The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-02

WASHINGTON, March 1.-The main
,pteres, OF the day In connection with
the Maine inquiry centred In q state
nent by Secretary Long, following the
raSIne. meeting. that In his personal
oDInlon any oflclal participation by the
spanish government In the blowing up
o, the Maine was nov practically elimi-
mated from the situation. This state,
men, Was not OF formal or official
character and was made by Mr.. Long as
he walked away from the white house.
As usual the various cabinet officers
were besIesed with inquiries as to the
questions before the meeting and In re-
eooISe 10 these opportunities the secre-
,ary rather casually summed up the. Sit
uation In few words. stating that most
Of the time had been given to the OUT
RACES on coIored postmasters In the
south. Naturally the Cuban situation
had been gone over. he said, but there
were no actual developments and he felt
tha. public excitement over the subject
had materially abated. Then he added
the statement, in the same passing way,
that any participation by the Spanish
government In the blowing UP OF the
Maine was practically eliminated in his
judgment. K
Persons occupying the closest relations
with the secretary said that the opinion
expressed was such as any one might
give with the facts now at hand. 1t was
not In any sense. 1t was explained, 4
conclusion drawn from new evidence,
no. made public either from. the court OF
inquiry or any officer now concerned In
the inquiry. Neither facts nor intima-
lions have come from such sources. 1t Is
said, at the department, which would
serve as the basis for an opinion. Il
was poIGted out by persons bearing close
relations to the secretary that the Lam
suase used was official participation"
on the part Of the Spanish government.
This. it Is said, had no bearing on the
question Of Spain's responsibility. The
official participation" Of Spain was one
thing; while the responsibility OF SPAIN.
In case the disaster proved 10 be OF eS-
ternal origin. was quite another thing.
Mr. Long was much surprised that so
much attention had been given to his
passing ollus!ol.
Aside from this incident the day
brought forth few developments OF in
porianee relating TO the Maine. No dis
patches OF any character from Key
West. where the cour. Of inquiry is Sit
ting were given out during the day. and
as the rule OF publicity Is still In force
presumably nothing came from that
quarter. The vessel movements an
nounced during the day were devoid Of
significance.
Orders went out from the navy depart
mens late this afternoon TO put the iron
clads Miantonomah and Katahdin
into commission on the 10th instant.
They are now at the League Island navy
yard. where they have been laid up for
year or two past. It Is said at the de-
partment that the purpose 5ot putting
them In commission is to make berths
ios the survivors OF the Maine now at
Key West waiting on the court of In.
curry which without doubt will have fln-
lsaed With them by the 10th instant.
Inc Mlan.onomah IS q formidable dou-
ole tur7eted monitor carrying four ten
Inch guns She Is OF 1890 tons displace-
meat and steams 10il knots per hour.
heF Commander has not yet been def
n!tely selected.
:. The hataadln. otherwise known as
Anmen ram. is freak In naval archi-
lecture and although opinions are divi-
Geu as 10 her qualities there Is little
uouo, mat her presence in any harbor
Mouia make an enemy anxious. She
aeS mnsily under water with a turtle
oaeK n o, s;eel varying In thickness from
- .ncGes to s inches and the theory of
ner ueSgneF, Admiral Ammen, was that
tn!s aflnor plate could not be struck di-
Iecuy oy shot from another vessel,
aaa mat any such shot would be harm
ns,y deaeeted by the sloping steel
week. In action the coming tower and
smoke stack are about all OF the ship
WAY would present mark. The two
and 80 men. VA Z,
!. was Just learned at the navy de-
paitneilt to-day why the Maine was tied
=? 20 buoy in Havana harbor Instead
y. a"cnoring, fact that has been the
ol some Of the theories as to the
au>es OIL the disaster. It Is stated that
,ry ~. 1"iy IS man-of-war ut buoy In a
,"asn ,.Is oeiter place for quick service than
.h JIen ahcnored, but 1t appears that IL a
ny ElSIs her anchor In Havana harbor,
~ sou, and polluted with yellow fever
ase ase other disease germs is the mud that
es1" sies 70 It when i Is holsted. that the
...p must 80 Into quarantine upon her
'e'u'a 70 any Florida port.