The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-03-10

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
Mains was caused by the explosion Of
hoating submarine mine unden the
port side of the ship, forward. Opin-
ions agree, not only as to the existence
OF mines in the harbor, but that this
one was laid purposely near the buoy
Where foreign war vessels were direct
ed to moor, and was fired from an
electric battery on shore. It is believed
barely possible that the explosion Of
the mine was the result of the care
lessness or ignorance Of Spanish Of
hcers III charge of the mine station
keys When testing the circuit, but the
latter supposition is not felt to be prob
able. 1t is further regarded as settled
by the evidence before the court that
the port side Of the hull forward was
completely blown to pieces, and the
only explosion on the Maine, except
of isolated cases of fixed ammunition.
was that of 1900 pounds of saluting
powder, stored forward, and Of which
no trace can be found. These views
are gathered from officers who
Talk With Great Reserve
ana 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 authorized
to make public matters in advance
Of the final Judgment.
A good deal of surprise was ex-
pressed here at learning that the
Spanish divers were to be permitted to
make an examination of the wreck Of
the Maine, especially as it was also
said that American naval officers
would give such divers all consistent
facilities and would throw no obsta-
cles in the way of a thorough sub,
sion was not accorded until after the
court of inquiry had finished it's work
here and gone to Key West is regarded
: as significant. It opens a wide field
for speculation. Some assert that the
court now has no objection to Span
1sh inquiry for one of two sreasons:
Either the court has sufficient evidence
already of accident or malice-evidence
that cannot be cOntrOverted by the
Spaniards-or, after a diligent search,
the mystery remains at deep as ever
and the court does not think the
Spanish will reach 4 conclusion where
: the Americans have failed That any
important testimony before the court
has found it's way to the public is
very unlikely. Some Of the witnesses
have told certain correspc ndents of al
legged testimony, but in every case in
vestigation has showed their stories to
be wildly improbable and controverted
by known facts or else absolutely ir-
relevant. There are no signs of dem
onstration against Americans.
Washington, March 5. - Secretary
Long said at, the close of his day at
the navy department that no word had
been received from the court of in
quiry and that no orders had been, or
would be given as to the movements
of the court from Key West, as the
court was fully authorized to shape it's
own movements. The original orders
to the court were issued by Admiral
Sicard, as commander of the feet to
which the Maine belonged, and it has
the technical status of an admirals
court, reporting directly to him, both
as to it's movements and as to it's final
report on the cause of the disaster.
The understanding here is that the
court has not concluded its work, but
will return to Havana to take testi-
mony which has been delayed by the
difficulties in the way of the divers.
That Admiral Sicard expects this
move back to Havana was shown by a
dispatch from him a few days ago sug
costing that arrangements be made for
a vessclto take the court back. AS the
OIL 10 ho1
doing the service the treasury depart
ment was asked to assign the Man.
grove for the return Of the court to
Key West, and this was done. With
these -@<@ngements concluded it is said
at the rsofy department that the court
will lsss.~s,d without consulting Of
fcials here.
Their Mission Of Charity.
Arrangements are being made for
the trip of the cruiser Montgomery and
gunboat Nashville to Cuban ports with
relief supplies. Chairman Barton, Of
the Central Cuban relief committee,
has advised the state department that
donations are coming forward in
great abundance, not only in money,
but more particularly in the form Of
provisions, from all directions. The
Maine relief fund, under Mr.. Longs
management, has reached a total of
$3,113. .-- r
The only telegram relating to the
Maine disaster that came to the navy
department. during the day was the
following from Commander Forsyth at
Key West: ''Bache arrived. Brought
one body unidentified, and Paul LOT
tus, private marine; jeremiah Shea,
coal passer; John HeHner, ordinary
seaman; Thomas j. Waters, ordinary
seaman, wounded, from Tortugas.
Tine wounded will be sent to the army
hospital. The funeral Of the body has
started for the cemetery"
During the course Of the day similar
inquiries to that made by the Japanese
legation as to the number Of her sub
jects aboard the Maine. came to the
navy department from the German
and Swedish legations, and it is ex-
pected that others will follow. Nearly
every nationality was represented in
the Names big crew.
Washington, March Git was de-
veloped yesterday afternoon through
telegraphic correspondent between