The record-union., 1898-03-05
ADMIRAL SICARD'S ORDER.
His Precept Converting the Naval
Court Of Inquiry.

WASHINGTON, March Admiral
Sicard's precept converting the Court of
Inquiry now investigating the disaster
to the battleship Maine has been re-
ceived by the Navy Department, and
was made public to-day. The orders
are dated at Key West. February ID,
1898, and are directed 10 Captain Samp-
son, president of the court. The text is
as follows:
"A Court of Inquiry consisting OF
yourself as president. and Captain F. E.
Chadwick and Lieutenant Commander
William p Potter as additional mein'
bers, and of Lieutenant Commander
Adolph Mark as Judge Advocate, is
hereby ordered to convene at noon on
Monday. February u. 1898, or as soon
thereafter as practicable, for the pur-
pose Of inquiring into the circL Instances
connected with the loss by explosion of
the Uninted States battleship Maine in
the harbor of the city of Havana on the
night of Tuesday, February ID, 1888.
The court is authorized to hold its ses-
sions on any ship of the North Atlantic
squadron or in the city of Key West,
Fla, CT in the harbor of the city of Ha-
vana, Cuba. The attention of the court
is invited to the instructions concern
ing the particulars to be investigated
in the case of the loss or grounding of a
ship If the navy, contained in the
United Stataes Navy regulations.
The following described papers re-
lating to the Uninted States steamship
Maine on the occasion referred to are
attached to and made part of this pre-
cept:
Il The copy of a telegram sent by
Captain Charles Sigsbee. at Havana. to
Commander James NJ. Forsyth, L. S.
N. At Key West. Fla, without date
but probably sent on the night of Feb
ruary 18th. as it was received at Key
West Fla by Lieutenant-C Commander
William S. Cowles, L. S. N, at l O'Clock
a. M of February 16, 1898, and by the
COMMANDMENT Chief at o:3O a. m. of
February 10th, at Dry Tortugas, Fla.
- A telegram sent by Captain C. D.
Sigsbee L. S. NJ to the Commander in
Chief at Key West, Fla. dated Havana
Cuba, February Is. 1898
THE court will diligently and thor
oughlv inquire into all the circum-
stances attending the loss of the said
vessel on the date named. and upon the
port to the Commander-in-C Chief its
proceedings. all the testimony taken
and the facts which it may deem estab-
lished by the evidence adduced, to-
gether with its opinion as to what fur
Their proceedings. If any should be had
in The matter. The court will also re-
port whether or not the loss of said YES
sci was on the occasion named in any
respect due to fault or negligence on
the part of any of the officers or men,
bers Of the crew of said vessel, and if
so. the names of such officers or MEM
beers Of the crew and in what respect
and 20 what extent any or either of
them were so at fault or negligent
IF the court shall be of the opinion
that further proceedings should be had
in the matter it viii include in its re-
port succinct statement as to the per-
son or persons against whom, and the
specific matter upon which. such pro-
ceedings should be had.
"The court will also report its opin-
ion as to the cause or causes of the
explosion or other incidents that bore
directly or indirectly upon the loss of
the Maine.