The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-28
NO NEWS FROM HAVANA
Existence of Mines in the Harbor
Is Not Proved.
THE COURT OF INQUIRY
1t Is Not Known How Long They viii
Be in Session-Secretary Long Says
There Were No Developments
in the Maine Matter.

washington, Feb. 21.-The usual
Sunday quiet was not broken to-day
by any important developments in con-
nection with the Maine disaster. Cap
tain Crowninshield, chief of the naviga-
tion bureau, came to his Office in the
navy department to open the depart
ment mail and few unimportant tel
egrams. A dispatch from Havana con-
firmed the press reports that the court
of inquiry left there on the Mangroye
for Key West. The state department
received nothing from Consul General
Lee during the day and the only dis
patches of consequence reaching that
department were from Minister Rock
hill at Athens, briefly stating that an
attempt had been made on the life of
King George, but without serious re-
suits. Five shots were fired by the
would-be assassins, none of them taking
effect. Up to 6 otslocK the dispatches
of the navy department were taken to
the officers of the department and were
not regarded as of sufficient conse-
quence to send to the secretary.
Mr.. Long said the court of inquiry
would now proceed with it's work at
Key West, examining witnesses there,
in accordance with it's original plans.
No definite information had been re-
ceived as to how much time would be
taken with inquiry there or what the
next step would be. Mr. Long stated
that the department was to-day in
possession OF no more information on
the cause of the disaster than it was
Immediately after the occurrence and
that no evidence had been received up
to the present time showing that the
disaster was caused by design. Dhr-
ing the afternoon the secretary re-
celved a call from Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt, who assured him that an
examination of the map said to show
mines in Havana harbor disclosed that
no such mines were on the map.
At the suggestion of Secretary Long.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt of the
navy department gave out the follow
ing statement in regard to the pub
lished map with the mines in Havana
harbor purporting to be marked on it:
AS soon as the map was brought to
my attention / sent for Mr.. John Rus
sell Young of the congressional library
and got the original. 1t is simply one
of the innumerable maps of Havana
harbor. There is not the slightest sign
of a mine marked anywhere on it. As
a matter of fact. / am informed that
this map is one which has been used in
giving lectures at the Columbian uni
yersity.
In answer to the question as to what
was the meaning of the movements of
guns and munitions Mr.. Roosevelt said:
1t merely serves to show that the de-
partment does not believe there will be
any trouble, but neither does it intend
TO be caught unprepared if there should
be trouble
Senor Du Bose, the Spanish charge
d daffaires. to-day received a cabIegram
from the minister of state saying that
the new minister to the United States,
Sanor Polo Bernabe, will start to-
~
bring him to Washington in about ten
days. AT Gibraltar he will take one
of the German line of transatlantic
steamers touching at that point. Ine
credentials of the new minister will be
presented soon after his arrival, and it
is expected his first attention will be
given to the commercial treaty between
the United States and Spain with par
ticular reference to Cuba. His service
as chief of the commercial bureau of
the foreign office has given him charge
or the details leading up to negotiation
of this treaty and he will come sharing
the earnest desire of the Sagasta ad-
ministration to put through this matter
with the least delay possible. Minis
ter Woodford has been carrying on the
negotiations with the authorities at
Madrid and they are Well along toward
completion.
Beyond the foregoing dlSpatch, SenOr
Du Bose received no news to-day from
Havana or Madrid. He expressed sat
isfaction at the more conservative pub
lie sentiment within the last few days
Press reports from Madrid stated
that the authorities We're jubilant over
the receipt of important favorable in
formation from Havana. Mr. Du Bose
could shed no light on the nature of
this news. In other quarters, however
the Impression prevailed that this in
formation could not refer to the Maine
inquiry, but concerned the general con-
duct of the insurrection in Cuba. There
have been strong indications of late
that the autonomist cabinet, under the
leadership of GOWN, who is the recog-
nized force of that body, would endeay-
or to make terms with the separatist
wing and in turn secure the co-opera-
tion of the insurgents in movement
to conclude the war. How far this is
possible is not known here, although
1t has been expected that GOWN would
succeed in effecting reconciliation.
There has been added reason fo- this
belief within the last few days, owing
to the fierce attacks made on Gown by
some of the irreconcilable elements. He
repelled these and repudiated an al
legged letter in which he was reported