Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-25

Washington, March 22.-The report
of the naval board of inquiry into the
Maine disaster was received in Wash
ington at 9.35 tonight The four ma
val officers who have guarded it, watch
and watch since it's departure from
Key West, were hustled at once into a
carriage by an attache Of the navy de-
partment, and driven to the Ebbitt
House, where they tried to catch
little much needed sleep and az the
same time withstand the crowd OF
newspaper men who thronged the lob
by in hopes of some stray bit OF inIor-
nation which had escaped the scrutiny
of numerous correspondents along The
route.
The party consisted Of Lieut.. Com
mander Mark, Liuet. John Hood.
Lieut. Carl Jungen, Past Assistant
Engineer Bowers, A. i. Mark, a neph-
ew Of the judge advocate, and Ship
Carpenter Helms, of the Names Ill
fated crew.
There was an immense crowd wait
ing at the depot when the train pulled
in. The naval contingent was i'll the
last sleeper on the train and de1lly
avoided the crush of citizens by alight-
ing at the upper end of the platform
and going out across tracks. All We're
thoroughly tired and Commander Md
riX was asleep in the corner of the
seat when the train pulled in and was
gently shaken into sensibility by his
companions who were on guard.
The party was met at the steps of
the car by Lieut.. Ward, of the navy
department, who was the sole repre-
sentative of Secretary Long. He In
formed Commander Mark that the
Secretary would not receive the report
tonight and gathering the tired trav-
elers under his protecting wing, made
for the hack stand through the
RAPIDLY THICKENING CROWD,
which, baked of its prey at the gate,
had swarmed out over the pavement
to get glimpse of the much heralded
report from the outside
Lieut.. Hood, as the most muscular
member of the party, carried the bulky
document in white canvas bag slung
under his arm. 1t must have weighed
ten or twenty pounds without its car
rying case, and portended endless
reams of complicated testimony to be
digested by the administration before
the next step in the progress OF the
Maine incident can be taken.
That the whole party carrying the
report was armed was demonstrated in
a rather theatrical way just as they
were about to get into the carriage.
The crowd closed around the party and
jostled them considerably. Some one
ran against the end of the mysterious
canvas bag in which the report was
concealed. Quick as a flash Lieut..
Hoods hand went back to his hip and
Lieut. Jungen laid his hand on the
butt of revolver that was sticking
from his side pocket. These move
ments were sufficient to prevent fur
Their jostling.
On being driven to the Ebbitt House
the whole party retired, first having
ordered some light. refreshments sent
to their rooms. 1t was not long be-
fore the report of their arrival spread
and the lobby was filled with a curious
crowd of idlers. while the negro bell
boys worked overtime carrying up
cards from the various correspondents
in search of an interview.
Dung MurlN was ueputeu DIS SOTL
of press committee, and met all in
quiries with. the stereotyped
REPLY OF Il DON'T KNOW
to every question. 1t may be said,
however, that the report in due pro-
cess of law must first be delivered to
the Secretary of the Navy and this, ac-
cording to all presidents, will be at
the Navy Department. 1t will then be
submitted to President Mckinley, upon
whose decision its future migrations
will depend.