The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-28
BARREN OF RESULTS.
Investigation of the Maine Disaster So Far
super ficiai.

/ Havana. Feb. 81, via Key West
| Many Americans and some Spaniards
/ here insist tnat the investigation into
/ the Maine disaster has thus far been
| superficial and barren of vital results.
/ They claim that, though nearly two
weeks have passed no knowledge has
/ been gained as to the condition of the
| forward part of the hull or as to
1 whether the or I0-inch ammunition
magazines forward to the starboard ex-
| ploded.
They insist, moreover that expert
divers, with enough experience to make
| drawings of the condition of things sub
marine, might have been al work week
4 ago and might have settled the question
as to the magazine at least ere this.
| Those who hold these views demand that
| the hull forward should be raised with
| out further loss of time, and before it
has sunk too deep in 40 feet of soft mud.
] There are some who go so far as to
| charge the United States with adopting
| the Spanish policy of delay until the dis
aster shall be partially forgotten or dis
/ counted.
Many of the Spanish officials are said
to entertain the opinion that this is the
case and to be very well pleased with
4 the notion On the other hand. however,
| good judges say that all criticism in this
vein is made without knowledge of the
/ facts and that none save the members
/ VI tfiC 1cdiA VI iliduliS anu tlltll sd-
| periors are aware of all the testimony
/ developed or of which submarine plans
] have been made. Those also urge that
/ there is no use trying to raise the hull
| until the wreckage or armor, super
| structure, engine, docks, guns and masts
3! have been taken out. To do this will
| take time, and the apparatus for the
work can only be found in the north. 1t
is said no company in the world ever
took the contract for such work where
the blowing up of the wreck by dyna-
mite was prohibited, lest important evil
dence be destroyed. But even the mod
crate strongly deprecate any more de-
lay than is absolutely necessary, while
all agree that the American people are
not likely to forget SO readily. Rumors
of this. that or the other discovery
setting on foot this, that or the other
theory, are still rife. In most cases when
run down they are easily proved false
1t is useless to deny that the interest
here is much less intense than it was a
week ago, but it is ever ready TO be
kindled anew by an established fact
The court of inquiry is as quiet as
the statue of Memnon, as dignitIed and
as stern. Its members are courteous,
but they feel the deep responsibility
resting upon them. To talk indiscreetly
might not cost a commission no matter
how high the rank of the holder but
would surely precipitate trouble either
here or in the United States. They We're
not exclusive when on shore. and they
dined with Consul General Lee now and
again, but the wreck was always pro-
hibited topic,
If memory did not give tnge of trag-
edy, Havana's harbor would appear
commonplace enough to-day. Sailboats,
tugs and launches ply to and fro all day.
Steamers, large and small. arrive and
depart, and the hustle of busy and pic
turesque harbor comes and goes in the
usual fashion. In yondef mass of steel,
which seems TO half writhe in pain, lies
all that is mortal of more than so brave
men. 1t is generally expected that the
court of inquiry will return here after
taking testimony at Key West, and it is
likely that efforts Will be made by
agents during the courts absence to
secure other testimony.
The arrival of battalion of more
than 1000 regular troops from BARGE
Iona, as was cabled, excited public inter-
est for the day. Guns were fired,
''vivas" shouted and decorations which
the rain spoiled hung, but that was all
there was to it These men, so it is al
legged, are the advance guard of a di-
vision OF 11.000 Spanish regulars sent TO
take the place of the sick and wounded
v ho have returned to Spain within the
last few months.
The Spaniards know that Senator
Proctor is close friend of President
Mckinley. and despite his disclaimer of
a political mission. they continue to at
tach considerable Importance to his visit
al this juncture. Some think that he has
been sent here by the president to make
report on the situation, as Mr.. Blount
was sent TO Hawaii by President Cleve-
land. Then the Spanish who. in the
main, are ignorant Of American Gus
toms and political methods. cannot un-
derstand why a former secretary Of war
should come to Havana, and there are
many expressions of surprise that Sena-
tor Proctor is not in uniform instead Of
in civilian dress.
Great preparations are being made to
welcome the cruiser NiZcaya.
Senior Riya, editor Of La Discussion,
says: The general impression here IS
that the United States court of inquiry
has already decided that the disaster to
the Maine was the result Of an acci~
dent.
The grip is very prevalent in Havana.