The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-24
COURT OF INQUIRY.
Every Survivor of the Maine Will Be
Examined.

Havana, Feb. 23.-The United States
court of inquiry into the loss of the
Maine met at 10 o'clock this morning
and examined DR.. Honerberger. Pay
master Ray and Chief Engineer Howell
of the battleship. There was recess
at noon and it lasted until 1:SO p. m.
! Several witnesses, whose names are
not now obtainable. were examined
during the afternoon.
| Another visit was made to the wreck
by Captain Sampson, president of the
court The captain says he has no idea
of the length of time the court will
remain in session here. 1t all depends
upon the testimony, and new features
requiring further investigation may
develop at any time. Captain Samp
son added that sooner or later every
survivor of the Maine will be examined
by the court, which seems to imply
that sessions for that purpose will be
held at Key West.
Although this information is meagre,
it is absolutely all Captain Sampson
will give the press. The correspondent
of the Associated Press sees him by
appointment twice daily but there is
a rigid rule to observe silence until the
facts in the case have developed
through the testimony presented.
The Right Arm, of the Merritt e
Chapman Derrick & Wrecking COM
pany, is moored about 200 yards from
the poop of the Maine. The wrecking
tug looks powerful enough to move a
mountain, but 1t is reported that she
is not supplied. owing to her hurried
departure for this port, with all the
apparatus she needs for the work
which is before her.
Captain Magee, the captain of the
Right Arm, has reported to Captain
Sigsbee, as ordered by the navy de-
partment, and will be under Captain
Sigsbee's orders, which are not yet
formulated, or. at least, made known
A strong wind made the harbor
rough today and added to the difficult
ties of the divers, as the electric lights
are worked from a battery on board
the lighthouse tender Mangrove, 200
yards distant.
Many strange tales of the disaster
are brought out as the days wear on.
One of these was known yesterday.
when the captain of an English bark
anchored in the harbor, nearly a mile
distant from the Maine, told how a be-
whiskered jaw had fallen on the deck
OF his vessel. The captain has been
asked to appear as a witness before
the court of inquiry
The statement that divers have pene-
trated the forward part of the Maine
and found nothing in the magazines
there to indicate an explosion, seems to
be verified. Attention is also given TO
testimony regarding vibration under
water before the Maine went to pieces.
evidence as to this fact is emphatic
How far it justifies the belief that the
explosion came from underneath the
ship. experts may be left to determine.
The point has not yet been reached
Hnere definite opinion can be formed ,
regarding submarine mines. Outside
evidence has been brought forward re-
Sardlng the construction of such
system, but it has not been sifted. The
representatives of foreign nations are
ollowing the naval investigation as
ven as other phases of the situat ton
loosely, and are understood to be maxi
ng daily reports to their governments. I
spanish officials were surprised at the
lrmness with which the Washington I
declined to admit them (
o a share in the investigation.
large quantity of clothing has been
AIKEN from the wreck. and after it has )
'een disinfected ii will be given to the
commentaries. The bodies of the miss q
ne officers. Lieutenant Jenkins and
assistant Engineer Merritt. have not v
cen recovered. The divers reached c
he former s room, but it was found =
hat his body was not there.
Thus far the sharks have given no
rouble. but the vultures have left I.
carcely anything but the skeletons of I
hree men who were entangled in de- (
ris very near the surface of the wa V
or. The bodies were not noticed by t
nyone until the foul birds had COM
leted their CHASTITY work. From the \
and of one Chaplain Chadwick re- :,
loved deeply chased gold ring for b
of Identification. S
Chaplain Chadwick said the total 81
lumber of missing is IS or Sc and five
ave died in the hospital OF the
Kissing, many doubtless were blown
atoms, no portions of their bodies
cling recovered. and there is much
ouht that any considerable number
those whose remains are now being
emoved will be identified.
Today has been the quietest since
re explosion. The wounded are all
ping well except Frederick C. Holzer.
no is slightly worse. The divers have
zen conunuallv at work, but the re-
hts of their labors. so far as they
ould throw light on the cause of the
Splosion are Kept strictly for the c
'urt of inquiry.
1t Is reported that 20 bodies have been {
und under the forward matches. but :
lily three have been removed, owing
the mass OF chains and wreckage in !
e way. {
The officers of the court of inquiry,