The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-27
The Madrid Government Liable il Any
Spaniard Caused It.
Navy Department Sill Ignorant Of the Plans
of the Court Of Inquiry, or as 10
When tie Report Will
Be Made.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 2G.-Secretary
Sherman spent some time at the Capt.
toll to-day He talked freely with SEN
ators concerning the situation in Ha-
vana in view of the Maine disaster. He
told them that no important addition
to the information previously received
had reached the State Department for
the past few days. but stated that the
situation was being considered with the
view of having a policy developed in
case the naval court now making an
inquiry into the disaster should find
that it was not the result of an accl-
dent. To this he added the statement
that he thought an indemnity would
,ertainly be demanded, and that II II
should be. a good round sum would be
asked What that sum should be, how
eyer, depends largely upon circum-
stances. The Secretary did not think
the Spanish authorities had been aware
Of the intentions of any one who may
have caused the explosion, but he ad-
yanced the opinion that, whether tney
were or not. the Spanish Government
would be liable for indemnity if It was
shown that any spaniard had caused it,
In the absence Of news from Havana
on any subject other than the aisposi-
ton of the dead bodies. the official mind
turned to-day 70 an analysis OF the
Spanish statements, made with more
or less degree Of official sanction, re-
specting the total absence of submarine
mires from Havana Earbor. and it was
resarded by the Navy Department as
negativing the mine theory of en- ex-
ternal cause of the explosion, just as
recent letters put an end TO the ex-
ploding boiler theory as an internal
cause for the disaster.
Nothing was heard to-day from the
court Of inquiry. and the department
is still ignorant Of its plans. In fact,
the only news coming direct from Ha-
vana TO the Navy Department durine
the day was contained in the following
dispatch from Captain Sigsbee:
Havana, Feb. 26.-Have succeeded
in making arrangements by which
bodies may he sent to Key West IL
Theoretically seated zine cases. Refer
10 Forsythe for burial in Key West
probable that bodies hereafter cannot
h. recognized. Probable that bodies
Will not remain intact. Condition CT
bodies require immediate action. Jen-
kins and Merritt may be recognized by
uniform. Can secure health permit at
Key West to land the bodies there
Divers cannot get down aft after bodies
this morning. Much debris. WIZ clear
It away. Wainwright will be placed in
charge of wreekins matter
"SIGsBEE.
The following reply was seat:
washington. Feb. 26.-To Sigsbee,
Havana: Referring TO your telegram of
this date send bodies that may here
after be recovered TO Key West for
burial Send by Bache. LONG.
To Key West a dispatch was forward
ed as follows:
washington. Feb 26.-To Naval Sta
ton Key West: Sigsbee ordered 10 send
bodies that may hereafter be recovered
to Key West for temporary burial. VIII
arrive in Theoretically sealed zinc cases
Make necessary arrangements. Bodies
sill arrive by Bache. Long
II is believed at the department that
ere are probably in the neighborhood
fifey bodies to be discovered and ex-
eieated from the wreck.
The double tuTreted monitor Terror
rted for New York this evening from
ampton Roads under orders received
to-day. She VIII be a most powerful
reinforcement to the defenses OF the
commercial metropolis in case of need.
and. stationed IN the Narrews. it would
be difficult for any hostile ship TO pass
her With the exception of the train
ing ship Essex, which arrived at Hamp-
ton Reads to-day. and the Brooklyn,
which arrived at St Lucia's. probably
to coal. on her way to La Guayara, dis
tant 900 miles. this was the only naval
movement to-day.
There We're number of alarming
stories as to shipments OF ordnance
from the Washington navy yard to