The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-24
NO INTERVIEW WITH DIVERS,
The President of the Court Of Inquiry
Saws an Onicer is Always Present.

Saws an Ofhcer is Always Present.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 23.-The arrival OF
q mail In Washington from Key West
this evening bringing several private let
ters from naval officers lato'p attached to
the Maine caused a wave OF excitement
az the departments and the Capitol, Tor
there were an sorts of rumors as to the
contents Of the letters. very few OF which
rumors IN point of fact had any sound
basis.
The only feature 80 FAR as could be dis
covered of real Importance as throwing
light on the cause Of the explosion con-
tained In the letters was the statement
that the two after boilers IN the after
boiler space. were AN Of the eight boilers
~ the Maine that were under steam at
The time Of the explosion This fact had
a negative value for 1t disposed at once
Of the theory that any explosion OF the
boilers had caused the wreck The eX-
perts an say that by no possibility could
the after boiler explosion have wrecked
the forepari OF The Maine and ieft The af-
ter part almost unharmed. Much inter-
est was shown in dispatch received
shortly before @ o.c'ock from Admiral
Sicard giving the recommendation OF
Captain Sampson Of the court Of inquiry
Nr 10 NIlN a.IrIIIr UA lIIi MlNIhs liIt VIEW
of naval officers was tkat Captain Samp-
son and his associates were giving this
advice not as a court bat as officers in a
position 20 speak as TO the best methods
to De adopted Tor raising the Maine.
MEANING CLOUDED.
Various interpre. a.ions were put on the
expression Forward half completely de.
stroyed." This was regarded as partial
confirmation of the theory that the for
ward magazine had exploded. as that Is
one OF the most important portions of
the forward half OF The ship. necessarily
then some conclude that the magazine
must have exploded. In the absence Of
an explicit statement as to the forward
magazine there was "a disposition not 10
accept any implied statement as to its
destruction
Captain sampsons recommendation that
a contract be made with the best equip
ped wrecNns company 10 remove mater
Sal and lie the shin without delay. was
in line with the action already taken in
closing q contract with the two largest
wrecking companies IN the country by
which their combined facilities viii be at
the service OF the Government The con-
tract contains "a clause binding the wreck
ers 90 use their utmost efforts 20 eXpe-
dite the work so thai the department
feels that everything has been done TO
carry out The views expressed by cap
tain Sampson.
a clause OF the contract itemizes the
amounts % he paid for each branch Of
wrcck.ng work. viz; Wrcckine tag Tn
derwriter. $50 ncr day: wrecking steamer
Jones. 500. lighter Seymour SIS. cerrick
chief S75: barge Lone Sta~ S51 wreck
ing tug Right Arm. 5000. wrecking mas
GER. Sl5 wreckers $3.50 each. divers, SEQ
each.
NO INTERVIEWS.
Evidently the president of the court of
inquiry IS fearf' of the eject upon the
public OF h'-iudred stfempts 10 account
f0r the destruction OF the Maine Tor this
afternoon he tclcsraphed secre'ary Long.
doubtless having in mind certain putl.ca-
lions 0f this morning as iol -ws:
Havana. February %.
ANY reported Interview with ivers un-
true Every pgccaution has been taken.
Of4rfr e1waNa nrescnt"
This brief statement dlsroses Of rumors
of alleged statements by divers pro ard
con. as 70 the blowing up of the for
ward magazines.
The officers here are stili thinking OF
Captain SigsbeCs request of yesterday 20
De- furnished with The plans of the
Maincs section through the magazines
and coal buaKers' pockets. The referer ce
10 the latter Is particularly intercs Ing
and leads to "a desire 10 bo Informed on
The exact quantity and quality OF the
coal supply al the time Of the explosion
IL is said that these pocket bunkers are
rarely empued. being designed as much
for the protection Of the ship against
gun shots as for capacity 20 hold coal
One expert said that these bunkers. IN
his own experience. have net been emptied
in months. All Of this has TO DO with
The spontaneous combustion theory. as
no bunkers ahut on the magazines. and
might have sol on even the safe brown
powder, II the latter were exposed 10