Evening star., 1898-02-22

| mined thus far, as The companies have sew
eral experienced wrecking masters avail
able
Capt Thos. Kivlin Of New York is men,
ticned among those likely to be placed in
charge. He is a man of long experience OF
Cool judgment and exceptional ability in
deep-sea wrecking.
Capt. Chittenden of New York, another
wrecking master, who is thought Of for
the command of the expedition. has spe-
cial fore for hauling off beached vessels
He directed the work of hauling off the
American liner St. Paul when she was
beached New York. The wreckinG
| master will be in complete charge, as the
government will trust entirely TO the ex-
perience Of the wrrckers, although naval
officer will be detailed to inspect the work
it proceeds.
Probably Lieut.. Commander Wainwright,
the executive officer of the Maine, now in
Havana, will he assigned TO this duty.
Inspection of the Wreck.
The wrackers stated that after the eXpedi-
ton was assembled in Havana harbor, a
ccmple-e inspection of the wreck would be
made and the exact line of work determined
upon. The fa oilites will be so ample that
all of the divers will be able to work at one
time different parts of the wreck. Most
of the lifting will be done by the smaller
derrick, which is of sufficient capacity for
the lighter upper works of the Maine, but
1t will take the monster derrick Monarch to
lift the huge turrets of the Maine and the
guns mounted within them. Capt. Hum
phreys stated that The purpose was not 10
separate the big guns from the turrets. but
to lift them as a whole. This will be tre-
mendous undertaking, the combined
weight Of each turret and guns is 166 tons
The Monarch can lift 26O tons; SO there Is
an ample margin of lifting power. even in
the case of the turrets. 1t Is not expected
that this larger piece of work can be reach
ed for some time after the operations besin
The wreckeTs were loath to express an
opinion as to their ability to raise the hull
of the Maine. Mr.. Chapman and Capt
Humphreys stated that nothing but close
personal inspection would permit a decision
on that point. They are most hopeful, how
ever that the ship can be brought to the
surface. The iron barge Lone Star will bs
used to receive the turrets, guns ana wree!s-
age, and as fast as loads are made up she
will be towed to the Norfolk navy yard.
The most potent sign that the first ana
exciting stage of the Maine dlsaxtsr has
been passed was the fact that not 4 single
cablegram was received overnight OF this
morning at either the State or the Navy
Departments relating In any manner 70
that event. In fact the only telegram res
ceived since yesterday afternoon was one
that came from Admiral Sicar1 at Key
West asking whether certain pi,ce5 Of
metal intended to effect repairs TO tho tor-
redo boat Porter, had been shipped These
castings are to replace broken propeller
strut, and the department notified the adj
oiral hat ho6 eh
Herreshoffs, the builders at Bristol. r. L..
on the 18th instant, and should be at Mo-
bile now.
As this was legal holiday very few per-
sons were at the State or Navy Depart
ments. Acting Secretary Dlv spent some
time a his office, but he haa h.t,c to COM
municate. He had received 51i dis
patch since yesterday from Corsul General
Lee, and that related 10 the shipment of
Cuban tobacco to the United States. The
department has heard nothing of the re-
ported revival of the Weyler e1ict prohib-
iting the expectation of tobacco from Cuba
On the contrary, Gen. Lees reports show
that the movements are in regular prog
ress, or at last had not been checked up TO
| the 18th instant. He telegraphed as fol-
| lows:
HAVANA, 21st.
FILLER tobacco, February 10th, to New
York, 500 bales. 46 barrels; 10th, to Tampa
| 80 bales; to Key West, $50 bales; 18th, III
bales to New York, II to Philadeip phia; 13,h,
232 bales to Tampa, 76 10 Nsw York. 5J to
| Baltimore and 80 to Chicago
| Judge Day had received no news Of the
rumored capture of the Dauntless, and in
fact the above telegram was all that he
| had had from Havana in the last twenty
| four hours.
| Nothing Expected From Havana.
In the Navy Department there were a
| few more officials vino came down in the
| morning to look over the mails and open
| any kilograms that might have beer re-
ceiveo. Secretary Long himself spent sew
| eral hours in his office locking after his pri-
vate mail He said he had had nothing
| from Havana and aid not expect anything.
| The naval regulations under which the
| court Of inquiry was p-oce. din, at Ha-
vana absolutely preclu1ed the conveyance
| by any member of the court or the court
| as body to any person. even The Secre-
| tary OF the Navy, Of any facts developed
during the progress of the inquiry unless
| the action of the department was reces-
| sary upon some development to fur ,her the
| investigation. For this reason tie Secre-
| tary does not expect to earn anything off
| cially or unofiicially Cor several days from
| any OF the members of tie court ana as
| Capt- sampson. the president of that body.
/ mas given notice at Ha vauS that th.. pro
| ceedings would b: Kept secret there tho
| oinclais mere do aot See noH any one can
| Know what the court is doing.
| Work ON the Terror.
In explanation of The order given yester
| day to the Norfolk navy yard officials :,
lave the Terror in condition for servic.
secretary Long said this order had been
| given to replace the Maine II being deemed
desirable that the armored feet should
not fan below certain number. There
was very little to be done on the Terror.
| and forty-eight hours should suffice TO per-
| form all of their work on her. She is the
most powerful double-turreted monitor. and
| although not as effective as a Sea boat as
battle ship. she will probably be able to
hold her own in the smooth waters of the
| har5or against almost any craft.
| The south Atlantic Squadron.
The naval Officials assert that the report
to the effect that the movements of the
| South tlantic squadron now under r,a,x