Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-19
DENIED TO SPAIN
The Privilege Of Examining
the Names Wreck.
OUR DIVERS TO LOOK FIRST
Decision Reached at a White House
Conference.
PLANS OF COURT OF INQUIRY
Mangrove Brings More Survivors
to Key West.
LIST OF THE IDENTIFIED

The first dispatch that came today to the
Navy Department relative to the Maine
disaster was one from Admiral Sicard, dat
ed at Key West last night, speaking of the
assembling of the court of inquiry. The
message was as follows:
Secretary of the Navy:
"Rache sailed from Key West for Havana
with divers and stores for the Maine. The
Iowa comes to Key West the 18th and
the Sampson court of inquiry on the Maine
assemblies on the arrival here OF Mark.
The Massachusetts and Indiana at Tortu-
gas. Fifteen officers and forty-seven men
from the Maine have been distributed at
Key West Marine Hospital and the army
barracks. More are due here on the 18th
by the Mangrove. / shall hold all at Key
West pending the court of inquiry. No one
of the twenty-one apprentices that the
Texas took from New York city for the
Maine was on board the Maine at the time
of the explosion. as no opportunity had Of
fered to transfer them from the Texas,
where they still remain"
Mark, referred to by Admiral Sicard, is
Lieutenant Commander Mark, now on his
way from Washington to Key West. who.
with Captain Sampson. Captain Chadwick
and Lieutenant Commander Potter, will
constitute the court of inquiry. He will be
the judge advocate of the court and lay
down the line of procedure, being somewhat
of an expert in that matter. 1t is believed
at the Navy Department that he cannot
reach Key West early today from Tampa
owing to the lack of regular boat, but 1t
is thought that he will be there in time to
conduct the investigation when 1t opens
next Monday. While the court is entirely
master of it's own proceedings, the depart
ment does not doubt that after a few
preliminary sessions in Key West, which
will lay the foundation-for further investi-
CATION through the taking of testimony Of
the survivors now at Key West, the board
will proceed to Havana. AT that place the
work can be conducted rapidly to a finish
with the assistance of Captain Sigsbee and
the Information which will be gathered by
the divers from the wreck
Touching this question of examination OF
the wreck by divers the naval officials be-
lieve that there is no cause for apprehen-
sion as 10 the fairness and completeness of
the investigation. Captain Sigsbee has
telegraphed that he has made an arrange
ment with the Spanish officials for the
prosecution of this inquiry, and that there
is no friction. SO that the officials believe
that there is no reason now to interfere
with the naval officer in the discharge of
his duty.
The Wreck Extra Territorial Ground
The apparent difficulty attending the
sending down of divers to the Maine was
relieved by the statement today of Senior
Du Bose. charge d'affaires OF the Spanish
legation. that the most complete and har-
monious understanding between Capt Sigs-
bee and the authorities at Havana was had
the matter q divers and hat the
ish authorities viewed the Maine as extra
territorial; that Is. part of the sovereign
territory of the United States. the same
as United States legation situated in for
eign territory. With the Maine holding its
status as extra territorial all doubts as to
the supervision Of work on the wreck are
removed The waters of Havana harbor
are Of course Spanish territory, and some
confusion had been aroused by the idea
that this Jurisdiction over the waters at.
faehed also 10 the wreck in its present help
less condition at the bottom of the bay 1t
appears. however that there is no DISPOSE
ton to extend this Jurisdiction to the ship
and that the Spanish authorities freely as
sent to the Names being regarded as ex-
ira territorial. and under the immediate di-
rection of Capt. Sigsbee. as the representa-
tive of the United States.
" tAt VIC" ldhcN Dy the Span
ish authorities, there can be no trouble at
tending the work of the divers. Capt Sigs.
bee Will be recognized the one to direct
operations and TO send down the govern
ment divers for such inspection as he sees
proper TO make.
MI Du Bose hopes, however, that Can't
Sigsbee will extend equal facilities to the
Spanish divers, so that the inspection NAV
continue together AS to what divers Capt
sigsbee will employ the feeling amonp
Spanish officials here Is that this will he
wholly matter of discretion with Cant
Sigsbee, as the one in charge of a piece n,
property having the attributes of American
soil. But at the same time the belief is ex
pressed that this discretion will lead to tn.
choice of authorized divers of the NAVY De-
partment, rather than those Representing
newspapers.
Notice to Gen. Lee.
The attitude of the State Department or
this question is shown by the following
Geographic correspondence:
HAVANA, February IS, 1898.
Assistant Secretary Day Washington.
Sigsbee begins tomorrow with divers sem
him from the United States to recover al
bodies still left in wreck of Maine as wei
as personal effects of officers and men and
whatever else can be obtained that wav