Omaha daily bee., 1898-03-27
SICSBEE'S GOODBYE
Captain Of the Maine Takes Leave Of
Havana Harbor.
SAILS FOR HOME on THE 0LlveTTE
Americans in Havana Give Him a Basket
Of Flowers
GENERAL LEE ACTS As SPOKESMAN
Pays Tribute to Gentlemanly Bearing Of
the Names Commander.
TOUCHING REPLY Bi THE RECIPIENT
Az the Olivette Moves Away Captain
sigsbce Takes a Last Look
Mt the Wrecked
Battleship.
Pays Tribute to Gentlemanly Bearing Of
the Names Commander.
TOUCHING REPLY B\ THE RECIPIENT

Copyright 1s9s by Press Publishing Company
HAVANA, March 26.-(New York World
Cablegram-,special Telegram.)-"About the
Maine cannot speak. II 1 did l should
break down"
These were the concluding words Of Cap
tain Sigsbee's farewell as he stood by Gen.
eral Lees side in the cabin of the Olivette
Just before it left Havana.
Captain Sigsbee, the hero Of the Maine
disaster, has left Havana to report to his
government With him were Paymaster
Day, Dr. Heneberger, Chief Engineer Howell,
Chaplain Chadwick, Midshipmen Nolden and
Cayanagh.
Captain Sigsbee spent this morning on the
Fern with Captain Cowles. Just before noon
the crew of the Fern was called aft to say
goodbye to the captain of the Maine. "The
Fern is not very large" he said, ''but every
man on board has stood by us splenddly. In
the name of all the survivors of the Maine
thank you,'' and big tear rolled down the
captains cheek.
All the American colony Of Havana re-
GREETED Captain Sigsbee's departure. His
quiet, modest manner in referring to him
self and the manly self control which he
always put upon himself when speaking Of
tho loss of the Maine have made him uni
versaly beloved next to General Lee him
| SELF No American in Havana has so en-
deared himself to his countrymen as the
! captain OF the ship that is now nothing but
| a heap Of gnarled iron in Havana harbor.
AS mark of their sympathy and admi!n-
| tion for him as man and captain they
determined to present him with basket Of
| flowers before he left Havana. Nc one seems
| to know where the ideI originated. Every
| ono seemed td think Of it at the same time.
| General Lee and Mrs. Louis Klopsch were
| constituted a committee to purchase the
| flowers at forists. They found big
| wicker-work model Of a ship. They had II
| filed with roses and sent it out to the OH
vette At 12 O'Clock every newspaper cor
respondent in Havana and all Of the men,
bers of the governments relief committee
were in the cabin of the Olivette. Captain
Sigsbee arrived in the launch of the Fern
| He went at once to the cabin and took a
eeat by the side Of General Lee.
| LEE SPEAKS.
| 1--WE DESIRE" said General Lee, ito pay a
tribute to a sailor, a gentleman and an
American citizen. He is Captain Sigsbee'
There was slight tremor in Captain Sigs-
bees voice as he began: "The language OF
| these flowers is what has been the language
have been compelled to use for the last
! month. l especially want to thank the
| American press for the courtesy which 1t
has always accorded me. The American rep
resentatives OF the press in Havana are
splendid specimens Of American citizenship
| have seen here and thank them. can
not leave Havana without telling you what
l think Of General Lee, He is splendid
brave man and an American citizen OF whom
we can all be proud" Captain Sigsbee
paused and crossed his hands In front oi
him. "In speaking OF the loss OF the Maine, y
he said, II should break down. Goodbye
Everybody pressed forward to shake the
captains hand. God bless you," they said
and there were a good many misty eyes in
the crowd as they walked down the landing
stairs to the boats again.
iWth q shrill whistle the Olivette turned
it's how toward Moro, the sea and home
Dear Father Chadwick stood by the captains
side as the Olivette passed the wreck Of the
Maine. The last that Americans in Havana
saw Of Captain Sigsbee he was leaning ovel
the rail taking a last look at the wreck o.
his battleshp. The saddest American in Ha
vana is Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
He is the last Of the survivors to remain
here. SYLVESTER SCOVEL.
SlGSBEE AT KEY WEST.
KEY WEST, March 26.-The steame
Olivette, from Havana, which arrived tonigh
brought all the officers OF the Maine excer
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright. Wit
the exception Of Chaplain Chadwick, the
proceeded to Tampa on their way north. The
received warm welcome during their stoI
over here. Captain Sigsbee, when shown tn
Associated Press bulletin regarding the ulti
matum of Spain, said: This looks like war,
Captain Sigsbee expressed himself as ver
glad to get back upon American soil. II
said there was little excitement in Havan
yesterday over the report OF the America
court OF inquiry. He believed that stringer
measures had been taken to protect Amer
cans now in Havana.
| The Olvette also brought nine bodies n
covered from the Maine. The body Of Lieu
tenant Jenkins was sent through to Pitt!
burg. The eight others will be buried he,
tomorrow,