The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-02

ing steel deck. In action, the coming
tower and smoke stack are about all of
the ship that would present a mark. The
former is made of steel eighteen inches
thick The Katahdin is a ram pure and
simple having in the way of weapons of
oHense nothing except her sharp steel
peak and few small rapid-fire guns to
Keep on boarders or torpedo boats
When she was designed her speed was
placed at very high mark, but she did
not realize expectations owing to her Pc
culiariy constructed underwater model.
Her personnel will be as follows: Captain
commander Wilde, at present naval sec
retary OF the lighthouse board; executive
of1lcer, Lieut.. Lowe; navigator, Lieut. Cul-
yer; chief engineer, Berg, and ensign,
Campbell. The two vessels have crews
respectively of $50 and 80 men.
1t was just learned at the navy depart
ment to-day why the Maine was tied up to
a buoy in Havana harbor instead of an
choring, fact that has been the base for
some of the theories as to the cause of the
disaster. 1t is stated that not only is a
man-of-War at a buoy in much better
place for quick service than when achor-
ed but 1t appears that If a ship casts her
anchor in Havana harbor, so foul and pol
luted with yellow fever and other disease
germs is the mud that adheres to il when
1t is hoisted, that the ship must 60 into
quarantine upon her return to any Florida
port.
An indication that the court of inquiry
is either far from having reached any con
clusion or. else is disposed, with a view to
meeting future criticism, to collect all pos
sible evidence, whether it be deemed essen
tlal or not, is the call to their
assistance of experts. 1t has already been
a matter of comment that with all the
ability comprised in this court of inquiry
II has one weak spot, namely, the lack of
practical experience of the construction of
a ship in its members. This is no part of
the duty of line officer, and that no re-
hection is carried by the statement. To
remedy these shortcomings the court has
called upon the department TO send a con-
structor and carpenter to their aid and in
compliance with the request Secretary
Long has directed Nval Constructor Hoo
yer and Carpenter Helm to report to the
court at Key West.
1t is expected that they will go to IIa-
vana when the court returns there, and
from their familiarity with the structure
of the Maine, on which both of these men
worked when she was built in the New
York navy yard, they will be of great as
sistance, not only in suggesting easy
methods of work for the divers, but also
in Identifying portions of the wreck The
latter consideration is one of the greatest
importance in view of the statements that
have come from Havana to the effect that
some of the ships bottom plates have been
found in the debris above water 1t is
said at the department that If this is true
the fact will be of Importance
But, it is added, il would not be neces-
sarily conclusive evidence as to the source
of the explosion, for it is conceivable that
as the deck was blown up it might easily
have pulled up with ii some of the frames
and bottom plates, which are rlgldly at
tached by rivets. Without doubt the two
experts viii be much better qualified than
the line officers to identify any such pieces
of plate.
The only word received by the navy de-
partment from Havana came late tonight
In the following telegram from Capt. Sigs-
bee: "Bache leaves to-day for Tortugas
with all wounded men now here, five in all.
as follows: Mattison, Cahill, Allen Web
er, and Mack. All able to walk except Mat
tison, whose jaw was broken. Bache takes
one unrecognized body. Will probably take
four wounded men from Tortugas to Kew
West Bache will report to the flagship
Thursday before entering Key West. Can
not tell when more bodies may be expected
at Key West but Bache should return
promptly"