The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-24
A LETTER FROM SlCARD.l
His Health Will Prevent His Going
to Sea with the Squadron.
CAPTAIN TAYLOR TO TAKE COMMAND
Assembled Mt Dry Tortugns-spah-
ish Legation Not Uneasy.

Washington, February 23.-The noon mail
brought to Secretary Long letter from
Admiral Sicard Mt Key West, The admiral
wrote he had not yet recovered his health |
and Will be unable to so to sea with the |
squadron He Will remain ON shore at his |
hotel in Key West and retain command of |
the squadron from that place so long as It
remains In harbor there, reiinquishing IL |
only when II becomes necessary for The |
Vessels TO so to sea as a squadron.
IL Will be remembered the admiral suf-
secured n leave of absence of two weeks
from the department Just before the cxplo-
sion of the Marie. He got as far as TAMPA |
but roturped Immediately to his command,
which for only one day he had left In the
Lands wi Captain Sampson. Should tho
squadron be obliged TO 40 10 sea with tho
admiral i'll AT Key Yves; and the senior of
ticer of his fleet, Captain sampson, en-
| gagged In the investigation at Havana.
! probably the command OF the squadron
would dovolyc upon Captain Taylor now
commanding tho battieship Massachusetts
and commonly regarded ms ont OF tho
| brightest and brainest officers In the naval
| service
| telegram from Key West today au-
| nounces the sailing OK the wrecking tug
1 Right Arm from Key West for HAVANA last
evening, 30, without doubt the vessel is
i now IN Havana and has brought TO Captain
| Sigsbea the reinforcoments OF professional
! divers that he 40 urgently requested, With
! this assistance 1t rs believed that tho work
/ OF recovering bodies from the wreck OF the
forward portion of the Maine Will be great
| ly facilitated.
simultaneously With the departure OF tho
Texas and Nashville from Galveston the
Marhlehoad has left New Orleans and tho
Detroit will leave Mobile for Key West
! These movements are also part OF the or
ders given early this month before tho
Maine disaster. The Montgomery Ia also
due at Key West having loft San Domingo
for Key West on the 10th.
The result VIII be to bring the large
number OF vessels under Admiral Sicard at
Key West and immediate vicinity These
VIII be the New York, now at Tortugas;
the Indiana. Massachusetts,, Texas. Marble
bead Nashville, Montgomery. Ericsson and
Cushing The torpedo boats Porter and
DUPONT are In dry dock at Mobile, and are
not expected to be ready TO go to Key West
for several days, The Brooklyn Is also
cruising In the West Indies at present, on
route from ST. Thomas to Vera Cruz.
AZ the Spanish legation affairs have re-
sumod thcir normal aspect Mr. DuI,osc
has received no report OF any character
, concerning the Mainc or the progress made
by Spanish authorities Investigating the
occurrence, When the Spanish Inquiry Is
completed II doubtless VIII BIZ sent 10
Madrid, and is not likely to come to the
Spanish authorities here. Mr.. DuBosc
continues 10 speak OF the amicable rela-l
lions which exist between tho Maine and
! Spanish authorities at Havana concerning
the work Of the wreck and the nvestiga-
ton OF It's cause. II is not known hcrc
how far the American court will avail IL
self OF the evidence OF the Spanish onil-
GERS or whether the Spanish inquiry Mi,
include the evidence OF American ,ficfrs,
but at the legation II Ia said all the indi-
cations are that there will DO such CO.
. operation as will be helpful TO both traneh-
es Of the inquiry and as the courts inny
| desire,
Mr., DuBosc has received 10 word "a to
tho reported capture of the Daunt.eis With
II IN filibustering expedition. which Is said
to haze got away from poiut between
Miami and Pine Reach. Florida. 4 cap
tife ~ this Importance would ~ repnrfed
to the Spanish authorities hcra. ana in
the absence OF advces little credeuee Is
| given the report
Captain Sobral did not come to the 81 am
lsh legation last night. as was stated. Tic
has been expected for some DAYS, low
ever and probably Will be here today,
though his ylsit Is said TO be without sr-
name recently was connected Is closed
Art Half Apparently Intact.
Washington. February 3D. Secretary
Long this evening received the following
tAlegram from Admiral sicard;
i Key West. Febgu'sy 2S.-Right Arm r.