Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-23
THE REPORT COMING.
Commander Mark Leaves Key West
With Maine Verdict.
The DECISION STILL IN DOUBT.
Nothing Given Out About Work Of
Court or Its Findings.
THE DISASTER "MosT PECULIAR"
"Perhaps the Most Peculiar which
Has Ever Occurred In the History OF
the worId"--SO Says Admiral
Sicard.
Sicard.

KEY WEST, FLA, March 22.-Lieuten-
ant-Commander Mark, judge-advocate
Of the United States naval court of in
quiry into the loss Of the battleship Maine,
left Key West this afternoon, on his
way to Washington. by the City Of Key
West. bound for Miami, carrying with
him the report Of the court on the dis
aster
Commander Mark brought the report
ashore from the Nashville to-day, and
Rear-Admiral Sicard, with Commander
Mark, spent several hours in its further
revision.
All the officers of the Maine now here,
except Paymaster's Clerk Mccarthy have
received orders to leave for their homes
there to await orders. as in the case of
other officers who left here last week
This is considered to be evidence that
the court will not require the corrobora-
ton Of technical evidence, as was thought
a few days ago.
Before leaving Key West, Commander
Mark said nothing could be given out
about the work of the court OF inquiry
or its findings. Personally, the Com
mander said he was intensely relieved at
completing his labors.
CONCLUSION STILL IN DOUBT.
The decision reached by the court Is
still a matter of surmise Perhaps some
significance might be attached to and
conclusions drawn from a remark made
by Admiral Sicard last night, when he
said TO a correspondent:
"The case of the Maine is most pecu-
liar, perhaps the most peculiar which has
ever occurred in the history Of the
world"
From the general tone of his remarks
1t might be inferred that the court find
ings do not definitely solve the mystery
of the explosion. This is further borne
out by the Admirars statement that
even after the report had been sent to
Washington, the department might re-
quire further investigation.
Lieutenants Jungen and Hood, Cadets
Bronson and Boyd, Passed-Assstant-
Engineer Bowers, Acknowledgment
Morris, and Carpenter Hilms. OF the
Maine, left here to-day on the City of
Key West for Miami. Gunner Hale of
the lost battleship, will leave later.
There are no commanding officers Of the
Maine here.
Guesses at the Findings.
KEY WEST, FLA, March 22.-The re-
port Of the court of inquiry left here to-
day, in the custody of Lieutenant-Com-
mander Mark the judge-adyocate. If
the train connections be made, he will
arrive in Washington with the document
Thursday night. Within the last five days
a minority sentiment has been steadily
growing that the court has been unable
to determine definitely the cause Of the
explosion. Still, II is true that majority
hold to the conviction that the report will
find and prove that the Maine was blown
Up Intentionally
The sending Of the report to-day 10
Washington was an undramatic climax to
the weeks of waiting. Lieutenant Com
mander Mark went aboard the Nashville
early in the day, and brought off the
findings. After a prolonged conference
with Rear-Admiral Sicard, certain altera- |
tions were made and then Admiral-Si- |
card affixed his signature Of approval.
After luncheon acknowledgements |
Mark boarded the City of Key West, and |
at half-past O'Clock sailed for Miami. |
with the report safely slowed away in |
Stateroom No. 16
leaving. was i'm a non-cOmmittal mood |
He confined himself to saying that he was |
intensely glad to be through with the very |
tedious work of the court, and once more |
TO be on the way North.
COURT STILL IN EXISTENCE.
Despite the absence from Key West OF |
the document on which the eyes of the |
world are fixed, the court Of inquiry con- |
tinues in existence, though inactive. |
Should the Navy Department require fur |
ther investigation. or express dissatisfac- |
ton with the findings, it is probable the |
court would be Obliged to return to Ha- |
bana, though the release of all the Maine |
officers held here as witnesses until to- |
day makes it unlikely that any loOphole |
has been left which would justify the de- /
partment in requiring the court TO per- |
form further work.