The age-herald., 1898-03-02
YET SHROUDED
 IN DEEP MYSTERY Court of Inquiry Gives No Ink
 ling of Its Work. UNUSUAL ACTIVITY ON SHIPS Belonging to the White Squadron as Though Some Important Naval Move Was An
 tcipated-The Funeral of
 the Dead Sailors.
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY ON SHIPS

Key West, March 1.-The second day's nothing new is known regarding the fate of the Maine, at all events outside of the court. Some who confidently declared a week ago that the court had already found that the vessel was Intentionally blown up have embodied this conviction, and, for the most part admit that such reports might have been based largely upon spec ulation. Even naval officers are apparent ly as much in the dark as the civilians as to what the courts opinion Is at the pres ent moment. Excellent progress has been made in the examinations and the court will probably finish it's work here tomor- row, when it's members will be taken back to Havana.
 The Mysterious Letter
 Interest in the proceedings Jagged some what today owing to the utter futility of all attempts to gratify the general curiosi- ty The correspondent of the Associated Press placed before one member of the court the letter signed "Maquinista" (Ma- chinisO, giving alleged details of the filling of the Maine's torpedo holes with dyna- mite cartridges and their subsequent ex- plosion by electric wires. The member Of the court in question said neither the letter nor it's developments had been officially before the court. The officials here are constantly receiving mysterious mssives from Hayan purporting to give the method by which the Maine was sent to destruc- tion but there are as many suggestions as there are letters, little reliance can. be placed upon them.
 Important Step Contemplated
 The squadron has not yet moved, al- though there are signs of an activity, which gives rise to a rumor that an important naval step is contemplated.
 Admiral Sicard, when questioned on this point this afternoon, merely repeated ms remark of yesterday: There Is no devei- opment tody The ships have steam up al- ways and they can go anywhere
 Admiral Sicard has requested Dr. Ma lonev. the mayor of Key West, to prevent a local demonstration when the funeral of the Maine's dead occurs. He has asked that in the event of a parade being formed by the residents only American flags shall be displayed. Mayor Maloney has promised to carry out the admiral's wishes as far as possible, but doubts whether the strong Cuban and anti-Spanish sentiment can be suppressed.
 All of the funeral arrangements will be made under the direction of Commander McCalla, 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 barracks will join in paying the last honors.
 Divers at Work in Havana
 Havana, March 1.-The divers on the Right Arm go to work this morning in earnest Captain Everett, chief of the divers, was in charge, and the water being lower than usual, it was seen that the steerage hatch was partly clear, though blocked to some extent by one of the smokestacks.
 The divers succeeded in entering the after torpedo compartment, where they hoped to find the bodies of Lieutenants Jenkins and Merrtt. These officers were last seen in the after torpedo compart- ment, and up to this morning the divers feared to enter it, there being great dan ger that the life lines or air pipes might catch in the wreckage about the smoke stacks.
 The Spanish officers directing the divers of the government of Spain, called on Captain Sigsbee today on board the light house tender Fern, and were given all the information they needed.
 The Spanish cruiser Vizcaya arrived on Moro castle at ' o'clock this morning, after a good voyage from New York. She was met by scores of steam launches and gaily decorated vessels with bands, and as she steamed to her moorings enthusiastic well comes were shouted from all the quays, which were lined with thousands of people, The mayor of Havana, Marquis D'Estaban, as the director of the festivities, was the first to board the vessel. going out in Gen. Blanco's launch The officers of the Viz caya will call first upon Admiral Manterola and then on the captain-general.