The record-union., 1898-02-22
Work of Divers Confined to RecoV-
cry of Dead and Valuables.
The State Department Decides TO Ignore
Interview Attributed to Sobral. He
No Longer Being an Attache OF
the Spanish Legation.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 21-To-day's 5
svelopments in the Maine disaster
=. ere Of a negative character. greatly
: the disappointment of a considera-
. g number of persons, who were look
g for some startling discovery by the
..avars working in the sunken hull.
The State Department, after learn
q that Lieutenant Commander So
al was no longer recognized as an at
tache of the Spanish Legation, decided
ignore the interview attributed to
him, which it was at first disposed to
esent. It Is now learned that Secre-
ary Long. ate on Saturday, called
ipon Asslst ant Secretary Day OF the
Stale Department and laid before him
qsowSfas1sr clippings containing the re-
rorted Interview. Acting Secretary
.say ysreed with Secretary Long that
here was warrant for looking into the
qatter. and called the attention of the
spanish Charge d 'Affaires TO the pubii-
cations. Senior Dubosie, however,
promptly declared that the naval officer
was no longer an attache of the Lega-
tfon. his successor having been appoint
ed and gazetted December 24th. He
further explained that il was owing en-
tirely TO the more important and press
ing matters of business before it that
ne Legation had overlooked the send
ng ef the proper notification of the
hange to the State Department. 1t is
aid that as matter Of fact there are
frequently great delays in the receipt
n such information of changes among
attaches al the State Department.
For very obvious reasons. Captain
Siga)ee, at Havana. is making the
most strenuous efforts to hasten the re-
covety OF the bodies. Probably near
" a hundred in number are still i'm
prssorad in the wreck of the Maine. 1t
va tnowIedge of the Captains de-
sire - Is probably led Consul l-General
Lee y,n the Navy Department Of
he l. ore divers. This had
the s.,ed effect. for the Navy De-
rartmei.t took actl9n to send more help.
Admiral sicard telegraphed from Key
West this afternoon that he had sent
five divers TO Captain Sigsbee, and
asked if that was sufficient The act
ing Chief OF the Navigation Bureau
aptain Dickens, at once took the sen
sible course of directing the Admiral
put himself In communication with
captain Sgsbee. and learn his needs at
fist hand
The business of the Navy Depart
rlent is getting back TO it's normal con-
tition. as is evidenced by the fact that
4h order has been issued to discontinue
the speca& telegraph service which was
Established with Key West, and here
after the office at that place viii close
rt 10 O'Clock at night, as formerly.
Commander Forsyth, the Ccmman-
ant at Key West has also asked per
.s4lssion of the Department to stop his
Ally bulletins. and this has been grant
g with an understanding that he Will
s<oort any deaths that may occur
ong the sufferers in the hospital
Il Re To-day he reported that they
fNx.e all getting along nicely.
S1'he exchange Of official condolences
in continues. To-day Secretary Long
sns telegram as fellows to Captain
seulate
q Commanding ofcer of the Spanish
cruiser Nizeaya. Tompklnsvllle. y. Y.
have the honor to acknowledge the
(leeeipt Of your telegram Of coincidence
Sor the loss OF the Maine. anu 70 thank
.pa for the expression Of sympathy"
s'uilar response was made to a
>eabieeram froan Admiral spann az
ana. expressive of sympathy for the
effibie disaster % the Maine.
WORD FROM HAVANA.