Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-18

from Habana. the Maine can never agaif
DC utilized as ship. He describes the
wnoit forward body Of the ship as com
pletely collapsed, where the shock of the
explosion was the heaviest. Photographs
or the wreck Will be sent to the depart
ment to-day"
FROM GENERAL LEE.
The State Department this evening re-
ceived the following dispatch from Con-
sul-General Lee
"Habana, February l7.-Asslstant- -Secre-
tary Day, Washington: Merritt I'm lunior
oIhcers' mess-room; Jenkins I'm ward-room
mess-room at the time OF the explosion
Latter left before an officer. who was
saved. Must have gone the wrong way.
Lights out Immediately. and water rush
ing in. Merritt got to hatch with Naval
cadet Boyd. Ladder gone. Boyd climb
ed through and tried to pun Merritt up
but latter let go his hands. fell back. and
was drowned. Bodies of these officers rot
yet found; possibly in wreck Sailors
funeral to-day at 3. VIII be an immense
procession"
The following message was received at
the Navy Department at 1886 this after
noon from Captain Slgsbee at Habana:
secretary Long Washington: General
Bianco called on me personally at he
MOTEL last night. and also the Mayor of
the city. They have requested me to
permit tile government here 10 give a
public burial to the dead already found.
IN order that public sympathy may be
expressed thereby. and due honor shown
the dead. Ground for the burial has
been secured. Is il assumed that / am
expected by the department no bury the
dead here? In fact. would be impracti-
cabls TO transport remains to the rrrited
states. Facilities are lacking. | have
accepted the offer of the authorities, nd
there Will be public funeral at 3 O'Clock
to-day. All here from the Maine will go:
also, delegation from the Fern. Fifteen
bodies recovered during operations. Ope-
rations prevented by rough weather
INTEREST AMONG CONGRESSMEN.
There was unabated interest in both
ends Of the Capitol to-day in the Maine
disaster, but expressions generally took
the shape of inquiry for new light upon
the subject and Of demands for "A most
rigid investigation.
The present disposition, especially about
the Senate appears to be TO allow the
matter to rest where it is until more light
can be secured than at present.
The disaster to the Maine has aroused
a feeling among members of the House
in favor Of extreme lberality I'm appro-
priations for the naval and military es-
adjustments, the practical result of which
is likely to be the acceptance by the
House. with little contest, of the Senate
amendments increasing the appropria-
tions for fortiflcations about 100000, the
authorization in the naval bill OF two
battleships. instead Of one, and possibly
recommended by the Dry-Dock Board APP
pointed by the Secretary of the Navy.
The recommendation of the Secretary OF
the Navy was for only one addition to
the navy this year-a first-class battle
ship-but the loss of the Maine makes IL
likely that appropriations for two ships
will be reported by the Naval Committee
The subject has not yet been considered
in the Naval Committee. but most OF the
individual members of the committee eX-
pressed themselves as in favor of build
ing a ship to replace the Maine and also
of authorizing the ship recommended by
the Secretary of the Navy.
A parliamentary question has arisen in
regard to the provision for the dry-docks
in the naval appropriation bill, which
may keep such provisions out of the bill
in the House. Two rulings of presiding
officers, in Committee of the Whole, du-
ring the consideration of the naval APP
preparation bills, are against the lncor-
poration of appropriations for dry-docks
The whole dry-dock scheme. il is esti-
mated will cost in the neghborhood OF
$5.OO0.00O
FOR MAINE VICTIMS FAMILIES.
1t is probable that the families of the
victims of-fhe Maine disaster Will be
cared for By the government, as were
the survivors Of those who were lost IN
the Samoan hurricane, several years ago
when fifty-four American officers and
sailors were lost from the Nipsic, Van
Calia, and Trenton, which were wrecked
on that occasion.
Representative Mcclellan. of New
York. introduced a joint resolution, ap-
propriating Sl5OOOO for this purpose In ;ht
House to-day as follows:
"Resolved. by the Senate and House
| of Representatives. That the Secretary OF
| the Navy be. and he is hereby. directed
TO pav out OF any money in the treasury
not otherwise provided. a sum equal &c
twelve months pay TO the legal heirs OF
| representatives of each of the officers
anC crew Of the United States steamship
Maine, who perished In the disaster al
Habana February Is. 1898. and the sum OF
$4,000 or so much thereof as may be ne
cessary, is appropriated TO carry out the
provisions of this act"
A special act of similar tenor wa:
passed for the relief Of the victims 01
| the Samoan disaster. 1t is not customary
| TO grant pensions 10 the widows or cr
phans of soldiers or sailors who die II
| time of peace but Congress, in view o.
| the extraordinary circumstances. will
undoubtedly. be quick to grant the relief