Omaha daily bee., 1898-02-20
GOVERNMENT ACTSiI ALONE
Declines spain's Request for a Joint
Investigation,
ONLY ONE OFFICIAL INQUIRY TO Be MADE
Naval Board VIII Examine Into Maine
Disaster, but spanish Authorities
May Take Such steps ns
They Deem Prdper.r


feature OF the days news at the Navy de-
partment was the decision OF the govern
ment declining to allow concurrent investi-
cations Of the cause of the Maine disaster,
for its own part making an independent in
Quiry through the naval court Of inquiry al
ready appointed while permitting the
Spanish authorities to make such investiga-
flon as they desire. This arrangement COM
mended itself to naval men alike fair to
all, and at the same time calculated to de-
velop the exact facts in a manner that
could not be questioned.
Secretary Long and Assistant Secre-
tary Day of the State deeartment had
an interview with the president this
morning which lasted nearly an hour. Mr.
Day read a cabegram from Consul General
Lee at Havana transmitting request from
the Spanish authorities In Cuba that the
Spanish officials be permitted to join with
our people in making an investigation into
the cause OF the disaster to the Maine
The matter was discussed at considerable
length and the conclusion was reached and
General Lee will be so notified that while
this government is willing to afford the
Spanish authorities all reasonable facilities
for conducting an investigation, yet it is
thought best the first inquiry shall be made
by our own commissioners. The request of
the Spanish authorities therefore will be
respectfully declined
The request of the Spanish government
for permission to examine the wreck of the
Maine reached the State department last
night through the following message from
Consul General Lee
HAVANA, Feb 1S.-Sigsbee begins tomor
row with divers sent him from the United
States to recover all bodies still left in
wreck of Maine, well as personal effects
of officers and men and whatever else can
be obtained that way. After that is com
pleted the Spanish government would like
to unite with ours in having the bottom of
ship and harbor in the vicinity jointly ex-
amined.
The following is the answer sent:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-The government
of the United States has already begun an
investigation to the causes of the dis
aster to the Maine, through officers of the
which will proceed Independently. This gov
ernment will afford every facility 1t can to
the Spanish authorities in whatever investi-
CATION they may see fit to make upon their
part. q. 70 DAY.
REMOVES ONE DIFFICULTY.
The apparent difficulty attending the send
ing down of the divers to the Maine was
relieved If not entirely removed, by a
statement today by Senor du Bose, charge
d'affares of the Spanish legation, that a
complete and harmonious understanding be-
tween Captain Sigsbee and the authorities
| at Havana had been reached on the matter
| of divers and that the Spanish 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 foreign territory. With
| the Maine holding its status as extra terri
torial all doubts as to the work on the
wreck were removed. H..
| The waters of Havana harbor are, of
course SpaAsh territory, and some confusion
had been aroused by the idea that this
trt- fnttN tt,N ASnrn n bod nj
| to the wreck in it's present helpless condi-
| dition at the bottom of the obay. 1t ap-
pears, however, that there Is no disposition
to extend this jurisdiction to the ship and
that the Spanish authorities freely assent
to the Maine being regarded as extra
territorial, and under the immediate direc-
tlon Of Captain Sigsbee, as the representa-
tive of the United States. According to the
view taken by the Spanish authorities there
can be no trouble attending the work of the
divers.
Captain Sigsbee will be recognized as the
one to direct operations and to stnd down
the government divers for such inspection
as he sees proper to make. Mr.. du Bose
feels assured, however, that Captain Sigsbee
will extend equal facilities to the Spanish
divers. so that the inspections may proceed
together. AS to what divers Captain Sigsbee
will employ, the feeling among the Spanish
officials here Is that this will be wholly a
matter of discretion with Captain Sigsbee
as the Cne in charge OF piece of property
having the attributes of American soil. But
at the same time the feeling is expressed
that this discretion will lead to the choice
OF authorized divers OF the Navy depart
ment rather than those representing news
papers.
CAN BE CONDUCTED RAPIDLY.
The board will proceed to Havana. At that
place the wOck can be conducted rapidly to
a finish with the assistance of Captain Sigs-
bee and the information gathered by the
divers from the wreck
Touching this question of examination of
the wreck by the divers, the naval officials
believe that there is no cause for appre-
hension as to the fairness and completeness
of the investigation Captain Sigsbee has
telegraphed that he had made arrangements
with the Spanish officials for the prcsecu-
tion 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.
AS the Navy department is still besieged
with applications for the return OF the
bodies of the Main victims to the United
States for burial, and as the matter has
figured in congress, it may be well to note
that Captain Eigsbee, for at least a third
time. In answer to questions has expressed
the opinion that the bodies cannot be re-
moved from Havana. He has pointed out
that their condition Is not such as TO per-
nit removals; that embalming is only i'm
perfectly done In Havana and that identlhca-
tion Of the bodies in many cases is not even
possible. This morning he telegraphed that
the bodies OF the two officers, Merritt and
jenkins, could not be found and repeated
that 1t would be impracticable to remove
bodies. Some of the surgical officers here
say that they know by experience that Cap
tain Sigsbee's conclusion is sound and they
say that successful embairnipg is not pos
sible where the circulatory system of the
body has been destroyed, as in the case of
the mangled victims OF the Maine.
Captain Sigsbee forwarded another revised
list of the injured and dead SO far identified
this morning, as follows: =
One hundred and twenty collins, contain
Ing ing i l25 dead, now buried ready for
Following injured are In hospitals at
Havana; F. G. Holzer,, g. w Koebler, John
Hebron, F. De Hill, ivy, Allen, William
Mattison, T. j. Waters NJ, V. Webber,
Thomas Mack z2'li
Following injured sent to- Key West by
Murgrove, lighthouse steamer. today: B. X.
Wilber coxewain: j. Em White d. Cron!n,
John Coffee, j. H. BloameP,F A. V. Heincs,
James Rowe. c. F. PiieheF, William Nc
Guinness. non. #
Following are all the bodies that have
been Identified uD to date yfJphn r. Dirking,
j. A. Graham, w. II. Tinsman. b. F, Brown,
E. II. Nero ii. j. Keyes. William Cosgroye,