The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-22

Washington, February 1.-THE gov
m has settled ack into a wait
ing attitude in respect to the terrible
marine disaster in Havana harbor. The
great shock caused by the news has
given way to a cal1ner and more judi
cial state of mind, and, realizing from
the vents Of the day, that the court
of inquiry is the sole dependence in the
search for the cause Of the Names
loss, the naval officers are now resign
ed to await the results of that inquiry
by a court ordered today by the navy
department. There was little new to
add to the sum of information as to
the disaster during the forenoon. No
kilograms came and all that could be
CLEANED was a denial of some absurd
story or other that had crept into print
or become current gossip. The news
of the day all came in the late after
noon in the shape of Sigsbee's report
of the authorization of the funeral of
his dead sailors, and General Lees
graphic story of the terrible struggle
for life in the dark hull of the Maine.
The officials at the navy department
devoted the day to the effort to cor
rect the lists of the living and dead; to
answering frantic Geographic appeals
from relatives of men on the battle
ship, and last, but not least, in meet
ing with u~nWaVering courtesy n pa
thence the exacting demands upon their
time of the press reports. The dispo-
sition of the survivors, Captain Dick
ems, acting chief of the navigation bu-
reau, has arranged for as we'll as could
be from this distance. The wounded
sailors in Havana hospitals, on the
Spanish flagship and elsewhere, when
not in condition to be brought back to
Key West, will be carefully looked af-
ter by Miss Clara Burton who has been
given cart blanche to buy any and ev-
erything necessary-foOd, clothing, del
icacies-andto hire nurses and physi-
clans. The wounded able to get across
to Key West will be taken care of in
the marine hospital there. The sound
survivors will be quartered in the
spare army barracks there. AS for the
Maine herself, Notwithstanding dis
~couraging reports from Lieutenant
Hood as to her condition, the navy de-
partrnent will make an effort to raise
her; while this is required by every
creditable sentiment they say that
they are bound to move the hull from
the small harbor in any case, and it
may be as easy or easier to raise her
as it would be to destroy the hull and
machinery slowly by the use OF divers
and dynamite. 1t is believed that this
work can best be done by private
wrecking corporations and negotia-
fiOnS are already afOOt for placing the
contract, based ON work by the day,
at an estimated cost of 5000, 900.
AT the navy department specific de-
nial was given of the report emanating
f-cnoo M Tod ri1 +1nF n +NY~DlIo Hnti1o NO g
about to cave Key West for Cuba. 1t
was stated that only two torpedo boats
the Gushing and the Ericsson, are at
Key West. Thesehavenot been ordered
n will not be ordered, according to
present plans, to Cuba. 1t was strong
ly asserted that no present purpose
existed of sending any warShipS there.
Senior du Bose, the Spanish charge
d'affaires had received no Instruction
up to 6 o'clock p. m, as to going to
New York and stopping the Spanish
ship Vizcaya from entering the port,
and reports to this effect were discred:-
ited.
The air of suppressed excitement
which characterized the movement of
the employees and visitors at the White
house yesterday was not MOTTO
able today. There were COM
paratively few visitors during
the morning hours and for a
tOllSIueId ble llIIIe Il 'lllc Iut VI LIE
day the White house bore an almost
deserted appearance. Only a limited
number of members of congress called
during the morning and the inter-
views were brief. Postmaster General
Gary was the only member of the cab
inc who called and his business relat-
ed entirely to departmental matters
Assistant Secretary Day saw the pres
hdent for a few minutes, but he had
nothing of Importance to communicate
until after 4 o'clock when he carried
IT. the White house official information
of the closing of the de LONE letter
incident.
So far as could be learned the only
information as to the situation in Ha-
vana that reached the president direct
came through the Associated Press
On the streets there was noticeable
less excitement tina yesterday, when
the people were 10th to believe that
under the circumstances, the loss OF
the Maine could be traced to other thar
Spanish cources.
FLAGS AT HALF-MAST.
All the fage throughout the city, in
Guiding those on the capitol and th'
~deparement buildings, are flying a
half-mast today and among the other:
is conspicuous that of Cuba 1ibre,
which flies from the staff on the Hote
Raleigh, the headquarters of the Gu
ban junta.
WILD RUMORS.
A bulletin from Key West was re-
ceived here this morning to the effect
that divers had found an S-fnch per
cussion hole in the bottom of the
Maine. Also that all proofs of the tor
pedo work will be removed. The navy
department absolutely discredits thi:
story. Secretary Long says that ther<
is no such thing as a percussion hole;
that there is no S-inch torpedo, and
there is no other way in which such
a hole could be accounted for. 1t Is
of course possible that a shell xplod-
ing inside of the ship pierced a hole
of that kind in the outer skin, but that
would be readily revealed by the
character of the angle and whether or
not the skin was bulged in or out