The age-herald., 1898-03-25
KEY TO MYSTERY
 IN WASHINGTON Concealed in a White Canvas Bag Are
 the Bulky Documents THAT HOLD A NATIONS FATE Carried All the Way From Key West Under Guard Of Officers. WAS NOT RECEIVED LAST NIGHT And the Tired Travellers Were Taken to Ebbitt HouSe-Under the Rules It Will Go
 to Secretary Long ard Then
 President Mckinley.

Washington, March A-The report of the naval board of inquiry into the Maine dis aster was received in Washington at 9:35 tonight. The four naval officers who have guarded it, watch and watch, since it's de- parture from Key West, were hustled at once into a carriage by an attache of the navy department and driven to the Ebbitt house, where they tried to catch a little much needed sleep, and at the same time withstand the crowd of newspaper men who thronged the lobby in hopes of some stray bit of information which had escaped the scrutiny of numerous correspondents along the route.
 The party consisted of Lieut.. Commander Mark, Lieut.. John Hood Lieut.. Carl Jun gen, Passed Assistant Engineer Bowers, A T. Mark, a nephew of the judge-advocate, and Ship Carpenter Helms of the Maine's ill-fated crew. There was an immense crowd waiting at the depot when the train pulled in. The naval contingent was in the last sleeper the train and avoided the crush of citizens by alighting at the upper end of the platform and going out across the tracks. All were thoroughly tired
 Met by Long's Representative
 The party was melt att the steps of the car by Lieutenant Ward of the navy depart ment who was the sole representative of ScCIOldly Lung. I1e iHlOEIinSu OOtHhlodlutu Mauix that the secretary would not receive the report tonight, and gathering the tired travellers under his protecting wing, made for the hack-stand through the rapidly thicxening crowd, which, baff1ed of its prey at the gate swaITned out over the pave ment to get a glimpse of the outside of the much heralded report. Lieutenant Hood, as the most muscular member of the party, carried the bulky document in "a white can- vas bag slung under his arm. That the CarrVinp fine rPD0rfl armed demonstrated in a rather theatrical way just they were about to get into the carriage. The crowd closed around the party and jos,t.ed them considerable. Some one ran against the end of the mysterious canvas bag in which the report was con- cealed. Quick a flash Lieutenant Hoods hand went back to his hip pocket and Lieu tenant Jungen laid his hand on the butb of a revolver that was sticking from hds; side pocket The movements were sufficient to prevent further jostling.
 Curious Crowd of IdIers
 On being driven to the Ebbitt house the whole party retired, first having ordered some light refreshments to their rooms. It was not long before the report of their arrival spread and the lobby was filled with a curious crowd of idlers, while the bell boys worked over time carrying up cards from the various correspondents in search of an interview. Young Mark was deputed as sort of press committee and met all nquirers with the stereotyped re- ply of "I don't know to every question. It may be said, however, that the report In due process of law must first be delivered to the secretary of the navy and this, &C., cording to all precedents, will be at the navy department. It will then be submitted to President Mckinley upon whse deci sion it's future migrations will depend.
 The report will be read at tomorrow's cabinet meeting. This fact was officially announced today.