Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-02-24

WASHINGTON, Feb. tS-The govern
ment has settled back into waiting
Ing attitude in respect to the terrible
marine disaster in Havana harbor.
The great shock caused by the news
has given way to calmer and more
judicial state of mind, and, realizing
from the events Of the day that the
court of inquiry is the sole dependence
in the search for the cause Of the
Names loss, the naval officials are
now resigned to await the results of
that inquiry by court named yester-
day by the navy department There
was little news to add to the sum Of
information as to the disaster during
the forenoon. No kilograms came,
and all that could be CLEANED was
denial OF some absurd story or
other that had crept into print
or become current gossip. All the
news Of yesterday came In the late
afternoon in the shape Of Capt. Sigs-
bees report Of the authorization Of
the funeral Of his dead sailors and Gen.
Lees graphic story Of the terrible
struggle for life in the dark hull OF
the Maine. The officials at the navy
department devoted the day 10 the ef-
fort to correct the lists OF living and
dead, to answering frantic appeals
from relatives Of men on the battle
ship, and last, but not least, In meet.
ing with unwavering courtesy and
patience the exacting demands upon
their time OF the press representatives.
The department received a dis
patch from Adm. Sicard, in COM
mand of the North Atlantic
squadron, giving the details Of the
court Of inquiry to investigate the
Maine disaster 1t Is said that the
court can scarcely assemble for the
work at Havana before next Monday.
1t is not yet known where the board
will hold its sessions at Havana, as
this detail has been left for Adm.
Sicard to fix. 1t may be held at one OF
the hotels, or, perhaps, on board the
Ward line steamer, the tender Fern
or the coast survey steamer Bache
THE TORPEDO STORY DIscREDIrED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ls.-The navy
department absolutely discredits the
story from Key West that divers
have found an eight-inch percus'
sion hole in the bottom OF the
Maine. Secretary Long says there is
NO such thing as q percussion hole;
that there is no eightinch torpedo,
and that there Is no way in which such
hole could be accounted for 1t is, OF
course, possible that q shell exploding
inside the ship pierced hole OF that
kind In the outer skin, but that would
be readily revealed by the character OF
the angle, and whether or not the skin
was bulged In or out around the pune
ture. II is more likely, II there is any
hole at all of the kind, thatit 10 simply
the outlet Of one Of the numerous
pierces OF the inside OF the Maine.
Secretary Long positively denies
that Capt Sigsbee has in any sup
pressed telegram expressed the opinion
that torpedo caused the disaster, or
that n came from an external cause.
MI. ,.n..;u .o,a m .ho oon,,oru +ho+
"o o"p."'" s''"' w 'Ao so"'J '""'
ne could not venture 10 express an
opinion.
The Kew West bulletin regarding the
ana,,s . hi. H. ~, Lo+tor -
""."k " NV ~ '"o No''
plate OF the Maine ana referring IL 70
the work of torpedo was sent to the
white house bv the Associated press
- p...,a.,. MaY;,,l,
~" ~, =" "'' ''o"A w 'e''.e". ".
HIS only commeht was that IL was the
first he had heard of it, The president
does not wish to make any statement
arorts thot oo,,a rarord.
ing the olsaster, out ne perihloteu the
fact to be known that the administra-
ton had no advices tending to confirm
the Key West report
CAPT. sIasBEE's STATEMENT.
HAVANA, Feb. lS.--Capt Sigsbee,
commander OF the Maine, said yester-
day, when asked as to the explosion:
There is very little that | can tell you was
IN the cabin at sae slme naa JUS. finished
The shin rchod heavily ,o nor ons
knew in an instant what il all meant-that It
meant that my ship had blown up All
the cabin lights were put out and as
my way ,u ouI 81 o ns Reacn