The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-23
MARK OFF FOR WASHINGTON.
COMMANDER CARRYING THE RE-
PORT OF THE COURT.

VIII Arrive Tomorrow If He Makes
His Train COnnectiOns-Leaves
Key West by the Regular Line
Steamer for Miami-An the Oncers
of the Maine Except the Pnymas-
ter's Clerk Depart From Key West
on Leave of Absence.
Key West, Fla, March 22.-Lieutenant
Commander Mark, Judge Advocate of
the United States Naval Court of Inquiry,
into the loss of the batteshp Maine, left
Key West this afternoon on his way to
Washington, by the City of Key West,
bound for Miami taking with him the re-
port of the court of inquiry on the disas-
ter.
Lieutenant Commander Mark brought
the report ashore from. the Nashville to-
day. and Rear Admiral Sicard, with Com
mander Mark, spent several hours in its
further revision.
Before leaving Key West, Commander
Mark said nothing could be given out
about the work of the court of inquiry or
its findings. Personally, the commander
said, he was intensely relieved at complet-
ing his labors.
The decision reached by the court Is
still a matter of surmise. Perhaps some
significance may be attached and deduc-
tions drawn from remark made by Ad-
miral Sicard last night when he said to
a correspondent: 'The case of the Maine
is most peculiar, perhaps the most pc
culiar which has ever occurred in the his
tory of the world"
From the general tone of his remarks
it might be inferred that the court find.
ings do not definitely solve the mystery
of the explosion. This is further borne
out by the admirals statement that even
after the report had been sent to Wash
ington the department may require furth-
er Investigations.
All the officers of the Maine now here,
except Paymaster's Clerk Mccarthy, have
received orders to leave for their homes,
there to await orders, as in the case of
the other officers who left here last week.
This is considered TO be evidence that
the court did not require the corrobora-
tion of technical evidence as was thought
a few days ago.
Lieuts. Jungen and Hood Cadets Bron-
son and Boyd, Passed Assistant Engineer
Bowers, Assistant Engineer Morris and
Carpenter Hills of the Maine, left here
to-day on the City of Key West for
Miami
| Gunner Hale of the lost battleship will
| leave later. There are no commanding
! officers of the Maine here.
If the train connections are made Lieut.
! Commander Mark will arrive in Washing
ton with the documents Thursday.
Within the last five days a minority
sentiment has hPpn steadily l, >
the court has been unable to determine
definitely the cause of the explosion, while
| 1t Is true that a majority hold to the con-
! Viction that the report will prove that the
Maine was blown up Intentionally
The sending of the report TO Washington
to-day was an undramatic climax to weeks
Of waiting. Lieut-Commander Mark went
aboard the Nashville early in the day and
brought the findings. After a prolonged
| conference with Rear Admiral Sicard. GER
tain alterations were made and then Ad-
miral Sicard affixed his signature of ap-
proval.
Lieut. Commander Mark then boarded
the steamer City of Key West and sailed
/ for Miami AT 4:30 o'clock with the report
safely slowed away in state room No 16
Despite the absence from Key West of
the documents on which the eyes of the
world are fixed the court of inquiry con.
tinues in existence, though inactive. Should
the navy department require further inves-
! tgation and express dissatisfaction with
the findings, it is probable the court would
be obliged to return to Havana, though
! the release of all the Maine officers held
here as witnesses until to-day makes il
unlikely that any loophole has been left
which would justify the department in re-
| quiring the court to perform further work
The Marhlehead has arrived from PORT
! Tampa via the Tortugas, after supplying
the Massachusetts with ammunition.