The western recorder., 1898-02-24
ssorNNrNo TO INVESTIGATE.
Board of Inquiry Reaches Hrvan.-Divers
Are Busy.

@<F@t - @@sNt-tAl %-~e>-@-7" -
| Are Busy.
| Havana. Feb. 22.-The board OF In.
luiry into the Maine disaster met on
the lighthouse tender Mnngrovc at ~
O'clock this morning with Captains
Sampson md Chadwick and Licuten-
ant Commanders Potter and Mark
present. Captain Sampson presided
and Lieutenant Commander Mark. re-
Gently executive officer Of the Maine,
acted MS recorder.
Captain Sigsbee. the commander OF
the Maine, wns the first witness called.
He WINS under examination until I
o'clock this afternoon. mt which hour
an adjournment was taken. 1t Is prob
nble thnt no further witnesses viii be
heard to-day, but the board will make
a careful personal examination of the
wreck. near which the Mnngrove is
anchored.
Captain Sampson received the Asso-
riatcd Press correspondent Immediate
iy after the morning session OF the
board. He said, In the course OF the
Interview:
Il would be glad to give the Asso-
cinted Press news, but owing TO the
delicate situation. the board has de-
cided to make nothing whatever pub
lie. do not know what testimony may
develop, or when. and il il only fair
TO the Spanish government not to tell
he public the testimony until all has
ocen received and the findings have
been considered
Gunner Charles Morgan OF the cruis-
er New York arrived on the Mangrovc
and il In immediate charge OF the div
rrs. The latter have been Mt work all
dny. but up TO the time of sending this
dispatch no discoveries OF Importance
have been made. 1t Is believed that
the salvage by the wrecking company
will be considerable and valuable.
To-day ninety-five officers and $50
sick soldiers started on their return to
Spain.
General Lee says the Spanish Off
cinls are not interfering with the In
vestigation into the causes OF the dis
nster. He has notified the captain of
the port that the wrecking tug Right
Arm will be here tomorrow from the
Merritt and Chapman Dry Dock and
Wrecking Company. No objection Will
be mnde to the presence Of the tug or
prospective work. She probably will
make an early attempt to save the big
guns and II possible the more valuable
parts OF the Names machinery.
Tomorrow morning Consul General
Lee will escort the officers of the court
Of inquiry to pay visits of ceremony TO
the captain general and Admiral Man
terola.
To-day the divers found n copper
cylinder used in conveying charges to
the six-inch guns. The fact that It had
exploded seems to show that there
was an explosion in the magazine for
fixed ammunition on the port side for
ward.
All the wounded men except TWO are
doing well. Paul Foftus and one other
will be taken to Key West Wednesday
by the Bache.
This afternoon the court of inquiry
personally inspected the Maine. g BY
their invitation Captain Peral, appoint
ed by the Spanish government as n
special judge TO investigate the disas-
ter. and his secretary, viewed the div
ers at work. Captain Peral expressed
his appreciation of the courtesies
shown to him by the court of inquiry.
A number of bodies were discovered
to-day in the forward hatch. 1t was
not possible to remove them, but they
probably Will be removed tomorrow.