The herald., 1898-02-25
THE COURT SITS
But Keeps All Information From the
Public

| HAVANA, Feb. 24-The court of in
quiry held its usual sessions today. Cap
| tain Sampson reports that Chaplain Child
wick was examined as to his personal ex-
| periences at the time of the disaster to the
Maine, and that the testimony was taken
| of the captain of a British bark in the
harbor and the superintendent of the West
| Indian Oil works across the bay at Regla
| both of whom witnessed the explosion. Mr..
| Rolf, the British engineer of the floating
| dock in the harbor. wrote letter to the
court. but 1t is said that 1t did not add
| anything material to what was known.
At the afternoon session the divers were
examined more fully than before. Their
testimony is taken from day to day. The
court expects now to finish here today and
to sail on the Mangrove for Key West,
where the other Officers and men will be
examined
The wrecking tug Right Arm did not go
north, as was expected, yesterday. She
is now moored beside the poop of the
wreck and will save the smaller portions
as far as possible, in advance of the ar
rival of other tugs with better facilities
for heavy work. The hoisting apparatus
must be capable of raising scores of tons
to be effective in the work to be accom-
plished.
Chaplain Chadwick reports that all the
wounded here are doing well except Fred
erick c. Holzer of New York, who may die
at any moment.
Neither the officers of the court of in
quiry nor the witnesses will give the slight
est indication of the testimony or the con-
clusions deduced from it. and all say that
the men employed on the wreck have been
warned to observe an equally strict reti-
cence. This course is regarded as emf
nently wise by the American and all in
telligent Spanish officials as there is no
telling what passions might be aroused
or what evil results might be brought
about by talking freely on official matters
in the present state of public feeling in
Havana. Thus far the Americans have
been treated with the utmost courtesy and
kindness, and it seems the special care of
the residents of Havana to show friendli-
ness.
Consul General Lee says there is no truth
in the report that he had asked Captain
General Blanco to dismiss from Cuba GER
tain newspaper men for sending sensa-
tional stories to the United States On the
contrary, General Lee has never interfered
with the American newspaper men in any
way.
Today the principal streets and build
ings are gaily decorated with flags and
bunting in honor of the Spanish soldiers.
2029 infantrymen, under the command of
Jose Amador, who arrived this morning
by the steamer Montevideo from BARGE
Iona.
General Solano, the chief of staff, TODAY
returned on board the Mangrove the visit
of the court of inquiry, acting as the rep
resentative of the governor general Ad-
miral Manterola personally returned the
visit made him by the court. The Thurs
day reception of General Blanco was re-
sumed this evening
The insurgent have raided the Smith
and Fisher plantations, on the Canambo
and wounded five of the defenders, who
the buildings but the dwelling of Mr. Smith
and, according to the Spanish account of
the affair, took away or destroyed 5000 900
worth of provisions and merchandise, and
got $4,000 in money.
The session of the court of inquiry this
afternoon was devoted to taking the tes-
timony of two civilians. Americans. who
saw the explosion from the deck of the
Ward line steamer City of Washington
that was moored few hundred yards from
the Maine. and of two divers who have
been at work on the wreck for several
days.
The coast survey steamer Bache. after
many delays left for Dry Tortugas this
afternoon with three wounded, all doing
well.
/. Owing to the American quarantine reeu-
lations the wounded having been in hos
pital here and exposed to fever must be
taken to hospitals in the Tortugas for
quarantine
The other wounded are doing well late
tonight Even Holzer, though seriously