The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-03

HAVANA. Via Key West Fla. March
2-Without adding unnecessarily to the
food of surmiscs. conjecture and pro-
phecy concerning the finding Of the Court
Of Inquiry. IL is fair TO say that, as a
matter Of fact. most of the naval officers
here and at Key West incline TO the
opinion that the court viii find that the
DISASTER 10 the Maine was caused by the
explosion OF a floating submarine mine
under the forward port side Of the ship.
Opinions differ as to whether this mine
was made Of high explosives. such as wet
and dry gun-cotton or ordinary gunpow-
der. Opinions agreed, not only as to
the existence Of mines I'm the harbor, but
also that this one was laid purposely
near the buoy where foreign war ves-
sells we're directed 10 moor and was fired
by a fash from an electric battery on
shore.
NAY HAVE BEEN CARELESS.
II is believed barely possible that the
explosion Of the mine was the result OIL
the carelessnoss or ignorance OF Spanish
officials In charge Of the mine station
keys. but the latter supposiuon is not
felt TO be possible.
IL Is further regarded as settled by the
evidence before the court that the port
side OF the hull forward was completely
blown TO pieces and that the only expo.
sion on the Maine except OF lsoiateu
cases OF fixed ammunition was that OF
900 pounGs Of salutng powder stored
forward and Of which no trace can Doe
found.
These Views are gathered from officers
who talk with great reserve ana onlN
upon the assurance that their identity
will never be revealed.
The facts remains that only the mem
bsrs Of the court Of inquiry Know al
the testimony eiicited and no one is au-
thorized to make public matter IN adj
vance Of the final judgment
A good deal Of surprise was expressed
bv Americans hc.e az learning that
Spanish divers were TO be permitted TO
make an examination Of the wreck on
the Maine especially as IL was also sald
that American naval officers here Woula
give such divers all consistent facilitles
and would throw no obstacles In the way
Of thorough submarine inspection.
IL was not at hrgt understood as
came to be later. that the Spanish searcn
was to be endrely independent, ana that
while il is being made The American
inAcsdgation would proceed under Cap
tain Sigsbtc supervision.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
AS understood here. the spanish are
making every inquiry into the disaster
Reqlet for a joint investigation was
promptly refused. but af.er consultation
ii was agreed that the Spanish had
moral right 10 discover the cause OF the
wreck for themselves. II possible. There
fore permission for an independent eN-
animation was granted on the sronhu'
ms understood here. that II coulo ho'
be refused TO a friendly power In her
cr,n tarbor. That the permission was
not accorded until after the court OF
inquiry had finished its WORK here ana
gone 10 Key West. Is regarded as slsuiH-
cant. IL opens "a wide teld Tor spechla-
tlon.
some assert that the court now has no
objection 90 a Spanish inquiry lot one
Of two reasons-either the court mas sur
ncient evidence already Of the accident
ON evidence that cannot be controveri-
ed nv the Spanish. or after a diligent
search the mystery remains as deep as
ever and the court does not think the
Spanish wiz reach a conclusion where
the Americans have failed.
After AN. close inspection Of the parts
OF the ships IS not possible until the guns
and debris have been removed from the
hull that IL can De examined thoroushly
Some good authorities think Il Will be
necessary 20 build a coffer dam around
the wreck. plies being driven etc. That
any important testimony before the court
has found IT'S way TO The public Is very
unlikely. Some of the witnesses nave
told certain correspondents Of alleged tos-
timony. but in every case investigation
has shown their stories 10 be wildly inn
possible and controverted by known facts
or else absolutely ire 'evant
NOT EXPERTS.
Some OF the correspondents have tried
20 extract information from members Of
the court and by naval witnesses by putt
fling what were deemed by The Questioner3
clever hvpothotical inquiries. Byl the
ouestloners were not experts in naval
architecture. so the results were un-
satisfactory Probably the court knew
before 30 left Havana for Key West
whether the lO-inch magazine on the s'a'
heard forward deck did or did not eX-
plode but they gave no signs ana the
divers give no outside Information
Certainly the tug Right Arm has been
a Mue value thus far her captain not
lnNlAH sumo ".At eA'f't'tth "+tfff -N3''T'-s
TO hire the needed Lighters.
While crlticisiug the naval divers ior
thCir slowness % must be remembered
that theirs Is grim. dangerous and dh-
acuu work. IN muddy. foul water.
through a mass OF riyen Steel bent iron
shattered graungs and ladders. over up
turned matches. hcapcd up coal. scatter
90 ammunition suns chests machinery
and electric wires they must make or
cut their way. They must exercise greai
care lest their air-tubes be shattereu oy
sharp projections Already many nave
had had falls I'm the uncertain light and
difficult naysarcs Nothing need be re-.
tracted however. from the former STATE
ment that all haste possible Is greatly
20 be desired. The huge weight of the
wreck caused II TO sink ca'iy deeper INTO
the soft mud OF the hsrbor making the
task Of raising the vessel the more her-