Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-02-26

SUCH IittlllLltS as Sut lOSStSSeS. certainly JuC
privilege OF examining the wreck by divers
Is one which belongs 10 the Spanish Of
ilcias quitea s completely and conclusivcly
as to the United States authorities. Indeed.
1t has occurred to some observers whether
the latter has the right to make the examina-
ton without the permission Of the Spanish
officials. No such thing rs interference of
this character Is anticipated, however.
HAVANA. Cuha. Feb. 25-Since the night
OF the calamity II great many suspicious
facts have been discovered. Three days be-
fore, II boat containing three Spanish sailors
were seen rowing from the Machna in the
direction of the Maine. A Spanish sentinel
Of the Machina challenged them. They
stopped. came to the shore. and. after being
detained for ab nut an hour. were Released,
as they were said to have given satisfac-
tory explanation Of their suspicious action.
A boat with twD persons on board which
was going from Havana to Regia, on cross
ilg the bay, found itself interrupted by Il
wire which seemed to come from the dry
dock in the direction Of the Maine. The
men on the boat had to lower 1t to be able to
pass. These men. whose names are kept
secret for the present, intend to present
themselves and report the facts to the COM
mission which is expected here to investigate
the disaster. A Spanish woman, recently
arrived from Spain. on hearing OF the report
of the disaster. said to IL number of persons
who she supposed were all Spaniards: 80
the Maine has been blown up. No wonder
| was told yesterday not to 20 near the
wharf as the ship was going to be blown
up
WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb. 25-Secretary
Long has Just closed contract with
the Merritt e. Chapman Wrecking company
to remove from the wrecked battleshp
~ a. n amt t,l H.
ment rs are uninjured, and to raise the ves-
sci. if it is found upon examination that her
Usefulness as a navy ship wis not ended by
the explosion. Both houses OF Congress
appreciated the necessity of prompt action
if her batteries and appliances are to be
saved. and have passed q resolution APP
proprinting 100000 for this work. Cap
tain Siysber. in one of his first dis
patches to the navy department after
the disaster recommended the sending
OF n wreck King vessel to the scene as soon as
possible. Chief Naval Constructor Hitch
born says that tho first thing to he dom Is
to rem Jve the batteries and turreis. Thl>
will he done whether il is found possible to
raise he vessel or not. A large part OF the
ordnance Of the Maine ought to he removed
uninj,,rcd. If the work can be begun imme-
dia;elv. Thi, will greatly reduce the weight
of the vessel. which will be further reduced
BY taking out her steam engineering ap-
paratis, if that is found practicable:
Some portion of her ordnance and
other. stores perhaps may os ,P" nj,
her exterior and interior fixtures and
furnishings as possible will be removed
and before this work has progressed very
far the divers will he able to give an opinion
as to the feasibility Of raising the ship. The
forward part Of the vessel is very much
shattered, and she must be unsOund in many
~, al hnS hnnal
tina. II will pay to raise and repair her. 1t
will probably take fully six months to raise
the Maine dock her and put her In condition
to come home to be remodelled according to
plans already under consideration by the
department.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25-The war department
has ordered from the Duponts at Whining
ton, the California powder works and from
Latin Il Rand over 1000, 900 pounds OF
guncotton for use In submarine mines.
The new mines will each hold 500
pounds of guncotton. The destructive
area of one OF these 500-pound charges
ia calculated as a circle having a diameter OF
60 feet. Six Of these 500-pound guncotton
charges will defend channel-way tn feet
wide. No vessel after that can withstand the
onslaught OF one OF these 5oo-pound gun
cottCA charges exploding under the bottom.
1t is the purpose of the war department to
prepare series of mine positions for all the
Atlantic ports without delay. Everywhere
In arsenals, ordnance factories, forts and
in all offensive and defensive appliances
work is being crowded night and day in view
OF possible war.
HAVANA, Cuba. Feb. 25Latest ndvices
show that the further the inquiry into the
causes that led to the Maine disaster pro-
ceeds the more remote appear the chances
auv evidence will be discovered to show
that the disaster was due to accident. Div
ers who have penetrated into the for
ward part Of the wreck hnd that th'
whole forward end OF the ship, from
a point Just abaft the forward turret. has
been twisted Is or 20 degrees to star
bonrd. and that that part OF the vesse
Is II wilderness Of debris and curled and
4u.,.tnA nlutas The shnrn iuyyGl edgcS Ol