The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-03-04
LONG DENIES IT
NO Report, or Partial Report, Has
Been Received From the
Naval Board.
Public Has All the News There
Is Concerning the Maine
Disaster.
Secretary Spends CO.. siderable
lime With Chairman
BOutelle.

WASHINGTON. March 4-Secretary
Long has authorized an absolute and
positive denial of report asserting that
partial or prelimi nary report had been
received by the government from the
Maine inquiry board, indicating or de.
claring that the loss of the Maine was
due to an external explosion. lie said
that no report of any kind had been re.
ceivei, and that the public had all the
information that had been received.
MIR. Long spent good portion of the
morning III comm unication with Chair
man Boutelle Of the house naval com.
mittee. He denied himself to all other
callers, and from time to time sent for
the various bureau chiefs of the de.
partment, pretty clear indication that
Mr.. Boutelle was being supplied such
information as the department could
furnish, as to the Immediate needs of
the naval service.
| No Word From the Naval board
Up to noon no word had come to the
department from the court OF inquiry
ut Key West. 1t is said that the court
Is under no obligation to inform the de.
partment as to when it has concluded
this branch of the inquiry, nor
is II necessary TO seek perinls-
sion from the department to re-
turn to Havana. The order under
which the court is operating carries
sufficient authority for change of base
ut any moment though the department
may be informed as u matter of cour.
tesy. If the progress OF the inquiry at
Havana depends upon the work OF the
wreckers, rs seems to be the case. for
nothing Of substantial importance can
be achieved until the heavy debris Is
removed from the wreck, considera blc
delay must inevitably occur. To tow
the large derricks from Boston and
New York to Havana is never speedy
and seldom u safe undertaking. As q
matter Of fact the derrick Chief, at
Norfolk. is storm. bound. just inside
Of the Chesapeake capes. although 1t
was fully expected that by this time
she would be far below Hatteras. This
makes it improbable that the derrick
can reach Havana hnrbor and get to
work much before the middle Of next
week AS for the big derrick Monarch,
which is required to raise the turrets
and extremely heavy weights from the
hull, the date for her sailing has not
been set, although the department has
inquired of the contractors on that
point.
|
Some private letters are coming to
Washington from officers III Havana,
but while they all have something to
say touching the Maine explosion, it
cannot be seen that the statements are
based upon any recent and generally
unknown developments.
Dole Sends u Check.
\ most substantial evidence Of sym.
pathv for the survivors of the Maine
and the families of the victims came &c
hand at the navy department, i'll the
shape of Il check of $500 from Presiden,
Dole of Hawaii. The money was turned
into the Maine relief fund.
1t is denied at the navy department
that any request has been made upor
the Newport News Ship Building com
pany to hasten the launching Of tn,
bat,leships kearsarse and Kentucky
set for the cath Of this month. som.
, time ago. These two battleships, tn,
, largest ever built for the United State.
navy, are to be completed and turned
over to the government within II
months if finished under the terms O.
, the contract.
The company, a prominent naval Of
ficer said, would have to work hare
. and disregard the S-hour day rule il
. order to complete them in contrac
time.