The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-03
WORK OF THE DIVERS.

Havana, March 2.-The wrecking tug l.
J. Merritt of the Merritt and Chapman
Wrecking and Dredging company, COM
manded by Captain d. A. Wescott, ar
rived here from New York this morning
and later in the day she moved barge
near the wreck and commenced work.
Mr.. Fred j. Scharp is here in charge
for the company. The Merritt is power
full boat, but another and bigger tug is
expected here shortly. The Right Arm
will probably remain as long as she can
be useful.
The wrecking company expects from
now on, t. keep four expert divers at
work.
Two Spanish divers were at work about
the wreck today, and it is understood
they will report TO the Spanish board ap-
pointed to inquire into the cause OF the
disaster. Captain Pearl is the president
of the Spanish board of inquiry.
No bodies have thus far been found to-,
day.
1t is reported that Captain Sigsbee
does not expected to find any of the dead
in the zone of the explosion, but he still
thinks bodies will be recovered from por-
tions of the wreck as the divers remove
the debris. The divers who are working g
steadily forward are encountering con-
tinual difficulty and it is certain that the
new tugs. additional men nnd complete
apparatus will hasten the work OF salvage
The officers of the ViZcaya paid cere-
monial visits this morning to Admiral
Manterola and Captain Gen. Blanco
Crowds of people viewed the cruiser from
the points of vantage ashore and those
who are permitted to do so go on board.
RAISING THE MAINE.
London. March 2-Commenting upon
the letter written by Edward James
Reed, formerly chief of construction OF
the British navy, which appeared in the
Times yesterday. expressing the opinion
that the battleship Maine could be foated
for a tenth of her cost, Messrs. Clark and
Stapdfield, the designers.of the floating
dock. recently sent to Havana for the
Spanish government, have written to the
Times saying that the dock Is perfectly
capable of dealing with the Maine, even
| in the waterlogged state it would be in
when first raised. ;"
Continuing. Messrs. Clark and Stand
field. say: "Lifting the ship therefore
reduces itself merely to question of
placing collision mats over the rents in
| the bottom and temporary timber and
| canvas bulwark raised above the decks,
sufficient to keep out the water while
| towing her across the harbor to the place
! where the dock is moored.
HAS ALL SETTLED.
Madrid, March 9.-The Spanish govern
ment on Monday received q report from
the Spanish authorities at Havana saving
that the explosion which wrecked the
Maine was due to internal causes and
adding that it was believed that the
United States will admit this without
reservation of any kind. y
FOOD FOR STARVING CUBANS.
Washington, March 2.-Secretary Long
has decided to send naval vessel to Cuba
at once with forty or fifty tons OF pro-
visions for the relief of the suffering re-
concentrates. The vessel will go to
Matanzas or Santiago.
10 is said an emergency exists that
make it necessary to despatch provisions
at once in order to succor the starving.
The vessel to be sent will be selected this
afternoon.
RUMOR UNCONFIRMED.
| London, March At is impossible to
verify the report that Spain has raised the
necessary funds for the purchase OF three
Chilian warships, which are supposed tt
he ON Ube market. The Armstrong; who
are building the battleships have heart