The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-01

Key West, Feb. 2S.-After the court
of inquiry adjourned this afternoon.
few know more than was known this
morning. An officer of the Maine, how
ever, who had been examined by the
court during the day talked with the
correspondent of the Associated Press.
Il can't tell YOU" he said. What
line of questioning was adopted, but
the court viii find, believe, that the
Maine was blown up by design, though
1 don't think it will be able to ascer-
tain exactly how. The courts findings
will be based on negative rather than
positive evidence.
by this 1 mean that ali of the testi-
mony heard so far has, bit by bit upset
the theories of those who think that
the explosion was of Internal origin
This negative evidence is so strong and
so general that 1 see no possibility of
the court deciding that the explosion
was internal.
THE only alternative then left for
the court is to fall back on evidence
which points to the intentional blowing
up of the Maine. This, 1 think, will
be done unless the court formulates a
theory of its own or declares that it
CURED, both of which conjectures L
think improbable"
AS bearing on the value of the opinion
of the officer in question, it must be
borne in mind that he was before the
court for about Is minutes only, and
ttat he has at all times expressed him
self as confident that the explosion was
not due to an accident
Members of the court, when the sub
stance of the interview was brought to
their attention, declined to have any
thing TO say. All tie high naval and
military officials here, when asked
crucial questions, politely profess
ignorance.
WILL RETURN TO HAVANA.
Washington, Feb. 2S.-At the close
of office hours a telegram came to the
navy department from Admiral Sicard,
at Key West, in the following terms:
Key West, Feb. 2S.-To the secretary
of the navy, Washington:
Court of inquiry will commence
session at Key West today. They must
resume session at Havana to obtain
evidence of divers after further work
upon the wreck. SICARD."
The important feature of this COM
munication is the declaration that the
court viii return to Havana.
It sets at rest the rumors that have
been current for days past that the
court was not TO return to Havana for
the reason that it had discovered the
cause Of the sinking of the Maine,
which was not an accident, and that
they had consequently no further bust
ness in Havana. One important de-
duction to be drawn from the message
was that the report of the court Of in
quiry can scarcely be expected for
several weeks TO come. The court will
be occupied at Key West for some days
a. least in taking the testimony of the
survivors there. Then upon the return
to Havana, 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 upon their findings. The
prevalent belief at the navy department
is that. w to this moment the court
has not once undertaken to compare
notes and endeavor TO reach such an
agreement
CITIZEN WITNESSES.
a Cuban mail was received during
the day, and, with the candor which
has so far characterized all his dealings
with the public in this matter, Score
tary 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 Feb. %, and although il is simply
statement of events that had already
been reported by telegraph, one fact is
significant, viz: The statement that
the testimony of certain civilian wit
nesses before the court would be of no
Importance. His letter is as follows:
Feb. %, 1898:
Sir: The court has taken the testi-
mony of all the officers of the Maine
still here. Tomorrow we will take such
testimony as the divers have accumu-
lated. The Right Arm arrived here
this morning and reported TO Captain
Sigsbee, according to 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
harbor who have signified their will
ingness to testify, although they have
nothing important After taking this
evidence and that of the divers / pro-
pose re return to Key West and take
the evidence of officers and men there.
IT may be necessary to return here.
Very respectfully,
w. T. SAMPSON, Captain q. S. N"
SIMPLY BRUSHING UP.
The reports that came from Kew
West about unusual activity and the
observance of unusual precautions
amcng the few soldiers quartered there
were received with amuse ment at
army HEADQUARTERS. IT was said no or
ders had gone forward 10 explain the
hustle, but there was the best reason TO
suspect that the commandment was
simply brushing up the post and put
ting his best foot forward Against the
expected appearance there on his tour
of inspection of General Merritt. the
commanding general of the department
of the east
NAVAL MOVEMENTS.
The gunboat Wilmington sailed today
from La Guayra for Barbados, trav-
cling over the ground covered a few
DAYS before by the Cincinnati and Cas-
tine.
All of the boats are slowly cruising