Evening star., 1898-02-18

FEBRUARY 18,
was heartily in favor of the resolution. he
wanted it understood that this was not to
be construed as a precedent. -ss---'
Il hope there are to be no more such
cases to follow this" observed Mr. Bailey.
The resolution was then adopted unanf-
mously.
EXCITEMENT N THE SENATE.
Scene Dur1.w the DeMvery OF s.,.to-
I lGason's RenahTis.
| The Senate broke fntoantense eixccatement
over the Maine disaster today. The ques-
tfcn was precipttated by the calling Nd of
| Vas called up 1t was not exDected that
there would be much debats. The purpose
I Of tife resui,,4ion wxs> to SECURE an investi-
gaticn of the disaster by Congress, inde-
pe1,dently Of that to be conducted by the
Navy Department.
| Senator Hale interposed objection to the
resolution. and Senator Mason, who had
Undertaken its champaenship, became i'm
| passioned in advocating a thorough fnyes-
tiGation of the catastrophe by committee
| of Congress. s--s
| In the course Of his heated address, man.
aged in his usual slap-dash manner, Mr.
Mason said or was understood to say,
that many people in this country had lost
confidence in some Of the departments OF
the government.
| This caused great excitement in the
Senate. Senator Waicott at once rushed to
| the rescue of the administration, and there
was general bristlfng OF the dignity OF
the Senate. Senator Woicott was pas.
sionate in his retort, and the report of the
expressions used by Mr.. Mason was di.
rected to be read. 1t showed that he had
said that many Of the people of this coun.
try lacked confidence In some of the de-
rartments and believed that facts were be-
ing withheld which they had right to
know. ss
After the reading ofathe statement Mr..
Wolcott in most vigorous manner de-
| Tended the administration and the navy.
Senator Lodge followed, deploring that
there should be an intemperate debate, and
Mr.. Mason asserted that Mr.. Wolcott had
misrepresented his statement and that he
| had made no attack upon the Secretary of
| the Navy. "
Senator Allen said that he had not ant!ci-
pated that the resolution would be made
the subject Of contention kmong the repub-
| icans, but he must say that he shared in
| some of the views expressed ~ Mr. Mason.
He thought that inforRatien which the
people had right to wa4 frequently with
| held. II
! This led to brief tilt between Mr., Allen
and Mr.. Gray. which closed the exciting
l feature Of the incident
REPORT FROM CAPT. ss1GsBEE.
Expected Divers to-. Co to wo-,.
The first notice to. reach the Navy De-
partment this morning tEomgthe scene of
the great naval disaster at Havana was a
| belated telegram of last nights date from
| Capt. SigsDee. reading as follows:
| Nineteen of Maine's dead were buried
this afternoon. with great civil, ecclesiasti-
cal, naval and military ceremonies, and
/ with all Of the resources of Havana
| brought into requsition. The Spanish gov
| erEment, under express directions of Gen
| Bianco, the bishop Of Havana, Gen Parade
| ana admiral Manterola and the mayor of
| havana, took complete charge of all ar
| rargements. The bodies were first laid In
| state In the building Of the city govern
ment OF Havana, where they were covered
| with floral and other emblems suitable to
| the occasion, which were presented by OFF,
| Gals ana other persons OF Havana of all
shades or political opinion. They We're
| escorted to the cemetery by representatives
OF all. the military, naval and civil organ
izations and foreign consular officers,
| and through a vast concourse Of people
| spreading over routes. Gen. Lee myself
and officers and men OF the Maine now
here, together with Lieut.. Com. cowles
and members of the Ferns crew, were
given special carriages and ,conveniences.
| Ground for the burial OF all the Maine's
dead has been presented by Gen. Blanco
and the bishop of Havana In the beautiful
cemetery of Havana. The utmost sym
pathy and respect has been shown. 1 am
| informed by the authorities that this is the
| second instance only of such demonstra-
ton having been shown to foreigners in
the history of Havana. 1t; is inconcetvable
that a. greater demonstration could have
| been made to me personally. A great num-
Der of people have expressed sympathy for
the Maine and for the United States gov
ernment and people. The remainder of the
| dead must, perforce, be buried with brief
| ceremony, which will be conducted by our
selves, but the care and preparation of the
! remains will be with the Spanish authors
| ties. ,.=... -.-
80. Caring for the Dead.
| About forty in addition to those buried
| Rave come ashore today. Very few are
| now recognizable. Even !, In the case. of
| some OF those who are hurt, but live, rec
| oenition was, ,aifticultss1 nave not'1for a
moment lost sight of the grief of. the fam
lilies and friends of the members of my
crew. out begsthe department to explain
to them that it, is impfacscalole. in fact
| impossible, to send bodies home. Facilities
are lacking, and e1nbahnment is necessary
to secure shipment, even under the most
| favorable circumstances. Embalmment is
only imperfectiy done here. Will wire all
| cases of identifcation II maintain organ
| ization among my small force here, but it
can be well understood that the execution
Of the work with which We are charged Is
one of much detail and difficult of execu-
ton. It is believed that all Of the depart
ment's kilograms have .teakhad me- am
deeply grateful for the helpful sentiments
and directions telegraphed by the President
| and the 0eDartmant 7 have the earnest