New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-18
THE TRAGEDY AT HAVANA.
A COURT OF INQUIRY NAMED.
FULLER DETAILS REGARDING THE LOSS
OF THE MAINE ANXIOUSLY
AWAITED.
THE DISASTER UNRELIEIED.
LATEST REPORTS FROM CAPTAIN sIGsBEE-
MANY SENSATIONAL RUMoRS CONTRA
pICTED-ACTIoN IN CONGRESS AND BY
THE EXECUTIVE - BURIAL OF
DEAD SAILORS IN HAVANA
WIDESPREAD SYMPATHY

WIDESPREAD SYMPATHY
EXPRESSED.
The latest reports from Havana ana "ash-
ington paint the disaster to the United States
battle-ship Maine in colors fully as Dlach rs
those of Wednesday. The cable sent fuHer de-
tails yesterday of the catastrophe ana the news
was eagerly awaited and anxiously received all
over the country. The latest reports make IL
plain that the disaster is without parallel IN the
naval history Of this country
The latest report from Captain Sigsbee gives
the number Of dead as 212; wounded. 81; doubt
full. I; uninjured. Is; those who cannot De To-
Gated. Z This does not include the Officers all
but two Of whom. Lieutenant jenkins ana AS
slstant Engineer Merritt. escaped unharmed, and
it leaves more than fifty of the crew still unac-
counted for.
The cause Of the disaster Is as deeply shrouded
In mystery as ever. All sorts Of wild rumors
were floating about the city and the country
Yesterday. increasing in number and proportion
as the day passed. For most Of them the sensa-
t,ona press was responsible. and in answer to
inouries from all sections Of the country re-
| carding these alarming reports the Associated
/ Press sent out late at night the following state
| mcnt from its Washington Office:
The cruiser New-York has not been ordered 10
| Havana: Consul General Lee has not been assassl-
mated: there is no conference of the Cabinet; Con-
gress is not in session tonight both houses having
! adjourned at the usual hour until tomorrow.
| President Mckinley did not go to the Capito, and
the situation is decidedly quiet.
The public generally throughout the country,
despite the attempts made by the SENSATIONAL
press to inhame its feelings. Obeyed the request
made by Captain Sigsbee in his first dispatch
! to the Secretary of the Navy 10 suspend judS
mcnt until an investigation could be made. IL
was generally recognized that the cause OF the
disaster was in doubt, and the theory that at
tributed the catastrophe was the one most ac-
ceptcd.
Grief for the loss of the soldiers and officers
who persisted was the prevailing sentiment, and
next TO that came anxiety for the possible con
sequences regarding the relations of this couIl-
try with Spain. Flags on the various depart
ment buildings were at half-mast during the
day. and the President directed that until fur
ther orders the flags on all military buildings
throughout the country should be flown at
| half-staff
The President received messages Of condo
lence and sympathy from most of the rulers or
the countries OF EuroIe. and similar messages
came from General Blanco and the Mayor or
| Havana There were cheers in the House OF
Commons when It was announced that mes
sage of sympathy had been sent to the Presi-
dent.
The Navy Department received yesterday
morning dispatch from Admiral Sicard in
| command of the North Atlantic Squadron. ap-
pointing as a court Of INJURY TO investigate
the disaster Captain William r. Sampson, presi-
dent of the court: Captain French +. Chad-
wick Lieutenant Commander Seaton Schroeder
/ and Lieutenant Commander Adolph Marx.
The Fern and the Mangrove are al Havana
with diving apparatus, with which examination
of the Names hull will be made but il will
probably be several days before the investiga-
ton can be made. The Navy Department an
nounced that il had no intention of Immediately
sending another warship TO take the Maine $
place.
In the United States Senate yesterday Senator
Allen introduced n resolution calling upon the
Committee on Naval Affairs TO make an immedl-
ate investigation as 10 the cause OF tho disaster
and report to the Senate, but the resolution went
over until to-day.
Late dispatches from Key West brought the
intellg,uce that n number Of the officers and
men who were aboard the Maine are Of the
opinion that the explosion was due TO some in
terror cause and other dispatches from Wash
ington said that naval officials were Inclined TO
think il likely that the battle-ship might be
raised and rebuilt.
The Spanish cruiser Vizcayn, which was re-
ported TO be on her WY 10 visit the port OF
| New-York. and was expected to arrive yester-
dav. had not been sighted up 10 n late hour.
A dispatch from Madrid said that the Govern
ment of Spain had left the details of the Viz
caya's visit to her commander.
The State Department gave out statement
saving that Spain had officially dsavowed the
reflections OF the De LONE letter upon President
Mckinley. and that the incident was regarded
as closed.