The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-03-10

THE WRECKING TUG RIGHT ARM
(Now at Work in Havana Harbor)
The barge brought with the wreck
ing tug l. j. Merritt is proving of
great value in carrying away debris
and in the course of a few days much
of the wreck above water will be re-
moved. No bodies were found We'd
nesday and there was no salvage of
any value
Without adding unnecessarily to the
flood of surmises, conjecture and
prophesy concerning the finding of the
court of inquiry, it is fair to say that,
as matter of fact, most of the naval
officers here and at Key West incline
to the opinion that the court will find
that the disaster TO the Name was
caused by the explosion of a floating
submarine mine under the port side
of the ship, forward. Opinions differ
as to whether this mine was made of
high explosives, such as wet and dry
gun cotton or ordinary gun powder.
Opinions agree, not only as to the
existence of mines in the harbor, but
also that this one was laid purposely
near the buoy where foreign war YES
sells were directed to moor, and was
fired from an electric battery on shore.
1t is believed barely possible that
the explosion of the mine was the re-
suit of the carelessness or ignorance
of Spanish officers in charge of the
mine station keys when testing
the circuit, but the latter
supposition is not felt to
be probable. 1t is further
regarded as settled by the evidence be-
fore the court that the port side of the
hull forward was completely blown to
pieces, and that the only explosion on
the Maine, except of isolated cases of
fixed ammunition, was that of 1000
pounds of salutin powder, stored for
ward and of which no trace can be
found.
These views are gathered from Off
GERS who talk with great reserve and
only upon the assurance that their
identity will never be revealed The
fact remains that only the members of
the court of inquiry know all the testi-
mOny elected and no one is author
lied to make public matters in advance
of the final Judgment
KEY WEST, Fla, March 3.-The
United States court of inquiry into
the loss of the battleship Maine re-
sumed it sessions here at 10 o'clock |
Wednesday morning. Ten more en-
listed men were examined by the full |
board, and Commander Forsyth, the |
first of the witnesses not on the list OF /
the crew of the Maine was called. 1t
is understood that he gave testimony
the coaling of the battleship
ut the navy yard here
KEY WEST, Fla, March 3-The sail
prs and officers of the Maine have tes-
tilted before the board of inquiry AS
one man they have said that the ex-
Dlosion was from the outside. Each
was heard separately.
WASHINGTON March Japan A. will
DC the ally of the United States in case
If war with Spain. Seven of her sub
ects were killed in the Maine explo-
ion and she has notified the Washing
on government that she will demand
nde mnity and stand with us.
HAVANA, via Key West, March A.
In American official here whose posi-
ion is such that his name can not be
sed, but who has been connected with
he investigation of the disaster to the
attleship Maine, told your correspon-
ent Thursday that there is absolutely
% doubt that the vessel was blown up
" submarine explosion. He said
hat the board of inquiry is in poses
ession of undeniable proof OF this
act.
You can not make /. too emphatic" !
c saia. MY information is direct
nd positive"
Active work at the wrecking of the
Iaine commenced Thursday. The !
uns and a part of the equipment will !
9 saved, and the debris will be towed ,
ut to the ocean and sunk. 4
American divers who have been at =
ork on the wreck say that the hull i,
IN not he saved. The decks will !,
robably be blown up to release those
odies which have not yet been :,
,ached.
Two Spanish divers are now at work
aside the hull. but they arc maintain @
g the closest secrecy as TO the result D
their work. (,
WASHINGTON, March 4.--The state Il
has ascertained, at the in II
ance Of the Japanese legation, that II
'e following Japanese were On board 81
le Maine NJ the time of the disaster: b
Su9isaki, O. Ishita, 5. Chinji, N. 5