The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-18

washington, Feb. 17.-The govern
ment has settled back into a waiting
attitude in respect to the terrible ma
flne disaster in Havana harbor The
great shock caused by the news has
given way to a calmer and more iu-
dicial state of mind, and realizing from
the events of the day that the court of
inquiry is the sole dependence in the
search for the cause of the Maine
disaster, the naval office is now re-
signed to await the result of that m
curry by court opened to-day by the
navy department.
There was little news to add to the
sum of information as to the disaster
during the afternoon. No telegrams
came and all that could be cleaned was
denial Of some absurd story or other
that mad crept into print or became
current gossip. All the news of the day
came in the late afternoon, in the shape
OF captain Sigsbees report of the au-
thorlzatlon OF the funeral of his dead
sailors and General Lees graphic story
OF the terrible struggle for life in the
dark hull OF the Maine.
The officials at the navy department
devoted the day to the effort of cor
rectlng the list of living and dead; to
answering frantic kilograms from rela.
tlNes OF men on the battleship and, last
put not least. in meeting with unwav.
eflng courtesy and patience the ex.
acting demands upon their time of the
press representatives. The disposition
OF the survivors, Captain Dickinson.
acting chief OF the navigation bureau
mas arranbed for as we'll as possible
from this distance. The wounded in
the Havana hospitals, on the Spanish
ilagship and elsewhere, not in condi-
ton to be brought back to Key West.
Will be carefully looked after by Miss
cara Barton who has been given
carte blanche to buy any and every
thlng necessary, food, delicacies and
hire of nurses and physicians. The
wounded able to get across to Key
vest VIII be taken care of in the Ma
l1ne hospital there The sound surviv-
ors will be quartered in the Spanish
army barracks there
As for the Maine herself. notwith-
standlng disconraging reports from
Lieutenant Hood as to her condition.
the navy department will make the eff
fort to raise her. While it is required
by every creditable sentiment, they saw
they are required TO remove the hull
from the harbor and 1t may be as easy
70 raise her as it would be to DESTROY
the nun by the use of divers and dyna- |
mite. This work can be done by pri- /
vate wrecking corporations and nego- |
tatlons are already afoot for placing |
the contract. based on work by the /
day, at an estimate of $500, 900. At the /
navy department special denial was
given of the report emanating from 1
Madrid that torpedo fotilla was about /
n 1EFHNr
stated that only two torpedo boats, the
Cushing and the Erricson, are at Key
West, and these have not been ordered
and Will not be ordered according to
the present plans. to Cuba. 1t was
strongly asserted that no present pru-
pose existed of sending another war
ship there.
has received no instructions up to
?. m. as to going to New York and |
stopping the Spanish warship Eiscaya
rom entering the port, and reports TO
his effect were discredited
The air of suppressed excitement |
Shleh characterized the movement Of
ne employees and visitors at the white
lonse yesterday was not noticea BILE to-
lay. There We're comparatively few
lsltors during the morning hours and
or considerable time, in the middle
II the day. the white house bore an al
most deserted appearance. Only a linn
ted number of members of congress
allied in the morning and the inter
Jews were brief. Postmaster General
iary was the only member of the cab.-
let who called, and his business re-
ated entirely to departmental mat
ers.
Assistant Secretary Day saw the
resident for a few minutes, but he
ad nothing of Importance To commG-
icate until after 1 o'clock. when he
arried to the white house official in
ormation of the closing of the De LONE
atter incident
So far as could be learned the only
lformation Of the situation in Havana
hat reached the president direct cana /
trough the associated press. on the
treets there was n8tlceablS less ex-