The news & observer., 1898-02-24
THE DIVERS ARE GUARDED
LEST THEY GIVE OUT SOME OF
THEIR FINDINGS.
TERROR REMAINS AT HAMPTON ROADS
Il is Probable That She VIII go to Havana TO
U Take the Plsc, Of the Maine. -..Atniral
Sicaro's Health---The MaRe's
nMedical Record.

Washington. Feb. 23-The arrival OF
n mail in Washington from key west
this afternoon bringing several private
letters from Naval officers lately at
tached to the Maine caused wave OF
excitement at the departments ana the
capitol. for there were all sorts of ru-
mors as to the contents of the letters,
very few of which rumors in point OF
fact had any sound basis. The only
featurc so far as could be discovered OF
real Importance as throwing light ON
th4. cause of the explosion, contained i'll
the letters, was the statement that the
two after boilers in the after boiler
space were all of the eight boilers OF
the Maine that were under steam at the
time of the explosion. This fact had a
negative value for it disposed at ence
of the theory that any exploding boiler
had caused the wreck. The experts all
say that by no possibility could the after
boiler explosion have wrecked the fore
mart of the Maine and left the after
pant almost unharmed.
DISPATCH FROM SICAItD.
Much interest was shown in a despatch
received shortly before 3 O'Clock from
..amiral Sicard giving the recommends
tion of Captain Sampson, of the Court
of Inquiry as to the raising of the
wreck. The view of Naval officers was
that Captain Sampson and his asso-
ciates were giving this advice not as
a court but as officers in position 70
sneak as to the best methods to be
adopted for raising the Maine. Various
INTERPRETATIONS were put on the express
sion forward half completely destroy
ed This was regarded as a partial
confirmation of the theory that the for
ward magazine had exploded, as that Is
one Of the most important portions of
the forward half of the ship. At the
same time it was held by some Naval
authorities that the destruction of the
forward half of the ship did not neces-
sarily mean that the forward magazine
had exploded. as this might be still i'll
+ tact although a part of the general
wreckage. In the absence of an explicit
I statement as to the forward magazine
there was q disposition not to accept any
i implied statement as to its destruction.
Captain Sampsonis recommendation
that contract be made with the best
equipped wrecking company to remove
material and lift the ship without delay,
was in line with the action already TAX
en- in closing contract with the two
largest wrecking concerns IN the coun-
try by which their combined facilities
will be at the service of the government.
The contract contains clause binding
the wreckefts to use their utmost efforts
to expedite the work, so that the de-
partment feels that everything has been
done to carry out the views expressed
by Captain Sampson. A clause of the
contract itemiZes the amounts to be paid
for each branch wrecking work, viz:
Wrecking tug Underwater $3.50 per
day; wrecking steamer Jones 5000;
lighter Seymour $75; derrick Chief $75:
barge Lone Star $50;wrecking tug Right
Arm $500; wreck master $15; wreckers
$3.50 each: divers $50 each.
DIVERS CANNOT INFORM.
Evidently the President of the Court of
Inquiry if fearful of the effect upon the
public of iH-judged attempts to account
for the destruction of the Maine for
this afternoon he autographed Secretary
Long, doubtless having in mind certain
publications of this morning as fallows:
Havana, %.
ANY reported interview with divers
untrue. Every precaution has been ta-
ken. Officer always present"
This brief statement dispOses of all
the allegations that have been made
pro and con as to the blowing UP of the
forward magazines.
The officers here are still thinking
of Captain Sigsbee's request of yesterday
to be furnished with the plans of the
Names section through the magazines
and coal bunker pockets. The reference
to the latter is particularly interesting
and leads 10 desire to be informed on
the exact quantity and quality. Of the
coal supply at the time of the explosion.
1t is said that these pocket bunkers are
rarely emptied, being designed as much
for the protection of the ship against
gum shots as for capacity TO hold coal.
One expert said that these bunkers in
his own experience have not been emp
tied in months All of this has to do
with the spontaneous combustion theory.
as the bunkers abut on the magazines
and might have set off even the safe
brown powder, if the LATTER We're eX-
posed to a degree of heat above six hum
dred degrees for some time. The request
beside may show that Captain Sigsbee
is not yet satisfied as to the cause Of the
explosion, Notwithstanding the express
siOns that have been attributed to him
by unauthorized persons.
PRIVATE ICORRESPONDT1NC
One Of the private letters received
here to-day, in speaking of the disaster
says it was all over in five minutes.
The writer was ashore and heard the
noise He hastily took a boat and star
ted for the Maine, arriving there in
about twenty-five minutes. Then all
was quiet and smooth and in fact, as
lhe said. in five minutes after the blast
the Maine was in about her present
condition.
Some solicitude was expressed at the
Navy Department over the report of
Admiral Sicard's health. 1t is said
however, that there was no occasion for
relieving him now; that the flagship
New York is not to leave Key West
n and even if she should Capt. Sampson
or Capt. Taylor can assume charge of
khe squadron while the Admiral takes