The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-27
PROCTOR At HAVANA.
Positively Denies That Ee Is There
en- Official Business

HAVANA, Feb. Ex-senator Proctor
of Vermont arrived here to-day from
Florida, via Key West. He says his
coming here has no significance in con-
rection with political matters. The
Senator is accompanied by III. III. Par
ker, a real estate man of washington,
and it is given out that the two gentle
men are engaged in a business venture
Senator Proctor says he was in Florida
for week. and concluded to run over
here. He may go back on the next
steamer, or he may conclude to remain
for some time.
! A number Of newspaper men returned
to Key West to-day. in anticipation of
the transfer OF the United States Court
OF Inquiry into the loss of the Maine to
that place.
The arrivals here are not many, and
the departures are about uD to the aver
age. The wounded sailors of the Maine
are doing wei, according to last report,
except Hcler, who was very low last
night.
The extra divers and apparatus on
the Mascotte were gladly received here.
IN an interview with Senator Proctor
this morning, the correspondent of the
Associated Press said:
viii you please tell me the object of
your mission here?"
To this Mr.. Proctor replied: Il have
no mission. If I had any official duty |
would not have been a week getting
here. l am not in any sense a represen-
tative from President Mckinley, nor
have / anything to do with the Court
of Inquiry. l wish you would deny posi-
lively that l am here on official bust
ness"
! The Court of Inquiry was in session
again to-day, but did nothing. simply
waiting to see if any new developments
came from the work of the divers. A
strong wind hindered the divers in their
operations, but the new divers and APP
paratus brought by the Masootte are
row on board the tug Right Arm, and
viii be put to work as soon as possible.
Captain Sampson expects that, the
! Mangrove, with the Court of Inquiry
on board, viii sail Tonight, unless new
discoveries are made to detain her
/ Captain Sigsoee and the other officers
of the Maine who are here will probably
remain until the Mangrove returns.
This morning Senator Proctor took
breakfast with Consul General Lee, and
afterward walked and drove about the
city
The wreck of the Maine sinks percep-
tiby every day in the mud of the har-
Dor.
The court this afternoon re-examined
Captain n. Sigsbee, Surgeon Henry
Burger, two divers and Consular Clerk
Drain. They then verified the testi-
| mony by the stenographer's notes. and
made preparations for their departure
Senator Proctor and his friend. Mr.
Parker and Consul General Lee rode
around the wreck in a launch.
Commander Cowles of the Fern then
Went On board the Mangrove and paid
a social call to the members Of the
court. The Mangrove got under way
after the farewells had been spoken.
about half-past o'clock Captain
Sampson said he had no idea when the
court would return here.
1t is reported from Spanish sources
that Captain Sigsbee and the other
officers OF the Maine. who are here
Will be called before the admiralty
court in Havana next Monday to give
their testimony referring to the loss of
the Maine. This is the usual course.
+! it is said, and has been expected
The divers will continue work on the
wreck next week. under the direction Of
Captain Sigsbee
Seaman Frederick O. Holzer. after a
most sturdy fight for life. died this af-
ternoon.
Three bodies have been recovered to-
day. One Of them came TO the sur
face. and the others We're brought up
by divers. One has been identified as
that of John w. Johnson
Senator Proctor also visited Miss C1a-
"a Barton this afternoon. Miss Bar
tons staff has been augmented by threa
nurses from New York who came to-
day on the Mascotte Senator Proc.
tor oontemplates a trip into the coun-
try, and will probably visit Matanzas
and other cities.