The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-23
COURT OF INQUIRY.
Two witnesses Examined and a Visit
Paid to the Wreck.

Pu1u I'D the NNEc
HAVANA, Feb. 22-The United States
naval court of inquiry which is Investigate
ing the cause of the destruction of the
battle ship Maine held two sessions to-
day and examined two witnesses, the ma
ture of whose evidence is not known, as
the proceedings of the court are not made
public. Consul General Lee and the menl-
bers Of the court called this morning on
Captain General Blanco and Admiral Man
terola When these ceremonies were ended
the court returned to the United States
lighthouse tender Mangrove and resumed It's
sessions. The court opened at 10:30 o'clock
and took recess at 1890 Lieut.. q. f. w.
Holman, navigator and ordnance officer OF
the Maine, was examined at the morning
session The court met for the afternoon
session at 1870 o'clock and Lieutenant
Commander r. Wainwright, executive OF
ficer of the Maine, was called to the witt
ness stand. Lieutenant Commander VAIN
wright has been in immediate charge OF
the wreck since the explosion.
There was nothing picturesque or impress
sive in the scenes in or about the lights
house tender Mangrove to-day. The weaths
er was somewhat cloudy, but on the whole
pleasant enough. A steady breeze blew our
the bunting in which the Fern, the Bache
and the Mangrove were dressed in honor
of Washingtons birthday. The Spanish
vessels also foated the American colors In
honor of the occasion. The Mangrove
which is small and rather ancient-lookiniy,
lies near the wreck on the side furthest
from Havana, with the Fern and the
Bache, respectively, north and south of her.
All are moored TO buoys and swing with
the tide Boats from various vessels ,pr
from the vvharves nlv fO and fro in fha
harbor with passengers eager to inspect 4
the mass of steel and iron which is all
that is left of a great battle ship.
On the Mangrove the sessions of the court
were held in the captains cabin aft The
officers were not in fun dress, but in the
uniform used every day aboard ship. The
proceedings were very quiet, no one but
the witnesses and the shorthand reporter
being admitted. The arrangement is that
the stenographer shall write out his notes
day by day, and the court viii adjourn from
time to time to give him the opportunity,
as. was the case to-day, when the court
again visited the wreck and spent some
time in additional inspection. The pomp
and circumstance of the tribunal are not
as much as an ordinary garrison court
martial would show, but the high character
of it's members and the evident earnestness
of their purpose TO find the truth If pos
sible. give dignity to the court of inquiry.
Captain Sampson, after the visits of the
members of the court to the captain general
and Admiral Manterola to-day said the re-
cepton extended them had been polite ana
cordial. The captain general and admiral
had expressed deep sympathy and the hopa
that nothing would interfere to prevent q
thorough investigation. They offered a
give any help in their power Captain
Sampson referred TO the visits as ..tendinr
TO promote q better understanding"
Captain Sigsbee received dispatch from
Secretary Long tonight saying that the
wrecking tug Right Arm has been ordered
from I<ev West to Havana with an ad