The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-23
NOTHING is DISCLOSED
ADMIRAL SICARD SAYS IT is a
MOST PECULIAR CASE.
REPORT MAY NOT SOLVE THE MYSTERY
All the Officers Of the Maine, With the tx
Ception of the Paymaster'S Clerk,
Have Received Orders to Leave
for Their Homes.

Key West, Fla. March 22.-Lieuten-
amt Commander Mark, Judge Advocate
of the United States Naval Court of In
qlpiry into the loss of the battle ship
Maine, left Key West this afternoon, on
his way to Washington, by the City of
Key West, bound for Miami, taking with
him the report of the Court of Inquiry
on the disaster.
Commander Marix brought the report
ashore from the Nashville to-day and
Rear Admiral Sicard, with Commander
Mark spent several hours in its further
revision.
An the officers of the Marine nov
here. except Paynraster's clerk, Nc
Carthy have received orders to leave
for their homes. there to await orders
as in THE case of other officers who left
here last week. This is considered to
be evidence that the court will not require
the confederation of technical evidence
as was thought few days ago.
The majority of the officers of the
Maine left this afternOn for Miami and
| the remainder Of them leave tomorrow
for Tampa.
Before leaving Key West Commander
Mal'iX said nothing could be given out
about the work of the Court of In
qriry or it's findings. Personally, the
, commander said he was Intensely re-
lievel at completing h;s laboIs.
The decision reacned by the court is
still a matter of surmise. Perhaps soma
significance may be attached and con-
clusions Clrawn from u remark made by
Admiral Sicard last night, when JFe SAID
to a correspondent:
TIE case of the Maine is most pecu-
liar. perhaps the most peculiar which
has ever occurred in the history of the
/ world"
! From the general tone of his remarks
1 it might be inferred that the court find
ings do not definitely solve the mystery
of the explosion. This is further borne
out 10y the Admirars statement that
even after the report had been sent to
Washington the department. may re.
qtuire further investigation.
I.ieutenants Jungen ana Hood, Cadets
Bronson and Boyd, passed Assistant
Engineer Bowers, Assistant Engineer
Morriss and Carpenter Hilms, of the
Maine. left here to-day on the City OF
Key West for Miami.
Gunner Hale, of the lost battle ship,
will leave later. There are mo commits
stoned officers of the Maine here.
Lieutenant Commander Mark before
leaving was in a nOn-committal mood.
He confined himself to saying that ne
was intensely glad to be through with
every tedious work and once more to be
ON the way north. Despite the absence
from Key West of the documents on
which the eyes of the world are fixed,
the Court of Inquiry continues in exist
ence, though inactive. Should the Navy
Department require further investiga-
tiOn and express dissatisfaction with the
findings, it is probable the court would
: be obliged to return to Havana, though
the release of all the Maine officers held
here as witnesses until to-day makes
it unlikely that any lOop-hole has been
left which would justify the department
i'll requiring the court to perform further
work
1t is reported that Rear Admiral ST.
card has been before the Board of Re-
tirement on the cruiser New York and
will probably he relieved of his command
on account of physical disability. The
Marblehead has arrived from Port Tam
pa via the Tortugas, after supplying the
Massachusetts with ammunition.