The Indianapolis journal., 1898-02-25
RUMORS BY WHY OF KEY WEST
ACCIDENT THEORY ALLEGED TO
HAVE BEEN ABANDONED.
Whit Divers ~Are Reported to Have
Told COrrespOndents-AM Mysterious
Subterraneam Passage.


naval court of inquiry held two sessions to-
day and examined a number of witnesses
concerning what they knew of the destruc-
ton of the battle ship Maine. None would
talk to correspondents after their examina-
ton; in fact, they swere as silent on i'm
portant questions as the naval officers
themselves. The latter talk occasionally,
but they are careful to give no opinion as
to the cause of the wreck.
Captain Sampson said to-day that Chap
lain Chidwick was examined in the morn
ing as to his personal experiences at the
time of the disaster, and that the testimony
was taken of the captain of British bark
in the harhor and the superintendent of the
West Indian oil works, across the bay at
Regla, both of whom witnessed the eX-
plosion. Mr.. Rolf the British engineer of
the floating dock in the harbor, wrote let
ter to the court but, it is said, did not add
anything material to what was known. At
the afternoon session the divers were eX-
amined more fully than before. Their tes-
timony is. taken from day to day Two
civilians, Americans, were also examined
this afternoon. They saw the explosion
from the deck of the Ward line steamer
City of Washington, that was moored lew
hundred yards from the Maine.
Although it is probable the lighthouse
tender Mangrove will leave for Key West
Tomorrow Captain Sampson is not yet
certain. All depends on whether the court
finishes the work possible here. 1t is be-
nevcd the court will return to Havana
after hearing the Key West witnesses,
but no official confirmation of this report
can be obtained. With the departure of the
court the center of interest probably will
be at Key West
The news given out by the court is
strictly confined to that already sent by
this correspondent, and is very scanty at
best. The explosion is no longer the sole
topic of conversation. The public here ap-
pears to be content to await the report of
the court of inquiry and to be we'll assured
that nothing except surmise is possible un-
til the report is made. AS previously
stated, neither the officers Of the court nor
the witnesses will give the slightest indi-
cation of the testimony or the conclusions
deducible from it, and all say that the men
employed on the wreck have been warned
to observe an equal reticence. This course
is regarded as eminently wise by the Amer
leans and all intelligent Spanish officials,
as there is no telling what passions might
be aroused or what evil results might be
brought about by talking freely on official
matters in the present state of public feel
ing in Havana. Thus far Americans are
treated with the utmost courtesy and kind
ness; and it seems the special care of the
residents of Havana to show friendliness.
Consul General Lee says there is no truth
in the report that he had asked Captain
General Banco to dismiss from Cuba GER
tain newspaper men for sending sensational
stories to the United States. On the con-
trary, General Lee has never interfered
with the American newspaper men in any
way.
The wrecking tug Right Arm did not go
north, as was expected yesterday. She is
now moored beside the poop of the wreck
and will salve the smaller portions as far
as possible in advance of the arrival of 9TH
er tugs with better facilities for heavy
work The hoisting apparatus must be cap
able of raising scores of tons to be effective
in the work to be accomplished.
Chaplain Chadwick reports that all the
wounded here are doing well, except Fred
erick Holzer. of New York, who may die
at any moment.
The coast survey steamer A. d. Bache.
after many delays, left for Dry Tortugas
this afternoon with three wounded, all do
ing well. Owing to the American quaran-
tine regulations. the wounded having been
in hospitals here and exposed to fever.
must be taken to hospitals in the Tortugas
for quarantine. The names of the wounded
on the Bache are: John Heffron. of Free
manstown, n. j.; Thomas ]. Waters, of
Philadelphia, and Jeremiah Shea, of Haver-
hill, Mass.
No bodies were recovered to-day from the
wreck. Recent orders from Captain Sigsbee
strictly forbid all officers of the Maine to
give out any information except to those
officially empowered to ask it. The order
is generally understood to apply to all off,
cial matters, though some think it affects
only matters connected with the disaster
General Solano, the second chief of staff
to-day returned on board the Mangrove the
visit of the court of inquiry acting as the
representative of the governor general. Ad-
mirai Manitoba personally returned the visit
paid him by the court The Thursday re-
ception OF General Blanco was resumed
this evening.
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