The record-union., 1898-03-05
WORK OF DIVERS.
Making Slow Progress in Searching
the Wreck

HAVANA. March 4-Warm. rainy
weather prevailed here to-day. and ev-
erything has settled down into regular
Lenten quiet.
So far as can be observed the divers
at work are working slowly but steadily
during such hours as il is possible to do
so in the turbid water. The big barge
has been found so useful in carrying
big pieces Of wreckage that it is a wonJ
der il was not sent here before.
The Spanish divers have been down
but little TO the wreck of the Maine,
and any reports sent as coming from
them are likely to be incorrect.
A number of beautiful wreaths and
floral pieces We're sent to the Colon
cemetery to-day by the Americans Of
this city to decorate the graves of the
victims of the Maine disaster The
scheme will be continued and the flow
ers will be renewed when withered
Gable dispatches from Madrid pub
lished here say that Senior Moret, the
Minister for the Colonies, confirms the
statement of General Perrado that the
Government never thought of dismiss
ing the volunteers.
The cable dispatches also deny the
pedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers
are to come to Cuba.
The American divers having exam
med more or less thoroughly the ward
room of the Maine and the senior and
junior officers mess rooms. are to-day
trying TO effect an entrance into the
petty officers compartments In the
hope of finding some bodies there How
ever. each day the belief grows strong
er that few If any more bodies will be
recovered. Not one body was recovered
to-day.
Captain Sharp. who is in charge of
the Merritt q Chapman wrecking out
fit. appreciates the difficulties of the
situation better than others. He VIII
not specify any time when the big
guns will be released. 1t is necessary
to first remove the top of the currents.
These are held in place by steel bolts.
which must be cut loose. The best
informed people here think a month
will elapse before the turrets are
opened.
In the meantime, minor details of the
wreck are progressing with all possible
speed.
Your correspondent has been officially
informed that the United States light
house tender Mangrove with the Ma
val Court of Inquiry on board, will re-
turn here tomorrow morning
The discipline on board the Spanish
cruiser Vizcaya is very high. which
greatly gratifies the Spa.-.ards.
Senator Proctor. General Fitz Hugh
Lee, Captain Sigsbee and many other
prominent Americans attended the GER
emones of decorating the graves of the
Names dead to-day
A hurricane which swept over the
port of Batabano on the south coast OF
Cuba. opposite Havana. has done great
damage. 1t destroyed a hut in which
were auartered a number OF soldiers
belonging TO the Castillian battalion,
killing two of the men and wounding
twenty-five others. Thousands Of
trees were swept away ard the ships
in the harbor were obliged to put hur-
riedly to sea in order t<-avoid being
wrecked.
AT Colon Cemetery this afternoon the
graves of 16l who persisted in the Maine
were decorated with two large ssorni
wreaths and cross in the presence of
a score or more of Americans. including
Consul General Lee. Captain Sigsbee
and Chaplain Chadwick. Chaplain
Chadwick offered brief prayer, and
George Mayer Of Chicago made belief