The herald., 1898-03-01
he commanding general of the department

Of the east.
The gunboat Wilmington sailed to day
from La Guayra for Barbadoes. travelling
over the ground covered q few days be-
fore by the Cincinnati and Castine. All
Of the boats are slowly cruising around In
the Caribbean sea, and will be so employed
until April. when they will go south again.
6ecr,tars Long said at the close Of Of
fee hep.s that no orders had gone out to
send another warship to Havana, reports
to the contrary notwithstanding.
At the White House the utmost quiet pre-
walls. Many offers have come from or
ganizations and individuals Offering their
services in case Of conflict. Some of the
congressional callers have stated to the
president that their states were ready to
furnish full quotas Of men.
Secretaries Long and Alger and Repre-
sentative Dingley were among the presl-
dents visitors today, but 1t was stated
that they had nothing of importance on the
Maine affair to disucss with him. Mr..
Dingley spoke afterwards in strong terms
against reports that financial circles in
New York were being sounded as to the
readiness with which funds could be raised
In an emergency. The attention Of Sec
retary Gage was called to the statement
that he was making preparations for
bond issue and that the bureau Of en-
craving was preparing plates. The secre-
tary pronounced the statement unquali-
fiedly false. No such action has ever been
considered, he said.
The court of inquiry reconvened at 2
o'clock this afternoon. Lieut. Holman, who
testified at Havana, was again called
Lieutenant of Marines Cattlin gave his
evidence and was followed by Boatswaln
Larkin. Gunner Hill and Carpenter
Holmes. The two latter were on shore at
the time Of the explosion and could tell
little of value.
At $40 the court adjourned until tomor-
row.
raphers have all they can transcribe in rec
ord form and there Is no use Of our working
longer today"
After the court room was cleared for the
day, Capt. Sampson held q short interview
with Admiral Sicard and then returned to
the Iowa. Capt. Chadwick and Lieutenant
commander Potter were taken on board
the New York.
Few know more than was shown this
morning. An officer of the Maine how
ever. who had been examined by the court
during the day, talked with the corre-
spondent of the Associated Press.
II can't tell you." he said. what line Of
questioning was adopted. but the court
win find, I believe, that the Maine was
blown up by design, though don't think
It will be able to ascertain exactly how.
Tho courts findings will be based on mega
tive rather than positive evidence.
by this mean that all of the testimony
heard so far has. bit by bit, upset the theo-
ries Of those who think the explosion was
Of internal origin. This negative evidence
Is so strong and SO general that I see no
possibility Of the courts deciding that the
explosion was internal
"The only alternative 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 theory Of its own Or
declares that 1t does not know how the
disaster occurred, both of which conjec-
lures ! think improbable"
As bearing on the value OF the opinin of
the officer In question, 1t must be borne In
mind that he has at all times expressed
himself as confident that the explosion was
not due to an accident
Members Of the court, when the SUBJ
stance Of the interview was brought to
their attention. declined to have anything
to say.
All the high navai und military officials
here. when asked crucial questions. po-
litely professed ignorance.
AT KEY WEST
KEY WEST. Feb. 2S.--The United States
court of inquiry into the loss OF the battle-
ship Maine in the harbor of Havana on
February 18th. began its sessions here this
morning. 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 Span
ish treachry. have apparently changed
their minds. for today the universal in
quiry is, What has the court found I"
while yesterday one heard all around.
when will war be declared?"
Brought face to face with the court,
men realized for the first time how un-
likely It would be for the court to allow
any inkling of Its conclusions to be known
out OF due season
Lieut. Blandin was before the court for
about an hour. Those who were called as
witnesses before the luncheon recess were
Lieuts. Hood, Jungen and Blow and Cadets
Bronson and Boyd No enlisted men were
examined at the morning session.
Lieut-Com. Mark, who received the list
OF witnesses. said the inquiry was pro-
crossing well. The United tSates cruiser
Detroit sailed today for Tortugas with pro-
visions for the feet.
DIVERS AT WORK
HAVANA, Feb. 2s.-Local work was done
by the divers from the tug Right Arm
Capt. Gee. who is In charge, seems to lack
authority from the wrecking people or 9TH
-