The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-28

LOOKING FOR LIGHT
Opening of the Formal Court
of Inquiry ON the
Name Disaster.
DATE OF REPORT DOUBTFUL
Ii May Take a Month to Reach
Conclusions = Burial of the
Dead -Warlike Movements.
DATE OF REPORT DOUBTFUL
rBy Cable to The Associated Press ]


KEY WEST, Fla, Feb. 2S, 1Ses-The
United States Court of Inquiry into ths
loss of the battleship Maine in the har-
bor of Havana on Feb. Is commenced Its
sessions here this morning. The youns
officers and civilians who yesterday talk
ed lightly of war are hushed into silence
In place of idle speculation as to the pos
.sibilities of war there exist keen, pa
triotic interest in the origin of the pres
ent situation, the loss of the Maine and
the cause of the disaster, which had wen
nigh been lost sight of in the subsequent
flood of conjecture regarding international
complications.
These officers and civilians here who
believed the reports from Havana saying
that the court had already decided that
the loss of the Maine was due to treach-
cry, have apparently changed their minds,
for today the universal question ic; 'What
has the court found out?" while yester-
day one heard all around: when will war
be declared?"
Brought face to face with the quiet
reality of this court, men realize for the
first time how unlikely it will be for the
court to allow any linking of its conclu-
sions to be known out of due season.
An unsual hustle pervaded this little
town from early morning hours.
The torpedo boat Gushing shot out from
her dock to the New York and was soon
cutting her way swiftly through the calm
sea back to shore, with Captains Sampson
and Chadwick and Lieutenant Command
er Porter on board.
Lieutenant Commander Mark, the
Judge Advocate who is staying on the
island with Commandant Forsythe, was
already at the Federal Building preparing
the United States District Court room
for the sessions. A small crowd gathered
outside, eagerly watching all develop
ments.
At the hotel the Names officers were
up betimes, dressed in their best. so far
as possible in view of the loss OF their
uniforms and clothes.
Shortly before leaving the hotel for the
court room. a young officer of the Maine
was heard to say
well, I don't suppose they'll ask me,
but if they do I'll tell them 1 am positive
we were blown up. No one can make me
believe the Maine blew up from internal
causes, as the papers call it,
This undoubtedly represents the opinion
OF the majority of the Maine officers, and
if it were not for the stringent injunction
TO keep silence, some of the Maine's Off
GERS would doubtless let their suppressed
Indignation have public vent and under
their own names.
Long before the officers were ready to
go to the court room the enlisted men
saved from the Inflated vessel were up
and waiting at their temporary home in
the army barracks, some distance from
where the court sits.
It is not known whether any of them
would be called today, but all prepara-
tions were made so that the court should
not be delayed in its work.
The Court opened shortly after ten
o'clock. Lieutenant Bandin was the
first witness called
Testimony will be taken according 70
its relative Importance, and not accord
ing to the rank of the witness.
All the Names unburied lead Will be
laid to rest in Key West. Orders to this
effect were received from the Navy De-
partment yesterday and the Coast Sur
vey boat Baehe will bring back any bod
les found. Fifty coffins have been ordered
from Key West undertakers.
The Navy Departments order is said
to have been issued under the pressure of
public sentiment against burying the re-
mains of the sailors in Spanish soil.
Admiral Sicard and his staff have
charge of the funeral arrangements.
which are expected to include all naval
hOnOrS-