The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-17
THE PROBABLE VERDICT
AN OUTSIDE EXPLOSION SEEMS
ALMOST SURE.
SIMPSONS AMBIGUOUS INTIMATION
He Says The Testimony is 'GratifyingIy Com
piete"- "--English Merch.nts Warned Of In
eyitable War--Spaniards Claiming
Credit Of Relief SuDDlies,
Credit Of Relief Supplies.

Havana, via. Key West, Fla, March
16.-With the departure of the Court
Of Inquiry. after second visit to the
scene of the wreck of the Maine, the
tension grows serious. The court. a
body like grand jury in its functions.
is nearly ready to report Unless there
are new DISCOVERIES here, which is un-
likely, there is nothing to be done but
for the members TO seclude themselves
i'm The Iowa and formulate the cOnvic
tions already firmly held
There is no reason to change the be-
lief that the court will find that the dis
aster was caused by an explosion out
side the Maine. The chief officers have
been absolutely discreet, while the talk
af the divers have been contradictory.
From bits of evidence that have come
ont during the three weeks examination,
il seems as sure as anything in this
latitude can be that the plans before
the court show that the ship was
broken in two and the forward part rent
asinder by an explosion from the out
side.
Captain Sampson intimated to the cor
respondent yesterday that the testimony
was ''gratifyngly complete" This
might mean that an accidental cause had
been discovered. but the indications are
all the other way No one believes that
any Spanish officials or officers of rank
viii be implicated, whatever may he the
findings of the court Captain Samp-
son. before leaving said the courts de-
parture was not due TO orders received
hui was decided upon solely by the MEM
hers themselves.
The wrecking work has been very
slow, but il is hoped that now, with
are 10 come, work will be advanced with
greater rapidity.
Spaniardes and Cubans alike are great
ly interested in the forthcoming elec-
lions, and their probable results, whether
The Conservatives will vote at all,
whether racial differences outside the
city Of Havana viii be fatal to the
hopes of autonomy.
The volunteers are apparently more
quiet, though many of the leaders are
angered by private advices from Madrid
10 the effect that Senor Sagasta is as
firmly resolved as ever ON their disarma-
nlent.
This correspondent has seen ca BILE mes
sagcs from London TO several English
! the island at once and limiting that war
seems inevitable.
The Associated Press correspondent ut
MatanZas tells sad story not only of
the suffering there, but of the difficulties
which the bureaucratic methods of the
Spanish officials place in the way of re-
lief even Of those who are actually
starving. For instance, n bridge has 20
be crossed in conveying the stores from
the vessel TO the ware houses. The local
authorities actually tried to charge a tol
for each cart load and were only pre-
vented by an order from the Governor.
In the hearing of the Associated Press
correspondent at Matanzas II custom
house officer on the wharf called out TO
a crowd of starving people who were
crying for food: "Do you think the
Americans sent this food? Well they
did not. 1t was sent you by the rich
Spanish in New York"