Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-03
They Held Long Conference This
Morning.
NO WORDFROM TIE COURT OF INQUIRY
President DoIe's Big Check for the
Relief Fund.
THE j ANESE VICTIM

Chairman Boutelle of the House naval
committee. He denied himself to all other
callers and from time to time sent for the
various bureau chiefs of the department, a
pretty clear indication that Mr.. Boutelle
was being supplied with such information
as the department could furnish as to the
immediate needs of the naval service.
No Advices From Court of Inquiry.
Up to a late hour no word had come to
the department from the court of inquiry
at Key West. 1t Is said that the court is
under no obligation to inform the Depart
ment as to when it has concluded this
branch of the inquiry, that it may do SO
as a matter of courtesy; nor is it necessary
for it to seek permission from the depart
ment to return to Havana. The orders un-
der which the court is operating carry
sufficient authority for change of base at
any moment. If the progress Of the in
qriry at Havana depends upon the work of
the wreckers, as seems to be the case, for
nothing CT substantial Importance can be
achieved until the heavy debris is removed
from the wreck, considerable delay must
occur. To tow the large derricks, never
good sea-going boats, the great distance
between Boston, New York and Havana,
is never speedy and is seldom a safe
dertaking. AS a matter of fact. the der
rick Chief at Norfolk, is now storm-bound
just inside of the Chesapeake capes, al
though it was fully expected that by this
time she would be far below Hatteras.
This makes it improbable that the derrick
can reach Havana harbor and get at work
much before the middle of next week. AS
for the big derrick Monarch, which is re-
quired to raise the turrets and extremely
heavy weights from the hull, the date for
her sailing has not been set, although the
department has inquired of the contract
ors on that point.
The only dispatch bearing on the Maine
disaster received at the Navy Department
today vas one from Captain Forsythe at
Key West, as follows:
"Bache arrived. Brought one body I'M
identified. and Paul Leoftus, private. ma
rine, jeremiah Shea, coal passer; John
Henner, ordinary seaman, and Thomas
Waters, ordinary seaman, wounded, from
Tortugas. The wounded will be sent to the
Army Hospital. The funeral of the body
has started for the cemetery"
Secretary LOng's Denial.
A report was in circulation today that
the Secretary of the Navy had received
preliminary report from the Maine court of
inquiry showing that the loss Of the ship
was due to an external explosion. Secre-
tary Long gave an emphatic denial TO the
report, saying that he has received
ports Of any kind whatever from the court
of inquiry.
Some private letters are coming to Wash
ington from officers in Havana, but, while
they all have something to say touching
the Maine explosion, it cannot be seen that
the statements are based upon any recent
and generally unknown developments.
most substantial evidence of sympathy
for the survivors of the Maine and the
families of the victims came to hand at
the Navy Department today, in the shape
of a check of $500 from President Dole
of Hawaii The money was turned into the
Maine relief fund.
Japan's Interest In the Disaster
The following statement 1yas poctad On
the press desk at the State Department
today:
ut is understood that there were seven
Japanese subjects on board the United
States battle ship Maine at the time that
she was lost Their names were I. Su-
gisah, o. Ishida, s. Chinji, M. Dye, U.
Kitagata, T. Nagamine and X Suzuki ~
There was a disposition in some quarters
to attach considerable significance to this
statement, but, so far as could be learned
from official sources, the Information was
given at the request OF the Japanese lega-
tion, for the purpose Of enabling the lega-
ton to notify friends and relatives of the
nine japanese who were on the Maine
Soon after the disaster the Navy Depart
ment sent the Japanese legation an unoffi-
cial list of the japanese on board the
Maine at the time Of the disaster. The
peculiar character Of japanese names
caused some confusion in Identification,
particularly as to the two who were saved.
Some OF the Japanese consuls asked for
more specific information, initials, etc., and
this led to the legations inquiry Of the
state Department and the preparation Of
the list made out today. There are a num-
Der Of japanese in the American navy,
serving as stewards, mess attendants etc
They go from ship to ship. and their rela-
was stated at the legation that the pul pose
OF the inquiry was to establish just who
were on board the Maine. and to distin-
guish between the lost and saved
other ba
as to the right of Japan to participate In
any indemnity which might be claimed IL
the disaster proved to be of external
origin: Officials Offered in their view of
this 1t was claimed by some that the
wearing of the United States uniform took
away from the Japanese subject his at
tributes as citizen of Japan. Moreover,
it was pointed out the loss occurred while
these men were in the service Of the Unit.
ed states. On the other hand, 1t was con-
tended that Japan had always jeaIously
guarded her citizens abroad, and that in
this instance she might OCCUPY the same
ground as the United States in seeking
such redress as might be appropriate to
the case as finally established. In this con-
nec.on ., II was recalled that Japan's rela-
analogous to our relations to Cuba. While
this line OF comment was set on foot by
the inquiries of the legation to the State
Depar,ment' both OF these branches gave
assurances that at the present time the
inquiry related only to Identification.
The President Saying Nothing.
!. President Mckinley is saying nothing to
callers these days on the subject of the
probable outcome of the Maine disaster
inquiry. Nearly every day republican men,
bers of Congress drop in to assure the
President that his course so far has their
approval and that they will support him in
the future. Democratic senators and rep
resentatives who occasionally drop in as
sure the President that they represent
states ready to stand by the nations honor
The President acknowledges all of these
remarks In the most pleasant words or
smiles, but he says little, nothing which
indicates his probable action.
The President received no callers today
who talked at length on the situation and
everything at the White House indicates
that there viii be no developments Of any
kind until after the report OF the court OF
Inquiry.
Evidence Against the Dauntless.
Assistant Secretary Day received q call
today frem Mr.. Du Bose the Spanish
charge. which excited no special comment,
as this was diplomatic day. His visit it is
understood. had no relation to the Maine
inquiry. which up to the present time has