The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-02-25


of the day at the navy department was
the large number of rumors Of war-like
tendency that came to the attention of
the officials as requiring attention, and
in every case contradiction. So
formidable had grown the list that
President Mckinley decided to make
the following statement regarding the
Maine. which was given out by his sec.
rotary:
Based upon information now in his possession
the president believes that the Maine was
blown up as the result Of an accident. II 1t is
found that the disaster was not an accident
prompt and decisive steps will be taken In the
premises. The finding Of the naval court will
develop the cause. and until that is submitted
nothing will be done.
Secretary Long, at the close of Office
hours, issued the following statement:
Really no information has been received since
Capt. Sigsbee's first dispatch adding anything
to our knowledge OF the disaster. All we
know Is that the Maine blew up. There is
abundant room for speculation in all reports;
but no conclusion can he arrived at until an
examination has been made by the divers and
more facts obtained. It is simple fact to say
that such a thing might happen by design. or
it might happen by accident. AS yet there is
no indication of design. Therefore my inn
preston has been all along. and rather
same direction, that
1t Must Have Been Accidental
At the cabinet meeting to-day the matter
was not discussed except as any body Of men
talk about an event of that kind. and most Of
that talk referred to the terrible loss of life
was a very kind thought in the president to
send flowers to the families of Capt Sigsbee.
OF the executive officer. Wainwright, and Of
the lost seamen whose residences are In Wash
tngton.
You may say absolutely that there has been
no secret cabinet meeting; that nothing has
taken place in the cabinet that the public have
not been informed about; that the whole policy
of this department has been to give the public
all the dispatches: that the department has no
more knowledge on the subject of the cause Of
the disaster or even Of the circumstances at
tending 1t than have the public and that the
partment that the Maine was in danger from
submarine mines or torpedoes Is utterly with
out foundation, no such report ever having been
received from him or anybody else. q.
The secretary also denied briefly and
comprehensively wild rumors that he had
requested the chief Of police of New York
to guard the Vizcaya, and that he had
selected Constructor Bowles to go to Fla
vana and raise tho Maine. The last work
of the day for him was to consult the
representatives of the wrecking compa-
MES. who probably will have charge Of
this work. and endeavor to arrange for
both of them to work together SO as to
secure the use of each peculiar plant and
to save time. The secretary, when asked
what was the departments estimate Of
the conduct of Capt. Sigsbee in the terri
BILE situation in which he had been placed
replied:
think express the feeling Of the presi-
dent. as we'll as my own. when say that Capt.
Sgsbee has conducted himself as an officer of
our navy should. He the last to leave his
ship when She went down. His dispatch to me
Thought OF no question of fact to ask him
which Is essential to the situation and which
he could answer. which is not covered by that
dispatch. Its tone, too, is that of discreet
and level-headed man who realized the i'm
preston any word from him at that time would
than for naval officer to lose his ship SO that
have great sympathy for him. await, with
confidence. further repcsts.
During the day the department was
In receipts of q number of kilograms
from different parts Of the country
asking in behalf Of the relatives of the
dead sailors that their remains he
brought back to the United States for
interment. While no decision has yet
been reached formally upon the appli-
cation of the Spanish government for
authorization to examine the wreck of
the Maine to ascertain the cause of the
explosion the officials seem inclined to
regard this request as one that could
not properly be refused, and it is likely
that each government will make an
investigation of this character con-
currently.