Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-04
MAINE DISASTER.
No Disturbing Official News Re.
ceived at Washington.
SUBMARINE MINE THEORY
Further Repetition of the State
ment in It's Support,
Two More Bodies identified Mr. Proctor
Finds Peculiar State of Things-aet-
ting Ready the Relief Expedition.

ting Ready the Relief Expedition.
Washington, March S.--Secretary
Long said at the close of his day at the
navy department, that no word had
been received from the court OF inquiry,
and that no orders had been or would
be given, as to the movements of the
court from Key West, as the court was
fully authorized to shape its own move-
nents. The original orders to the court
were issued by Admiral Sicard as COM
mander of the fleet to which the Maine
belonged, and it has the technical status
of an adn1irals court, reporting directly
TO him, both as to its movements and
as to it's final report on the cause of the
disaster.
The understanding here is that the
court has not concluded it's work, but
will return to Havana to take testimony
which has been delayed by the difficult
ties in the way of the divers. That Ad-
miral Sfcard expects this move back to
Havana was shown by dispatch from
him few days ago, suggesting that ar
rangenIents be made for vessel to take
the court back. As the lighthouse ten
der MangTove had been doing this SER
vice, the treasury department was
asked to assign the Mangrove for the
return of the court to Key West, and
this was done. With these arrange
ments concluded, 1t is said at the navy
department, the court will proceed
without consulting officials here
Arrangements are being made for the
TRIP OIL the cruiser Montgomery, and
the gunboat Nashville, to Cuban ports
with relief supplies. The navy depart
ment was advised today that the NAL
lory line steamer leaving New York
next Saturday would carry free of
charge, 70 tons of supplies to be trans
feTred to the Montgomery and Nash-
Vile at Key West
The Mallory steamer is expected to
take about four days in the run down
the coast, so that the transfer to the
Warshfps and their start 10 Cuba can
not be made before next Thursday. The
two warships are poorly adapted for
carrying supplies, having scant quar-
terS for their own supplies of cordage,
provisions, canvas, and the ships
equipment. 1t is only because they can
make the run in daylight, that any at
tempt is made to carry the rs tons of
supplies. These will be stored on the
spar deck, and with good weather. the
any damage. The relic measures are
proving unexpectedly successful, the
supplies running into the carloads and
hundreds of TONS
The state department has had notice
from the Cuban relief committee at New
York that there were shipped on March
l. from New York to Santiago. 100 900
pounds of relief supplies; on the I'd, to
Havana, 5000 pounds today. TO Ma
tanzas, 100000 pounds, and to Sagua la
Grande 100, 600 pounds. In these ship
ments are 100000 grains of quunine CON
signed to each of the ports. except
Havana
Chairman Barton of the central Cuban
relief committee has advised the state
department that donations are coming
forward in great abundance, not only in
money, but more particularly in form of
provisions from all directions.
The Oregon committee promises ten
car loads, and possibly twenty, and Om-
aha, Minneapolis and other western
committees are offering shipments by
the car load. The central committee
had, today, upon the pier of the Munson
line at New York, nearly 100 tons ready
Tor the steamer sailing Friday, which
the line offered to take to Mantanzas
ard Sagua. The Maine relief fund un-
der Mrs. Longs management today
reached total of S3133
Maine disaster that came to the navy
department during the day was the fol-
lowing from Commander Forsythe at
Key West:
"Bache arrived Brought one body un-
identified, and Paul LOTUS, private ma
rine; jeremiah Shea, coal passer; John
Heffner, ordinary seaman; Thomas j.
Waters, ordinary seaman wounded,
from TortugaS. The wounded will be
sent to the army hospital. The funeral
of the body has started for the ceme-
terry"
In the course of the inquiry into the
naval resources of the United States,
an order has been issued to make a test
of the machinery of the old war moni-
tors at the League Island navy yard
These are single turreted craft, that are
armed with big smoothbore guns in tur-
rets that could likely be pierced by the
modern rifle used on the battleships, but
they would still be of service in an
emergency.
There are eight of these monitors at
League Island and the government owns
several others that are now loaned to
the naval militia organizations of some
of the states Those at League Island
are the following: Canonicus. Mahopac,
Manhattan, Catskill, Jason, Lehigh,
Montauk and Nahant They are all be-
tween 1900 and 2100 tons displacement,
and draw very little water so that they
can take up advantageous positions on
shoals commanding channel approaches.
The intention is to turn over the old en-
zines and work the machinery that is
fR3ie to turn the turrets, if it can be
made to work at all.
During the course of the day similar
Inquiries to that made by the Japanese
legation as to the number of Japanese
aboard the Maine, came to the navy de-
partment from the German and Swedish
legations, and it is said that others will
follow. Nearly every nationality was
represented in the Names big crew.