The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-26

Washington, Feb. 25-Undoubtedly
there is a quieter feeling manifest at
the navy department over the Maine
affair as time passes. This is the tenth
day since the noble warship was de-
stroyed, but the officers are willing
to wait in patience at the admonition
of the president and Secretary Long
until the facts relating to the eXplo-
sion are fully developed.
They are fully on their guard against
the acceptance of unauthorized state
ments Of the conditions at Havana, and
the daily developments, being aware of
The efficiency of the precautions adopt
ed by the court of inquiry to prevent
the premature disclosure of the pro-
ceedings. Therefore, the published
statement that the explosion has been
demonstrated to be Of exterior origin
by The discovery of the upheaven bottom
of the Maine, did not cause much stir,
because the officials could not conceive
that the alert members Of the court of
inquiry and their assistants in Havana
had overlooked fact 50 important as
this, Notwithstanding il being perfectly
apparent for a week to any one who
came near the wreck.
Captain Crowninshield turned up at
the navy department today and took the
helm in the bureau of navigation, re-
lieVing. Captain Dickens.
There was no word from either Cap
tain Sigsbee or Consul General Lee at
the navy and state departments
SINKING INTO THE MUD.
Havana, Feb. 25-The wreck of the
Maine is slowly but surely sinking into
the mud. Before the hull could be
raised it would be necessary to move
the guns and deck debris. For lack of
proper appliances, practically nothing
in this line has been accomplished. /
Aside from the officers cabin effects,
the salvage thus far has been pitifully
small. The cloudy weather and rain
made the work of the divers unsatis-
factory today, and very little was done.
1t is said that a hole has been made
by the divers in one of the forward
matches, and it is hoped that number
OF bodies Will be recovered. Inc court
- of inquiry sat longer than usual today, 1
the six divers being examined more
in detail than heretofore.
NOT DETERMINED.
The time of departure of the Man
grove with the court for Key West has !
not been determined. Captain Sampson /
said today that it was doubtful whether /
his vessel would sail tomorrow; that /
all depended on the Developments OF /
the testimony.
The Spanish cruiser Alfonso XIII has !
been towed to a buoy further within i
tie harbOr to make room for the Z
cruiser Vizcaya, which is expected here
tomorrow or the next day from the
north.
PITIFUL SIGHTS.
The work of clearing out the bodies
under the hatch proceeds. The sights
there are pitiful almost beyond the en-
durance OF the divers, accustomed as
nr.l,s
dition in which the bodies are found
shows that the men sleeping in the
hunks must have been driven against
the beams overhead with terrific force.
In many instances the bodies are be-
YONG the possibility of recognition.
WHAT IS ESTABLISHED.
The board has not yet directed the
examination of the huh plates While
the divers examinations show that
some OF the smaller magazines may
have exploded, the fact that the main
ten-inch magazine was not exploded
seems to have been cOnclusively es-
tabiished The story of the finding of
q ten-inch copper cylinder was correct
The Spanish authorities adhere to the
story Of q fire in the ship and an eX-
plcsion afterwards. The result of the
divers work is conclusiveiy against
that theory. Though their reports are
carefully guarded, it is known that
wreck has demolished the theory OF fire
before the explosion.
DIVER MORGAN'S EVIDENCE.
New York, Feb. 25.-The Mail and
Express this evening prints the follow
ing. dated Havana. today:
The United States naval board of in
curry continued today taking the tes- ]
timony Of the divers who have been
working on the wreck of the Maine {
Those who were sent here from the ]
battleship Iowa and the cruiser New
York We're examined
While. of course. the members OF the
court viii not talk for publication, I {
am informed on the highest authority
that the evidence of Diver Morgan as
TO the condition of the Maine shows
almost beyond the possibility OF a
doubt, in the opinion of my informant
that the Maine was blown up by an {
outside agency. Furthermore Nor [
CANS report is verified by the other '
American divers who descended today.
USELESS TO RAISE THE MAINE.
The court has decided against any {
attempt TO raise the ruined battleship. t
The members are convinced that it (
would be useless. as she could not very
well be kept afloat and the Spanish au-
thorities here viii be informed that if
they wish the wreck removed from the 7
harbor they must attend to the work
themselves This decision gives a bet
ter idea of the terrible havoc wrought
in the Maine than columns of descrip- y
tion could.
The Merritt Wrecking company. ii
was annornced TODAY. wanted 50 600 O00 s
to raise the wreck The company'S v
representatives made this demand. af- t
ter viewing the condition of the ship {
The wreckers today turned their at )
tention to saving the great guns. z
These at least can be recovered in suf- Z
4Fcfa 70
effort. c.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At the afternoon session of the court