New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-19

IN CONTROL AT WASHINGTON
HOPES OF RAISING THE
srNKES BATTLE-sHTP.
rsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBusE1
Washington. Feb 1s.--No clearer or better
summary OF the situation here to-day can %
given than that contained IN an authoritative
statement made this afternoon to correspond
ent Of The Tribune by Secretary Long. The
Secretary said:
"Really no information has been received since
Captain Sigsbee's first dispatch adding anything
TO our knowledge of the disaster 10 the Maine.
All we know is that the ship blew up. Tners
is abundant room for speculation OF all sorts.
but no conclusion can be arrived at until an
examination has been made by the divers ana
more facts have been obtained. II is a simple
fact to say that such thing might happen ny
design or It might happen by accident As yet
there is no indication Of design. Therefore. my
impression has been all along and rather
think the general opinion preponderates In the
Same direction that it must have been acc'-
dental
AT the Cabinet meeting to-day the matter
was not discussed except as any body or men
talk about an event OF that kind. and most OK
that talk related to the terrible loss OF life and
to expressions Of sympathy for the sufferers
NO INFORMATION SUPPRESSED
You may say absolutely that there has been
no Cabinet meeting. that nothing has
taken place in the Cabinet that the public has
not been informed about. that the whole policy
Of this Department has been 10 give the public
all the dispatches; that the Department has no
more knowledge the subject OF the cause of
the disaster. even Of the circumstances at
tending it. than has the public. and that the rs-
port that Captain Sigsbee had warned the De-
partment that the Maine was in danger from
submarine mines or torpedoes is utterly without
foundation no such report having been
received from him or from anybody else"
In further conversation on the discreet and
gallant conduct shown by Captain SIgshee dur
ing and after the fatal explosion. the Secretary
said
Il think express the feeling Of the President,
as we'll as my own, when | say that Captain
sigsbee has conducted himself as officer Of
our Navy should. He was the last man to leave
his ship when she went down. His dispatch TO
me that night was so complete tha;. since then.
/ have thought OF no question of fact 10 ask
him which is essential to the situation and
which ne could answer which is not covered by
that dispatch Its tone too. is that OF discreet
and level-headed man. who realized the impress
sion any word from him. at that time. would
have on the public mind. Nothing Is harder
than for a naval officer 10 lose his ship. so that
1 have great sympathy with him. I await with
confidence further reports.
The Secretary also denied briefly and compre-
hensivey wild rumors that he had requested the
Chief of Police OF New York to guard the Viz
oaya and that he had selected Constructor
Bowles TO go to Havana TO raise the Maine.
The last work of the day for him to con-
h. fny
pa lies who probably will have charge Of this
work and endeavor to arrange for both of them
10 work together. so TO secure the use of each
peculiar plant and to save time
STILL AWAITING FURTHER NEWS
No additional light was thrown to-day on tho
causes Of Tuesday nights disaster 10 the battle
ship Maine in Havana Harbor. nor is further In
formation Of a decisive sort expected for at least
a day or two until the work OF the divers now
employed in examining the wreck IL partially
completed. A long dispatch was received at the
Navy Department this morning from captain
Sigsbee, but IT was devoted almost exclusively
10 discussing the disposition to be made Of the
bodies recovered from the harbor and TO de-
scribing the public funeral which took place yes
terday in Havana.
To expedIte the recovery ~ the bodies still
imprisoned in the wreck Of the Maine. and to
save If possible the hull Of the warship with
her stores guns and equipment. a joint resoiu-
ton appropria,ing S20OOO0 was introduced IN
each house of Congress and promptly received
the sanction OF both branches. incidentally. IN
a debate in the Senate over a resolution favoring
a Congressional investigation OF Tuesdays dis
aster concurrently with that undertaken by the
Navy Department, the rather startling asser-
ton was made by Mr.. Mason. Of Illinois. that
the people losing confidence In some OK
the departments Of the Governments refiec-
ton which was dramatically and passionateiy
resented by Senator'S Wocott and Lodge. But
the excitement caused by this unexpected out
hurst of feeling soon subsided, and legislation
again took It's routine way.
DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP"
The immortal appeal OF Lawrence. Don't give
up the ship for nearly century the inspiring
motto Of the American Navy. promises to rescue
the Maine from Havana Harbor. The Presi-
dent and his Cabinet Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress and the public generally have
been aroused to a realization of the considera-
t,ons which make these heroic words peculiarly
applicable to the dsmantled battle-ship which
three nights ago was baptized in fire and blood.
Congress did not waste an hour to-day in re-
sponding fully to Secretary Longs request for
5000 900 10 be made Immediately available to
begin operations having in view the raising OF
the vessel and on all sides the efforts of the
naval administration 10 undertake the work OF
rescue speedily were supported by prompt and
vigorous approval.
The conference between the representatives Of
rival wrecking companies who had been sum-
moned by telegraph and Secretary Long and his
principal expert advisers developed a COM
mendable determination TO unite all forces In
the patriotic enterprise. and. instead OF the cor
porations putting in competitive bids for the
work. they readily acquiesced in a proposition
70 combine their resources and thus give an
additional guarantee Of speedy success.