The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-25
Secretary Long Says the Navy De-
partment Knows Nothing.
NO NEW FEATURES ARE DEVELOPED.
Must Patiently Await the Report OF
the Court Of Inquiry.
A DlsPATcH PRoN slGsBEE.
Advises That Blasting Must lie Done
in the WrecknTc--Nced of Dis'n-
fcction--yvnsbfnG Protected.

washington, February 24.--Rumors oil
Itartling discoveries In the wreck Of the
Maine were less frequent. but there were
enough OF them still afloat today to war
rant Secretary Long in making this state
ment to tho newspaper men MS he left his
office:
Summing up the situation, should cay
that the navy department knows today
nothing more about the cause OF the DIS
aster than IL did Ave minutes after the ro-
ceipt Of the first dispatch from Captain
Slgsbee.'
The secretarys attention was drawn to
the published statement that Captain
Crowninshicld. chief of the bureau of nav
igation, had Just arrived at Tampa, Fla,
on the Montgomery, from trip to Cuba,
where he had been Inspecting the prospoe-
tive coating stations near Matan2as.
THO secretary's comment was simply:
Captain Crownnshield has not been to
Cuba. He has been off on business not
connected with the navy"
Until the conclusion of the investigation
OF the court OF inquiry at iiaylnn, the
principal business of the navy department
in connection with the Maine vii, relate
to tho conduct OF the wrcelSing operations.
Captain Lomly, the judge advocate general.
who has this branch of the work imrael,
.itely in charge, today received te.eg.aina
from the Merritt Chapman Wrecking COM
pany at New York stating that tho steamer
Merritt and wreoking lighter Shape md
sailed for Havana and that the tug unior-
writer, with the chief, was leaving tonight
for the same place.
The only exact information recaivci by
tho navy department from Havana during
the day was conveyed in Captan sisnbee s
telegram, as follows.
Washington, February 2l.--Captaln Sigs.
bee telegraphed from Havana today as fol-
lows:
Long Secretary OF the Navy.
Havana, February A.--Wrecltng tug
Right Arm arrived Yesterday. Begins work
today. Much oncumhering metal must be
blasted away in detail. Navy divers down
aft seven days, forward -four days, Bodies
of Jenkins aud Merritt not found. Two
unidentified bodies OF crew found yesterday
After compartment filled with detached,
broken and huOyanL furniturc4 aud fittings
mud aud confusion. Spanish authorities
continue offers OF assistance and care Tor
wounded and dead Every thing that goes
from wreck to the United States should be
disnfected. Wreoking company should
provide for this
Surgeon Of the MaIue. after consulting
with others recommended Tint the bedding
and c,oldng should be abandoned, Use
less NIT nd equipments mi&ht be towed
a ~.
immedia.l responsibility. but invite the
departments wishes. Shall old metal Of
superstructure and like be saved? Friends
OF dead Should understand that we are In
the tropics. Chaplain Chadwick charged
with all matters relative 10 the dead His
conduct is beyond praise Don know
what reports are being printed cut Tho
Intensely active representatives OF the ~ esg
here have been very confederate OF me and
my position.
Csgnedl sigsbcc.
Secretary Long Immediately cahiei Cap
tain Sigshce approving all his recommouln-
tons. He was directed 10 have l4eutcnpn Mt
Wainwright, the executive officer Of .he
Maine, make arrangements with the wreck
ers for the dlsinfecton OF the articles gcnt
to the United Suites from the Maine.
The recommendation that an bedding
and clothing be abandoned and IL mood be-
given to the acelimated poor VAS approved
without comment Tho same approval was
given to the suggestlon that useless fit.
tings and equipment be towed 10 sea and
thrown overheard. II being left to Cnptaln
Sigsbee's judgment to determine how far
this destruction should be carried on
To the captains inquiry ms TO the saving
q old metal aud parts Of the snperstru ture
the answer was given that such material
was OF no use to the bureau of equipment.
II was left to Captain Sigsbee TO say What
Af 10 4t.nf t.srs al.
serving His statement that much blasting
would be required 20 clear away encum-
herring material indicates that II Ia asA,n-
tinl to further destroy the upper portions
OF the wreck In order to get al what IN
more valuable beneath.
Captain Sigsbee's statement that tic d!v-
ers nave been down aft seven days aud
forward four days gave tho navy ,icnatt