The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-17
couRTS EVIDENCE COMPLETE.
o.ur SAMPSON REFERS TO 1T AS
GRATIFYINGLY so.


s.otement Might Mean the Dis
o,er. of an Accidental Cause.
MI. Indications Looked Upon as
- ,be other Way-Talk of the
Divcrs COntradictory, But Bits of
r,idcnce Picked Up From Time to
r,,,c TEND to Show That the ship
l. Broken in Two.
,1o,ana. via Key West, Fla, March 16.-
1,ttb t1e departure of the court of in
,ir, after a second visit to the scene of
tbe wreck of the Maine, the tension grows
serious.
The court, a body like q. grand jury in its
emotions, is nearly ready to report.
Unless there are new discoveries here.
which is unlikely. there is ndthing to be
dome but for the members to seclude
themselves in the Iowa and formulate the
convictions already firmly held.
There is no reason to change the belief
.ha+ the court will find that the disaster
was caused by an explosion outside the
Maine.
The chief officers have been absolutely
discreet. while the talk of the divers has
been contradictory.
From bits of evidence that have come
ont during the three weeks examination.
It seems as sure as anything in this lati-
tude can be that the plans of the court
show that the ship was broken In two and
The forward part rent assunder by an ex-
ploson from the outside.
pondent yesterday that the testimony was
"gratifyngly complete"
This might mean that an accidental
cause had been discovered. but the indi-
cations are all the other way.
No one believes that any Spanish Off
cials or officers of rank will be implicat-
/ 3D. whatever may be the finding of the
court.
Capt Sampson. before leaving, said the
courts departure was not due to orders
received, but was decided upon solely by
the members themselves.
The wrecking work has been very slow
but it is hoped that now, with the added
facilities and the others that are to come,
work will be advanced with greater rap
idy.
Spaniards and Cubans alike are greatly
Interested in the forthcoming elections and
their probable results, whether the Con-
servatives will vote at all, whether ra-
cial differences outside the city of Havana
will be fatal to the hopes of autonomy,
and whether the outcome will be the dearh
knell Of the autonomous regime in Cuba.
II The volunteers are apparently more
quiet though many of the leaders are
angefed by private advices from Madrid
10 the effect that Senor Eagasta is as
firmly resolved as ever on their disarma-
ment
This correspondent has seen cable mes
sages from London to several English to-
bacco merchants telling them to oleave the
island at once and limiting that war seems
Inevitable.
The Associated Press correspondent at
Matanzas tells sad story, not only of
the suffering there, but of the difficulties
which the bureaucratic methods of the
Spanish officials place In the way of the
relief, even of those who are actually
starving. For instance, bridge has to
be crossed in conveying the stores from
The vessel TO the warehouse. The local
authorities actually tried to charge a~toll
Tor each cart load and were only prevent
ed by an order from the government.
IN the hearing of the Associated Press
correspondent at Matanzas, a custom
mouse officer on the wharf called out to
crowd of starving people, who were cry
ing ior food DO you think the Americans
sent This food? Wella they did not. II
was sent you by the rich Spanish in New
York city"
Important advices from the insurgents
SNOW that Gen. Maxine Gomez has sent
mission to the insurgent chiefs in Mid
uIe ana Western Cuba telling them of a
great movement that is likely to GO
through successfully. Gen. Pando, from
San'aso de Cuba, ordered the Spanish
Gems Castellanos and Tenquet TO advance
On the insurgents numbering from 2 500 to
g'"g under Mencal, Capote and Cebreco
- - ruerto Principe province. His plans,
he supposed, were perfect but the insur-
seus hanked the Spanish and are
| U" moving toward the Jucaro troeha
lney are expected to raid Matanzas, Ha-
n'na and possibly Pinar del Rio prov
| days %
an nesotiations on the part of Ramirez
| u NhaVes, near Manzanillo, have beer
s.C'Ss' Not an insurgent of any rank
f,a.,'e fa'e'er has surrendered. An important
1o''ou 1Iou OF autonomists at Santa Clara anc
ia''H4as declines to take part in the com
| a 1 electons on the ground that Gen
nanco has not carried out important in
t.ueions in the establishment of the au
| "lonie government
MT is believed that the deaths of the in
| "sS"t leaders Cayito, Alverez and MI
"'1' hrst reported as due to their own com'
res' r were really due to the treachery OF
M F Au'onomist Governor of Santa Clara
fao'eos Garcia, who made an appointment
~ Conference with them and then had
'N'iL nacheted.