The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-02
NO OFFICIAL NEWS.
President and Cabinet Still in the
Dark as to Cause of Wreck.

OarA hS 10 cause or Wreck.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The meeting
of the Cabient to-day, at which all of the
members were present, disclosed the fact
that the government is still without news
regarding the cause of the disaster to the
Maine. Up to this time the court of in
quiry has not indicated in any way the
trend Of the investigation. The President
and members of the Cabinet are as COM
pletely in the dark as to what the evidence
so far adduced discloses as they were on
the day after the explosion. The truth of
this statement is vouched for by authority
not to be questioned. 1t is explained that
under the peculiar circumstances of the
case Captain Sigsbee would not communi-
cate his theories or knowledge of the facts
to any one except the court conducting the
inquiry. Consul General Lee would be
guided by the same considerations. In any
event. neither of these officers has COM
municated to the government anything
bearing on the vital question at issue. The
court itself has been equally noncommuni-
cative, and nothing is expected from this
source until the inquiry is completed and
the findings sent to the secretary of the
navy. Nor has any intimation been re-
ceived as to the probable time which the in
quiry will consume. AT to-day's meeting
the Cabinet discussed a number of theories
which have been advanced as to the cause
of the explosion, but nothing approaching
definite conclusion was reached.
Another matter which engaged the at
tention of the Cabinet was the brutal MUIR
der recently of the colored postmaster and
his infant child at Lake City, s. c., by a
mob of a hundred or so white men. 1t was
(toI
the close Of the meeting that this most
heinous crime had been passed by almost
unnoticed by the public in the excitement
caused by the wreck Of the Maine, and that
thoughtful men might prohtably give a
share of their attention to this great wrong
committed by our own people.
The two outrages on Republican post
masters in the South discussed occurred at
Lake City. S, c., and Ada, Ga. Freeman,
the postmaster at the latter place, was as
sassinated before he entered on the dis
charge of his duties as postmaster. The
President, it is said, is very much dis
turbed by these acts, though he views with
satisfaction the fact that the whole South
ern press has expressed it's indignation. The
first impulse of the officials in cases like
those cited, it is said, is TO abolish the
it is realized that such step would de-
prive large numbers of citizens who have
nothing to do with the killing of their
postal facilities. The President, therefore.
finds it difficult to lay down any rigid
rule that could be applied in all cases. The
office at Lake City been abolished,
but so far nothing h zen done regard
ing the case at Ada, latter presents
some unusual features, reeman had been
appointed postmaster, but not having as
sumed his duties, was not an officer of the
government. Unofficial reports which have
reached the department are not clear as to
the precise cause for his assassination. One
is that he was killed because he
had been appointed and another
is that his death was the result Of quar-
rel. The department. however, will make
an inquiry into the facts and be guided
in it's future course by what this inqui:y
dayalOpS