The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-17
orrIc1l1 VIEWS coNSrErATIyE
Divers VIII Inyestigate- spanish Regrets
al y ~. Gltnrl- ONT.

4 u N"N~ fsiNfu Oufs
WASHINGTON. Feb. lG-Aftcr day
OF intense excitement nj the Navy De-
partment and elsewhere. growing out Of
the destruction OF the Battleship Maine
I'm Havana harbor last night, the situa-
ton tonight after the exchange OF
number Of cablegrams between Washing
ION apC Havana can be- summed up in the
words Of Secretary Long, who when ask
cd as be was about TO leave the depart
ment for the day. whether he thought the
disaster was the work Of an enemy, said:
Il 90 NOT. in that J am influenced by
the fact that Captain Sigsbee has not
yet reported 10 the Navy Department on
the cause. lie Is evidently waiting 90
write a full report So long as he does
not express himself ] certainly cannot ]
shuuIC tnink from the indications. how
ever. that there was an accident that
the magazine exploded. How that came
about 90 not know, for the present at
least no other warship viii De sent 10
Havana"
CONGRESS CONSERVATIVE.
Ine appalling nature Of the disaster
and the gravity Of the situation that
would arise should investigation give
basis for the undercurrcnt Of suspicion
OF treachery and foul play that ran
through an minds had a SOLDERING effect
on pubnc men or all shades OF political
opinion. 1he fact stands forth and is
uttlo less than remarkable that not a
single resolution was introduced or a sim
gle speech made In either House of Con-
grcss bearing on the disaster. save one
of coincidence with the families of those
Kilied. offered by Ar. BQuielle and adopt
ed by the House of Representatives.
iuDnc men expressed their opin ons
with reserve wneD approached for inter-
views. but everywhere there was n de-
mand for an investigation and full details
in the light OF which the horror may be
justly viewed.
Secretary Long undoubtedly summaflz-
ed the general opinion of the majority OF
inc naval experts IN finding 81 impossi-
bie just now 70 state the cause Of de-
struction of the Maine. There are a
great number Of theories. tut most Of
them are o. character that makes it
easy Go nrovc or unset them hy @ simple
investigation by a diver Secretary Long
has taken immediate steps 90 make this
inycetgat ton.
AN INVESTIGATION
late this afternoon be teiegaphad TO
Admiral Sc9rd as Fey West tn arppini
"a board OF naval officers 60 proceed ~
once Co Havana. er1rl0V divers and gem
orally 20 moJc such inquiry as The regu-
latioua or the navy demand. shall he
made in the case of the loss Of q ship.
j. O. said that This work viii take
some time ard while there are officers
who say that IN their opinion IL Will not
he possible on account of the disrupted
condition of The hull 90 make ont thr
cause OF the explosion. the opinion OF
The majority IS that the question VIII be
easily settled by the simple observe tion
of fho condition of The ship hull plates
| In the noighb0rhood OF the hoe which
sunk her whether OF not they arc
I hulred out as would d. the case II the
explosion came from inside or whether
! ihcv were driven in, as would result
/ from the attack of q iorpedo Of the
| explosion Of q mine beneath the ship.
NAVAL OFFICERS DIVIDED.
The large majority of naval officers
| are lncllncd 10 the belief that the eXplo-
sion resulted from SPONTANEOUS combus'
/ tion OF n cual bunker: the OverheatinE
| OF the iron partitions between the boil
/ ers and the magazine or from the explo.
| sion Of boiler though the last theory
finds iitio support
! The lists Of survivors that came 20 the
! Navy Department this afternoon in an
swcr to talcrrams. was Inaccurate and
made out tho loss 81 Ire. eieht more thar
/ the summary originally eivcn by Cap
tam Siesbec IN ga earlier telegram. sC
/ Secretary Lcng teleefaphad for another
corrected Dist. and also one That shoulC
show who were and who were no
/ W~urdod o. ffe e1'rs-ivOrq
j. was found necessary 70 DO this
owing 10 the ereat nrmbor Of pitiful ap
peals for information as 90 the sofct
of some unfortunate on the Maine tha
came from ali parts OF the country.
MAY BE RAISED.
The naval constructors. on the Hight al
/ the DISPATCHES TINS far received. say tha
/ g. Is ~ 90 mems certain that the Main,
cannot be raised an1 nfsin carry Ire nsc
/ They say that wfi'e size is big ship
others as large have bcen raised and n
I Havana the rev floating dry Dock w0u''
receive her T. she could once be got;er
I above thc water.
! Contain Slgshe0 Is evidently taking ai
/ Interest ~ the future OF the shin FOR h
sent a TELEGRAM 10 Commander Forsvthe
| al Key West. that was promptly trans
| nittea 20 Secretary Long. suggesting tha
| a lf~lt-hopee vessel nr some such smal
craft be stationed In Havana harbOr q
watch over the wreck.
THE inter even if beyond resurrecf ION
contains valuable ordnance and othe
n-onsrtv that doubtless can be secured b,
divers.
I =, is SAID M the Navv Department tha
this disaster IS the greatest of the kin,
an navel history since the sinkine ~ IN
M,, Rrlfish warshiD Victoria. bv collision
With tho Csirpordpvn. IN the Mcitcra
---r--------.-r---e --~.~--r----