The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-19
CANNOT POSSIBLY TELL
NO DATE CAN BE SET FOR THE
REPORT.
NO PRELIMINARY REPORT ACKNOWLEDGED
Unusual Precautions Observed on the New
York and The Iowa--1he Montgomery Ar.
rives From Havana Torpedo. Boat
FOote Arrives From Charleston.

Key West, Fla. March 18.-The
Court of Inquiry is diligently continuing
its session on board the battle ship
Iowa and, judging from statements
made by members, it is quite problemati-
cal how many more days will pass he
fore the public learns its conclusions.
BY the courtesy of Rear Admiral Si-
card, the correspondent of the Associated
Press was today enabled to escape the
rigOr of the recent rule. forbidding cor
respondents TO go on board warshipS.
and was the first civilian to interview
the members of the Court of Inquiry
since they secretCd themselves on We'd
neSday on the Iowa.
Captain Sampson received the CORE
spondent on the poop of the splendid
ship ne commands. In the AdmirafS
cabin below were Captain Chadwick,
Lieutenant Commander Potter, and
Judge Advocate Mark. They had been
in session since 10 o'clock this morning
with the ships writer acting rs clerk
THE court is still hard at work." Cap
lain Sampson said. Il have just left
my cOnfereeS. 1t is utterly impossible
to say when our report will be ready. If
| snrmised the date and yOu reported
il, | am afraid something might occur
that would defeat the expectation and
only serve 10 disappOint the anxious pub
lie. When the report is ready, il viii
not be for us to make the announce
ment. Washington, | presume. Willsadsl
that
If a preliminary report has been sent
to Washington, Captain Sampson ap-
parently knew nothing OF IT, In the
course Of the afternoon, while the court
continued in session without once COM
ing ont of the cabin, large quantities Of
ammunition We're taken on board. The
same thing took place on the New York
Both ships are now better supplied with
ammunition than they have been at any
time before.
Al i O'Clock this afternoon the regHr
lar hour during previous sessions of
the court for adjournment. Captain
Chadwick and Lieutenant Potter entered
a gig and were rOwpd to the New York.
Judge Advocate Mark is staying on
board the Iowa. The court will resume
its sessions tomorrow.
Unusual precautions are observed on
the New York and the Iowa, double
harbor watches being enforced. Every
craft that passes on its way into the
harbor is submitted to the closest scru-
tiny of searchlights. Both vessels are
ready to pull ont at fifteen minutes no.
tice. and special attention is being given
to the instruction of the sailors in small
arms and firing practice.
Tomorrow the court will devote con-
siderable time to the preparation OF dia-
grams showing parts of the Maine as
found after the explosion.
The United States cruiser Mont
gomery arrived here this morning from
Havana, and the United States cruiser
Detroit sailed this morning for the Tor
tugas islands with provisions and am
munitiOn for the fleet.
From the TOrtugas the Detroit will
proceed to Port Tampa TO load ammnni-
tion.
The Morgan Line steamed Arkansas
arrived here THIS morning from Havana
with Senator Money and congressman
Amos ]. Cummings and Alden Smith on
board.
The United States cruiser Nashville
sailed for the Tortugas with supplies
simultaneously with the Detroit.
The Montgomery is, with the excep-
ton of the torpedo boats, the only war
ship in the harbor.
The torpedo FoOte arrived this after
noon from Charleston by way of Jack
sOnville.