Evening star., 1898-02-16
RECEIVING THE NEWS
Messages About the Disaster Sent to
the Navy Department.
ACTION TAKEN BY THE PRESIDENT
White House Receptions Tonight
and Tomorrow Postponed.
SYMPATHY FOR AFFLICTED

navy department Upon recovering from
the shock caused by the news of the de-
struction Of the battle ship Maine this
morning was to act with energy in extend
ing succor. One Of Capt Sigsbee's late dis
patches from Havana was to Commander
Fcrsythe at the Key West naval station,
as follows:
Tell admiral the Maine blown up and
destroyed. Send light house tenders. Many
killed and wounded
Capt. Sigsbee Undoubtedly adopted this
course because he had no direct means of
reporting to his superior officer, Admiral
Sicard. who is at Dry Tortugas, about sixty
or seventy miles distant from the cable
station.
Commander Forsythe telegraphed in reply
to Capt. Sigsbee this morning as follows
from Key West:
Il have sent Ericsson to Sicard with Sigs-
bees dispatch about disaster. Mangrove
getting up steam to go over
little later Secretary Long sent a for
NAL telegram to Commander Forsythe,
who, in turn. will transmit it to Admiral
Sicard fer his information.
Tender Mangrove sailed at 3 o'clock. Sec
ond Assistant Surgeon Spear and DR.. Klen-
denig of the armv went over in her.
Unsigned Messages.
Secretary Long received the following
message from Havana at II o'clock today,
and gave it to the press Immediately from
the Presidents room. where he was in con-
ference with the President, Secretary Gage
and Attorney General Griggs.
"Only two officers unacc counted for. The
explosion was forward To all indications
it was forward, but cannot tell till investi-
CATION is made. Sentry on poop reports
that there were no boats in vicinity when
explosion occurred"
An inexplicable thing about the message
was that it was unsigned. Secretary Long
has no idea who the message was from,
but supposes it came from Capt. Sigsbee
Still another unsigned message was re-
ceived saying that Capt. Sigsbee is on
board the steamer City of Washington.
A Correspondence Message.
Secretary Long received a message say
ing: mo excitement. All quiet. Nothing
but deep feeling of horror and sympathy
for accident" 1t was signed by "a news
paper correspondent.
One Of the unsigned messages sent to
Secretary Long contained the statement.
IL at 275 of thu crew Of the Maine were
killed
Message Sent by the President.
From the informal cabinet session this
morning the following message was sent to
Capt. Sigsbee, at Havana:
The President directs me to express for
himself and the people of the United States
his profound sympathy with the officers
and crew OF the Maine and desires that no
expense be spared in providing for the
survivors and caring for the dead"
Festivities Postponed
The President decided, and the decision
was heartily approved by the cabinet Off
cials. that the receptions tonight and to-
morrow night shall be indefinitely post
poned out of sympathy for the terrible af-
hfction at Havana. The President did not
think that the people should assemble to-
gether in this manner in the face Of the
calamity. He quickly issued orders to have
the receptions postponed
Consul General Lees Reports.
Following telegram received at State De-
partment at 40 O'Clock:
"All quiet. Great sorrow expressed bv
authorities. Sigshee has telegraphed de-
tailed 10 Navy Department. Not prepared
yet to report cause of explosion. LEE"
Consul General Lee had previously sent
the Following telegram, giving brief ac-
count Of explosions:
Maine blown up and destroyed tonight
at 9.40 pm. Explosion occurred well for
ward under quarters of crew; consequently
many were lost. 1t is believed all officers
saved but Jenkins and Merritt, not yet ac-
counted for. Cause Of explosion yet to be
investigated. Captain General and army
and navy officers have rendered every as
sistance. Sigsbee and most of his officers
on Ward steamer City of Washington.
Others on Spanish man-of-war and in city,
Am with Sigsbee now, who has telegraphed
Navy Department. LEE"
At 1915 o'clock Secretary Long received
the following from Capt. Sigsbee, and gave
1t out from Presidents room:
Reported Lost or Missing 203.
Advise sending wrecking vessel at once.
Maine submerged except debris. Mostly
work for divers now. Jenkins and Merritt
still missing. Little hope for their safety.
Those known to be saved are: Officers "a:
uninjured, crew, IS; wounded, now on Ward
lire steamer, in city hospitals and hotels,
50. so far as known. All others went down
on board or near the Maine. Total lost or
missing, 25S With several exceptions, no
officer or man has more than part of q
suit Of clothing. and that is wet with water.
Ward steamer leaves for Mexico at this
AFTERNOON Inc OIllCerS saved are unin-
jured. Damage was in compartments of
crew. Am preparing to telegraph list of
saved and wounded. Olivette leaves for
Key West at l pm. Will send by her to
Key West officers saved except myself and
Wainwright, Holman, Henneberger, Ray
and Holden. viii turn over three uninjured
boats to captain Of port, with request for
safe keeping. Will send all wounded men
to hosp p in Havana.
"SIGSBEE."
Secretary Long Thinks 1t Accidental.
Secretary Long left the President at 80
O'Clock, saying that everything had been
given out and that there was nothing new.
This was not the first visit of the Secretary
to the White House. He had been awake
nearly all night and was at the Executive
Mansion in conference with the President
as early as $50 o'clock. On leaving the
White House about 0 o'clock he said that
his opinion. from the dispatches received
from Consul General Lee and Captain Sigs-
bee was that the explosion was an acci-
dent
Il do not see cause for ALARM" he said.