The Forrest City times., 1898-02-25
TOTAL LACK OF NEWS.
The Condition at Washington Re- specting the Maine Disaster.
NOTHING NEW TO GIVE OUT AT PRESENT.
A Relic of the Disas,er-Several Rumors, More or Less Sensational, Laid to Res,-Naval Department Still in
 a State of Expectancy.
No News About the Maine.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-There was a total lack of official news respecting the Maine disaster in both state and navy departments up to noon, no tele- grams having come in over night and none having been dispatched. re. hinder of the disaster, however. reached the navy department in the shape of a water-stained and brine-favored pack age inclosing the medical journal of the Maine. This document came through Consul-General Lees mail pouch to the state department instead of through the mails. from which it was probably barred by its weight. It. was turned over to the chief clerk of the navy department, and by him referred to the bureau of marine and surgery, where it will be
 Kept for Future Reference
 in case of necessity The officials say the package was under water four days, from its appearance. and it still bears evidence of that fact, besides hay ing an unpleasant, brakish odor. The blue mark lines ruled on the paper by the govern ment printing office are nearly faded out, but the reading in the journal, in the metallic ink used by the navy, is clear and distinct. Of course there is nothing in the book bearing upon the disaster. but it is tribute to the me- thodical habits of Surgeon Heneberger. the Maines medical officer, that the record was brought up to the last mo- ment before the wreck of the ship, the last entry being February 15
 An Air of Expectancy.
 While there remains an air of expec- tancy among the naval officers when ever there is the least suggestion of news from Havana, the department ap- pears to have settled pretty we'll down into its old routine. There is no longer much disposition exhibited to theorize as to the cause of the disaster. Proba- ply this is from lack of evidence to base theory on, or because the ingenui- ty of the experts in devising hypotheses has been exhausted
 The Monitor Terror.
 No orders have yet gone out to the big double-turreted monitor Terror; the situation as to her remains as it did Tuesday when Secretary Long stated that she will be held for orders at Norfolk
 In regard to the statement coming from Key West that naval officers there had been warned by Admiral Sicard. at the instance of the navy department, not to discuss the Maine disaster publicly, and with newspaper men. 1t is said by naval officers that this is only the usual course, as the regulations especially prohibit such discussions as are cal culated to effect improperly the conclu- sion of the court of inquiry, and ssso, perhaps, to cause interposition of obstacles to the investigation.
 It is probable that like instructions have been given to the few naval off cers who remain with Capt. Sigsbee. at Havana, engaged in paying the last sad rites to the bodies of the victims
 Consul General Lees Alleged Warning.
 Consul General Lee, in the course of friendly talk in Havana with Ameri- cans, may have expressed the view that there are at present other places more desirable as resorts for persons who have no particular business there than Havana, but the state department au- thorizes the announcement that it has not yet been advised that he has eith- CT officially or semi-officially delivered himself of any expression on the sub- ject.
 The Spanish legation also discredits reports that Gen. Lee has given any such warning, and Mir. Dubosc, the charge daffairs, said that such com plete quiet and harmony existed at Havana that it was manifestly out of the question that any such warning had been given. It is also said at the department that no message has been conveyed to the owners of American vessels at New Orleans or elsewhere that it would not be safe for them to visit Cuban ports at this time.
 The Taxas and Nashville.
 The battleship Texas and the gum boat Nashville will leave Galveston for Key West, where they will rejoin the other vessels of Admiral Sicard's squad ron at that point. No orders for this movement were sent by the navy depart ment, as it is stated that it is in accord ance with the orders given several weeks ago by which the two ships were directed to remain at Galveston from the l7th to the 23d inst, to partici- pate in the Mardi Gras celebration there and return to Key West on the latter date. This was before the Maine disaster, so inst the present movement is said to have no possible significance on the recent occurrence. The Nash vile has been thought of in connection with the determination to send another ship to Havana when the present ex- citement has calmed. the choice lying between the Nashville and Montgom- cry. No determination, however, has yet been reached on that point.