Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-03-08
END Of INQUIRY IN SIGHT.
The United States Naval Board
Bringing the Maine 1nvesti-
cation to a Close.
ALL The TESTIMONY IS kept SECRET
Mine Theory Gaining Ground Among
Naval Officers in Key West and
characterization as to the Safety
of Americans in Cuba's Capital
Ctty-Wreckers ut Work.

of Americans in Cuba's Capital
Ctty-yVreckers at Work.
Key West, Fla, March 1.-The United
States court of inquiry into the loss Of
of Havana on February IS began its
sessions here Monday morning. Those
officers and civilians here who believed
the reports from Havana saying that
the court had already decided that the
loss of the Maine was due to treachery
have apparently changed their minds,
for Monday the universal question was:
What has the court found out?" while
Sunday one heard all around: "When
will war be declaredY
What an officer Says.
Few know more than was know
Monday morning. An officer of the
Maine, however, who had been exam
ined by the court during the day talked
at length to correspondent. He said:
II can't tell you what Tine of questioning
was adopted. but the court will find.
believe. that the Maine was blown up by
design. though 1 don't think it will be able
to ascertain exactly how. The courts find
Ing will be based on negative rather than
positive evidence. By this mean that all
of the testimony heard so far has, bit by
bit. upset the theories Of those who think
the explosion was of internal origin. This
negative evidence Is so strong and so gen.
eral that I see no possibility Of the court
deciding that the explosion was internal
The only alternative then left for the court
is to fall back on evidence which points to
the intentional blowing up of the Maine.
This, think. will be done, unless the court
formulates a theory Of it's own or declares
that it does not know how the disaster &C.
Cured, both Of which conjectures think
improbable"
England Won't Support Spain.
London, March 1.-The Daily News,
commenting editorially on the relations
between the United States and Spain,
says: Spain can expect no support,
moral or otherwise. from England
against the United States. She has
ruined Cuba, as she has ruined or lost
every other colony, by the grossest COR
ruption, cruelty and maladministration,
and she must be left to settle the ac-
count for it with those whom it may
concern without any aid or sympathy
on our part
Second Day at Key West.
Key West, Fla, March 1.-The second
days sessions of the court of inquiry
here are over, and nothing new is
known regarding the fate of the Maine,
at all events outside the members of the
court. Some who confidently declared
u week ago that the court had already
'ound that the vessel was Intentionally
blown up have modified this conviction,
md, for the most part, admit that such
eports must have been based largely
IN speculation. Excellent progress has
)een made in the examinations, and the
court will probably finish it's work here
o-day, when it's members will be taken
oack to Havana on the Mangrove.
Strict Secrecy Maintained.
Key West, Fla, March 3.-The court
of inquiry into the loss of the battleship
Maine resumed it's session here at ten
o'clock yesterday and after the examin-
alton of several survivors of the disaster
the work came to an end here and to-
day the court will return to Havana and
finish up the investigation. Practically
no information presented to the court
has been disclosed. The restrictions are
so severe that the communica tons be-
tween the naval men who have been
before the court have been most
guarded.
Mine Theory Gaining Ground.
Most of the naval officers here and in
Havana incline to the opinion that the
court will find that the disaster to the
Maine was caused by the explosion of
floating submarine mine under the port
side of the ship, forward. Opinions
of high explosives, such as wet and dry
gun cotton, or ordinary powder. Opin-
ions agree not only as to the existence
of mines in the harbor, but also that
this one was laid purposely near the
buoy where foreign vessels were di-
rected to moor and was fired from an
electric battery on shore.
Safety of Americans.
The question is frequently asked:
care Americans in danger in Havana %
The only truthful answer given by a
well-informed resident or American, Of
fetal or layman, is: 1--WE think not; we
don't know" OF course Spanish Off
cate any idea Of danger, but they are
as much in the dark as the rest There
are no signs of demonstration against
the Americans, and stories to the con-
trary, thus far, are without foundation.
Still Havana is no place just now for
those without the calls of business or
duty.
Wrecking Tug at Work.
Havana, March 3. - The wrecking
tug I. j. Merritt, commanded by Capt.
D. A. Wolcott, arrived here from New
York yesterday and moved barge near
the wreck and commenced work. The
Merritt is a powerful boat but another
and bigger tug is expected here short
ly. The wrecking company expects
from now on to keep four expert divers
at work.. Two Spanish divers were at
work about the wreck yesterday, and it
is understood they will report to the