The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-01
LOSS ALL IN MYSTERY
corRT OF INQUIRY HAS SAID CAUSE
WAS EXTERNAL.

che Court Up to the Present Time
4 probably Scarcely More Than Pre-
Iminary-Death Certificates Or
dered Issued to the Families of the
Dead Sailors.
Washington, Feb. 2S.-At the close of
oaice hours a telegram came to the navy
5aoartment from Admiral Scard at Key
west in the following terms:
KEY west Feb. 2S.--To the Secretary
oe f7a Navy. Washington Court of in
ourv will commence session at Key West
to-dav. They must resume session at Ha-
r,ra 70 obtain evidence of divers after
further work upon the wreck
(sgned) sicard'
The important feature of this communi-
cation is the declaration that the court
mill return to Havana. 1t sets at rest ru-
rrors that have been afloat for some days
mast that the court was not to return TO
Havana for the reason that it has discov-
cred the cause of the sinking of the Maine,
which was not an accident and that con-
.eouently they had no further business in
Havana.
one important deduction to be drawn
from the message is that the report of the
eolrt Of inquiry can scarcely be expected
fer several weeks to come. The court will
be occupied at Key West for some days
at least, in taking, the testimony of the
survivors there.
Then. upon the return to Havana, it is
eyDected, a good deal of time must elapse
before the divers can get through the mud
which now encompasses the lower part of
the wreck of the MAINE and examine the
bottom.
After this Is done, the court must de-
l5erate in order to secure an agreement
Il upon their findings.
N The prevalent belief at the navy depart
ment is that up to this moment the court
has not even undertaken to compare notes
and endeavor to reach such an agreement
A Cuban mail was received during the
day. and with the candor which has 50
far characterized all his dealings with the
public in this matter, Secretary Long caus-
ed it to be given to the newspaper repor-
ters as soon as he had read it himself. 1t
was made up of one letter from Capt.
Sampson, dated at Havana, Feb. %, and
although it is simply a statement OF events
tbat had already been reported by tele'
graph one fact is significant, viz, the
statement that the testimony of certain
civilian witnesses before the court would
be of no Importance. His letter is as fol-
lows:
sir: The court has taken the testimony
Of all the officers of the Maine still here
Tomorrow we will take such testimony
divers have accumulated. There
are two citizens in the harbor who have
testified their willingness to testify, al
though they have nothing important.
After taking this evidence and that of
the divers propose to return to Key West
and take the evidence of the officers and
men there. II may be necessary to re-
turn here after further progress has been
Nv. T. Sampson.
Captain, U. S. NJ
The reports that came from Key West
about great activity and the observance
of unusual precautions among the few SOL
ulers Quartered there were received win
amusement at army headquarters. 1t was
said no orders had gone from this city
10 explain the hustle, but there was the
best reason to suspect that the commanc~
ana was simply brushing up the post and
putting his best foot forward against the
expected appearance there on his tour or
inspection of Gen. Merritt, the command
ing general Of the department of the East.
The gunboat Wilmington sailed to-day
from La Guayra for Barbados, travelling
over the ground covered a few days be-
lore by the Cincinnati and Castine. All
n ol the boats are slowly cruising around IN
Inc Caribbean and will be so employed
unuI April when they will go south again.
Secretary Long said at the close of Of
II nee hours that no orders had gone OUT 10
send another warshp to Havana, reports
10 the contrary, Notwithstanding.
At the White House the utmost quiet
prevails. Many offers have come from or
CARNATIONS and individuals of their service
IN case of a conflict Some of the Congress
lonal callers have stated to the President
mat their states We're ready to furnish Iuli
quotas of men.
Secretaries Long and Alger and Repre-
sentative Dingley were among the Presi-
dents visitors to-day, but it was stated
mat they had nothing important on the
Maine affair to discuss with them.
N Mr.. Dingley spoke strongly about re-
ports that financial circles in New YORK
mad been sounded as to the readiness with
which funds could be raised in case OF 9n
emergency.
Mr.. Gage pronounced the statement un-
qIalihedly false. No issue of bonds has
ever been considered, he said.
capt. Hawley. who is directly in charge
VI mat branch of the navigation bureau
Ielailng TO the enlisted men in the navy,
ls now directing the work Of his office to
,Ae ISSUANCE of death certificates to the
families Of the dead sailors. The certih-
o''es are issued by the surgeon general
ana The navigation bureau and are thus
conclusive evidence upon the auditors OF
'e treasury department, who are thereby
. "'ised to pay over to the legal repre-
seA1atives of the heirs of the deceased any
ms Of money that may be due them by
Ue United States government on account
VI accrued pay or retained deposits In
'Ne case of the victims of the Maine dis
as'er the department. is obliged in many
vases TO certify TO the death Of the sail
o.a without being able to secure evidence
u mat fact with the presence of a body.
~ is assumed by the officials that a man
phe
letters are reaching the navy depart
mem from all parts of the country from
""eged relatives Of the victims, and it APP
N PEARS that IN numerous cases there ars
many claimants for the small sums of
money or property that belong to the dead