The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-01
WILL RETURN no HAVANA.
Court Is Not Expected to Return It's
Finding for Several Weeks.

west stating that the court OF inquiry
commenced its session at Key West to-day.
1t must resume session at Havana to OBJ
tain evidence of divers after further work
on the wreck
The important feature of this communi-
cation is the declaration that the court will
return to Havana. 1t sets at rest rumors
that have been current for some days past
that the court was not to return to Ha-
vana, for the reason that it had discovered
the cause Of the sinking of the Maine. which
was not an accident and that it had con-
sequently no further business in Havana.
One important deduction to be drawn from
the message was that the report of the
court of inquiry can scarcely be expected
for several weeks to come. The court will
be occupied at Key West for some days at
least in taking the testimony of the sur
vivors there. Then upon the return to Ha-
vana it is expected that a good deal of time
must elapse before the divers can get
through the mud which now encompasses
the lower part of the wreck of the Maine
and examine the bottom. After this is done
the court must deliberate in order to secure
an agreement on it's findings. The prevalent
belief at the Navy Department is that up to
this moment the court has not once under
taken to compare notes and endeavor to
reach such an agreement.
A Cuban mail was received during the day
and with the candor which has so far char
acterized all his dealings with the public
in this matter, Secretary Long caused it to
be given to the newspaper reporters as soon
as he had read it himself. 1t was made up
of one letter from Captain Sampson, dated
at Havana, Feb. %, and although it is
simply a statement of events that had al
fala NH, fnp
is significant, namely, the statement that
the testimony of certain civilian witnesses
before the court would be of no Importance.
His letter which is dated Feb %, is as fol-
lows:
"Sir-The court has taken the testimony
Of all the officers Of the Maine still here.
Tomorrow we will take such testimony as
the divers have accumulated. The Right
Arm arrived here this morning and reported
to Captain Sigsbee, according to the orders.
I trust some wrecking company Will be
given the entire job, as no other plan will be
feasible. There are two citizens in the har-
Dor who have testified their Willingness to
testify, although they have nothing impor-
tant After taking this evidence and that
of the divers 1 propose to return to Key
West and take the evidence of the officers
and the men there. 1t may be necessary to
return here after further progress has been
made with the divers"
The reports that came from Key West
about great activity and the observance
of unusual precautions among the few SOL
diers quartered there were received with
amusement at army headquarters here. 1t
was said that no orders had gone forward
from this city to explain the hustle, but
there was the best reason to suspect that
1iF1er I'M
the post and putting his best foot forward
against the expected appearance there on
his tour of inspection of General Merritt,
the commanding general of the Depart
| ment of the East.
! The gunboat Wilmington sailed to-day
from La Guayara for Barbados, travel
| ing over the ground covered a few days
| before by the Cincinnati and Castine All
of the boats are slowly cruising around in
| the Caribbean and will be so employed un-
| til April when they will go South again.
| Secretary Long said at the close of office
] hours that no orders had gone out to send
| another war ship to Havana, reports to
the contrary Notwithstanding.
Captain Dickens, assistant chief of the
| Navigation Bureau, has gone to Norfolk.
| Contrary to some reports that have been
| circulated, his visit has nothing to do with
! war preparations. He went to inspect the
old training ship Essex. This vessel has
| just returned from a long cruise with the
| apprentices and the naval regulations re-
| quire such an inspection as this upon the
return of ship to this country. 1t will be
for Captain Dickens to ascertain simply
| that the vessel is in healthful condition,
| that the boys have conducted themselves
| properly during the cruise and generally
| to hear complaints and satisfy the depart
ment that the ship has been well handled.
| When this inspection is finished the Essex
| is to go up to New York for some over
| hauling.
Assistant Secretary Meikeljohn returned
to the city by the night boat from Fort
Monroe. He declares that his visit to the
post had no warlike purpose, but that he
simply went for rest and recuperation.
At the White House the utmost quiet
prevails. Many offers have come from or
ganizations and individuals of their serv-
ices in case of conflict. Some of the con-
gressional callers also have stated TO the
| President that their States were ready to
| furnish full quotas of men.
| Secretaries Long and Alger, and Repre-
sentative Dingley were among the Presi-
| dents visitors to-day, but it was stated that
| they have nothing Of Importance on the
| Maine affair to discuss with him. Mr..
| Dingley spoke afterward in strong terms
| against reports that financial circles in
| New York were being sounded as to the
| readiness with which funds could be raised
| in an emergency. The attention of Secre-
| tary Gage was called to the published
| statement that he was making prepara-
| tions for bond issue and that the Bureau
Of Engraving was preparing the plates.
/ The secretary pronounced the statement
unqualifiedly false. No such action has even
been considered, he said
| Secretary Long went to the White House
| early tonight and remained in conference
with the President for some time. He re-
turned to his hotel about 10 o'clock and i'm
mediately retired, leaving wCrd that there
was news. Lieut.. Whitley, of the
Bureau of Navigation, who has charge of
all kilograms received after department
closing hours, stated at a late hour tonight
that nothing had been received from Capt.
Sigsbee at Havana or the court of inquiry
at Key West.
AT SCENE OF THE WRECK.
Slow Progress by the Diyers-Captain
Sigsbee's Medals Recovered.
HAVANA Feb 81 iffia xs,nrlx ..,.,a 49,.