The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-25
IMPORTANT RESULTS,
c. VI. Pepper Says Investigation SHOWS
No Magazine Explosion,

WASHINGTON. Feb. THE Evening
star has received the following cable
gram from Charles NJ. Pepper, It's stan
correspondent In Cuba;
Havana. Feb 23-via. Key West, tla,
Feb 2l-At this writing divers are de-
veloping important results from the eN-
animation of the interior wreckage. They
nave secured eyiuence which seems con-
elusive that the explosion came from un-
derneath the ship.
~sofne OF the smaller magazines may
have exploded. The Maine's ten-inch mag
azine did not explode. The condition OF
the interior Of the ship shows further
probability OF the wreck having been
due 20 outside force.
"The further the investigation pro-
gresses the more ntenable becomes lhe
theory which the Spanish Government
addlced 10 show accidental cause. II ~
evident tho Spanish case viii be based ON
the claim that the dre preceded the eN-
plosiOn.
Captain Sampson and his colleagues
Of the Naval Boai may have outside eVi-
dence offered regarding "a torpedo noal
producing the explosion.
WHAT a DIVER SAYS
"Sai1 one diver who had been engaged
in the work of getting bodies out from
under the hatch:
d" God may be mcrciful 10 the men who
blew those poor fellows into eternity.
The United States should not
THE orders prohibit officers from talk
lng. This diver evidently thought the ex-
piosim was not an accident He had an
experts capacity and opportunity FOR
,udp'nR
"The Havana public Sc not permitted to
know tho intensity Of feeling IN the Unit
ed states. Only moderate details arc
permitted 10 be known Of what happens
IN Washington. Congress is watched win
excessive anxiety by palace officials. but
rho population knows nothing OF what is
hahle 70 happen.
"Tvidences Of ii-teeline toward Amer
lean people and exultatinn over the Maine
disaster do not lessen The Maine in
oulry dwarfs interest IN Cuban politics.
but recent DEVELOPMENTS carry Official
confession o. the failure Of autonomy.
tsirned) PEPPER"
RAISING THE WRECK.
In view Of the many expressions OF
doubt concerning the possibility OF rails
ING the wreck OF tho Maine. the messase
sent Yesterday to the Navy Department
by Admiral Sicard may have some
weight. The Admira, reported that the
court ~ inquiry which is on the spot and
has had the advantage of the opinions
OF divers. had declared that the most
powerful appliances would be necessary
to remove the wreck or raise the ship.
The last expression Is taken 10 mean
that tho court has so far not concluded
that 10 would be impossible 10 again
float the Maine. else the language would
have been unnecessary.
L.
the naval Officials have given no thought
10 the relief Of Admiral Sicard as COM
monder IN chief OF the naval forces on
The North Atlantic Station. They do not
believe that the Admirsl's health Is so
seriously impaired and IL Is safe TO say
that 10 movement VIII be made towards
his relief unless a suggestion comes first
from himself Nothing has been heard
from General Lee at Havana since day
before Yesterday in the shape OF a cable
cram. and as the COnsul-General has
been prompt heretofore in informing the
state Department of any developments
of significance, II Is supposed that there
have been none since General Lees last
report.
In the mail received from him this ar
ternoon was a copy OF the message OF
coincidence received by him from cam
tain-Generai BlancO In the following
terms:
Havana. Feb. Ii. 1895.
"Nr Consul.
1T becomes my painful duty 20 express
10 you my profound sorrow FOR the mis-
fortune which occurred yesterday on
board the American ship Maine" i
associate MYSELF with all my heart 10 the
grief OF tho nation and OF The families
who nave lost some Of their members;
and upon doing SO fo not only express
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