The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-25
THE AIR FULL OF RUMORS
BuI Ihe N0Vy Department D.Sg|QinS
Knowing anything Definite.
REPORT ON STRENGTH OF THE NAVAL MILITIA
Warrington Secure from Attack by
water-Evidence OF Outside Force
-StSsbco's Report on tho Situation
Court OF Inquiry Ready to Ad.
JOurn 10 Key West.
REPORT ON STRENGTH OF The NAVAL MILITIA
Washington, Feb. a., 1895.


Rumors of startling discoveries in the
wreck Of the Maine were less frequent,
but there were enough Of them sill
af1oat today to warrant Secretary Long
an making this statement 10 the news
paper men as he left his office:
Summing up the situation, should
say that the Navy Department. knows
to-day nothing mora obous tha cause
of the disaster than it did five minutes
after the recet2t Of the first dispuch
from Captain S!gs5ea"
The Secretasy's attention was drawn
to the published aiatan,cn: that Cap
tain Crowninshi,.I, chief Of the Bureau
\ Of Navigation, had just arrived at
Iampa, Fla, m ;he Munt arey from {,
trip to Cuba, va ere he had been insrect-
dng prospective coain:- stations near
Matanzas. 2>hc Scaratary's comment
was simply this:
Captain Crowa'ash:Ml has no: bee n
10 Cuba He has been off with his boy
on matters not in any wise connected
Wpth the business of the navy"
Secretary Long further said that he
rather expected 10 sse Captain Crownin-
shield tomorrow.
Until the conclusion OF the inyestira.
Ton or the court of inquiry at Havana.
the pricipal business OF the NAVY De-
part!nent in connection with the Maine
VII relate to the conduct Of the wrec ck-
ing operations. Captain Lemly, the
judge advocate general, who has this
branch of the work immediately in
Charge, to-day received kilograms from
"he MEriitt and Chapman Wreckins q
companies at New York, stating thai
Fne steamer Merritt and wreclzing light
CIR Sharpe had sailed for Havana. and
Phat the tug UNDERWATER with tho
ch!ef. would leave New York Saturday
ior tne same place. The assistant
MrechlhG master was going to Havana
on inc. Ward Line steamer Saturday
ana IT was suggested to the department
'hAt us inspector should take the same
steamer. lnasmuch as Lieutenant Com
1nander kinlball. who is now at Hay,-
ha' mas been assigned to the duty ,or in
spectlnE the wrecking opera tions. Il vii,
hol DC necessary to observe this sus
EeStion "@
DISPATCH FROM CAPT. sIGsRE11
The only exact information received
al The Navy Department from uaynn,
curing the day was conveyed in Clp
tam slgsbee's telegram. as follows:
Havana. Feb q, 1895
Long, Secretary of the Navy:
W!ecking tug Right Arm arrived
yesterday. Begins work to-day. Much
encumbered metal must be blasted
away In detail Navy divers down aft
seven days; forward four days. Bodies
or Jenkins and Merritt not found. Two
uhldehililed bodies of the crew were
found yesterday. After compartment
filled with detached, broken and buoy
ant furniture and fittings, mud and
confusion. The Spanish authorities
continue offers Of assistance and care
for the wounded and dead Everything
that goes from the wreck 10 the United
States should be disinfected The
wreckinG company should provide for
this.
THE surgeon of the Maine after con
sultinE with others. recommends that
all bedding ana clothing should be
abandoned. Might go 10 acclimated
poor. Useless fittings and equipments
might be towed to sea and thrown over
board. VIII take all immediate re-
sponsibility. but invite the department S
wishes. Shall the old metal of super
structure and the like be saved
Friends of the dead should understand
that we are in the tropics. Chaplain
Chadwick, charged with all matters
relative TO the dead His conduct Is
beyond praise. Don't know what re-
ports are being printed. hut the in
tenscly active representatives of the
prcHs here have heen very conSidcrate
Of me and my position.
"(Signed.) SIGSBEE."
COMBINATIONS APPROVED
Secretary Long Immediately answer
ed Captain Sigsbee, approving all his
recommendations. He was directed 10
have Lieutenant Wainwright. the cx-
ecutive officer Of the Maine, make ar
rangements with the wreckers f,r thc
disinfcction OF everything sent to the
United States. The recommendation
that all bedding and clothing lie aban-
doned, and ii need Dc given to the accli-
mated poor, was approved without com
ment. The same approval was given 10
the suggestion that useless fittings and
equipment be towed to sea and thrown
overheard. It being left TO Captain SiSs-
bees Judgment TO determine how far
this destruction should be carrier On.
TO the captains inquiry as 10 the saw
Ing or old metal and parts of the su-
perStruction, the answer was given that
such material was Of no use 10 the Blu
reau or equipment. 1t was left to Can
tain SfGSbce to say what OF this shat
tered material YVES worth preserving.
His statement THAI much blasting VIII
be required 10 clear away cnc,rr1l) or
ing material indicates tnnt i - essen
tial further ~ 6%stTay 5he ui.per .s0r-
tions OF the wreck in order to ge. nj
what Is more valuable beneath.