The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-21
IN NO HURRY TO REPORT
FINDINGS OF MAINE BOARD
NOT YET READY
RumOr That the Report Has Been
Forwarded to Washington Au-
thOritativeIy Denied, Though 1t
Is Believed a Synopsis Is In the
Presidents Hands-Fleet OF Key
West Greatly Reduced.

KEY WEST, Fla, March 20.-The
court of inquiry, according to Rear Ad-
miral Sicard, will continue it's work
through the coming week, as 1t is not
yet ready to make a report on the
Maine disaster. The statement that
Capt. Albert S. Barker carried the re-
port to Washington is officially denied.
The object Of his flying visit to Key
West was not aScertained, outside of
official circles, until today.
1t can be authoritatively stated that
Capt. Barker had nothing to do with
the court of inquiry. He came here ON
Friday from Tampa on special mis-
sion to investigate the harbor defenses,
following out some lines suggested by
Gen. Wilson, chief Of engineers, in his
recent inspection of land Notifications.
Capt. Barker's plans, when he left
here last night, were to confer with
Commander McCalla, of the Marble
head, who is now at Tampa, and he
will probably remain there a day or
so. Capt. Barker formerly commanded
the Oregon.
1t is impossible to say definitely
whether any synopsis Of the findings
of the court, up to date, has been sent
TO Washington. The notion prevails
here that this has been done, but nc
official confirmation is obtainable. That
the final report has been sent to Wash
ing'ton can be definitely denied.
Capt. Sampson and Lieutenant Com
mander Mark remained on board the
Iowa today. Capt. Chadwick and Lieu
tenant Commander Porter did not leave
the New York. The court is expected
to reconvene tomorrow on the Iowa.
The two unidentified bodies from the
Maine, brought here last night, were
buried today in the city cemetery with
simple services. A division Of blue
jackets followed the hearse.
Col. Fernando Salcedo, of the insur-
gent army, arrived this morning from
Nassau on the schooner Hattie Oar
ling. With a companion, he left the
shores of Cuba in an open boat, and
after an eight days tempestuous pass
age, they landed at Nassau half dead
from exposure. Col. Salcedo Is On sick
leave; his companion is carrying dis
patches from Gen. Maxine GomeX tC
the junta in New York.
Tomorrow, the Indiana Is expected
from the Dry Tortugas, and the Mas
sachusetts, which did not sail yester-
day, as was expected. These battle
ships will take on more ammunition
and unless their orders are uneXpect-
edly changed, will leave in a day OF
two for Hampton Roads.
The survey boat Bache sailed for the
Tortugas tonight to resume her usuAl
work of surveying the channels. The
Mangrove will sail tomorrow for the
Tortugas, and will lay buoys there
This is merely in line with the activity
already shown in improving harboI
facilities at the Tortugas.
The Detroit and the Montgomery ar
rived from the Tortugas today. The
former put more ammunition on board
the New York and the Iowa, and then
anchored in the harbOr. The tOrp9 dc
boat Porter left for the Tortugas, and
the torpedo boat Dupont returned here
The fleet off Key West now consists
of the Iowa, the New York, the Nash
vile, the Montgomery, the Detroit, and
the torpedo boats Dupont, Winslow
Foote and Gushing. The Indiana will
be added tomorrow.