The record-union., 1898-02-24
Published Reports Of Interviews
With Divers Untrue.
Commander Wainwright Ordered to Take
the Station at Havana and Look After
the Governments Interests While
the Work Progresses.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The arrival
of more mail in Washington from Key
West this afternoon, bringing severai
nrivate letters from naval officers late
X attached to the Maine. caused
wave oe excitement to run over the
department and the Capitol, 1or th7re
were all sorts of rumors as TO the con-
tents of these letters, few of when
rurors. in point of fact. had any soaho
basis. The only feature, so tar as
could be discovered. of real Importance
as throwing any light on the cause OF
the explosion contained in the letters
was the statement that the two after
boilers In the after boiler space and
all of the eight boilers Of the Name
We're under steam at the time ol lhe
EXPLOSION. This fact had negative
value. for it disposed at once OF me
theory that a boiler explosion had
caused the wreck The experts all say
that by no possibility could the after
boilers exploding have wrecked the
fore part of the Maine, and left the
other part almost unharmed
Much interest was shown in dis
patch received shortly before 3 O'Clock
from Admiral Sicard, giving the rec
concentrations of Captain Sampson of
the court of inquiry. as TO the raising
of the wreck The view of the naval
officers was that Captain Sampson and
his associates We're giving this advice,
not as a court. but as officers in pc
sition TO speak as to the best methCGs
TO be adopted for wrecking the Maine.
Various Interpretations were put on the
expression forward half complete ~
DESTROYED" This was regarded as a
martial confirmation of the theory that
the forward magazine had exploded. as
that is one of the most important por-
tions of the forward half of the ship.
At the same time, it was held by some
naval authorities that the destruction
of the forward half of the ship does
not necessarily mean that the forward
magazine had exploded. as this might
general wreckage. In the absence OF
an explicit statement as to the for
ward magazine, there was disposition
not to accept any implied statement as
to it's destruction.
Captain SIMPSONS recommendation
that a contract be made with the best
equipped wrecl1ing company 10 remove
material and lift the ship without de-
lay was ir line with the action already
taken in closing contract with the
two largest wrecking concerns in. me
country, by which their combined ia
cilities VIII be at the service of the
clause binding the wreckers TO use their
utmost efforts to expedite the work. so
that the department feels that every
thing has been done to carry out the
views expressed by Captain Sampson.
A clause Of the contract itemizes the
amounts to be paid for each branch
of wrecking work. viz: Wrecking tug
Underwater, $50 per day; wreck.ng
steamer Jones. $500; lighter Seymour.
SO: derrick Chief, so; barge Lone
Star. $50; wreeking tug Right Arm.
$500: wreckmaster, Sl3; wreckers,
81 80 each: divers. $50 each.
Evidently the President OF the Court
of Inquiry is fearful of the effect upon
the public of ill-judged attempts to
account for the destruction of the
Maine. for this afternoon he tele-
graphed Secretary Long, doubtless
having in mind certain publications Of
this morning. as follows:
HAVANA. Feb. 23.-Any reported
interviews with divers untrue. Every
precaution has been taken. officers al
ways present"
This brief statement disposes OF all
the allegations that have been made
pro and con as to the blowing up of the
forward magazines.
The officers here are still thinking or
Captain Sfgsbee's request of yesterday
to be furnished with the plans OF the