The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-03-03
NRECklNG THE SHIP.
No Important Developments in the
Maine Investigation.


Havana, Feb. 25.-The United States
court of inquiry into the loss of the
Maine met at 10 O'Clock this morning
and examined DR.. Heneberger, Pay
master Ray and Chief Engineer Howell,
of the battle-ship. There was a recess
ordered at noon, and it lasted until
1870 z. M. Several witnesses, whose
names are not obtainable, were ex-
amined during the afternoon.
Another visit was made to the wreck
by Captain Sampson, president of the
court. The captain says he has no idea
of the length of time the court will re-
main in session here. 1t all depends
upon the testimony, and new features
requiring further investigation may de-
velop at any time. Captain Sampson
added that sooner or later every sur
vivor of the Maine will be examined by
the court, which seems to imply that
sessions for that purpose will be held
at Key West. Although this informa-
ton is meager, it is absolutely all Cap
tain Sampson will give the press.
A strong wind made the harbOr rough
today, and added to the difficulties of
the divers, as the electric lights are
worked from battery on the lighthouse
tender Mangrove, 900 yards distant.
Captain Sigsbee is panied by the
comments on his conduct while the
Maine was afioat, made by some of the
papers here, but it is pointed out that
such papers are not of the better class.
The captain has been so universally
courteous and is apparently SO popular
that it is. surprising that any of the
papers of Havana should seek to do him
an injustice.
Today has been the quietest since the
explosion. The wounded are all doing
we'll, except Frederick G. Holzer, who
is slightly worse. The divers have
been continually at work, but the re-
suits of their labors, SO far gas they
would throw light on the cause of the
explosion, are kept strictly for the
court of inquiry. 1t is reported that
20 bodies have been found under the
forward matches, but only three have
been removed, owing to the mass Of
chains and wreckage in the way.
The officers of the court of inquiry,
during their inspection of the work to-
day, discovered, it is said five armor-
plates projecting from the water near
the bow There is a good deal of
speculation as to what caused this,
many contending that the position of
the plates shows that the big magazine
forward did not explode. The divers,
it is expected by many, will find very
little of the structure OF the ship for
ward of the 10-inch turret.
A large quantity of clothing has
been taken from the wreck, and, after
it has been disinfected, it will be given
to the concentrates. The bodies of
the missing officers, Lieutenants Jen
kiDs and Assistant Engineer Merritt.
have not been recovered. The divers
reached the formers room, but it was
found that his body was not there.
Thus far the sharks have given no
trouble, but the vultures have left
scarcely bit behind but the skeletons
of three men who were entangled in
the debris near the surface OF the wa
ter. The bodies were not noticed by
any one until the fo1l birds had COM
pleted their CHASTITY work. From the
hand of one, Chaplain Chadwick re-
moved deeply chased gold ring for
the purpose of Identification. Chap
lain Chadwick said the total number
of missing is So or Sc, and five have
diod in tho bOSnita1