The Red Cloud chief., 1898-03-25
MAINE INQUIRY Export.
Kecncst Expectancy I'm Washington
Maine Survivors Arrive.


Maine Survivors Arrive.
WASHINGTON, March 21.-The keen.
est expectancy was apparent in all off,
cial quarters to day in anticipation OF
the early receipt of the report OF the
court OF inquiry upon the Maine dis
aster. The warlike preparations con-
tinued with undated vigor at the
War and NAVY departments, but the
maine interest of this conferred in the
Forthcoming report Tho interest was
so intense that many reports gained
circulation to the effect that tho OFF,
cial document would be in the hands OF
the President within the next twenty.
four hours. but these con lectures on
inquiry in authoritive sources,
were found to be inaccurate. A cabi-
net officer stated that it would be
here early next week. Beyond this
he could not go IL wa stated def
nitely that no advance intimatiou as
to tho character of the rcport had
been received here. One rumor had
1t that Lieutenant blow had brought
to Washington IN abstract OF the con-
illusions, but this was dismissed after
Lieutenant Blow had been in confer
ence with Secretary Long and other
naval office RS.
The chief Development OF the morn
ing was tho arrival Of four of the sur
vivors of tho Maine disaster, who held
n long conference with Secretary
Long, and later were taken by the
secretary to the White house for 10
call ,,i.1, tl, n,r,'.- uNl-.- -
vivors are Lieutenant Holman, navi-
gator of the Maine; Lieutenant Geo.
L. Bow; Lieutenant A. Is. Catlin, in 4
command of the marines on the
Maine, and Boatswain, Larkin, one Of
the non-commissioned officers of the
wrecked battlcship. These men had
passed through the fearful ordeal OF
the explosion and had been at Havana
since IL occurred. There had been no
announcement of their being detached
from Captain Sigsbee's command in
Havana and their coming was "a COM
plete surprise, except to Il few officials.
With them came Naval Constructor
Hoover, who was sent by Secretary
Long from Washington n few weeks
ago TO make Il technical inspection OF
the wrcc.i OF the Maine.
Constructor Hoover refused abso.
lutcly to talk about his trip to Ifa-
vana or to give any information con-
corning the board of inquiry or the
condition OF affairs in Cuba.
The interview between Lieutenant
Blow and Secretary Long lasted for
some time, other officials being called
in xUnG Stotal auth n,i,nt,ro1
after tho conference hat the main
subject Of conversation was the
explosion itself, comprising n detailed
narrative Of the officers aud a harrow
ing description of the calamity.
Whether the cause of the explosion
was under discussion could not be
learned.
Senator Chandler was in conference
with several cabinet officers to-day,
and after leaving them expressed the
opinion that the report of the naval
board Of inquiry would not be re-
ceivcd until next week.
ut is barely possible" said tho
Senator, that the character of the
document may be such as to make it.
inexpedient to give it out until
Congress can be made aware
gradually Of its contents. II, for
instance, it indicates beyond doubt
the ~culpability Of the Spaniards in
connection with the Maine dis
aster, it would not be wise TO place
Congress in immediate possession of
the facts officially for fear that war
would be declared instantancously
and without due regard to all the con.
ditions