Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-21
MORE DIVERS WANTED
Consul General Lee Wires the State
Department.
REPORTS FROM CAPT. SIGSBBE
"Zone of Explosion" Not Yet In
vestigated.
SOBRAL NVERVIEW TO Be IGNORED
SOBRAL INVERVIEW TO Be IGNORED
Resolutions Adopted by Senate
Without Debate.
FEELING AMONG DIPLOMATS

Several reports came by telegraph to the
State and Navy Departments today from
Havana. All of the naval kilograms, how
ever, bore date of yesterday. while that
from General Lee to the State Department
was probably sent late last night. though
marked as received this morning. None Of
these messages throws any light upon the
cause of the Maine disaster. and, i'll fact,
the officers In the Navy Department have
about resigned themselves to the belief
that nothing definite on this point can be
known for several days to come Their
reason for this belief is that the operations
Of the divers upon the wreck Of the Maine
are being confined at present to the
covery of the bodies Of the dead sill
tangled in the wreck and the recovery OF
yaluables neither of which can be neglect
ed, while the other branch of the work,
namely, the investigation of the cause of
the disaster, may be more properly left to
the conduct OF the court of inquiry.
Request for More Divers.
Assistant Secretary Day received the fol.
lowing telegram this morning from Consul
General Lee at Havana:
Great need divers to get effects and bodies
from wreck: two now employed; twelvs or
fifteen could be used; one hundred and
forty-three bodies buried. Very few found
today yesterday; over 100 supposs to be
confined in ship. Sailors now in two Span
ish hospitals number eleven; visited them
yesterday; ail will recover except two; are
comfortable and well carsd for"
Assistant Secretary Day replied to Gen.
Lee at once as follows:
Have called attention Navy Department
to your request for divers. Same will be
complied with"
The department believes that the scarcity
Of divers complained of by Gen. Lee has
probably already been overcome by the ar
rival of the Bache with force of divers
from the North Atlantic squadron at Tor
tuSas and with the necessary apparatus.
Telegrnms From Capt. Sig.bee.
Secretary Long has received the follow
ing kilograms from Capt. Sigsbee, all dated
yesterday, in regard to the condition of the
injured In hospitals:
Visited hospital today. Men very pleased
to see me- Koebler and Holzer low. Have
hopes of Holzer. Koebler a fighting
chance. Only members of bodies found and
buried today. No investigation yet of zone
Of explosion. Need regular wrecking diver
for that Lee sent to Gen. Blanco telegram
relating 10 prospective coming of wrecking
vessels
Nine more bodies were buried yesterday.
Only two identihed-Wm. Lund and n. F.
Harris"
&C. A Smith and Harry Jectson died In
San Ambrosia hospital. Carl A. Mattiasen
and Axel c. Anderson were not saved"
1t is understood here that by the zone OF
the explosion in his dispatch Captain
Sigsbee means that part of the wreck OF
the Maine forward of the main mast that
suffered directly. The reference to Lees
dispatch to Blanco touches the formal noti-
hcatton TO the Spanish authorities there of
the coming Of the American wrecking ves-
sells 10 Havana Under ordinary circum-
stances there might be some question of
the right OF a foreign wrecking vessel to
operate in the harbor of Havana presum-
ing that the Spanish Law is identical with
our own. But in the case of a national
vessel like the Maine the rule would not
apply, though the notice is conveyed to
Captain General Blanco as a matter of
courtesy and to prevent possible delays
through the interference of some unin-
structed subordinates in the custom service
at Havana.
Captain sigsbee's last dispatch, sent yes
terday, was as follows:
viii send two wounded from the hospi-
tai by the Bache tomorrow. These are two
recommended to go to Tortugas. Barnette
captain Of the BacheJ would report to ad-
miral"
The Navy Department has informed Ad-
miral Sicard at Key West of these facts
communicated by Captain Sigsbee. II
leaves entirely to the admiral's discretion
the assignment of the wounded arriving
from Havana to Tortugas instead of Key
West.
Captain Lemly, the judge advocate gen.
eral of the Navy Department, with Cap
tain Bradford, chief of the equipment bu-
reau. and Commodore Hichborn chief con-
structor, were in consultation some time
with Secretary Long this morning, report.
ing to him the plans they had formed fol
tbs raising of the Maine. Captain LemIy
suggested some further changes in the de-
tails of the contracts which are now bene
drawn with the wrecking companies, anc
1t is expected that within few hours aft.
Congress shall have enacted and the Presf
dent shall have signed the necessary bill
making an appropriation for the work tn,
contract win be signed.
Photograph of the Wreck.
The incoming mail at the Navy Depart
ment this morning brought q most interest
ing contribution TO the news Of the day il
ths shape of an excellent photograph Of the
wreck Of tn. Maine as it now lies In Ha
vana harbor. This was forwarded to the
Secretary of the Navy by Lieut.. Hood
lately attached to the Maine. It II . view