The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-19
More Rumors Denied.


comprehensively that he had requested
the chief of police of New York to
guard the Vizcaya, and that he had
selected Constructor Bowles to go to
Havana and raise the Maine
The last work of the day for him
was 10 consult the representatives of
the Wrecking companies who probably
Will have charge of this work, and en-
deavor to arrange for both of them
TO work together, so as to secure the
use OF each plant and to save time
The secretary, when asked to express
the departments estimate of the con-
duct of Capt. Sigsbee In the terrible
situation in which he had been placed,
replied:
II think express the feeling of the
president, as we'll as myself, when 1
say that Capt. Sigsbee has conducted
himself as an officer of our navy
should. He was the last to leave the
ship when she went down. His dis
patch to me that night was 80 COM
plete that, since then, 1 have thought
of no question Of fact to ask him.
which is essential to the situation and
which he could answer which is not
covered by that dispatch It's tone.
too, is that Of a discreet and level
headed man, who realized the impress
sion any word from him at that time
would have on the public mind. Moth
ing is harder than for a naval officer
to lose his ship, so that I have great
sympathy for him. 1 await, with con-
fdence, further reports
Relatives Anxious.
During the day the department was
in receipt of a number of kilograms
from different parts of the country
asking in behalf of relatives of the
dead sailors that their remains be
brought back to the United States for
interment. Among them were queries
from friends of the two officers, Mer-
ritt and Jenkins. The department for
warded them to Capt Sigsbee, whose
reply was that the officers bodies have
not been found; that as to MANY
others. Identification is not possible
and throwing great doubt upon the
practicable of taking any Of the re-
mains away from Havana.
While no decision has yet been reach
ed formally upon the application of
the Spanish government for authorize
tion to examine the wreck of the Maine
to ascertain the cause of the explosion
the officials seem inclined to regard
this request as one that could not
properly be refused and it is likely
that each government will make an in
vestigation of this character concur
rently.
The miniature United States flag on
the model of the battleship Maine In
the corridor of the navy department
was lowered to half mast during the
day by direction Of the secretary of the
navy. The handsome model has been
a center of interest for the throngs at
the department within recent days, and
the several flags have continued to fly
at the mastheads in apparent irony Of
the actual condition of the Maine.
A movement was started today to
drape the model in mourning after the
manner that the model of the British
ship Victoria was draped at the Wor S
fair. Secretary Long did not approve
of this, however, as 1t suggested an
ostentatiOn not fitting the circumstan-
ces. But he gave his assent to lower
ing the miniature colors, and according
ly the stars and strips flowing from the
stern of the Names miniature counter
part were lowered.