Arizona republican., 1898-02-24
The Latest Word From the h. YsSti6ation of the Wreck
SETTLES ONLY ONE THING
The Collapse was not Caused
 by a Boiler Explosion
A Sweeping Denial Given Our of all Reported Interviews With Divers Engaged on the Wreck. They can say No hiag.

Washington, Feb. 23.-The arrival of more mail in Washington from Key West this afternoon bringing several private letters from the naval officers lately attached to the Maine, caused wave of excitement to run over the department end of the capitol, for there were also wild rumors as to the contents of these letters, very few of which rumors in point of fact had any sound base.
 The only feature so far as could be discovered of real importance as throwing any light on the cause of the explosion contained in the letters, was a statement that the two after boilers in the after boiler space, but none of the other eight boilers of the Maine, were under steam at the time of the explosion. This fact had certain value, for it disposed at once of the theory that a boiler explosion had caused the wreck. The experts all say that by no possibility could the after boilers have exploded or have wrecked the fore part of the Maine and left the other part almost unharmed.
 Much interest was shown in a dis patch received shortly before o'clock from Admiral Sicard giving the rec concentrations of Captain Sampson of the court of inquiry as to the raising of the wreck. The view of the naval officers was that Captain Sampson and his associates were giving tn S advice. not as a court, but as officers in a position to speak as to the best methods to be adopte1 for raising the Maine. Various interpretations were put on the expression ''the forward half completely destroyed" This was regarded as partial confirmation of the theory that the forward magazine had exploded, as that is one of the most important portions of the for ward half of the ship.
 At the same time it was held by some naval authorities that the de- struction of the forward half of the ship did not necessarily mean that the forward magazine had exploded, as this might still be intact, although a part of the general Wreckage. In the absence of an explicit statement as to the forward magazine there was a dis position not to accept any implied statements as to it's destruction.
 Captain Sampson's recommendation that contract be made with the best equipped wrecking company to remove the material and lift the ship without delay was in line with the action al ready taken in closing a contract with the two largest wrecking com. panies in the country by which theil combined facilities will be at the ser. vice of the government. The con tract contains clause binding then to use their utmost efforts to expedite the work, so that the department feel. that everything has been done to carry out the views expressed by Captain Sampson.
 Evidently the president of the cous of inquiry is fearful of the effect o1 the public of ill judged attempts tt account for the destruction of tn, Maine, for this afternoon he tele graphed Secretary Long, doubles having in mind certain publications o this morning as follows:
 Havana, Feb. 23.
 Any reported interviews with diver are untrue. Every precaution ha been taken. Officers are always pres ent''
 This brief statement disposes of al allegations that have been made pr and con as to the blowing up of tn forward magazine. A formal orde was made out this afternoon for Lieu tenant Commander Wainwright t take the station at Havana and 1ool after the governments interests whil the work of raising the Maine pro greSSeS.