Evening journal., 1898-03-04
A HITCH SOMEWHERE
Maine Court ofInquiry Await
ing Orders at Key West.
BODY OF ANOTHER VICTIM FOUND.
Foreign Legations Make Inquiries at Navy
Department Concerning Such Of Their
Countries Subjects a. Perished
In the Great Disaster.

WASHINGTON March 4.-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
tourt was fully authorized TO shape its
own movements. The original orders
20 the court were issued by Admiral
Slcard as commander of the fleet to
which the Maine belonged, and Il is the
duty of the court to report directly to
him both as TO It's movements and as
20 its final report on the cause OF the
disaster.
The understanding here is that the
court has not concluded It's work. but
will return to Havana to take testl-
mony which has been delayed by the
difficulties In the way OF the divers.
That Admiral Slcard expects this move
bnck 20 Havana was shown by a dis
patch from him a few days ago sug
gesting that Arrangements be made for
a vessel 10 take the court back. AS the
lighthouse tender Mangrove had been
doing this service. the treasury depart
ment was asked 70 assign the Mangrove
Cor the return Of the court TO Key west,
and this was done. with these ar
rangements concluded, Il Is said at the
navy department that the court viii
proceed without consulting officials
here.
During the course Of the day inquiries
were made at the navy department by
the Japanese legation as TO the number
Of japanese aboard the Maine, and
also by the German and the Swedish
legations, and Il is expected that 9TH
ers Will follow. Nearly every rationale
ty was represented In the Names big
crow.
Arrangements are being made for the
trips OF the cruiser Montgomery and
gunboat Nashville TO Cuban ports with
relief supplies. The navy department
has been advised that the Mallory line
steamer leaving New York next Sat
urday viii carry free Of charge rs tons
of supplies to be transferred TO the
Montgomery and Nashville at Key
West. The Mallory steamer is expected
TO take about four days In the run
down the coast, so that the transfer to
the warships and their start 10 Cuba
cannot be made before next Thursday
The two warships are poorly adapted
for carrying supplies, having scant
age. provisions canvas and ships
equipment. II Is only because they can
make the run in daylight that any at
tempt Is made to carry the Is tons Of
supplies. These will be stored on the
spar deck. and with good weather the
daylight run viii not subject them to
any damage.
The Maine relief fund under Mrs
Longs management yesterday reached
total of SO, 1888. The only telegram re-
lating TO the Maine disaster that came
10 the navy department during the day
was the following from Commander
Forsythd al Key West iBache arriv-
ed. Bro0ght .bhe body unidentified, and
Paul 8bftus. private marine; Jere-
mlah Shea coal passer; John Hemner,
ordinary seaman; Thomas J. Waters.
ordinary seaman. wounded from Tor
tugas. The wounded will be sent 10 the
army hospital The funeral of the body
has started for the cemetery"
In the course of the inquiry into the
naval resources OF the United States an
order has been issued 10 make test
Of the machinery OF the old war moni-
tors at the League Island navy yard.
These are single turreted craft that are
armed with big smooth bore guns in
turrets that could likely be pierced by
the modern rifle used on battleships,
but they would still be Of service I'm an
emergency. There are eight Of these
monitors at League island. and the gov
eminent owns several others that are
now loaned to the naval militia organi-
cations Of some of the states. Those al
League island are the following Canon
icus, Mahopac Manhattan. CatslSin
Jason, Lehigh. Montauk and Nahant
They are all between 800 and 2.100 tons
displacement and draw very little wa.
ter so that they can take up advanta.
geous positions on shoals commanding
channel approaches. The intention Is
10 turn over the old engines and worl
the machinery that is made TO turn tn,