The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-26
COURT OF INaUIRY's WORK.
Testimony of the Civilians Not of
Much Value.

Muen NAiue.
Havana. Feb. 25-The United States
lighthouse tender Mengrove is stnl here.
and the naval court of inquiry continued
its usual sessions to-day. Ii it probable
that the testimony of civilian witnesses
did not add to the courts knowledge of the
circumstances attending the explosion, the
causes of which these Witnesses could
know nothing about, as they We're quite
a distance away at the time of the oc-
cuITence.
The wounded are reported doing well to-
day.
The Merritt & Chapman derrick and
wrecking companys tug Right Arm is
again at work removing such parts of the
wreck as is possible to handle in advance
of the arrival of the stronger tugs and der
ricks from the North.
It is believed the divers from the fleet
and the Right Arm will remain at work
when the Mangrove leaves The Fern
will be the only United States vessel in
the harbor after the Mangrove goes.
The pubic generally will be excluded
from official vessels, especially the Man
grove, ana a card will have to be pre-
sented by the correspondents before adj
mission is given them.
There was a summer-like shower this
morng and there promises TO be a general
increase in the tempera ture.
The wreck of the Maine is slowly but
surely sinking into the mud Before the
hull could be raised il would be necessary
to remove the guns and decks. For lack of
proper appliances practically nothing in
this line has been accomplished. Aside
from the officers and cabin effects, the sal
wage thus far has been pitifully small. The
cloudy weather and rain made the work
of the divers unsatisfactory to-day and
very little was done.
The court Of inquiry sat longer than US
ual to-day, the six divers being examined
more in detail than heretofore.
The time of the departure of the Man
grove with the court for Key West has not
been determined. Capt. Sampson said to-
day it was doubtful whether his vessel
would sail tomorrow, that all depended
on the developments of the testimony
At. the afternoon session of the court
the examination of divers was continued.
A civilian whose testimony was said 20
| be of some importance, was also examined.
Later to-day the paymaster's safe, with
$4,000 and his papers was taken from
the wreck. Beyond this, no statement is
made as to the value and nature OF the
contents.
The complaint is still made that the
electric lights are of little use to the div
ers, as the light is faint and uncertain,
and to hold them takes one of the divers
hands. They have assuredly proved of
little value in the present investigation.
SO far as reports mayle public go, the
workmen on the tUg Rignt Arm, with the
! assistance of the naval divers, are labor
ing hard to recover the bodies under the
hatch which led to the fire room plat
forms. Sheering with timbers was neces-
sary, and the divers had TO wait for tho
lumber to-day. il is hoped the bodies will
be taken out tomorrow.
The Havana papers print long extracts
from the American dailies, but of course
only of delayed news. All the Americans
are anxiously awaiting the arrival of to-
mOrrows mail.
Consul General Lee says he has receiv-
ed no news of Importance from the state
department to-day, nor has he been no.
tilted to expect the arrival Of any one
of prominence. 1t is believed here that if
any American of national reputation
comes to Havana now 1t will be to study
the situation for himself and not as an
official commissioner.
At o'clock this evening, when this
dispatch is sent, Holzer Is still sleeping
under the influence of an opiate He is
no worse than he was this afternoon, but
is very low. Including him there are six
wounded left here All are sure Of recov-
cry except Holzer. Some difficulty will
occur I'm removing them to the United
States, for all have been exposed to con-
tagious fevers and the quarantine law for
bids their being taken direct to Key West.
These regulations were disregarded in the
case of the first lot OF wounded taken
| there on the Olivette the day after the ex
| piosion but only because of the extreme
! exigences of the case.