Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-03-03
THE INVESTIGATION
COURT OF INQUIRY PUSHING THEIR
INVESTIGATIONS.

Until the investigation. Is COM
plcted--Divers Hard mt Work on
the Wr.ck-Evcry survier VIII
BE Examined.
Havana, Fob. 23.-The board Of in
curry into the Maine disaster met on
tile lighthouse tender Mangroye at 10
O'Clock yesterday morning with Cap
talnS Chadwick and Sampson and
Lieutenant Commanders Potter and
MARK present. Capt Sampson pre-
sided, and Lieutenant Commander
Mark, recently executive officer of
tne Maine, acted as recorder,
capt. Sigsbee, the commander of the
Maine, was the first witness called.
nc was under examination until l
O'CLOCK in the afternoon, at which hour
an adjournment was taken. The board
Will make a careful personal examina-
tlon or the wreck, near which the
Mangrove is anchored.
Capt. Sampson received the Associ-
ated Press correspondent immediately
after the morning session. He said.
IN the course of an interview: 81
would be glad to give the Associated
Press news, but owing to the delicate
situation. the board has decided to
make nothing public 1 do not know
what testimony may develop or when,
ana it is only fair to the Spanish gov
eminent not to give the public the
testimony until all has been received
and the findings have been considered.
You may say that this
Rule Is Absolute
Due care will be taken for the rigid
enforcement of it. and all stories pur-
porting to come from the court should
be set down as false. l have no idea
as to how long the court will remain
here. No one is authorized to i1y the
time, as the members themselves do
not know. l shall give to the Associ-
ated Press such routine news of the
proceedings as is proper
Capt. Sigsbee, on board the Man.
grove, told the correspondent that he
was quite pleased with the eXamina-
ton and that he was able to answer
all the questions asked, not only as
to his own acts, but as to those of his
subordinates on the Maine.
There were no signs Of disturbance
here and carnival week is apparently
closing in perfect quiet, there being
much less excitement than usual.
Gunner Charles Morgan, of the cruiser
New York, arrived on the Mangrove
ana is IN immediate charge Of the
divers. The divers found copper
cylinder used in conveying charges to
the slx-inch guns. The fact that it had
exploded seems to show that there
was an explosion in the magazine for
fixed ammunition on the port side for
ward.
All the wounded men except two
are doing well. Paul Lotus and one
other will be taken to Key West to-
morrow by the Bache.
| In the afternoon the court of in.
quiry personally inspected the wreck.
BY their invitation Capt. Pearl, an.
| pointed by the Spanish government as
a special judge to investigate the dis
aster, and his secretary. viewed the
divers at work. Capt. Peral expressed
his appreciation Of the courtesies
shown him by the court of inquiry.
| Havana, Feb. 24.-A1any Americans
left Havana for Key West Yesterday
on advice Of Gen. Lee. 1t is expected
that the entire colony will be deserted
in week as it is believed that war
Is sure to follow the report of the
| court of inquiry. 1t is expected that
Gen. Lee will leave the city with the
members of the court Of inquiry, who
will probably remain not longer than
Saturday. 1t is said the experts are
convinced that the destruction of the
, maine was the result of a Spanish
fanatic. When the news of the report
is made public riot is expected here.
| o.
Havana, Feb. 24.-The court of in
quiry opened at 1870. c. f. Holman.
navigator and ordnance officer of the
Maine, was examined ut the morning
session. The court met for the after
noon session at 100. and Lieutenant
Commander X. wainwright, executive
officer of the Maine. was called to the
witness stand. Lieut. wainwright has
been in immediate charge of the wreck
since the explosion.
-Four divers are ut work, two in the
fore part of the ship and two aft. The
task IS most laborious, and the men
are naturally extremely careful, as
they have had to work in complete
darkness. and several have had bad
falls. Electric lights from the Man.
| grove are now available and much
bod is expected from them. Nearly
ri the possible salvage has now been
eade from the cabin aft. The efforts
~ reach the ward and mess rooms are
lstrated by some unknown obstacle.
r. is expected to find bodies in those
N'ms. Two cases Of ten-inch ammu-
Zion have been found, one having ex-
Sded. the other full of powder.
use were found forward. The work
Occurring the bodies under the hatch
been most difficult in the dark,
it is hoped that the electric lights
be of great assistance. The bodies
much mutilated and some are
sally burned.
e officers Of the court of inquiry
4 another visit to the wreck. Capt.
E,Son. after the visits of the men,
bof the court to the captain gen.
To- "a