Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-01
NEGATIVE EVIDENCE
Testimony Of Names Survivors
Against the Accident Theory.
COURT IN SESSION At KEY WEST
1t Will Probably Take Several
Weeks to Reach Result.
PERLMAN'S STARTLING STORY

The naval court which is inquiring into
| the Maine disaster was in session all day
yesterday at Key West, taking the testi-
mony of the officers and men who came
over from Havana soon after the explosion
An officer of the Maine who had been
examined by the Maine court of inquiry
said afterward to the Associated Press cor
| respondent:
Il can't tell you what line of questioning
| was adopted, but the court will find, / be-
| lieve, that the Maine was blown up by de-
sign, though I don't think it will be able
| to ascertain exactly how. The courts find
| ing will be based on negative rather than
positive evidence.
by this means 1 mean that all the tes-
timony heard so far has, bit by bit. frus-
trated the theories of those who think the
| explosion was of internal origin. This neg
| alive evidence is so strong and so general
that l see no possibility of the court de-
Gliding that the explosion was internal
THE only alternative then left for the
| court is to fall back on evidence which
| points TO the intentional blowing up of the
| Maine.
This, think. Will be done, unless the
! court eormulates a theory of its own or
| declares that it does not know how the
4
| ures ] think improbable"
Members of the court, when the SUBJ
stance of the interview was brought to
| their attention declined to have ANYTHING
| to say. All the high naval and military
| officials here, when asked crucial ques-
| tons. invariably relapsed into a state of
polite ignorance.
Shortly before leaving the hotel for the
/ court room 4 young officer of the Maine
| was heard to say:
We'll, 1 don't suppose they'll ask me,
but If they do I'll tell them / am posi-
| tive we were blown up No one can make
me believe Il e Maine blew up from in
1 ternai causes, as the papers call it,
Represents Officers Opinions.
This undoubtedly represents the opinion
| of the Maine officers, and il 1t were not for
| the stringent injunction to keep silent some
| of them doubtless would let thesr suppress
| ed Indignation have public vent, and over
| their own names.
After testifying before the court Lieut..
| Blandin spent most of the day fixing the
| hotel electrical indicator. which was out
| of order. 1t affords glimpse of the light
| err side of life. uncommon during these
| days of suspense, to see the man who
| was officer of the deck when the explosion
| took place waiting patiently for the buzz
of the hotel electrical indicator after he
had repaired IL.
After the court room was cleared for
The day Capt. Sampson had a short inter
view with Admiral Sicard and then return
ed to the Iowa.
| mander Potter were taken on board the
1 New York
Capt. Sampson seemed satisfied with the
days work, but said nothing could be
given out
The United States cruiser Detroit sailed
TO the Tortugas today with provisions for
| the feet.
An order was issued at the army barracks
r1n lnp i,pr oaltu
leaving the reservation without special per-
| mits, and curtaIling officers leave put it
was rescinded in the afternoon.
No explanation has been furnished and
| there seems to be some mystification at
| this alleged unprecedented occurrence. 1t
appears that the order not only forbid the
enlisted men from leaving the reservation,
| but il confined them to their quarters.
AT the regular muster and inspection held
early in the day particular attention was
| bestowed by the post commander on the
| mems marching kits.
Lieut.. Hood Called.
The New York Worlds correspondent at
| Key West says of the session:
The next witness after Lieut. Blandin was
Lieut.. John Hood. the senior officer of the
| Maine crew now here.
He stayed only a few minutese, and was
| followed by Lieut.. G. P. Blow and Jungen.
Next came Naval Cadets Bronson and
Boyn.
| At ] pm. the court adjourned for lunch
| con- Promptly at O'Clock the sitting was
resumed.
Lieut.. Holman was the first witness in
the afternoon.
Lieut.. Albert w Catlin of the marines
vas then summoned.
He was followed by Gunner Hill. Carpen-
| ter Larkir ard Boatswain Helms.
| At $40 the board adjourned for the day.
| 1t will probably go to Havana Wednes-
day
The testimony OF the officers and men is
valuable, but the court thinks the physical
evidence presented by the ship is much
better.
The members hope that when the addi-
tional wrecking outfit sent from New York
reaches the side of the Maine enough Of
the structure may be raised to present in
ccntrovertible evidence of what they now
seem satisfied was the cause of the ealam-
ity.
1t is almost certain from the line of
| questions put to the witnesses that the
court will report to the Navy Department;
| In Washington that the Maine was blown
up by some external agency.
1t is not likely that it will charge that II
was done by Spaniards 1t probably will
| leave the President and the Secretary Of
the Navy to draw their own conclusions.
Will Wait for All Evidence.
1t is evident that the court does not in
| teEd TO report until every bit of the evil
dence has been accumulated. 1t may drag
| the finish along to the middle of March.
If the government is preparing for war
every days delay is a distinct gain
Admiral Sicard has been in close COM
| munication with Washington all day.
Much activity is noticed in the fleet
Admiral Sicard may go aboard his flag
ship tonight, as he is much better
Rumors that he is to reliaQuish the COM
mana are current. He was asked about
| them today, but refused to discuss the mat
ter. '
II he does retire or is relieved he nav be
Succeeded either by Schley or Bunce
The Detroit is still at Tortugas. The
| rumor that she may go to Havana Imme-
| oiately is not believed
Orders have been received for the men Of
COMMISSIONER OF DEEDS
John Il MITCHELL coanf1SrIn,-,-I, -. ..