The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-03-03
RECOVERING THE DEAD.
Special Telegraphic Service Has Been
Discontinued.

Special Telegraphic Service Has Been
Discontinued.
Washington, Feb. 23.-Today's de-
velopments in the Maine disaster were
of negative character, greatly to the
disappointment Of considerable num-
Der of persons, who were looking for
some startling discovery by the divers
working in the sunken hull.
What threatened to be another inter-
national incident growing out of certain
alleged utterances. by Lieutenant-C Com
mandel Sobral has been dismissed sum-
marily as shown by the following state
ment given out at the department OF
state:
"The department of state learns from
the Spanish charge d'affaires that Lieu
tenant Commander Sobral, to whom
unfavorable utterances respecting the
discipline of the United States navy
had been attributed in newspaper in
terview, was relieved of his functions
as naval attache to the Spanish legation
in the United States some time ago, his
successor, Lieutenant Commander Don
Ramon Carranza y Reguera having been
appointed on the Gath of January last
in his capacity"
For very obvious reasons, Captain
Sigsbee at Havana is making the most
strenuous efforts to hasten the recovery
of the bodies, probably 100 in number,
Maine. 1t was knowledge of the cap
tain's desire that probably led Consul
General Lee to inform the navy depart
ment Of the need of more divers. This
had the desired effect, for the navy de-
partment took action 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 acting chief of the navigation
bureau, Captain Dickens, at once took
the sensible course of directing the
admiral to put himself in communica-
tion with Captain Sigsbee and learn his
needs at first hand. The business of
the navy department is getting back to
it's normal condition, as is evidenced by
the fact that an order has been issued
to discontinue the special Geographic
service which was established with Key
West, and hereafter the office at that
place will close at 10 O'Clock at night,
as formerly.
Commander Forsythe, the command
ant at Key West, has also asked permits
sion of the department to stop his daily
bulletins, and this has been granted,
with an understanding that he will re-
port any deaths that may occur among
the sufferers in the hospital there. To-
day he reported that they were all get
ting along nicely.
The exchange of official condolences
still continues. Today, Secretary Long
sent telegram as follows to Captain
Eulate:
Commanding Officer of the Spanish
Cruiser Vizcaya, Tompkinsville, n Y.
Il have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your telegram of coincidence
for the loss of the Maine and to thank
you for the exression of sympathy"
A similar response was made to a
cablegram from Vice-Admiral Spann,
at Vienna, expressive of sympathy for
the terrible disaster to the Maine.
The social courtesies which the gov
eminent intended to extend to the Off
GERS of the Vizcaya have been aban-
dOned on acoount of the Maine catas-
trophe.
As result the stay of the Vizcaya at
New York probably will be materially
shortened, and she is likely to sail
within the next three days.
The ship will probably proceed direct
to Havana. not stopping at Charleston
or other ports, as had been suggested
during the earlier preparations. The
Vizcaya will not coal at New York. &C
cording to the understanding here, nor
will it be necessary for her to take coal
before reaching Havana. This deter
mination gives relief to the authorities,
as the taking of coal in time of public
excitement is attended with more or
less risk, the coal affording an opportu-
nifty to extremists for the secretion Of
explosives, despite the utmost precau-
ton that may be taken.
Numerous letters and kilograms have
been received at the department from
individuals desiring to join the navy,
asking to be enlisted Immediately. A
telegram was received this morning
from an organization in Detroit, offer
ing the immdiate services of 10000
citizens of that city in case of war.
Patriotic offers also have been received
from other places.
Owing to the delicate situation, the
board of inquiry, which is now in ses-
sion, has decided to make nothing
whatever public. It is not known
what the testimony may develop or
when, and it is only fair to the Span
ish government not to tell the public
the testimony until all has been re-
ceived and the findings have been con-
sidered.
Untimely Indignation.
Dayton, o., Feb. 23.-Great indig-
nation was shown toward the Spaniards
today. The National Cash Register
Company is holding convention OF
agents from all over the world, and
among other countries Spain is repre-
scented. In honor Of the various ma
tions. the different flags were displayed