The Indianapolis journal., 1898-02-25

the burying of the dead by alien hands IN
an alien country. There are circumS
stances which. if they could be knowh,
would end such appeals. and would show
that the department has not been wanting
in desire to bring the remains TO this
country. These circumstances have been
withheld mainly through desire to save
friends and relatives from the pain which
would be caused by a full disclosure of the
effect of the explosion. The press reports
have given in part the terrible mutilation
of the bodies, but it is feared this has not
been fully realized by friends and relatives.
The men We're sleeping on the berth deck,
with metal floors and ceilings, which, by
the force of the terrific explosion, were
ground together into confused mass
Knowing this, there is little hope that
many of the bodies still missing will be
found or, if found, that they will be in a
condition to be brought to the United
States.
The mystery surrounding the blowing up
of the Maine remains as dense as on the
day following the explosion. That is the
opinion of the administration, at least and
presumably 1t is well informed of the
state of affairs as any unofficial person.
If there were any developments of value
at Havana yesterday, If anything was
discovered tending to throw light upon the
nature and cause of the explosion, none of
these facts as yet has been reported either
10 the Navy or the State Department To
attempt to say from the position of armor
plate, lying in the upper part of the wreck
that the explosion was internal or external
in origin, in the opinion of the officials here
is without warrant. The Maine carried no
armor below water at a greater depth than
two and one-half feet. Beneath that there
was nothing but the ordinary thin hull
plates of about half-inch structural steel
All of the armor, even that worked into
the protective deck, is entirely above the
magazine, and in case the latter exploded
the armor plate might easily have been
tossed upward.
THE COURT OF INQUIRY.
The Navy Department has not been in
formed as to the probable length of time
to be occupied by the court of inquiry in
its work. Such court. it is said, has the
greatest liberty of action; much greater
than court-martial, which is strictly linn
tied by the naval regulations. OF course
it is possible that the court will leave Ha-
vana in the course of day or two for Key
West, in order to take there the testimony
of such of the surviving officers and men
as are now quartered at Key West. The
latter are not subject to release from their
position until the court has declared that
it has concluded their testimony, and as
many of these survivors are anxious to Sc
cure short leaves of absence in order to see
their families and friends, it may be that
the court will cut short it's stay at Havana
in order to accommodate them. 1T is be-
lieved however, that in this case unless
there should be unexpected significant de-
velopments before the court leaves Havana
it will return to that place later in order
to ascertain from the work of the divers
the cause of the explosion, If any trace is
left that will be of value.
In view of the many expressions of doubt
concerning the possibility of raising the
wreck of the Maine, the message sent yes
terday to the Navy Department by Admiral
Scard may have some weight. The admiral
reported that the court of inquiry, which is
the spot and has had the advantage of
the opinions of divers, had declared that
the most powerful appliances would be nee
essary to remove the wreck or raise the
ship The last expression is taken to mean
that the court has so far not concluded that
it would be impossible to again float the
Maine. else the language would seem to
have been unnecessary; an unwarranted
supposition in the case OF expensive cable
grams.
NO NEWS SUPPRESSED.
Secretary Long this morning, in answer
to inquiries whether the department was
suppressing information concerning the dis
aster to the Maine, wrote the following
mo telegram has been received either from
Admiral Sicard or Captains Sampson or
Sgsbee since yesterday, and the depart
ment has received no information with re-
gard to the disaster that has not already
been made public. The department is
waiting the result of the inquiry, and pub
lie opinion should be suspended until some
official information is received
The above was written before Captain
Sigsbee's message was received. Late re-
ports from Havana have not changed in any
degree theviews of the high officials of the
government to the probable cause of the
disaster. 1t can be stated on the highest
authority that absolutely nothing of dis
quieting nature has been received at the
White House, nor is important news of any
character expected until the court of in
quiry has completed its investigation and
submitted it's report.
1t can also be stated upon authority not
to be questioned that the public has been
fully informed as to all matters connected
with the disaster TO the Maine which have
come to the knowledge of the government
Nothing has been withheld of the least
public interest, and this policy will be con-
tinued until the problem has been solved
and the whole truth brought to light. 1t is
known that the government has not re-
ceived any information from official sources
tending to show, with any degree of cer-
tainty, that the explosion was the work of
enemies.
FOR RELIEF OF SUFFERERS.
Representative Boutelle. chairman of the
House committee on naval affairs con-
ferred with Secretary Long again to-day.
Mr.. Boutelle said that his visit was con-
fined wholly to the question Of relief for the
sufferers of the Maine. The bill which he
has prepared will carry about $4,000 If
passed in its present form. Ii has been sug-
gested however that general law was
passed in 1895 under which relief may be
given for the actual loss suffered by those
IN the naval service in case of a disaster.
How far this general law will affect the
special relief extended to the Maine suf-
ferers has not yet been determined but in
any event it will cover only the actual loss
of clothing. ETC., while the relief measure
| is designed to give bulk allowance equiva-
lent to twelve months pay. Mr.. BouteIle
stated positively that his call had nothing
TO do with the question of new ships and
naval equipment to be provided by the
! naval appropriation bill now in course of