The San Francisco call., 1898-02-23
THE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION
 IS PROGRESSING

to group of friends on the ferry-boat her peculiarities when there came. he says, dull report from the forward part of the warship and the upheaval of a geyser of water about the boat. followed almost immediately by a terrific roar and blinding flash of light. He is positive about the first explosion and says 1t was noticed by his companions. This statement of his came to the ears of one of the court of inquiry. and last night an officer was sent to Senor Caballeros to ask him if he would ap- pear as a witness before the court He announced his willingness to do so and was to have appeared to-day.
 Many strange tales of the disaster are brought out as the days wear on. One of these was made known yesterday when the captain of an English bark an chored in the harbor and nearly a mile distant from the Maine told of how a bewhiskered jaw had fallen on the deck of his vessel. The captain has been asked to appear as witness before the court of inquiry.
 The proceedings of that body absorb all interest now. Every one here be- lieves a crisis will follow close upon the heels of its conclusions.
 The Spanish authorities realize that Spain is perilously near rupture with the United States and suppressed ex- citement IS felt in the air. The Captain- General is in constant communication with Madrid, but nothing that Is hap pening there or at Washington IS al lowed to appear in the papers. The foreign consular officials are likewise busy with their home offices.
 Diving operations at the wreck were carried on to-day more briskly and with better results than heretofore. at least so far as the work of recovering bodies is concerned. The men are now becoming accustomed to the lay of the wreck and proceed with more freedom and confidence than they had when they first ventured into the murky depths
 Operations were confined entirely to- day to the forward part of the ship Twelve bodies had been recovered up to 3 o'clock The divers also brought up deck chairs and other articles that formed part of the ships furniture
 As the bodies were brought to the surface they were lowed to the Spanish patrol boat, where they were prepared for burial. 1 spent a short time this afternoon on board this barge in com pany with Chaplain Chadwick. The bodies presented sickening sight. Out of twelve recovered to-day 1t has been impossible so far to identify one. Most of them are scared and burned beyond recognition. Those bodies that had not been burned had been in the water so long the features were unrecognizable. Eight of the bodies were in such con dition that they were all placed in one coffin.
 As the bodies were lowed alongside the barge Chaplain Chidwick peered anxiously over the side hoping that he might recognize some familiar features.
 Captain Sigsbee, at the time was on the barge with Chaplain Chidwick. was on the lighthouse tender Mangrove few yards away He was seated alone on the deck looking stern and sorrowful as fresh evidence of the direful results of the explosion that destroyed his yes sel came before his eyes. The bodies recovered from the wreck. with those of men who died in the hospital, now number I58 Of these only fifty have been identified It is possible that marks on what is left of the clothing may lead to the identification of fifteen more.
 The operations of the divers to-day did not extend to that part of the wreck where the officers quarters were. and the bodies of Lieutenant Fred w len kins and Passed Assistant Engineer Darwin R. Merritt have not yet been recovcre d.
 While the divers were at work the shores, as usual, were lined with thronps striving to follow all that was beino done at the wreck and on the boats near by. Craft of all sorts swarmed in the vicinity of the operations, approaching as closely as the patrol boats would per init them
 Before the Naval Court of Inquiry ap- pointed to investigate the cause of the explosion which wrecked the warship Captain Sigsbee to-day continued his story of the disaster All the morning was taken up in this examination, dur ing which time, am able to say. facts of great importance bearing upon the blowing up of the Maine were brought out Great care is taken to keep se- cret all of Captain Sigsbee's testimony. and the same care will be exercised when other important witnesses appear