Feb. 21.-The United States
lighthouse tender Mangrove arrived this
morning, having on board the officers COM
posing the court of inquiry appointed by
Rear Admiral Sicard to inquire into the
loss Of the Maine.
The commander of the Fern sent boat
at 10 O'Clock for Capt. Feral and his sccre-
tary, Lieut.. Salas of the Spanish navy,
who are to take part in the Spanish in
Vestigation into the disaster. They were
taken on board the Mangrove, and ut
O'Clock were still comforting with the
American officers
The divers this morning recovered two
more bodies, some files of documents and
books
The board of inquiry met on the Man
grove at 10 o'clock this morning with
Capts. Sampson and Chadwick and Lieu
tenant Commanders Potter and Mark
present. Capt. Sampson presided, and
Lieutenant Commander Mark, recently
executive officer of the Maine. acted as
recorder.
Capt. Sigsbee, the commander of the
Maine. was the first witness. He was un-
der examination until 1 o'clock this after
noon, at which hour an adjournment was
taken.
1t is probable that no further witnesses
will be heard to-day, but the board will
make a careful personal examination of
the wreck, near which the Mangrove is
anchored.
Capt. Sampson received the esAssociated
Press correspondent Immediately after the
morning session of the board He said,
in the course of the interview II would
be glad to give the Associated Press, news
but owing to the delicate situation. the
board has decided to make nothing what
ever public. l do not know what testimo-
ny may develop or when and it is only fair
to the Spanish government not to tell the
public the testimony until all has been re-
ceived, and the findings have been consid-
cred.
you may say that this rule is absolute.
Due care will be taken for the rigid en-
forcement of it, and all stories purporting
to come from the court should be set down
as false l have no idea as to how long
the court will remain here. No one is au-
thorized to fix the time, as the members
themselves do not know. l shall give the
Associated Press such routine news of the
proceedings as is proper"
Capt. Sigsbee told the correspondent that
he was quite pleased with the examination,
and that he was able to answer all ques-
tions asked, not only as to his own acts
but as to those of his subordinates on the
Maine.
Consul General Lee says the Spanish
officials are not interfering with the nves-
tigation into the causes of the disaster.
He has notified the captain of the port
that the wrecking tug Right Arm will be
here tomorrow from the Merritt and
Chapman Dock Wrecking Company. No
objection will be made to the presence of
the tug or her prospective work. She will
probably make an early attempt TO save
movable parts of the Names machinery.
Tomorrow morning Consul General Lee
will escort the officers of the court of in
qury to pay visits of ceremony to the
captain general and Admiral Manterola.
To-day the divers found a copper cylin-
der used in conveying charges to the six
inch guns. The fact that it had exploded
seems to show that there was an explo-
sion in the magazine for fixed ammuni-
ton on the port side forward.
All the wounded men, except two, are
doing we'll. Paul LOTUS and one other
will be taken to Key West Wednesday by
the Bache.
This AFTERNOON the court of inquiry per-
sonally inspected the wreck of the Maine.
BY their invitation Capt Peral appoint
ed by the Spanish government as a special
Judge to investigate the disaster and his
secretary, viewed the divers at work.
Capt Peral expressed his appreciation Of
the courtesles shown to him by the court
of inquiry.