Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-03-05
SUBMARINE NINE.
That Was What Destroyed the Maine
Naval Officers Think.
Evidence OF Submarine Mine Said 20 Ne
In Possession Of United States Omciais
Court Finishes at Key West
Spanish Divers ut Work.

lIAyAaA, March 3.-Without adding
unnecess arily to the flood Of surmises,
conjecture and prophecy concerning
the finding Of the court Of inquiry, 1t
Is fair to say that, as matter of fact,
most Of the naval officers here and ut
Key West incline to the opinion that
the court will find that the disaster TO
the Maine was caused by the explosion
Of q floating submarine mine under
the port side Of the ship, forward.
Opinions agree, not only rs to
the existence Of mines in the
harbor, but also that this one was
laid purposely near the buoy where
foreign vessels were directed to
moor, and was fred from an electric
battery on shore. 1t is further re.
garded Us settled by the evidence be.
fore the court that the port side Of the
hull forward was completely blown to
pieces, and that the only explosion on
the Maine, except or isolated cases Of
fixed ammunition, was that of 1900
pounds of saluting powder, stored for
ward, and Of which no trace can be
found. These views are gathered from
officers who talk with great reserve,
and only upon the assurance that their
identity will never be revealed. The
fact remains that only the members Of
the court OF inquiry know all the tes-
timony elected, and no one Is author
lied to make public matters in advance
of the final Abandonment
A good deal OF surprise was ex-
pressed by Americans here ut learning
that the Spanish divers were to be per.
mitted to make an examination Of the
wreck Of the Maine, especially rs it
was said that American naval officers
would give such divers all consistent
facilities, and would throw no OBJ
stacles in the way Of thorough subma-
rine inspection. Some assert that the
court now has no objection to n Span
ish inquiry for one or two reasons:
Either the court has sufficient evil
dence already Of accident or malice
evidence that cannot be controversial
by the Spaniards-or, after diligent
search, the mystery remains rs deep
as ever, and the court does not think
the Spanish will reach conclusion
where the Americans have failed.
SECRETARY ALGER TALKS.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The Wash.
ington Post to-day prints the follow
ing interview with Secretary of War
Alger:
The statement OF Secretary Long that
Spain's offcial participation in the disaster to
the Maine has been practically eliminated"
was merely an expression Of personal opinion
on his part 1t Is an injustice to him rs well rs
to the administration TO give an official signif-
canoe TO his expression. when he was particu-
lar at the time TO emphasize the fact that he
was speaking simply as an Individual In the
absence Of Official facts-and ! can repeat what
has been said heretofore. that the public is
equally Us well informed as the government
no member OF the administration can. Of
course. make ofiicial declaration touching
Spain's responsibility, moral or otherwise.
There Is not an iota OF information as to tho
cause or origin OF the explosion upon which
the government can ut this time form conclu-
sion or base decision. The verdict Of the
court Of inquiry on that point must patiently
be awaited.
Beyond this Secretary Alger would
not be quoted, but he authorized the
Post to state most positive that no off,
cial information was being withheld
from the public; that the administra-
ton was adhering strictly to the policy
adopted by Secretary Long, with the
approval of the president, ut the start,
to give the fullest possible publicity to
all facts coming officially to the de-
partment, bearing upon the loss of the
Maine and the $50 brave seamen.
EVIDENCE OF A SUBMARINE MINE.
KEY WEST. Fla, March 3.-Remnants
of the submarine mine with which the
Maine was blown up in Havana harbor
are now in possession Of the United
States officials at Key West This is
the cause Of the hurried warlike prep
arations which are now being made by
the war vessels in this harbor. The
remains Of the mine were brought here
Sunday morning from Havana by the
lighthouse tender Mangrove. which
also brought the members of the court
of inquiry. The inquisitors have the
wire attachments, which became en-
tangled in the electrical wires that
were used in giving light to the divers,
and were brought to the surface when
the electrical wires were brought In.
The remnants Of the mine are now in
the warehouse OF the lighthouse de.
partment at Key West. Great precau-
lions were made to keep the fact Sc
cret
COURT FINISHES AT KEY WEST.
KEY WEST, Fla, March 3.-The court
of inquiry convened yesterday and
went out to the barracks, where ali
the survivors OF the Maine were mus
tered. The men were asked II they
had any charges or further statements
to make. Not q word came from the
ranks, and after widespread consul.
tation, the work of the court Of in.
quiry at Key West came to an end.
SPANISH DIVERS AT WORK.
HAVANA, March 3.-The barge
brought with the wrecking tug /. J.
Merritt is proving of great value in
carrying away debris, and in the
course Of few days much of the wreck
above water will be removed. No
bodies were found yesterday, and there
was no salvage of any value Two
Spanish divers were ut work about the
wreck yesterday. and 1t is understood
they will report to the Spanish board
appointed to inquire into the cause Of
the disaster. Capt Perali is the presi.
dent Of the Spanish board Of inquiry.