The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-24
The MAlNE9
The Theory That :
Caused the Wreck
THE wRfcKERs VIII P1st
Captain Sampson Nm,
Judged Dlsps,s
EVERYTHING, &c
EVERYTHING IS E.p,
Any nerortea Intervlsx,
vcrs untruc-Bi~ ~
to Stay mt Hampte. Z

Washington. February \, ~
CT a mail in Washington ~
toeay' bringing privats letIsn
officers lately attached q 4,
caused a wave Of cxcitenes, :. Il
partment, for there were 4,
mcrs as TO the contents 3 Pa
very few of which rumofs. !, .
had any sound basis.
The only feature that coDls I. 3
of Importance as throwinx g, \;
cause of the explosion N. \. IL
that two aft boilers In u. i.s3
were all Of the eight boilcn J. p
tlat were under steam at 4. rs
explosion This fact had nep,I
however, as It disposed iip,l,
ory that an exploded boiler "a Y,
wreck. The experts all " ~
possibility could the aft bdlth
have wrecked the fore nan y r
and left the aft 1,art aimost r.
Much interest was shown Il 4. ?
received shortly before 8 o,cjos 4
miral Sicard, giving the recon-
of Captain Sampson Of the conn n
as to the progress OF the wreci +
of the naval Officers va II }
Sampson and his associates ~
this advice, not as a court Ill Z
in a position to speak as 10 N n
DDS to be adopted for working a h
of the Maine. Various iuternssad
put on the expression -forvaS p
pletely destroyed" This wa r.
a partial confirmation Of liz H.
the forward magazine had m
that was one Of the mcst imrct5
ticns of the forward half Of in =
the same time 1t was held " p
authorities that the destructIon n
ward half OF the ship did not =
mean that the forward masasln
ploded, as that might be SIN r
though part of the genera vni
the absence of an expert st1ttne
the forward magazine there N. Il
ton not to. accept any implied Il
as to it's destruction. Captain \
recommendation that a contisa
with the best equipped wreckiuy
to remove tho material and tit 4
without delay was in line viii II
ready taken with closing the eui!4
the two largest wreckins conclf1
country, by which their conhln&
ties will be at the service q WI
men'. q!
The contract contains ! 6rNl
the wreckcrs to use their uimna I
expedite the work, SO that ~ e.
feels that everything has been ~
iy out the views expressed
Sampson. q. Y. Y;
Evidently the president Of ~
inquiry is fearful for the eifta I
public of ill-judged attempti Y
for the destruction OF tbe' Atint
afternoon he teiegraphed Setftil!
doubtless having in mind certri
tions of this morning, as foIlcslis
Havana, February %. ~
teryjew with divers untrue, kytiF1
tion has been taken, Officer ssa
ent."
This brief statement disposes
cations that have been mace ~
as to the blowing up OF the ieEs' '''
zines.
Some solicitude was expE J,
navy department over the repon Y Y,
Sicards health. 1t was sald' I ~.
there was no occasion for isl Y I
now: that the flagship New fOIa I.
leave Key West, and II sne .O Y. !.
Taylcr can assume charge q " .
while the admiral takes ts w y I
recuperate from his malaria W i
he was about to enjoy wnen = !"
returned to his place, II
A formal order was MAJ. q, Y
poon for Lieutenant lo u.
wright to take station a. Ms .s:
after the governments lA,ely w
work of wrecking the Name WI
The big double-turreted ~
remains under orders TO su
roads until further notlce.