The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-27
Secretary Long Still Main
tains Conservative View.
RELIES ON SENIOR DuBOSC
PRESUMES THAT THERE WERE
NO SUBMARINE MINES.
OTHERS CONFIDENT THE OTHER WAY
Apprentice Ham Writes an Account TO His
Mother in New York Not Sustaining "Ac-
cident' Theory--Syvester ScoVe
Confident Of External Agency.

Confident of External Agency.
Washington, d. O., Feb. 26.-In the
absence of news from Havana on any
subject other than the disposition of
dead bodies, the official mind turned to.
day TO an analysis of the Spanish state
Tnents. made with more orless degree
of official sanction, respecting the total
absence of submarine mines from Hava-
ma harbor, and it was regarded by the
Navy Department as negativing the
mine theory of an external cause for
the explosion just as recent letters put
an end to the exploding boiler theory
as an internal cause for the disaster.
Nothing was heard to-day from the
ourt of Inquiry and the department is
still ignorant of its plans. In fact, the
only news coming direct from Havana
10 the Navy Department during the day
was contained in the following dispatch
from Captain Sigsbee:
Havana, February 26.
Have succeeded in making arrange
ments by which bodies may be sent to
Key West in hermetically sealed zine
cases. Refer to Forsyth for burial in
Key West. Probable that bodies here
after cannot be recognized. Probable
bodies will not remain intact. Condition
of bodies requires immediate action. Jen-
kins and Merritt may be recognized by
uniform. Can secure health permit al
Key West to land the bodies there.
Divers cannot get down after bodies this
morning. Much debris. Win clear it
away Wainwright in charge of wreck
ing matters.
lSigIed) "SIGGSBEE."
Ilic Following was sent:
Washington, February 26.
To -Sigsbee, Havana.
ssReferring to your telegram of this
date send bodies that may hereafter be
recovered to key West for burial. Send
by Bache.
tSigned) LONG"
To Key West dispatch was forward
cd as follows:
washington, Feb. 90.
ITO NayaI Station, Key West, Fla.
,..'Sigsbee ordered TO send bodies that
may hereafter lie recovered to Key
West for temporary burial. Will arrive
in hermetically sealed zinc cases. Make
necessary arrangements. Bodies will
arrive by Bache.
(signed) "LONG."
there are probably in the neighborho0d
Of fifty bodies remaining TO be discoy-
cred and eXtricated from the wreck.
TERROR STARTS FOR NEW YORK.
The double ttErreted monitor Terror
started for ->ew York this evening from
Hampton Roads under orders issued to-
day. She will be a most powerful rein
forcement to the defences of the COM
mercial metropolis in case Of need and,
stationed in the narrows,, it would be
difficult for any hostile ship 10 pass
her. With the exception of the training
ship Essex, which arrived at Hampton
Roads to-day and the Brooklyn, which
arrived at st. Lucia, probably TO coal
on her way TO Laguayra, distant five
hundred miles. this was the only Naval
m0vement to-day.
There were "a number of alarming
stories as to the heavy shipments of
ordnance from the Washington Navy
Yard TO New York for the arming of
the auxiliary Navy. 1t is said at the
department that so far none of these
,lnaalI guns have been shipped to-day
hut that a lew for the Chicago, probably
fourteen FIVE inch rapid fire guns, will
be dispatched Monday or Tuesday. With
these guns in place the Chicago would be
pretty well modernized in the matter OF
armament. She will carry still her four
big eight inch guns in sponsons on the
spar deck, while on the gun deck THESE
fourteen five incA rapid fire gums vii
replace eight six inch guns of old pat
tern. The Dolphin is to go into com
mission in New York on the Oath oil
March. Though rated as the Presi
dents yacht, the vessel, which has been
thoroughly oyerhauled and furnished
with new boilers and decks, carries even
HOW sufficient battery to make her
when speed is taken into account, a very
effective gun boat.
With the proceedings of the
Court of Inquiry drawing to q
close, attention is now being di-
rected to the form and matter of
this report. The court had the widest
latitIde for in1niry and yet certain
general features will have to be observed
under the Navy regulations governing
inquiries of this character.
FORWARDING OF REPORT.
In form the report will be in two
parts, first, the findings of fact, and
second. the opinion of the court. The
findings take up each material question
OF fact involved and give the conclusion
of the court upon il. The opinion states
what should be done under each finding
of fact. This opinion relates to the
usual cases in which officers are oil