The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-01

ing that the court had already decided
that the loss of the Maine was due r
treachery have apparently changed
their minds, for to-day the question is,
What has the court found while yes
terday one heard all around, 'When VIII
war be declared?" Brought race 10 race
with the court men realized for the hrst
time how unlikely 1t will be for the court
to allow any inkling of the CONCLUSIONS
to be known out of due season.
An unusual hustle pervaded this little
town from the early morning hours. Inc
torpedo boat Gushing went over TO the
New York and brought to shore cap
tains Sampson and Chadwick and Lieu
tenant Commander Porter. Lieutenant
Commander MadriX, judge advocate,
who is staying ON the island with COM
mandant Forsythe, was already. at the
federal building directing the prepara-
ton of the United States district court
for the sessions of the court of inquiry.
A small crowd gathered outside, eagerly
watching for several persons. me men
saved from the Inflated vessel were up
early and waiting at their temporary
home in the armory barracks. 1T was
not known whether any of them would
be called, but ali preparations were
made so the court should not be delayed
in its work.
Lieutenant Blandin was before the
court for about an hour. The naval Of
ficers sat in Judge Locke's private
chambers. No marines were on guard,
but all the doors were closed. The offl-
GERS of the Maine lounged around the
court room until summoned to give tes-
tlmony. Those who were called as wit
nesses before the luncheon recess were
Lieutenants Blandin, Hood, Jungen and
Blow and Cadets Bronson and Boyd. No
enlisted men were examined at the
morning session. Lieutenant Com
mander MadriX, who received the list of
witnesses said the inquiry was prog
ressing well.
The United States cruiser Detroit sail
ed to the Tortugas to-day with proVis-
ions for the fleet.
The court of inquiry convened at 2
O'Clock this afternoon. Lieutenant Hol-
man, who testified at Havana, was
again called. Lieutenant of Marines
Catlin gave his evidence and was fol-
lowed by Boatswain Larkin Gunner
Hill and Carpenter Holmes. The two
latter were on shore at the time OF the
explosion and could tell little of value.
AT $40 o'clock the court adjourned UNI
til tomorrow.
Judge Advocate Mark said The
| stenographers have all they can tran
scribe in record form and there is no
use of our working longer to-day.
An officer of the Maine who had been
examined by the court during the day
talked with the correspondent of the
| associated press
| II can't tell you he said, what line
/ of questioning was adopted. but the
court will find / believe. that the Maine
/ was blown up by design. though don
| think ii will be able to ascertain eX-
| aetly how. The courts findings will be
! based on negative rather than posi-
| tive evidence. BY this. | mean that
! all of the testimony heard so far has
! bit by bit, upset the theories of those
who think that the explosion was oil
| internal origin. This negative evidence
| is so strong and so general that | see
| no possibility of the court deciding tina
| the explosion was internal
The only alternative then left fol
the court is to fall back on the evi
| dence which points To the intentiona
| blowing up of the Maine. This, think
will be done, unless the court formu
| lates IL theory of its own or declare!
that ii does not know how the disaster
occurred, both of which conjectures
think improbable"
AS bearing on the value of the opin
ion of the officer in question it must bt
borne in mind that he was before the
court for about Is minutes only ant
that he has at all times expressed him
| self as confident that the explosion wa
not due to an accident. Members of tn
court when the substance of the inter
| view was brought to their attention, de
clined to have anything to say All thu
high naval and military officials here
when asked crucial questions, politel.
profess ignorance.