The Indianapolis journal., 1898-02-25

VeStigatiOn progresses the more untenable
becomes the theory which the Spanish gov
ernment adduced to show accidental cause.
lie is evident the Spanish case will be based
on the claim that a fire preceded the ex-
ploson. Captain Sampson and his col
leagues of the naval board may have out
side evidence offered regarding a torpedo
float producing the explosion.
said one diver who had been engaged
in the work Of getting bodies out from un-
der the hatch: Cod may be merciful to
the men who blew those poor fellows to
eternity; the United States should not
This was long before Longs order prohib-
iting officers from talking. This diver evil
IDENTIFY thought the explosion was not an ac-
cident.. He had an experts capacity and
opportunity for judging.
THE Havana public is not permitted to
know the intensity of public sentiment IN
the United States. Only meager details are
permitted to be known of what happens in
Washington. Congress is watched with ex-
'.essive anxiety by palace officials, but the
populace knows nothing OF what is liable
TO happen. Evidence of i'll feeling toward
American people and exultation over the
Maine disaster do not lessen. The Maine
inquiry dwarfs interest in Cuban politics,
but recent developments carry official con-
fession of the failure of autonomy"
In dispatch to the st. Louis CIobe-Dem-
ocrat Mr.. Pepper says: IF the Washing
ton government is now in possession of the
early results of the Investigations of the
divers upon the wreck of the Maine they
must have been received within the past
twenty-four hours for it is known that a
special communication was sent by messen-
Vpr tor fhp ipcf baJ
made of the black and snarled hulk which
is visible so plainly to all who stand upon
the wharf here. Through an unexplained
source information reached here to-day that
the Washington authorities had indisputa-
BILE evidence that the Maine had been blown
UP by u torpedo. This information came
from no one knew where. but there was
an instant dissemination of it, and a con-
sequent manifestation of excitement, the
like of which has not been witnessed since
the terrible tragedy occurred.
THE fact that the accident theory had
been abandoned and that the United States
had about decided to hold the Spanish gov
ernment responsible for the loss of the bat
tie ship has caused n feeling among the
Spaniards here that is akin to fury. The
advice of Consul General Lee to Americans
to leave Havana is acknowledged upon all
sides to have been most wise, and there is
belief that when he gave it he was aware
that the expose which has followed the
preliminary investigation would become
known here within few hours after it be-
came public in Washington, and that in
consequence American life ana property
here would be in jeopardy. Quite u num-
ber of United States citizens have left Ha-
vana, and more are preparing to go.
crisis in the relations Of the United States
officials here with the Spanish authorities
is being reached. as is the case at Wash
ington and Madrid.
Captain Sigsbee was asked if he had for
warded to Washington message to the eff
feet that the Maine was blown up by a tor
pedo. He politely declined to either affirm
or deny a statement which has been made
to the effect that he did. He declined also
to state whether he had received from
Washington advices to the effect that the
government had finally come TO the conclu-
sion that foul play had wrecked the ship.
When asked as to how the report gained
circulation here he declined to express an
opinion, merely stating that the inyestiga-
tion was in the hands of the board of in
quiry, and to the members newspapers must
look for information. General Lee was also
noncommital as to the source of informa-
ton or as to the report which the Wash
ington government is alleged to have re-
ceiyed -