Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-28
No Information About the Maine
Court of Inquiry.
STATEMENTS PURELY SPECULATIVE
Cannot Tell How Long 1t viii Be
in Session.
TEXAS AGAIN AT TORTUGAS

whatever to whether the court OF In
quiry in the case of the Maine is going to
return to Havana from Key West. and. IN
fact, the plans of the court absolutely
unknown mere. For this son, 1t IS said
at the department, that any statement as
to the probable date upon which the court
will report its conclusions to the Secre-
ta-y of the Nary is purely speculative. 1t
is doubtful in the minds of the officers
here, whether the members Of the court
themselves are able to pass opinion on
this point at this time, for 1t is believed
that the work far done, aside fl ON that
relating to the recovery of dead bodies and
personal property, has been scarcelv mora
than preliminary In this view of the case
1t may be perceived how difficult 1t would
be for any member of the court to predict
the date upon which 1t would report.
News From the wreckers.
Judge Advocate General Lemly received
message this morning from the Merritt
& Chapman wrecking Company, dated at
New York. as follows:
THE tug Underwater. with the derrick
Chief in tow, passed Sandy Hook at 12:4O
pm, Sunday. 27th, bound for Havana. As
sistant Wrecking Master Tooker was on the
Underwater"
Assuming that fair weather prevails. the
tug, with its tow, should arrive at Havana
about Saturday. With this derrick the In
vestigations of the court of inquiry can un-
doubtedly be much facilitated for although
the Chief will be unable 10 lift the big tur-
rets, her derrick will still remove the small
er guns and the greater part of the debris
which is the source Of so much complaint
on the part of Captain Siysbce as inter
fering with the search for the bodies and
with the examination into the cause of the
disaster.
Death Certificates to BE Issued.
Captain Hawley, who is directly IN charge
OF that branch of the navigation bureau
relating TO the enlisted men in the navy, is
now directing the work of his office to the
Issuance of death certificates, which are
to be issued TO the families OF the dead
sailors These certificates are issued by the
surgeon general and the navigation bureau
and are thus conclusive evidence upon the
auditors of the Treasury Department, who
are thereby obliged to pay over to the legal
representatives or heirs of the deceased
any sums Of money that may De due them
Dy the United States government On ac-
count or accrued pay or retained deposits.
In the case Of victims of the Maine disaster
the department is obliged in many cases to
certify to the death of the sailor without
being able to secure evidence of that fact
through the presence of body 1t is as-
sumed by the officials that man failing to
report perished In the catastrophe.
Letters are reaching the Navy Depa-t-
ment from all parts Of the country from
alleged relatives of the victims, and It ap-
pears mat In numerous cases there are
many Claimants for the small sums of
money or property that belonged TO the
will r.
partment to try to adjust these claims ond
reconcile conflicts, and every effort 10 b.-
Ing made by the officials to do tbis 90 snaaa
lily as possible consistent with the reou.re.
ments Of the statutes
captain Sigsbee has teleeraphed that two
more dead bodies were recovered yes,er-
oay. One was unrecognizable. but the
o'her was identified as that of j. W. john
BON. Inc captain also announced the death
IN the hospital at Havana Of poor Holzer.
"no Hade such a gallant struggle for life
Cemetery Mt Key West.
Commander Forsyth at Kew West teI..
sraphed this morning that he had in execu.
uon or ;he departments order secured a
pat Oh ground in the cemetery at Kew
west In which will be inferred the re-
mains or such of the victims bodies as
are brought from Havana. Admiral Sicard
viii personally look after the funeral ar
ransements. 1t is learned that the Spanish
onclais at Havana have consented to the
removal of any bodies hereafter recovered.
formality made necessary by the fact
that the Cuban law does not hermit sucb
removals from fear of extending contag gion
1t is understood that the remains are not
to be permanently inferred at Key West.
and this understanding gives a great deal
OF satisfaction to the naval officials here
VINO nave had trouble in times past in
MAINTAINING graves of sailors in proper
condition owing to the infltration of large
quantities of water into the graves through
the porous and low lying coral strands. As
the remains are inciosad in hermeticaIIy
sealed zinc cases 1t is not believed that
they will suffer during their brief inter-
ment at Key West.
The Texas Joins the SQUADRON
The battle ship Texas. which has been at
Galveston. returned to Tortugas yesterday
and Joined the squadron The Terror re-
ported her arrival at Tompkinsville to-
day The Castine arrived at Port of France
In the West Indies. The Wilmington left
La Guayra yesterday for Barbados
Captain Dickens, assistant chief of the
navigation bureau. has gone to Norfolk
Contrary to some reports that have been
circulated his visit has nothing to do with
war preparations He went to inspect the
old training ship Essex. This vessel has
just returned from a long cruise with the
apprentices. and the naval regulations re-
quire such an inspection as this upon the
return Of a ship to this country. It will
be for Captain Dickens to ascertain SIM
ply that the vessel is In healthful condi-
tion. that the boys have conducted them
selves properly during the cruise and gen.
orally to hear complaints and satisfy the
department that the ship has been well
handled. When this inspection Is finished
the Essex IL to go up to New York for
some oyerhaulng.
A Report About Lee.
An interesting report comes from Rich
nond to the effect that Consul General
Fitzhush Lee will be appointed . major
general Of the United States army in the
event Of war between the United stasea
and Spain. There Is scarcely any doubt
that the administration would like to have
the benefit Of Gen. Lees military knowi-