The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-02

the explosion, so notice has been served
upon the experts who have been heard
from in the press that it is preferred
they shall no longer discuss this mat
ter il advance of the report of the
Court OF Inquiry. One reason for this
action was the fact that the depart
ment was finding itself committed in
voluntarily to the support of the the
Org mat the explosion was Of internal
origin, While as a matter of fact both
Secretary Long and Assistant Secre-
tary Roosevelt have been at great pains
to snow that the department stood en-
tirely neutral as between the theorists.
and were prepared to accept only the
conclusions OF the Court of Inquiry as
binding upon it.
In consequence of this decision, there
IS q disposition among the naval Off
GERS not 10 take talk about the Maine
affair in any phase more than indicat-
ing that the Court of inquiry is far
from any conclusion, or else is dis
posed, with a view to meeting future
criticism, to collect all possible evil
dence, whether ii be deemed essential
or not, as can be called to their as
sistance by experts.
ment that with all the ability com
prised in this Court of Inquiry, it has
one weak spot, namely, the lack Of
practical experience of the construction
of a ship in It's members. This is no
part of the duty of a line officer, so
that 10 reflection is carried by the
statement. To remedy their shortcom-
ings, the court has called upon the de-
partment TO send to their aid a con-
structc" and carpenter, and in COM
pliance with the request Secretary Long
has directed Naval Constructor Hoover
and Carpenter Helm TO report to the
court at Key West. 1t is expected that
they will go to Havana when the
court returns there, and from their ia
miliarity with the structure of the
Maine, on which both of the men
worked when she was built in the New
York Navy Yard, they will be of great
assistance, not only in suggesting easy
methods Of work for the divers. but
also in Identifying portions of the
wreck
The latter consideration is one of the
greatest Importance, in view of the
statements that have come from Ha-
Vana that some of the ships bottom
plates have been found in the debris
above water. 1t is said at the depart
ment that, if this is true, the fact VIII
be Of Importance. though, it is added.
1t viii not necessarily be conclusive
evidence as to the source of the eXplo-
sion, for ii is conceivable that il the
deck was blown up it might easily have
pulled up with it some of the frames
and bottom plating, which are rigidly
attached by rivets.
Without doubt the two experts Will
be much better qualified than the line
officers or divers TO identify any such
piece CT plate.
No orders have gone out from the de-
partment to the vessels Of the squadron
to-day, and the officials stamp as with
out foundation the report that the
squadron was yesterday ordered to be
held in readiness to sail for Havana.
Likewise, it is said that no selection
has yet been made of a cruiser to pro-
coed to Havana. but it is likely, in
case the court of inquiry should decide
| to make tlls -aturn trip to Havana in
a cruiser. that Admiral Sicard would
be allowed TO make his own selection
from among the vessels of his fleet.
either State or Navy Department that
would warrant the statement that the
Spanish officials in Havana have at
tempted to interpose any obstacles to
the prosecution of the work of the
wreckers on the Names hull. It is
said that the very latest phase Of this
matter was sent out in the published
dispatch of Assistant Secretary Dav.
authorizing the Spanish Government
to prosecute an independent investiga-
ton by its own divers info the cause
Of the loss of the Maine The depart
nent has not Withdrawn that permits
sion. The only word received by the
Navy Department from Havana came
tonight in the following telegram from
Captain Sigsbee:
"Bache leaves to-day for Tortugas
with al wounded men now here. five in
ALL as follows: Mattison, Cahin. Allen.
Weber and Mack All able to walk
except Mattison, whose jaw was brok-
en-. Bache takes one unrecognized body
VIII probably take four wounded men
from Tortugas to Key West. Cannot
tell when more bodies may be expected
at Key West, but Bache should prompt
ly return.
Senator Fairbanks Of Indiana re-
quested the State Department to OBJ
tain permission for the exhumation and
removal from Havana of the body of
young Keys, one of the Maine victims
and the request being submitted To
Consul-General Lee, called forth this
response:
Most bodies buried some weeks ago
unrecognizabie. Against Spanish law
to exhume until expiration Of FIVE
years. Neither steamers nor authori-
ties permit shipment of bodies unless at
once embalmed and in metallic cases
Cost of embalming and encasing from
5000 to $500 each"