Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-26
News About the Court InQury'S Finding Reaches
Key West.
1t is Feared That Knowledge of Report Has Excited
Havana Population and Brought Anti-Amercan
Sentiment There to Climax.

Key West, Fla. March 25.-The As
sociated Press bulletin stating that the
court of inquiry had found the Maine
was blown UP bya. submarine mine, cre-
ated intense excitement here. It was
read by eager crowds, which included
Rear Admiral sicard, elderly captains
and young cadets.
AS frequently stated in these Dispatch
es, most of the naval officers at Key
West have held to the opinion, shared
by all the officers of the Maine, that the
warship was blown up by external
means The minority, who previous to
today had expressed the conviction that
the court would be unable to determine
the cause, was hard to find. All were glad
to know that the Maine's fate was not
due to the negligence of her own officers.
Intense eagerness for further details
is manifested on all sides. Countless
opinions are offered as to the possibility
of war and arbitration. Until late hour
tonight discussion was rampant on ship
and land as to the outcome.
The most significant development that
followed the announcement of the
courts report--a development known to
but few-was the sudden sailing of the
lighthouse tender Mangrove for Havana.
The Mangrove was lying quietly at the
dock, loading buoys, when orders came
about 5 O clock this afternoon for her to
proceed with all haste to Havana and
to take on board all the American Off
clals in that city with the exception OF
Consul General Lee.
y II is feared here that the knowledge
of thAzcourt's report has excited the
Hav9a1a population and brought the
mathematician sentiment to a climax.
Officers of high rank were still reticent.
Rear Admiral Sicard, however, said:
THE court Of inquiry brought in find
ings according to what its members be-
heved. Nothing could have made them
do otherwise. If they had been able to
fix the responsibility, feel sure they
would not have shird1ed this duty"
The attention of Rear Admiral Sicard
was drawn to the fact that Spain had
officially denied that Havana harbor
was mined. He replied: IF Havana
harbor were mine, 1 should certainly
have mined it. The water there is
especially suitable to such a method of
defense. Spain's denial had nothing to
do with the court of inquiry. I SHOULD
not believe a statement that Havana
harbor was not mined. The court has
not vet been dissolved. 1t is barely
possible that more work may be re-
quired of it: but this is not probable.
THE court Of inquiry is composed of
splendid men. I am greatly satisfied
with their work hardly suppose much
excitement will be caused by the an
nouncement Of the verdict. I am under
the impression that nlnetyznine per cent
of our people were already convinced
that the Maine was blown up external
ly, and / scarcely think their ideas
would have changed, even if the court
had reported otherwise. When the pos
siblity of arbitration and the ensuing
eatanglements were suggested to him.
Rear Admiral Sicard said: "The Maine
case is nothing in comparison with the
Alabama claims. Then we were OPP
posed to a powerful commercial rival
but nov we are dealing with Spain"