The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-01
AN EARLY REPORT.
Board of inquiry Nearly
Through With Labors.
WILL COME TO HAVANA
y PROBABLE VERDICT OF AN EN-
TERNAL EXPLOSION.
RAISING The MAINE IS ABANDONED
Should the Disaster Prove to Be Other man
Accidental, the Penalty of Indemnity
is Now Suggested Authorities
Are Being Locked Up.
Are Being Looked Up.

stories IlldL CDlll I4olL
in Havana as to sensational develop
ments in connection with the work OF
the divers 10 the Names hull the adj
ministration remains firm in its state
ment that there g no credible evidence
one way or the other as to the cause
# the disaster and holds to It's pur-
nose to await the conclusion of the IN
vestigation now making by the Court OIL
Inquiry. This position was emphasized
nj to-day's Cabinet meeting. People
who looked for some startling announce
ment were disappointed as the member
without reservation frankly admitted
that the subject of the loss of the Name
had been discussed but said that the
government had received no information
from Havana since yesterday and had
no intention of changing its policy I'm
til there was something of substance to
warrant it. The Spanish legation was
equally in the dark as to any of the
discoveries reported from sources thai
are not cited. Secretary Long has been
under a heavy and almost constant
strain ever since he WIS awakened III
the middle of the night a week ago last
Tuesday by the news of the loss of the
Maine. and now that matters are, at
least for THE time being, in a quieter
state he has gone away for a few days
rest. leaving Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt to manage the department. The
latter has been thoroughly advised at
every step of the Secretary's policy of
treatment of the Maine affair SO that
there is not likely to be any change
in that respect caused by the temporary
assumption of the duties of Secretary
bv Mr.. Roosevelt. just before the de-
nartment closed he had word of the
sailing of the cruiser Montgomery from
Tampa for Key West. Up to that time
the vessel had been given no orders SO
that the date of her departure for Ea-
vana. if she is to 90 at all, is conjectural.
The ship went to Tampa instead of Key
W est on her return from San Domingo
in order to facilitate the speedy return
to his duties in Washington of Captain
Crowninshield, the Chief of the Naviga-
ton Bureau. who saved Il full day by
tie movement.
The Castine, the second of the United
States war ships III the South Atlantic
station. arrived to-day from Barbados.
where SHE joined the Cincinnati. 1t
may be that the Castine Will go to Mar
Unique to be locked, as she is in need
of cleaning after her tropical service.
REPORT EXPECTED NEXT WEEK
Since so much depends upon the re-
port of the Court of Inquiry it may be
interesting to note that so far Secretary
Long himself does not know when to
expect this important document, up to
this time having heard nothing from
any of the members on this point. He
rather expected that the court. which
has complete power to work on it's own
lines. would wind up its work at Havana
before leaving, so as to avoid the necpS-
sity for a return trip. One member of
TIL Cabinet had Il more definite opinion
on the subject, expecting the receipt Of
the report from the court about the
middle of next week. There is reason
to believe that in the meantime We are TO
prepare for the reception of 4 report that
would show the disaster to be other
than the result Of an accident. Some Of
the officials of the administration have
been looking up the subject of indemni-
ties, so rs to lay the foundation of Il
case, in the event it should be decided
to resort to that method of settlement.
\ ~ q - III VI III
which will aid the authorities in sha}-
ing their action in this direction when
the facts are fully established. While
none of the cases show the fearful loss
of life sustained by the Maine explosion
yet they include many instances in
which the United States has adopted
energetic measures to redress the killing
of American citizens in foreign coun-
tries. In Il general way. these methods
Of ,alron- Iov ;,.1,J,1 o,,a.
indemnity. proclamations excluding war
ships of the offending nation from our
harbors. display Of force. non-inter-
course. withdrawal of our minister. re-
prisal. and blockade. Some Of these
steps border very closely Oh war. al
though they are regarded as the move
mcnts just preliminary to actual hostiI-
ties, and as amounting to a threat that
force will follow if PREPARATION is net
made.
The case of the Water Witch is consid-
cred to he the most analogous to that
Of the Maine. should it be established
that the Maine disaster was not the
result Of an accident. The Water Witch
WIS a United States ship engaged in
IS'l IN surveying the entrance to one
OF the rivers of Paraguay.
>oMhWHAT ANALOGOUS CASE.
iWi"ut warning and by orders of
1FeSldeht Lopez, of Paraguay. n force of
troops opened fire on the Water Witch,
klllln@ the man 1t tho helm and wound
ing others. Intense feeling was aroused
IN the United states when the news be-
came known. The President reported the
lactS 10 congress. and in his message
asked authority to make q 1anonstr, ~
ton of force which would ens1,ra suita-
bic redress. In response to thjs Con.
gross authorized him to "use s,,ch forco
as is necessary" to secure ample repor-
alton. Accordingly an armed fleet was
hastily assembled on q scale which uns