Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-19
THE COURT OF INQUIRY.
at is still Hard at Work"-The
Montgomery Arrives.

KEY WEST, FLA, March 1S-The
court of inquiry IS diligently continuing
its sessions on board the battleship Iowa,
and judging from statements made by
members, 1t is quite problematical how
many more days Will pass before the pub
lie learns its conclusions.
BY the courtesy of Rear-Admiral ST.
card, the correspondent Of the Asso-
ciated Press was to-day enabled to es-
cape the rigor of the recent rule forbid
ding correspondents TO go on board war
! ships, and was the first civilian to inter-
| view the members of the court of in
! quiry since they secreted themselves on
| Wednesday on the Iowa. Captain Samp
J son received the correspondent on the
| poop of the splendid ship he commands.
! I'm the admirars cabin below were Cap
! tain Chadwick, Lieutenant Commander
] Potter. and Judge Advocate Mark. They
/ had been in session since 10 O'Clock this
morning, with the ships writer acting
as clerk.
'"rhe court is still hard at work" Cap
tain Sampson said, II have just left my
confreres 1t is utterly impossible to
say when our report will be ready. If 1
surmised the date and you reported it,
am afraid something might occur that
would defeat the expectation, and only
serve to disappOint the anxious public.
" hen the report is ready, it will not be
for us to make the announcement. Wash
mgton. / presume. will do that"
II a preliminary report has been sent
to Washington. Captain Sampson appa-
rently knew nothing OF il. In the course
of the afternoCl. while the court con-
tinued i'm session without once coming
out of the cabin, large quantities of am
munition were taken on board. The same
tnng took place on the New York. Both
ships are now better supplied with am
muntion than they have been at any
time before
At 4 o'clock this afternoon, the regular
hour during previous sessions of the court
for adjournment, Captain Chadwick and |
Lieutenant Potter entered a gig, ana
were rowed to the New York. Judge-Ad- |
yCcate Mark is staying on board the |
Iowa The court will resume it's sessions |
tomorrow.
STRICT FLEET PRECAUTIONS.
Unusual precautions are observed on the
New york and the Iowa. double harbor
watches being enforced. Every craft that |
passes on its way into the harbor Is sub
mitted to the closest scrutiny of search
lights. Both vessels are ready TO pull out
al fifteen minutes notice. and special at
tention is being given to the instruction
of the sailors in small-arm and firing
practice.
Tomorrow the court will devote con-
siderable time 10 the preparation Of dia-
grams showing parts of the Maine as
found after the explosion.
The United States cruiser Montgomery
arrived here this morning from Habana,
and the United States cruiser Detroit
sailed this morning for the Tortugas,
with provisions and ammunition for me
1eet. From the Tortugas the Detroit VIII
proceed TO Port Tampa, 10 load ammunl-
ion.
The Morgan Line steamer Aransas ar
lived here this morning from Habana'
With Senator Money and Congressman
Amos J. Cummings and Alden smith on
)Oard. ~,
The United States cruiser NashVihe
allied for the Tortugas, with supplies
with the Detroit
The Montgomery is, with the exception
4 the torpedo-boats. the only warship III
CONCLUDED ON SIXTH rAGE)