Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-02-22
AT HAyANA THH FoRTIF1cA

~
Ing has taken place in cabinet that the
public have not been informed about; that
The whole policy of this department has
been to give the public all the dispatches;
that the department has no more knowl-
edge on the subject of the cause of the dis
aster or even of the circumstances at
tending 1t than have the public, and that
the report which was to the effect that
Capt. Sigsbee had warned the department
that the Maine was in danger from sub.
marine mines or torpedoes Is utterly with
out foundation, no such report ever having
been received from him or anybody else"
Another Report Denied.
The secretary also denied briefly and
comprehensively wild rumors that he
had requested the chief of police of New
York to guard the Nizcaya and that he
had selected Constructor Bowles to go
10 Havana and raise the Maine. The last
work of the day for him was to consult
the representatives of the wrecl1ing
companies who will probably have
charge of this work, and endeavor to
arrange for both of them to work to-
gether, SO as to secure the use of each
peculiar plant and to save time.
Praise for Capt. sigsbee.
The secretary, when asked what was
the departments estimate of the con-
duct of Capt. Sigsbee In the terrible sit
uation In which he had been placed, re-
piled:
II think I express the feeling of the presi-
dent, as well as my own, when say that
Capt Sigsbee has conducted himself as an
officer OF our navy should. He was the last
to leave his ship when she went down.
His dispatch to me that night was SO COM
plete that since then have thought of no
question of fact to ask him which is essen
tial to the situation and which he could an
Hwer which is not covered by that dispatch.
Its tone, too. is that of a discreet and level
headed man who realized the impression
any word from him at that time would have
on the public mind. Nothing Is harder than
for a naval officer to lose his ship, SO that
I have great sympathy for him. 1 await
with confidence further reports"
Many Anxious Queries.
During the day the department was
In receipt of number of kilograms
from different parts of the country ask
Ing In behalf of relatives of the dead
sailors that their remains be brought
back to the United States for inter
ment. Among them We're queries from
friends of the two officers, Merritt and
Jenkins. The department forwarded
these to Capt. Sigsbee, whose reply was
that the officers bodies have not been
found; that as to many others identi-
flcation is not possible, and throwing
great doubt upon the practicability of
taking any of the remains away from
Havana.
Both May Investigate.
While no decision has yet been
reached formally upon the application
Of the Spanish government for author
ization to examine the wreck Of the
Maine to ascertain the cause of the ex-
plosion, the officials seem inclined to
regard her request as one that could
not properly be refused, and it is like
~ that each government will make an
Investigation of this character concur
rently.
Results of the Disaster.
Washington, Feb. 19.-The navy de-
partment has compiled the following
summary showing the total results of
the Maine disaster, from all available
official information up to the close OF
the department Friday night.
Total officers and men on board Maine,
856; total officers, 26; total men, 829; total
offlcers saved, "a; total men saved. rs; total
officers lost, 3; total men lost, PAS; total Of
41cers injured, o; total men injured, 81.
Doubtful men, 2, The seven men appear
Ing as doubtful probably represent tina.
hAmben or isss, Whose iiyes have been