New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-24
NAMES OFFICERS TESTIFY
SEVERAL OF THEM WITNESSES BEFORE
THE COURT OF INQUIRY


WILL rE ExAMINEp-THE wREcKER RIGHT
ARM AT HAvANA-woRK OF THE DI-
vERs-woUNDED DOING WELL.
Havana. Feb 23-The United States Court OF
Inquiry into the loss Of the Maine met this morn
ing at 10 o'clock as usual and examined Or.
Heneberger Paymaster Ray and Chief Engineer
Howell OF the battle-ship. There was recess
ordered at noon and it lasted until l3o ?. m
Several witnesses whose names are not no" op-
tainabe were examined during the afternoon.
The usual visit was made to the wreck by Cap
tain Sampson. president Of the court He says
he has no idea of the length Of time the court
will remain in session here. 1t all depends upon
the testimony and new features requiring fur-
ther investigation may develop at any time
Captain Sampson added that. sooner or later
every survivor OF the Maine will be examined
by the Court. which seems to imply that ses-
sions for that purpose will be continued later at
Key West.
Although this Information is meagre. It is ab-
solutely all Captain Sampson will give to the
press The correspondent Of the Associated
Press him by appointment twice daily. but
there is rigid rule to observe silence until the
facts In the case have developed through the
testimony presented.
THE RIGHT ARM AT THE WRECK.
The Right Arm Of the Merritt Chapman
Derrick and Wrecking Company. Is moored
about two hundred yards from the poop Of the
Maine. The wrecking tug looks powerful enough
to move a mountain, yet II is reported that she
is not supplied. owing to her hurried departure
for this port, with all the apparatus she needs
for the work which s before her. Captain Nc
Gee. the commander Of the Right ARM has re-
ported to Captain Sgsbee, as ordered by the
Navy Department, and will act under the lat
ter's orders. which not yet formulated, or. at
least are not made known.
A large quantity Of clothing has been taken
from the wreck and after 1t has been disinfected
II will be given to the reconcentrados
BODIES OF OFFICERS STILL IN THE WRECK.
The bodies of the missing officers Lieutenant
Jenkins and Assistant Engineer Merritt, have
not been recovered. The divers reached the
formers room, but It known that his body
not there.
Thus far the sharks have given no trouble.
but the vultures have left scarcely anything but
the skeletons of three men who were entangled
In wreckage near the surface Of the water. The
bodies were not noticed by any until the foul
birds had completed their CHASTITY work From
the hand Of one of the men Chaplain Chidwlck
removed a deeply chased gold ring for purposes
OF Identification.
Early this afternoon Chaplain Chadwick re-
ceived a communication from Mrs ]. P. Kean. of
No 603 Blue Isand-ave.. Chicago. praying news
of Edward F. Kean, her son. 1t seems certain
that he is among the victims Chaplain enid
wick says that the total number Of missing is
eighty-ve or eighty-six and five have died In
the hospital. OF the missing many doubtless
were blown to atoms. portions being recover
able and there is much doubt that any consid-
cradle number Of those whose bodies are now
being removed will be identified.
Those at work In the wreck Of the Maine hope
TO settle soon the question definitely as to
whether the ten-inch magazine on the starboard
side. forward, blew up 1t is suggested that the
public should bear in mind that a warship Is
not easy to get about in even when afoat, and
the difficulties are therefore much greater when
such a ship is wrecked and under water. This
accounts for the sowness OF the results OF
the divers work.
The wounded are doing we'll
The survivors here Of the Maine received to-
day their first mail advices from home since
the warshp was destroy ed, and every
hastened to prepare mail for the steamer OIL
vette, which sailed at / o'clock this afternoon.
Newspapers from the United States eagerly
read. as they are the first received since the
loss OF the Maine.
Up 10 last HlSHt loo DOuleS OF the crew OF
the battle-ship had been buried. all OF them
with religious services.
The weather is much cooler the wind Is
higher and norther is threatened.
LEE NOT GOING TO KEY WEST
Consul-General Lee, who has received a num-
Der Of dispatches to-day inquiring as TO the ac-
curacy Of the report that he is arranging to go
to Key West on the torpedo-bo Gushing 10
meet Senator Proctor. says he has no present in
tention Of doing So
II is reported that twenty bodies have been
found under the forward hatch, 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 wreck to-day, dscOv-
cred. 1t is said that the armor plates projecting
from the water forward near the bow were from
the bottom Of the ship There is a good deal Of
speculation to what caused this, many con-
tending that the position OF the plates shows
that the big magazine forward did not explode
The divers. it is believed by many, will find
little Of the structure of the ship forward of
the ten-inch turret.
The Olivette's passenger list for Key West to-
day larger than usual.
ASH WEDNESDAY IN HAVANA
BARrONS RELIEF WORK