The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-02-23
THE MAINE INQUIRY.
It Will be Begun by the Naval
Court at Havana To-day.
An Onicer Well Skilled in the Intyicacies of
Marine Law VIII be Judge Advocate of
the COurt-Uncle Sans Divers
VIII Have the First Look.

Washington, Feb. 21.-The naval
court of inquiry appointed to investi-
gate the Maine disaster will begin it's
work at Havana to-day. This news
came to the navy department Sunday
morning from Admiral Sicard at Key
West. He simply telegraphed DIS fol-
lows: "The court of inquiry sails for
Havana Goth by lighthouse steamer
Mangrove. Mark arrived to-day"
This prompt action is undoubtedly
due to the express direction of Secre-
tary Long sent Saturday to have the
investigation begin at the earliest pos
sihle moment. The telegram was dated
Saturday, so the board should arrive
there before nightfall and be ready to
begin its work this morning.
By an error incident to the haste
with which the orders were given out,
first accounts placed Lieutenant Com
mander Seaton Schroeder on the board
as the third;member, while as a matter
of fact Lieutenant Commander Potter,
the executive officer of the flagship
New York, holds that place. The board
undoubtedly would have started pre-
viously but for the necessity of await
ing the arrival at Key West from Wash
ington of Lieutenant Commander Ma
.ix, a naval officer well skilled in the
intricacies of marine law, who is to be
| Judge advocate of the court. Capt
Sigsbee was heard from late Saturday
night, but the telegram was not de
livered at the navy department unit
yesterday morning. His message goe'
to confirm the press reports of the
events of Saturday in Havana harbol
so far as they relate to the exploration
of the wreck. 1t read as follows:
"Only most experienced wreckinl
divers can do effective work on thu
Maine. In the upper works I can us'
service divers. Did some work to-day
but with little success. Will do bette
tomorrow. Parts of the Maine, espe
cially the superstructure and connec
tions, are one confused mass of metal.
Capt. Sigsbee sent two kilograms t.
the navy department Sunday on tn
| ouDJcCI VI luUSTNlCWo Will hluu' IL
first merely said: II have consistentl
refrained from expressing any opinio
on the Maine disaster" Later in tn
day he wired mo newspaper diver
have been used on wreck of the Maine
One man engaged by me was subst
quently bought up by newspaper.
declined his services. Any interview
with me if printed are untrue"
Mr.. Du Bose received no advices {
Importance from Havana Sunday. H
, expressed entire satisfaction with tn
plans by which the divers were opera
ing and said there was no justificatio
for talk about friction.
Secretary Long and Assistant Seer
tary Day, of the state department, ha
2 an interview with the president Satu
g day which lasted nearly an hour. M
: Day read telegram from Consul Gel
d eral Lee, at Havana, transmitting
e request for the Spanish authorities
' Cuba that the Spanish officials be pc
9 mitted to join with our own people
G making an invest otion into the eau
c of the disaster to C Maine. The ma
S ter was discussed at considerab
t length and the conclusion was reache
6 and Gen. Lee was so notified, tn
y while this government is willing
q afford the Spanish authorities all re
n sonable facilities for conducting ,
!, investigation yet it is thought best t.
first inquiry shall be made by our ov
s. commissioners. The request of t
u Spanish authorities therefore was l
d spactfully declined.