Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-24
Announcement by the President Of
the Court Of Inquiry.
REPORTED INTERVIEWS ARE UNTRUE
Arrival of Letters From Officers of
the Maine.
N EXT OF KIN INFORMED

Key West last night bringing several pri-
vate letters from naval officers lately at
tached TO the Maine caused a wave of ex-
citenent to run over the departments and
the Capitol, for. there were all sorts of
1umors as to the contents Of these letters
very few of which rumors in point of fact
had any sound basis. The only feature
SO far as could be discovered of real i'm
portance as throwing any light on the
cause of the explosion contained In the let
tiers was the statement that the two after
boilers in the after boiler space were all
of the eight boilers of the Maine that were
Under steam at the time of the explosion
This fact had a negative value, for 1t dis
posed at once of the theory that any ex-
plodinS boiler had caused the wreck The
experts all say that by no possibility could
the after boilers explosion have wrecked
the fore part of the Maine and left the
after part almost unframed.
Much interest was shown in a dispatch
received shortly before 3 o'clock from Ad-
inlral Sicard giving the recommendations
OF Captain Sampson of the court of in
curry as to the raising of the wreck. This
dispatch was published in yesterdays
star The view of naval officers was that
captain Sampson and his associates were
giving this advice not as a court but as
rest methods to be adopted for wrecking
the Maine. Various interpretations were
put on the expression forward half COM
pletely destroyed" This was regarded as
a partial confirmation OF the theory that
the forward magazine had exploded as
that is one Of the most important portions
of the forward half of the ship. At the
same time it was held by some naval au-
thorities that the destruction of the for
ward half of the ship did not necessarily
mean that the forward magazine had ex-
ploded, as this might be still intact, al
though part of the general wreckage. In
the absence of an explicit statement as to
the forward magazine there was DISPOSE
ton not to accept any implied statement
as to its destruction.
No Interviews WIKI Divers.
Evidently the president Of the court of
inquiry is fearful of the effect upon the
public Of ill-judged attempts to account
for the destruction of the Maine, for yes
terday afternoon he telesrapfed Secretary
Long follows:
amy reported interview with divers I'M
true. Every precaution has been taken.
Officer always present"
This brief statement disposes of all the
allegations that have been made pro and
con as to the blowing up Of the forward
magazines.
The officers here are still thinking of
with the plans Of the Names section
through the magazines and coal bunker
pockets. The reference to the latter is
particularly interesting and leads to a de-
sire to be informed on the exact quantity
and quality Of the coal supply at the time
or the explosion. 1t is said that these
pocket bunkers are rarely emptied, being
designed as much for the protection Of the
hold coal. One expert said that these
Eunkers in his own experience have not
been emptied In months. All Of this has
to do with the spontaneous combustion
zines and might have set off even the
safe Drown powder, If the latter were ex-
posed to degree Of heat above 600 de-
greeS for some time. The request besides
may show that Captain Sigsbee is not yet
satisfied as to the cause Of the explosion,
Notwithstanding the expressions that have
been attributed to him by unauthorized
persons
One Of the private letters received here
yesterday in speaking Of the disaster says
1t was all over in five minutes. The writer
was ashore and heard the noise. He hasti-
ly took boat and started for the Maine,
arriving there in about twenty-five min
utes. Then all was quiet and smooth, and,
In fact, as he said, in five minutes after the
blast the Maine was in about her present
condition.
Som Some solicitude was expressed at the
Navy Department over the report Of Ad-
miral Slcard's health. It Is sadd however.
that there was no occasion for relieving
him now; that the flagship New York is
not to leave Key West. and even If she
should Capt. Campson OF Capt. Taylor can
assume charge Of the squadron. while the
admiral takes the two weeks leave to re
cuperate from his malarial fever which he
was about to enjoy when he voluntarily re-
turned to his place.
formal order has been made out for
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright to take
station at Havana and look after the gov
ernment's interests while the work of
wrecking the Maine progresses. 1t has been
arranged that he shall be subsisted on
board one Of the wrecking steamers.
Next of Kin Informed.
Secretary Long has sent a personal letter
to the next of kin Of every man lost In the
Maine disaster. Each letter informs the
recipient that his OF her relative was killed
by the explosion or died from wounds re-
ceived, and concludes as follows:
desire to express my profound sympa-
thy with you in this sad event and in the
bereavement which you haves sustained
Contract With wreekers.
Under the terms Of this oonstract for the
wrecking Of the Maine, previously referred
pany Of New York and the Boston Towboat
Company will endeavor jointly to raise the
Maine, or failing In thAt, to remove the
-
for every working day wiaers full facilities
are employed, not Including $50 for the
storage barge.
The contract may be Terminated at the
option OF the governments, end In no case
is the compensation. inctuding bonus OF
100000 to be paid II the Names wreck IL
delivered at New York, to exceed the limit
OF the congressional appropriation Of $780,
QUO. Under this arraneprnent the wreck
must be In New York ID 125 working days.
II the wreckers are to secure the bonus; or,
e the Maine is to be taken UP in sections.
200 days viii be necessary TO exhaust the
appropriation.
Delivery Of Projectiles.
The Navy Department is informed of the
delivery Of two consignments Of g. 10, II
and 13-inch projectiles by the Carpenter
Projectile Company at the New York navy
yard. The early delivery fis Also expected
of consignment Of tospsj1es made by the
b w. BlhEs Companx ok Brooklyn. The
contract between the 2overnment and the
does Of the No. 5 tyre, Which Will cost in 1
the neighhorhOod OF &, 500 each. These tor
pedoes are more powerful than any pre-
vfously manufactured. They are IS la feet
long. which = 4 la feat longer fhan the or
olnary torpedo: Eachi p to be charged with