The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-01
And that the Court VIII Decide the
Ship Was wrecked by Design, but
VIII Be Unable to Tell How.
REPORT WILL BE DELAYED
OFFICIALS AT WASHINGTON DO NOT
EXPECT 1T FOR WEEKS.
Work of the Divers at Havana Still
Hampered by Debris-Spanish In
vestigatiOn Not Yet Begur.

A
KEY WEST, Fla, Feb. 2s - The naval
court of inquiry which is Investigating the
cause of the destruction Of the battle ship
Maine in Havana harbor held its first ses-
sion here this morning. The testimony, of
course, was not made public. An officer OF
the Maine, however, who had been ex-
amined by the court during the day, talked
at length with the correspondent of the
Associated Press. 'I can't tell you,' he
said what line OF questioning was adopt
ed but the court will find, believe, that
the Maine was blown up by design, though
1 don't think it will be able to ascertain
exactly how. The courts finding will be
based on negative, rather than positive, evil
dence BY this I mean that all the testi-
mony heard so far has, bit by bit, upset
theories of those who think the explosion
was of internal origin. This negative evil
dence is so strong and SO general that
see no possibility Of the court deciding that
the explosion was internal. The only alter
native 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 formulates
a theory of It's own or declares that it does
not know how the disaster occurred, both
of which conjectures, think, improbable"
AS bearing on the value of the opinion of
the officer in question, it must be borne in
mind that he was before the court for
about fifteen minutes only, and that he has
at all times expressed himself as confident
that the explosion was aot due to an acci-
dent. Members of the court, when the SUBJ
stance of the interview was brought to
their attention, declined to have anything
to say All high naval and military Off
cials here, when asked crucial questions,
politely profess ignorance. 1t is apparent,
however that some of the officers and
civilians here who believed the reports from
Havana, saying that the court had already
decided that the loss of the Maine was due
to treachery, have changed their minds, for
to-day the universal question was, What
has the court found out?' while yesterday
one heard all around, "When will war be
declared?' Brought face to face with
the court, men realize for the first time
how unlikely it will be for the court to
allow an inkling of its conclusions to be
known out Of due season.
SCENES ABOUT THE COURT.
An unusual hustle pervaded this little
town from early morning hours The tor
pedo boat Cushing went over to the New
son and Chadwick and Lieutenant Com
mander Porter. Lieutenant Commander
Mark, the judge advocate, who is staying
on the island with Commandant Forsythe.
was already at the Federal building, direct
ing the preparation of the United States
District Court for the sessions of the court
Of inquiry. A small crowd gathered out
side, eagerly watching for DEVELOPMENTS.
Long before the officers were ready to go
to the courtroom the enlisted men saved
from the Inflated vessel were up and watt
ing at their temporary home in the bar
racks 1t was not known whether any of
them would be called, but all preparations
were made, so that the court should not be
delayed in it's work
The court opened shortly after 10 o'clock.
Lieutenant Blandin was the first witness
called. He was before the court for about
an hour. The naval officers sat in Judge
Lockes private chambers. No marines
were on guard, but all the doors were
closed. The officers of the Maine lounged
around the big courtroom until summoned
to give testimony. Those who were called
as witnesses before the luncheon recess at
o'clock were Lieutenants Blandin, Hood
Jungen and Blow and Cadets Bronson and
Boyd.
When the court reconvened at 2 o'clock
Lieutenant Holman, who testified at
Havana, was again called. Then Lieu
tenant Of Marines Cattin was summoned.
He gave his evidence quickly and was fol-
lowed by Boatswain Larkin, Gunner Hill
and Carpenter Holms. The two latter were
on shore at the time of the explosion and
could tell little of value
At ten minutes past 3 o'clock the court
adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10.
Judge Advocate Mark said: 1.-THE stenog-
raphers have all they can transcribe in
record form and there is no use of our
working longer to-day" In reply to a oues-
ton as to what would be done with wit
ness when no longer of service to the court
he said no decision has been reached on
that point, but one would be shortly Cant.
Sampson seemed satisfied with the days
work, but said nothing could be given out.
After the courtroom was cleared for the
day Captain Sampson held short inter-
view with Rear Admiral Sicard and then
returned to the Iowa. Captain Chadwick
and Lieutenant Commander Potter were
taken on board the New York
Orders were issued this morning at the
army barracks prohibiting enlisted men
from leaving the reservation without special
permits. officers leaves were also cur
tailed. It was rumored that two batteries
were held under marching orders, but this
was denied. Secrecy is maintained at the
barracks and no explanation of these cir
cumstances is forthcoming. Later in the
day the order forbidding soldiers to go in
town was rescinded. No explanation was
furnished, and there seems to be some
mystifcation at the alleged unprecedented
occurrence. 1t appears that the order not
only forbade the enlisted men from leaving
the reservation. but it confined them 4,