New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-26
EXAMINING THE DIVERS.
THE MAINE COURT OF INQUIRY HOLDS
ANOTHER SESSION AT HAVANA.
STRICT SECRECY STILL MAINTAINED AS TO IT'S
p1sCovERIEs-THE WRECKED BATTLE-sHIP
SLOWLY SETTLING IN THE MUD-ALL
QUIET IN HAVANA.


house tender Mangrove is still here and the
Naval Cour. Of Inquiry continued its usual ses-
sons to-day Captain Sampson says the move
ments Of the Court all depend on the develop
ment Of the testimony. 1t is highly probable
that the testimony OF the civilian witnesses did
not add TO the Courts knowledge OF the cir
cumstances attending the explosion, Of the
causes OF which these witnesses could kno"
nothing. they were quite distance away
The six divers were examined more In detai
to-day than at any time before
The Court Of Inquiry at .ts session this AFTER
noon continued its examination Of the divers
and also examined a civilian whose testimony Is
'ad to be OF some Importance The name oi
the witness is withheld. and. as usual all 'he
particulars Of his evidence.
The Nangrove (. is now believed. VIII surely
leave here for Key West tomorrow evening ar
rvng there Sunday morning. This programme
may be changed at the last moment but It's does
not seem likely.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Wainwright and the
Naval divers under his charge will stay on the
Fern
Late to-day the paymaster's safe with >-''"
and his papers, was taken from the wreck.
Beyond this no statement is made as 10 the
value and nature Of the contents but guam
tltv Of water ran out when the safe was raised
above the surface.
The complaint IS stil made that the electric
lamps are Of little use to the divers. as the
Hight is faint and uncertain. and to hold them
takes one OF the Divers hands. They nave
assuredly proved OF little value in the present
Investigation.
So far as reports made public go. the work
men on the tug Right Arm. with the assistance
Of the Naval divers. are laboring hard TO re-
cover the bodies under the hatch. which led to
the fre-room platforms Snoring with tmhers
was necessary and the divers had 10 walt for
the lumber today 1t Is hoped the bodies VIII
be taken out to- morrow, but this mas oeeh
hope often disappointed.
The wounded are reported 10 be DONG well
Chaplain ChidwiclI said:
"Teu Alfred Hotter. OF No. 1.54l Avenue A.
New-York. that his brother Fred Is very low,
but is making bold fight for life
The cloudy weather and rain made the work
~ the divers unsatisfactory to-day. and. there
fore little work was done
r. is report that a hole has been mace
bv the divers in one Of the forward hatches' ana
Il Is hoped 70 get out number OF bodies later.
In the harbor here there is no tidal current
10 clear away the mud and settings. go the
water is nurky and difficult 10 work In
The wreck II the Maine is slowly but surely
sinking. Before the hull could be raised the
guns and deck debris OF all kinds must be
taken out This takes time. and, for lack or
proper appliances. practically nothing has peen
done vet Aside from the officers and CABIN
effects the salvage thus far has been pitltuHy
small.
1-bA Merritt e Chapman Derrick and Wreck
ing Conpany's tug Right Arm is again at work
removing such parts Of the wreck as is possible
trrrc
y Is believed the divers from the feet and the
Plight Arm will remain at work when the Man
grove leaves the Fern as the only United States
vessel In the harhor. After the Mangrove goes
tho public generally will be excluded from off,
cial vessels especially the Fern. and a card
.,il have 10 be presented by the correspond
ents before admission is given them
There was a summerlike shower this morn
ing and there promises TO be a general Increase
in the temperature
Tho Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII has been
towed 10 buoy further within the harbor, 10
make room for the cruiser Vizcaya, which is ex-
nected here tomorrow or the next day from
the North.
No word has been received at the Consul-Gen-
erals office from Walter b Barker the United
States Consul at Sagua la Grande. and It is be-
ueyed that the report OF Mr.. Barker's serious
sickness is untrue.
The news Of all kind. here is mere routine at
present. there being no excitement, and even
run,ors are less active than usual
The Havana papers print long extracts from
the American dailies but. OF course, only OF
DELAYED news Al 1.-The Americans are anxiously
awaiting the arrival OF to-morroW's mail, as
tldincs from the United States are scant.
Consul General Lee says he has received no
news Of importance from the State Department
to-day. nor been notified to expect the arrival
~ any one OF prominence. II Is believed here
that II any American OF National reputation
comes TO Havana now IT will be TO study the
situation for himself and not as official COM
missioner.
At O'Clock this evening Hotter, the wounded
sailor is still sleeping under the influence OF an
oplate He is no worse than he was this morn
ing. but is very low. Including him. there
six wounded left here and all are reasonably
certain Of recovery except Hotter.
Some difficulty will arise In removing them to
the United States. for all have been exposed to
contagious fevers and the quarantine laws for
bid their being taken direct to Key West. These
regulations were disregarded in the OF the
first lot taken there the Olivete the day
after the explosion. but only because Of the ex-
treme oxigencies OF the case.
SENATOR PROCTOR SAILS FOR HAVANA.
DENIES THAT ANY POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE AT
TACHEs TO HIS TRIP.
Key West. Fla. Feb. Ex-senator Proctor is
among the passengers OF the Mascotte. from
here. for Havana. Before sailing a dispatch
published here was shown him. saying that there
is considerable excitement at Havana over his
expected visit He read II, laughed and said
Absurd In reply to a request for detailed
statement regarding his visit. Senator Proctor
said
IT'S all simple and straight as day. rve been
10 Havana several times before. and have many
friends there I've been fishing several days in
Florida with Colonel Parker business man in