The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-01
COURT OF INQUIRY AT KEY WEST
Relief That the Court Had Already
Made Up It's Mind DisDeIIed.

Relief Thnt the Court Had Already
Made Up It's Mind DfspeIIed.
Key West, Feb. 2S.-The United States
court of inquiry, to inquire into the loss
of the battleship Maine in the harbor of
Havana, Feb. 10, began its session here
this morning.
Those officers and civilians here who be-
lieved the reports from Havana saying
that the court had already decided that
the loss of the Maine was due to treachery
have apparently changed their minds for
to-day the universal question is. what
has the court found out?" while yesterday
one heard all around, when will war lie
declared?"
Brought face to face with the court men
realize for the first time how unlikely it
will be for the court to allow any inkling
of its conclusions to be known out of due
season.
An unusual hustle pervaded this little
town from an early morning hour. The
torpedo boat Cushing went over to the
New York and brought to shore Capts.
Samson and Chadwick and Lieut. Com
mander Porter Lieut.. Commander Mark,
the Judge Advocate who is staying on the
island with Commandant Forsyth, was all
| IGdQN at the + SUGIdl Du4IuItiS ildklilS pre-
| paraton in the United States district court
for the sessions of the court of inquiry
A small crowd gathered outside the gal
lery watching for developments.
Long before the officers were ready to go
to the court room, the enlisted men saved
from the Inflated vessel were uD and
waiting at their temporary home in the
barracks not knowing whether any OF
them will be called, but all preparations
were made so that the court should not be
delayed in it's work.
Lieut.. Blandin was before the court for
about an hour. The naval officers sat in
Judge Locke's private chambers. No ma
rnes were on guard, but all the doors
were closed
The officers of the Maine lounged around
! the big court room until summoned to
| give testimony. Those who were called as
witnesses before the luncheon recess at
o'clock, were Lieuts. Blandin Hoods, JIM
gen and Blow, and Cadets Bronson and
Boyd. No enlisted men were examined
at the morning session.
The court of inquiry reconvened this at
ternoon at o'clock. Lieut. Holman, who
testified at Havana was again called.
Lieutenant of Marines Catlin gave his evi-
/ dence quickly and was followed by Boat
4 swain Larsen, Gunner Hill and Carpenter
/ Holmes. The two latter were on shore at
/ the time Of the explosion, and could tell
| little of value At 3:10 o'clock the court
adjourned until tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
! Judge Advocate Mark said: THE stem
| ographers have all they can transcribe in
| record form, and there is no use Of our
/ working longer to-day"
In reply 10 a question as TO what would
| be done with a witness when no longer
4 of service to the court he said no decision
has been reached on that point but one
would be shortly.
Capt. Sampson seemed to be satisfied
with the days work, but said nothing
! could be given out. Few knew more than
was known this morning.
! An officer of the Maine, however, who
! had been examined during the day, talked
! at length with the correspondent of the
! Associated Press. Il can't tell YOU" he
| said. what line of questioning was adopt
| ed but the coart will find. believe. that
| the Maine was blown up by design, though
| 7 don't think 1t will be able to ascertain
! exactly how. The courts finding viii be
! based on negative rather than positive ev-
| idence. BY this I mean that all the testi-
monv heard so far has, by-the-by, upset
| nc theories of those who think the ex-
nloslon was of internal origin. This mega
! tive evidence Is so strong and so general
! mat / see no possibility of the court de-
| ciding that the explosion was internal
s.The only alternative left TO the court is
CONTINUED on Fifth Page.l