The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-25
CAPTAIN SIGSBEE'S REPORT.
All Recommendations are Approved
Washington Protected.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 2L-Rumors OF
startling discoveries In the wreck OF tho
Maine were less frequent, but there
were enough OF them sim afoat to-day TO
warrant Secretary Long IN making this
statement 10 the newspaper men as he
| left his office.
Summing up the situation. 7 should
| saw that the Navy Department knows to-
! day nothing more about the cause OF the
! disa ster than it did five minutes after the
receipts of the first dispatch from Cap
tain Sgsbee'
CROWNINSHIELD'S MISSION.
The Secretary's attention was drawn TO
| the published statement that Captain
| Crowninshied chief Of the Bureau Of
| Navigation. had just arrived al Tampa,
/ Fla. on the Monterey from trip 70
| Cuba where he mad been inspecting pro-
spectiye coaling stations near Matanzas'
The Secretary's comment was simply
| this
Captain Crowninshleld has not been to
| Cuba. lie has been of with his boy on
| matters not in any wise connected with
| the business Of the navy"
/ Secretary Long further said that he
/ rather expected 20 see Captain Crownin-
\ shield tomorrow.
|
| ton Of the court Of inquiry at Havana.
| the principal business Of the Navy De-
| pertinent in connection with the Maine
| will relate 20 the conduct of the wreck
ing operations.
captain Lemley. the judge advocate
! general who has this branch or the
work Immediately I'm charge, to-day re-
celved kilograms from the Merritt s.
| Chapman Wrecking Companies. at New
York stating that the steamer Merritt
and Wrecklng Lighter Sharp had sailed
for Havana and the tug Underwater with
the chief would leave Saturday for the
| same place.
The assistant wrecking master was
| going 10 Havana on the Ward Line
| steamer on Saturday and Il was suggest
| ed 20 the Department that It's inspector
| should take the same steamer.
| Inasmuch as Lieutenant Commander
| Kimbel who rs now AZ Havana has been
assigned 10 the duty Of inspecting tho
wrecking operations. 10 will not be neces-
1 sary 10 observe this suggestion
| CAPTAIN SIGSBEE REPORTS.
| The only exact information received
| az the Navy Department from Havana
| during the day was conveyed in Captain
| sigsbee's telegram as follows:
Havana, Feb. q.
| Long. Secretary Of the Navy:
| "Wreckng tug Right Arm arrived yes
| terday. Begins work to-day Much en-
| numbering metal must he blasted away in
| detail Naval divers down aft seven
| days. forward four days Bodies OF
| jenkins and Merritt not found Two I'M
| Identified bodies Of crew found yesterday.
| After compartment filed with detached
| broken and buoyant furniture and fit
| tings. mud and confusion.
1 .E.g
assistance and care FOR wounded and
| dead.
Everything that goes from wreck 10
| the United States should BE- disinfected.
| Wrecking company should provide for
| this.
| surgeon on tho Maine. after consulting
| with others. recommended that all bed
! ding and clothing should be abandoned
| Might go 10 acclimated poor. Useless tit
tings and equipments might be towed
! 10 sea and thrown overheard. VIII take
| all immediate responsibility, but invite
| departments wishes. Shall old metal Of
supersiructure and like be saved?
| Friends OF dead should understand
that We are in the tropics. Chaplain
| Chadwick charged with all matters rela-
| tive to the dead. His conduct Is beyond
praise
| Don't know what reports are being
| printed, but the intensely active represent
tatives OF the press here have been very
considerable Of me and my position.
(signeD 'SIGsBEE."
APPROVED.
| Secretary Long Immediately answered
Captain Sigshee. approving all his re-
| commendations lie was directed 10 have
| Lieutenant Commander Wainwright. the
executive officer OF the Maine. make ar
| rangemcnts with tho wreckers for the dis
| infection of eyerytmns sent TO the United
| states. directing that all bedding and
| clothing be abandoned. and if need be
| given 10 the acclimated poor. The same
| approval was given 10 the suggestion
! that useless fittings and equipment be
towed to sea ond thrown overheard. II
| being left 10 Captain Slgsbee's judgment
how far this destruction should be carried
on. To the captains inquiry rs 10 the
| saving Of old metal and parts of the SUI
such material was OF no use 10 the Blu
reau OF Equipment, II was LEFT 10 Cap
| tain Sigsbee 10 say what OF this shat
tered material was worth preserving.
His statement that much blasting
| would be required 10 clear away encum-
bering material. indicates that II IS es-
sentisl further 10 destroy the upper por-
| lions OF The wreck In order 70 get At
| what IL more valuable beneath.
Captain Sigsbee's statement that the
divers have been down aft seven days and
| forward four days gave the Navy De-
partment the first Information OF the
! time that the divers had been in the
| vicinity of the zone OF the explosion
| as hs had termed IL. This zone IL con-