The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-20
QUIET AT WASHINGTON
ATTENTION NOW BEING GIVEN no
SMALLER DETAILS.
Bodies of the Men Recovered VIII
Have TO Remnin at Havana.
More Condolences.

! Washington, February 19.--The excite
ment of the past few days has mostly dis
appeared at the navy department and this
morning the oyerworkcd officials, partic-
ularly the officers of the navigation
bureau, who have been working night and
day almost since the Maine disaster. t.
meet the Inquiries of anxious relatives OF
the victims, while keeping up the current
work of the office. were able TO turn their
attention to less pressing matters.
The first dispatch that came to hand
relative to the disaster was one from Al
miral Sieard, from Key West last night,
speaking of the assembling OF the court Of
inquiry. The message was as follows:
| Secretary of the Navy: Bache sailed from
Key West for Havana with the divers AID
stores for the Maine The Iowa comes to
| Key West on the 18th and the Sampson
court of inquiry on the Maine assemples
on the arrival here OF Mark. The Massa-
cnusetts and Indiana at Tortugas. Fifteen
officers and forty-seven men from the
Maine have been distributed at Key West
marine hospital and the army barracks
More are due here on the 18TH by the Man
grove. | shall hold all at Key West pend
ing the court Of inquiry. No one OF the
twenty one apprentices that the Texas took
from New York City for the Maine were
on board the Maine al the time OF the eX-
plosion as no opportunity had offered 10
transfer them from the Texas. where they
still remain.
Mark, referred to by Admiral Sioard, is
Lieutenant Commander Mark, now on his
way from Washington To Key West. who
with Captain Sampson, Captain Chadwick
and Lieutenant Commander Potter will
constitute the court of inquiry. Lieutenant
commander Mark will be the Judge aid
yocate OF the court and lay down the line
Oh procedure, being somewhat OF an expert
III that matter.
The court is entirely master of its own
proceedings, but the department does not
Goubt that after preliminary session in
Key West. which will lay the foundation
Tor further investigation, through the taxi
ing OF testimony of survivors now at Kev
west the board will proceed to Havana.
~ mat place the work can be conducted
rapidly to finish with the appearance of
oaptuln sissnee and compared to the state.
ment of the divers.
Touching the question of examination NJ
me wreck by divers the naval officials ~
'ieNe that there is no cause for apprehen |
s,on as TO the fairness and completeness nj /,
lhe INVESTIGATION. Captain Sigsbee has te1e' |
sidphed That he has made an arranrement |
WIN me spanish officials for the prosocn-
~ ol inns inquiry and that there is no i
= lutlon' so that the officials believe thai |
,n,aS - no reason to interfere with the |
'nlcials In the discharge 81 their dnt, '''o
AS the navy department Is sin Il.
isged WIN applications for the return y,
ne bodies of the Maine Victims to ~,
lhltea states fer burial, and as the matter |
las inquired In congress, 1t NAV DO we'll 10
io,e that Captain Sigsbee, for M Ieast
iilu Time has. In answer to questions. OK
= ssh ,ne opinion that the bodies ca, moi |
~ from havana He has pointed |
'ermit removal thar embalminr i. 20 ~
mperieetly done in Havana ana that ldens
iiieation OF the bodies in many cosas H. |
ot even possible. This morning he taIa
'aIhed that the bodies of the two offic.rs.
ieiH'i ana Jenkins-could not he found |
mu again repeated that 1t would be i'm,
Iactcaple to remove the bodies. some n, |
~ eu,sicaI oilcers here say that they
nom ~ experience that Captain Sigsbee.,
ohciusion Is sound and they saw that
ueeesstul embalmlng Is not possible whars
ne system of the body has been destroye5
, IN the case OF the Names victims
expression of confidence still contjrra
!, pow IN at the state department from
ympatheiic foreign nations. Noiabla
,iions tnem was one that came to hand
10y evening from the queen regent Of
pain, rs follows.
President Mckinley. Wasbi,oton.
Madrid. February lS.--Her maiestv ~
ueen, has Just sent one OF the gentlemen
the royal household to express throueh
e 10 your excellency her profound sor.
,w and sympathy in the sad accida,,
men has befallen the United States bsi.
rsh,p Maine at Havana. Woodford.y
aine, ana II possible saving her was
ossi today, although Representative ~
70 wrecking companies We're in conference
'ne navy department throughout ina
~. captain l.emley. who WIN frame the
'n.rast SAID that progress had been made
mnu an Understanding Of the general
1t been reached nal
TEMPER az rHE HousE.