Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-02
MEMBERS STILL SECRETIVE AND
NOTHING LEAKS OUT.
NO ONE KNOWS THEIR OPINION.
WILL FINISH At KEY WEST TODAY
AND RETURN TO HAVANA.
Signs of Activity Among the Fleet a
Key Wesf-Admiral Sicard Says
1t Means Only Readiness
to Move-WOrk of the
Divers.

Key West. Fla, March 1.-The second
DAYS session of the court of inquiry is
over. and nothing new is known regarding
the fate Of the Maine, at all events outsiuo
the members of the court. Some VINO cohn-
IDENTIFY declared a week ago that the court
had already found that the vessel was IN
tentionally blown up have modihed thls
conviction, and, for the most part, admit
that such reports must have been based
largely on speculation.
Even naval officers are. apparently, as
much in the dark as the civilians as to
what the courts opinion is at the present
moment. Excellent progress has been mace
in the examination and the court Will PROB
ably finish it's work here tomorrow, when
its members will be taken to Havana on
the Mangrove.
Interest in the proceedings Tagged some
what to-day, owing to the utter futiiity OF
all attempts to crafty the general cur1os-
ity. The correspondent of the Associated
Press placed before one of the members of
the court the letter signed "Maquinista'
machinisD giving alleged details of the
filling of the Names torpedo holes with
dynamite cartridges and their subsequent
explosion by electric wires. The member
of the court in question said that neither
the letter nor its developments had been Of
ficially before the court. The Cubans here
are constantly receiving mysterious mis-
sives from Havana. purporting to reveal
the method by which the Maine was sent
to destruction. but, as there are as many
suggestions or theories as there are letters,
little reliance can be placed upon any.
The general situation here remains the
same. The fleet has not moved. though
there are signs of activity which give rise
to rumor that an important naval step
is contemplated. Admiral Sicard. when
questioned ON this point this afternoon.
merely reiterated his remark of yesterday.
There is no movement to-day. The ships
have steam up always and they can go
anywhere
The tugboat Merritt passed here at SUM-
set with large scow in tow and other
wrecking apparatus. She is bound for
Havana.
The report that remnants Of sub
marine mine. alleged to have been raised
by the United States naval divers at Ha>
vdna with the electrical wires in which
they had been entangled, were brought hero
on Sunday by the Mangrove and are now
in the warehouse of the lighthouse depart
ment is denied in high official quarters.
Captain Merrill. who is in charge of the
artillery here, expected General Wesley
Merritt to-day by the Mascotte, but Cen
eral Merritt did not arrive.
Admiral Sicard has requested DR.. Nal
ioney, the mayor OF Key West, to prevent
local demonstration when the funeral Of
the Names dead occurs. He has asked
that, in the event of a parade formed by
the residents. only American flags shall
be displayed.
Mayor Maloney has promised to carry
out Admiral Sicard's wishes as far as pos
sible, but doubts whether the strong Cuban
and anti-Spanish sentiment can be sup
pressed.
All of the funeral arrangements will be
under the direction of Commander Mccall
of the Marblehead.
AS now planned. small details of marines
will be landed from the vessels here and at
the Tortugas. and the artillery at the bar
racks will join in paying the last honors.
Havana, March 1.-The divers on the
Right Arm got to work this morning in
earnest. Captain Everett. chief of the div
lower than usual, 1t was seen that the
steerage hatch was partly clear, though
| blocked to some extent by one of the
smokestacks The divers succeeded in en-
tering the after torpedo compartment,w where
they hoped to find the bodies of Lieutenants
Jenkins and Merritt as we'll as the remains
of members of the crew of the battleShp.
The officers mentioned weer last seen in
| the after torpedo compartment. and up to
this morning the divers feared to enter it.
there being great danger that the life lines
or air hose might catch in the wreckage
about the smokestack.
The Spanish officers directing the divers
| of the government of Spain called on Cap
| tain Sigsbee to-day on board the light
house tender Fern. and were given all the
information they needed.