The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-20

Commonder-in-Chief Street, Of the
Union Veterans Union. has offered 70 the
President the services Of ten thousand
men OF his order for the defence Of tho
country. They could bc ready for action
in forty-eighi hours.
SPANS REQUEST.
Secretary Long and Assistant Secretary
Day OF the State Department had an in
tervew with tho President this morning.
which lasted nearly on hour. Mr.. Day
read a cableeram from Consul-Gencral
Lee at Havana transmitting a request
from the Spanish authorities an Cuba that
tho Spanish officials bc permitted % join
with our own people IN making an inves-
tgation into the cause OF the disaster
10 the Maine. THE matter WAS discussed
az considerable length. and The conclusion
was reached that while this government
IS willing TO afford the Spanish authori-
ties nll reasonable facilities FOR conduct
ing an investlaauon. yet it is thought
best the first inquiry should be made by
our own commissioners.
The quest OF the Spanish government
for permission 10 examine the wreck OF
the Maine reached the state Department
last night through the following message
from Consul-Genoral Lee:
Havana. Feb. 18th.
Assistant Secretary Day. Washington.
"Siesbee begins tomorrow with divers
sent him from tho United States 10 re-
cover AN bodies sull left I'm wreck of the
Maine, as well as personal effects OF Off
GERS and men and whatever else can be
obtained that way. After that is COM
pIeted the Spanish government would Ike
10 unite with ours in having bottom OF
ship and harbor I'm vicinity jointly OK
ahmed
Signed LEE"
INDEPENDENT INQUIRY.
The following is the answer sent:
Washington, Feb. ~.
lee. Consul-General. Havana:
"The government OF the United States
has already begun an investigation as TO
the causes Of the disaster 10 the Maine,
through officers of the navy, specially APP
pointed for that purpose. which will pro-
ceod independently. This government VIII
AFFORD every facility It can to the Span
ieh authorities in whatever investigation
they may see fit to make upon their
rs,goed, DAY.
Assistant Secretary"
Secretary Long wired Admiral sicard
to-day after his consultation with Presi-
dent Mckinley telling him briefly what
Lees application I'm behalf Of the Spanish
government for permission 10 examine
the Maine.
lie also instructed the Admiral 10 press
forward as rapidly as possible the work
OF a survey upon the Maincs hull and 20
have the court OF inquiry to proceed to
Havana as soon az possible. il Is
scarcely expected at the Department that
any information of value as 90 the cause
of the explosion will De available until
the court has begun the formal inquiry.
The divers now at work in the wreck are
understood to be employed in securing
dead bodies and iu tho removal of ships
papers and small articles Of value go
that Il Is unlikely they would give any
heed 10 tho bottom of the hull. buried
as # probably is, deep in the mud.
Tho officials here intimate that the dis
covery OF pieces Of torpedos is not 10 be
taken ln Itself as evidence OF an outside
attack upon the vessel for 80 IS fully ox-
nectod that OF the eight torpodoes on the
Maine some were more or less ruptured
ard scattered by the explosion which
destroyed tho ship.
HARMONIOUS UNDERSTANDINGS.
The apparent difficulty attending the
sending down OF divers 20 the Maine was
relieved. 1T not entirely removed by
statement to-day by Senor Du Bose.
cnarge q 'anaires OF the Spanish legation
tnat q complete and harmonious under
standing between Captain siesbee and
the authorities M Havana had been
reached on The matter OF divers and that
the Spanish authorities view the Mano
as eXtra-territoriai, tha; u.s. a part Of the
sovereign territory OF the United States.
the same as a United states legation sit
u9ted ia fore gn territory.
WIKI the Maine holding its status as
cXtra-terr.tOriai. all doubts rs TO work
on tho wreck are removed. The waters
Of Havana haroor are Of course Spanish
territory and some confusion had been
aroused by the Idea that this jurisdiction
over the waters attached also 20 the
wreck IN its present helpless condition at
the bottom OF the bay.
COURT OF INQUIRY.
A dispatch was received to-day from
Admiral Sicard dated az Key West last
night speaking OF the assembling Of the
court OF inquiry. The message was as
follows;
Secretary OF the Navy:
"Bache sailed from Key West for
havana with the divers and stores for
the Maine The Iowa comes 90 Key West
ON tho lgth ana the Sampson Court OF
inquiry on the Maine assemblies on the
arrival here of Mark. The Mass shu-
sotts end Indisru al the Tortueas
"Fiueen officers ond forty-seven men
from the Maine hovc been distributed at
Key West Marine Hospital aud the army
barracks. More are due here on the 18th
hy the Manerovc. J shall hold all at Key
west pending the court OF inquiry.
no one OF Tho twentv-onc apprentices
that the Texas took from New York city
for the Maine was on beard that ship"
Captain Sigsbee forwarded another and
revised list OF the injured and the dead
50 Gar identified. this morning as follows:
"One hundred and twenty collins con-
tanning l25 dead bodies now buried: nine
read for burial tomorrow. Following
injured are In hospitals al Havana:
THE INJURED
''Fonowing injured are Ia hospitals NJ
Havana
''F c. Holzer. ordinary seaman: G. w.
KoebIer. apprentice of the first class:
John Heffron ordinary seaman: f. d.
cahl. landsman: James w. Allen. mess
attendant; Jermiah Shea. coal passer;
william Matison. ordinary seamon: T.
] Waters. landsman; NJ. V. webber,
landsman; Thomas Mack. lsndsman.
s'Following injured sent to Ksy West