The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-22
SENTIMENT OF SPANIARDS
STORIES TOLD BY TRAVELLERS JUST
RETURNED FROM HAVANA.
Hatred of "Americanos" Shown in
Alfonso XII Before the Explosion.

| HAVANA, Feb. H.-The official investiga-
ton by United States naval officers of the
cause of the blowing up of the battle ship
Maine was begun to-day. There were no
sensational developments. The divers at
work on the hull of the sunken vessel are
| said to have discovered nothing to-day that
would throw any light on the mystery.
The United State lighthouse tender Man
grove arrived this morning. having on
board the officers composing the court Of in
| quiry. The commander of the Fern sent
boat at 10 a. m. for Captain Peral and his
-secretary, Lieutenant Salas, of the Spanish
navy, who are to take part in the Spanish
! investigation of the disaster. They con-
ferred for some time with the Americans.
When the board Of inquiry convened at 10
o'clock this morning all its members were
present on the Mangrove. The members are
Captains Sampson and Chadwick, and Lieu
| tenant Commanders Potter and Mark.
| Captain Sampson presided and Lieutenant
! Commander Mark, recently executive Off
| Ger of the Maine, acted as recorder. Capt.
! Sigsbee, the commander of the Maine, was
the first witness called. He was under eX-
| animation until l o'clock this afternoon, at
which hour an adjournment was taken, and
the board began a careful personal exalni-
nation of the wreck, near which the Man
| grove is anchored.
Captain Sampson received the Associated
Press correspondent Immediately after the
morning session of the board. He said, in
the course Of the interview: II would be
glad to give the Associated Press news, but
owing to the delicate situation the board
| has decided to make nothing whatever pub
lie. do not know what testimony may de-
velop or when, and it is only fair to the
Ill
| the testimony until all has been received
and the findings have been considered. You
may say that this rule is absolute. Due
care will be taken for the rigid enforcement
of it, and all stories purporting to come
from the court should be set down as false.
L have no idea as to now long the court will
| remain here. No one is authorized to fix
the time, as the members themselves do not
know. 1 shall give to the Associated Press
such routine news Of the proceedings is
proper
Captain Sigsbee on board the Mangrove,
told the correspondent that he was quite
| pleased with the examination, and that he
| was able to answer all the questions asked,
not only as to his own acts, but as to those
of his subordinates on the Maine.
Captain Sigsbee gave the correspondent a
watch to take ashore for repairs The
watch was recovered to-day from the cap
tains cabin on the Maine. The hour and
| second hands were broken, and the watch
| had stopped at twenty-five minutes after
/ four.
Gunner Charles Morgan, OF the cruiser
New York, arrived on the Mangrove, and is
in immediate charge of the divers The
latter have been at work all day, but up to
the time of sending this dispatch no dis
| Of
| Two bodies and some files of documents and
| books were recovered 1t is believed that
the salvage by the wreckng company will
be considerable and valuable There is no
| truth in the report that another explosion
has occurred at The wreck, as might have
been inferred by the reports which reached
Key West Saturday.
Consul General Lee says the Spanish Of
| ficials are not interfering with the investi-
| cation into the causes of the disaster. He
has notified the captain Of the port that the
| wrecl1ing tug Right Arm will be here to-
morrow from the Merritt & Chapman Der
rick and Wrecking Company No objection
| will be made to the presence of the tug or
| her prospective work. She probably will
make early attempt to save the big
| guns, and if possible the more valuable
! parts of the Names machinery. Tomorrow
| morning Consul General Lee will escort the
| officers of the court of inquiry to pay visits
| of ceremony to the captain general and
| Admiral Manteroa
Tonight 1t was learned that the divers
to-day found copper cylinder used in con-
| veying charges to the six-inch guns. The
fact that it had exploded seems to show
| that there was an explosion in the maga-
| zine for fixed ammunition on the port side
| forward.
This afternoon the court of inquiry per-
| sonally inspected the wreck or the Maine
| BY their invitation Captain Peral, appointed
| Judge to investigate the disaster, and his
secretary viewed the divers at work Cap-
| tain Peral expressed his appreciation of the
| courtesies shown to him by the court of
| inquiry.
number of bodies were discovered to-
day in the forward hatch. 1t was not pos
sible to remove them, but they probably
will be removed tomorrow.
All the wounded men except two are do
| ing well. Paul LOTUS and one other will
be taken to Key West Wednesday by the
| Bache.
There were no signs OF disturbance here
to-day. and carnival week is apparently
closing in perfect quietude, there being
much less excitement than usual
FEELING AT HAVANA.
Majority of Spaniards Not Sorry for
Desfrucffou of tho NTof,a