The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-18
Location of TOrpedOes in Havana
Harbor Unknown to Anybody but
the Spanish officers.
MESSAGES FROM SIGSBEE
TELLING OF THE RECOVERY AND
BURIAL OF VICTIMS BODIES.
Sailor keyes, of Indianapolis, Among
the Number--COrrected List of
the Dead and Injured.


WASHINGTON, Feb. IT. - The govern
ment has settled back into waiting atti-
tude in respect to the terrible marine dis
aster in Havana harbor. The great shock
| caused by the news has given way to a
calmer and more judicial state of mind,
and, realizing from the events of the day
that the court of inquiry is the sole de-
pendence in the search for the cause of the
Names loss, the naval officials are now re-
signed to aW ait the results of that inquiry
by court named to-day by the Navy De-
partment. There was little new to add to
the sum of information as to the disaster
| during the forenoon. No kilograms came,
and all that could be CLEANED was denial
Of some absurd story or other that had
crept into print or become current gossip.
| All the news of the day came in the late
| afternoon in the shape of Captain Sigsbee' 8
report of the authorization of the funeral of
! his dead sailors and General Lees graphic
| story of the terrible struggle for life in
the dark hull of the Maine.
The officials of the Navy Department de-
voted the day to the effort to correct the
| lists of living and dead, to answering fran
tic telegraphic appeals from relatives of
men on the battle ship, and last, but not
least, in meeting with unwavering courtesy
and patience the exacting demands on their
| time of the press representatives. The dis
position of the survivors Captain Dickens,
acting chief of the navigation bureau, has
arranged for as well could be from this
| distance. The wounded sailors in the Ha-
vana hospitals on the Spanish flagship and
/ elsewhere, when not in condition to be
brought to Key West, will be carefully
looked after by Miss Clara Barton, who has
been given carte blanche to buy anything
and everything necessary - food, clothing,
delicacies and hire of nurses and physi-
clans. The wounded able to get across to
| Key West will be taken care of in the
Marine Hospital there. The sound surviv-
ors will be quartered in the spare army
barracks there.
AS for the Maine herself, notwithstand-
ing discouraging reports from Lieutenant
Hood as to her condition, the Navy Depart
ment will make the effort to raise her.
They say that they are bound to remove
the hull from the small harbor in any case,
and it may be as easy or easier to raise her
as it would be to destroy the hull and ma
chinery by the use of divers and dyna-
mite. 1t is believed that this work can
best be done by private wrecking corpora
tions, and negotiations are already afoot
for placing the contract, based on work by
the day, at an estimated cost of $4,000.
At the Navy Department specific denial
was given of the report emanating from
Madrid that a. torpedo flotilla was about to
leave Key West for Cuba. 1t was stated
that only two torpedo boats, the Cushing
and the Ericsson, are at Key West, and
these have not been ordered, and will not
Cuba. 1t was strongly asserted that no
present purpose existed of sending any war
ship there.
Senor Du Bose, the Spanish charge, has
received no instructions up to p. m. as
to going to New York and stopping the
Spanish ship Viscaya from entering the
port, and reports to this effect We're dis
credited.
The air of suppressed excitement which
characterized the movement of the en-
ployes and visitors at the White House yes
terday was not noticeable to-day There
were comparatively few visitors during the
morning hours, and for a considerable time
in the middle of the day the White House
bore an almost deserted appearance. Only
limited number of members of Congress
called during the morning, and the inter-
views were brief. Postmaster General Gary
was the only member of the Cabinet who
called, and his business related entirely to
departmental matters. Assistant Secretary
Day saw the President for a few minutes
but he had nothing of Importance 20 COM
municate until after o'clock. when he car
ried to the White House official information
of the closing of the De Lone letter Incl
dent. So far as could be learned, the only
information as to the situation in Havana
that reached the President direct came
through the Associated Press. On the
streets there was noticeably less excitement
than yesterday when the people were loath
to believe that under the circumstances the
loss Of the Maine could be traced to other
than Spanish sources.
All flags throughout the city. includine
those on the Capitol and the department
buildings. flying at half mast TO-DAY.
and among the others is conspicuous that
of Cuba Libre," which flies from the STAFF
on the Hotel Raleigh, at the headquarters
of the Cuban Junto
The evening in Washington was abso-
lutely devoid of interest so far as official
circles were concerned. At the White
House there was not a single visitor, aside
from the correspondents in search of the
news which did not arrive.
The Navy Department received but one
dispatch, message from Sigsbee announc-
ing the funeral of the victims in Havana
and everywhere there was evidence of the
relaxation following the preceding forty
eight hours OF intense excitement and sus-
pense.
It was said at the Navy Department that
no news was expected before Saturday
when some results may begin TO appear as
a result of the court OF inquiry at Havana
and meanwhile the officials seemed well
content to wait and get a modicum Of sleep.