Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-03-10

st. Paul. March New York Her.
AIDS special cable to the Pioneer Press
says:
Eager us is the waiting public for
definite announcement of the con-
clusions reached by the naval court of
Inquiry into the Maine disaster, it may
as we'll be stated now that the sus-
pense which pervades the entire coun,
try, and, indeed, the whole civilized
world, must be endured probably for
several weeks longer.
The president aud cabinet may, per-
haps, he made cognizant of the courts
conclusions at a somewhat earlier date,
but its findings may not be made pub
lie before the latter part Of March, and
announcement nay be delayed even
later. To-day Garks the end of the
first weeks sessions of the court. New
er in the history of similar proceedings
have such precautions been taken to
guard the facts from public scrutiny.
Never have officers remained more
consistently reticent under the orders
of their chief. Nevertheless, your cor
respondent has passed many hours
aboard the Mangrove during the week
and is in q position to give an accurate
synopsis of the situation os it is to
day. The first and most obvious CON
.clusion is that already stated, namely,
that the courts report must not be eX
pected soon. The second and most i'm
portant conclusion, one which many
conservative observers have reached.
is that with the end of the first weeks
work the probability is
More Remote Than Ever
that the court can ever attribute the
tn mi i,,to
or causes. The weeks work has hard
ly been one that makes. for peace.
Just in proportion as that fact has be-
come palmer in the light of testimony
taken the evident purpose Of the court
of inquiry to make haste slowly has
forced itself upon those who have
watched it's course. Had it been posi-
bic early in the investigation, with
reasonable certainty, to say that the
Maine calamity was a misfortune only
and not a crime the continued sup
preston of that conclusion would have
served the interests neither Of the
United States nor Spain.
On the contrary, had the facts tend
ell to show all accidental origin of the
explosion, all peace-loving, sober
minded people would have rejoiced to
see even partially lifted the dark cloud
that now menaces both nations, and
the conservative press Of America
would have welcomed an opportunity
to relax the dangerous tension that
now prevails. 1t was in the hope Of
such early assurance that the cor
respondent watched the first weeks
proceedings Of the court That hope
has almost vanished. The testimony
thus far adduced points overwhelming
" to an opposite conclusion. That is
why the government is moving so de-
liberately. The navy department needs
the time and will make good use of it.
Dissatisfied With Divers.
1t has been persistently rumored
that the naval court is not wholly sat
lsfed with the work done or the report
made by the divers up to the present
time. l am inclined to believe SOME:
such feeling existed, and that it is
partially responsible for the naval
courts contemplated return to Havana
in time to observe the work Of the
more efficient wrecking apparatus
now en- route from New York.
Martin Riordan, hitherto attached to
the fleet, has been returned to Key
West in deep disgrace and will proba-
bly, be court martialed. The crime of
which he stands accused is no less than
IuslU O1 plllcIluS 1lOlu SciL SAColo VI
the dead soldiers and appropriating to
it was his duty to bring to the surface
and deliver to the proper authorities.
One seaman's chest in the berth deck,
it is said, contained savings aggre-
eating more than $1,000. The diver
had been under suspicion. He was
watched by other divers while at work
and the suspicious, it is alleged, were
verified. His quarters were searched
and many trinkets and articles OF
value are said to have been discovered.
Loyal Spaniards to a man still refuse
to entertain for moment the suspi-
cion that the Maine was the victim of
foul play or of any other than acct
dental causes. Many Of them scout as
ridiculous statements that the harbor
is filed with submarine mines. Ha-
vana remains quiet, quieter than usu-
nj; abnermally quiet for carnival time.
Kew West, March 2.-Lieut. Blandin
was before the court for about all
hour. The naval officers sat in Judge
l.ocke's private chambers. No ma
rines were on guard but all the doors
We're closed.
Those who were called as witnesses
DG1OrC the luuClleOIl feCcoS WCiC AH'-u
tenants Blandin, Hood, Jungen ana
Blow and Cadets Bronson and Bovd.
No enlisted men were examined at the
morning session.
The court of inquiry reconvened at
o'clock in the afternoon. Lieut..
Holman, who testified at Havana.
was again called. Lieutenant of Ma
rines Catlin gave his evidence quickly
and was followed by Boatswain Lar
kin, Gunner Hill and Carpenter
Holmes. The two Inter were on shore
at the time of the explosion and could
tell little of value. At $40 the court
adjourned over till 10 o'clock i'll the
morning.
Capt. Sampson seemed satisfied with
the days work but said nothing could
he given out. After the court room
was cleared for the day Capt. Sampson
held a short interview with Rear AL
miral Sicard and then returned to the
Iowa. Capt. Chadwick and Lieut..
Potter were taken on board the New
York. Few know more than was
known in the morning. An officer or
the Maine, however. who had been en-
,n,inod hy tho cOurt during the day,