The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-01

| the navy were purely speculative. 1t wa:
| very doubtful in the minds of the officer:
here whether the members of the court
| themselves were able TO pass an opinion
| on this point az this time, as it was be
lieved that the work so far done, aside
from that relating TO the recovery Of dead
bodies and personal property, had beer
scarcely more than preliminary, and in
this view of the case it might be perceiv-
ed how difficult it would be for any mem
Der of the court to predict the date upon
which it would report
Judge Advocate eneral Lemley found q
! message this morning from the Merritt &
! Chapman Wrecking company. dated al
| New York, reading as follows:
1.-The tug Underwater, with the derrick
! Chief in tow. passed Sandy Hook at PA
p. m, Sunday, 9th, bound for Havana.
| Assistant Wrecking Master Tooker was
| on the Underwater"
Assuming that fair weather prevails,
the tug with its tow should arrive at Ha-
vana about Saturday With this derrick
| the investigations of the court of inquiry
| undoubtedly can be much facilitated, for
although the Chief win be unable to lift
the big turrets her derrick would still re-
move the smaller guns and the greater
part of the debris which is the source of
so much complaint on the part of Captain
Sigsbee as interfering with the search for
bodies and with the examination into the
cause of the disaster.
CAPTAIN Hawley, who is directly in
charge of that branch Of the navigation
bureau relating to the enlisted men in the
navy, is now directing the work of his Of
fee to the issuance of death certificates
to the families of the dead sailors. These
certificates are issued by the surgeon gem
eral and the navigation bureau and are
thus conclusive evidence upon the audit
ors of the treasury department, who are
thereNF obliged to pay over to the legal
representatives or heirs of the deceased
any sums OF money that may be due them
by the United States government on &C
count of accrued pay or retained deposits.
In the case of the victims of the Maine
disaster the department is obliged in
many cases to certify to the death Of the
sailor without being able TO secure evil
dence of the fact through the presence of
a body. It is assumed by the officials that
a man failing to report persisted in the
catastrophe.
Letters are reaching the navy depart
ment from all parts of the country from
alleged relatives of the victims and it ap-
pears that in numerous cases there are
many claimants for the small sums Of
money or property that belong TO the
dead men, It will be the duty of the de-
partment to try TO adjust these claims
and reconcile conflicts and every effort is
being made by the officials to do this as
speedily as possible consistent with the
requirements of the statutes.
It can be stated authoritatively that the
navy department has received nothing to
indicate the cause of the explosion and
that reports that it has been advised by
external agencies are without founda-
ton.
Captain sigsbee has telegraphed that
two more dead bodies were recovered yes
terday- One was unrecognizable, but the
other was identified as thot of j. w john
son. The captain also announced the
death in the hospital at Havana of poor
Holzer, who made such gallant struggle
for life. -t
Commander Forsyth at Key West tele-
graphed this morning that he had in exc
cution of the departments orders. secured
a plot of ground in the cemetery at Key
West, in which will be inferred the re-
mains of such of the victims. bodies as
are brought from Havana. Admiral ST.
card personally will look after the funeral
ARRANGEMENTS. 1t is learned that the Span
ish officials at Havana have consented to
- 49,, H. <far~
covered, a formality made necessary by
the fact that the cuban law does not per-
NIT such removals, for fear of extending
contagion. 1t is understood that the re-
mains are not to be permanently, inferred
at Key West and this understanding gives
a great deal of satisfaction to the naval
officials here, who have had trouble in
times past of maintaining graves of SAIL
ors in proper condition owing to infiltra-
ton of large quantities of water into the
graves through the porous and low-lying
coral strands. As the remains are en-
closed in Theoretically sealed zinc cases
it is not believed they will suffer during
their brief interment at Key West
The battleship Texas. which has been
at Galveston, returned to Tortugas yes
terday and joined the squadron. The
Terror reported her arrival at Tompkins-
VILE today The Castine arrived at Port
of France in the West Indies.
Captain Dickens. assistant chief of the
navigation bureau, has gone to Norfolk.
Contrary to some reports that have been
circulated, his visit has nothing to do
with war preparations. He went to in
spect the old training ship Essex. This
vessel has Just returned from long
cruise with the apprentices. and the naval
regula tons require such an inspection as
this upon the return Of a ship 70 the
country It will be for Captain Dickens
to ascertain simply that the vessel is in
healthful condition. that the boys have
behaved themselves properly during the
cruise and generally 10 hear complaints
and satisfy the department that the ship
has been will handled.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn return
ed to the city by the night boat from Fort
Monroe. He declares that his visit to the
most had no war-like purpose but that he
simply went for recreation and recupera-
ton.
HOJDT HnCC Tn KEN WEST