The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-19
EARLIKE RUNORS
Are in Every Case Contradicted
From Official Sources. :
ky sISsJ
CAPTAIN SIGSBEE PRAISED.
Secretary Long Applauds the Action
Of the Maine's Commander.
h s.,
RECOVERING THE DEAD BODIES.

RECOVERING THE DEAD BODIES.
Ghe Navy Department Issues a Sum-
mary Giving the Total Death List at
eIs-of These 1876 Bodies Have Been
Recovcred-The Injured Number k7.
Arrival OF the Spanish warship Viz
caya In New York Harbor, and Ex-
tra Precautions Taken to Protect
Her From Cranks.
Washington. Feb. 19.-The feature of
1 Yesterday at the navy department was
khe large number of rumors of a war
uke tendency that came to the atten-
hon of the officials as requiring atten-
Hon, and as In every case contradicted.
. 30 formidable has grown the list that
) Pt the close of office hours Secretary
Long was induced to make the follow
!, ing statement as the easiest manner
! Df disposing at one time of all these
ltories:
w. "Really no information has been re-
peived since Captain Sgsbee's first dis
patch adding anything to our knowl-
edge Of the disaster. All we know Is
tHHr me Maine blew UP. There is
abundant room for speculation of all
Borts but no conclusion can be arrived
et until an examination has been made
by the divers, and more facts obtained.
Ut is simple fact to say that such
ching might happen by design or 1t
might happen by accident. AS yet
there is no indication Of design. There
Fore my impression has been all along.
eHd l rather think the general opinion
preponderates in the same direction,
that 1t must have been accidental
u AT the cabinet meeting the matter
WAS not discussed except as any body
ef men talk about an event of that kind,
and most of that talk referred to the
terrible loss of life and expressions of
sympathy for the sufferers.
q TT certainly was a kind thought in
Che president to send flowers to the
Families of Captain Sigsbee, of Execu-
tive Officer wainwright and of the lost
eeainen whose residences are in Wash
irgton.
/ You may say absolutely that there
bas been no secret cabinet meeting, that
pothing has taken place in cabinet that
the public have not been Informed
about; that the whole policy of this
department has been to give tho public
(ll the dispatches; that the department
has no more knowledge on the s,lb-
bect of the cause of the disaster OF
Rven of the circumstances attending
IT. than have the public. and that the
report to the effect that Captain Sigs-
bee had warned the department that
,thf Maine was in danger from sub
marine mines or torpedoes is utterly
without foundation, no such report
fver having been received from him or
from anybody else"
The secretary also denied briefly and
1omprehensively wild rumors that he
bzf-Eesnested the chief of police Of
New York 70 --.aa.a.- -l.is.slls s..s-sa.ss.S,.
.}hat he had selected Constructor
Bowles to go to Havana and raise the
Maine. The last work of the day for
Hin was to consult the representatives
n the wrecking companies who prob
lhiy will have charge Of this work and
bRdeayor to arrange for beth of them
10 work together. so as to secure the
ps@ of each peculiar plant and to save
lmc.
The secretary when asked what was
he departments estimate of the con-
Egct Of Captain Sigsbee in the terrible
bitaation in which he had been placed,
hep!icd:
Il think l express the feeling of the
president. as well as my own, when l
lay that Captain Sigsbec has conducted
kiEl3clf as IN officer of our navy should.
Ee was the last to leave his ship when
lhe went down. His dispatch to me was
70 complete that since then / have
thought Of no question Of fact to ask
him which is essential to the situation,
and which he could answer. which is
hOt covered BY that dispatch. It's tone
Too, Is that OF discreet and Level head
ed man who realized the impression any
word from him at that time would have
pn the public mind. Nothing is harder
khan for a naval officer TO lose his ship,
30 that l have great sympathy for him.
await. with confidence. further re-
pcrls."
During the day the department was in
receipt cf all number of tcleRrams frcm
u"N'i"Ht fu'tH " 'hc country dSkihs'
IN D"hah OF FclatlFe3 0! u" DEAD dsailoIS,
shat lheir remain" be brought back TO
tEe tn!led states Tor ih'cTnent. Among
kaccn were queries from Trends OF the
s"o "!h''rs' M"fii't ana jenkins: Ihe
aepa''me''t forwarded THESE TO captain
e'ssoec' WhoSe r'4ly was mat the Of
hceiS p"uieS nave NOT peeh iound: that
aS 10 many othefs' ldeh'l'i"n'ioh is not
possloie' ana throwing great doubt up
on me rracti"nhiIily OF taking any OF
sne remains IRON havana
Whiie no decision has yet been reach