The Portland daily press., 1898-03-25
sIGsBEE WANTS TO GO HOME.
Thinks He Has Been detained in Havana
Long Enough.

Havana, March 24.-Two of the eight
Whitehead torpedoes carried by the
Maine have been recovered. These were
aft. The other six were probably de-
stroyed. Regarding the use of dynamite
by the contracting wreckers, Capt. ..Sigs-
bee said to this correspondent today:
more has bean made out of the matter
than was warranted by the facts, which
are simply these:
"The contractors asked my permission
to use dynamite in small quantities and
also asked leaveD to use tape to blow off
protubsrances, angles, etc. i where the
wreckage is so.entangled that it is very
difficult to hoist. There never was any
intention to use the explosive in large
enough quantities to destroy the wreck.
l submitted the request of the contrac' ;
tors to Consul General Lee for him to
ask permission from the Spanish authori-
ties and 1 asked also for orders from the
United States naval department. Both
our own and also the Spanish authorities
refused the necessary permission. That
is all there was to the matter.
On the Same subject Consul General
Lee said:
II transmitted Capt. Sigsbee's request
mnde on the part of the contractors to
Captain General Blsnco, and received
Il reply that the matter was too 1mpor-
tant 10 be settled without reference to
Madrid, Captain Blanco intimated that
the United States court of inquiry, hay
ing sat in Judgment on the disaster to
the Maine, 1t would be unwise to destroy
by the use of dynamite the wreck upon
which judgment wassformed. Last eve
ming I had word from Capt Sigsbee that
bade the use of dynamite on or about the
wreck. The papers here today say Ma
drid has sustained Gen. Blanco's prohibit
ion against the use of dynamite on the
wreck.
''The result will be, naturally, slower
work in removing the debris and also, it
is possible more hosting apparatus may
be needed. 1t is probable the wreckers
wished most to use dynamite or dyna-
mite tape, to get the top of the turret
SO that the 10-inch guns could be hoisted
OUT
In regard to going away Capt. Sigsbee
said:
IT have never expressed desire about
the matter until recently I received q
personal letter asking my wishes and
what l thought hest. We have been here
two months instead of two weeks as at
first intended and the climate is begin
ming to tell on all of us. While the court
was in session our business was to be
here. Il seems now rs if Wainwright
would be enough to take charge of the
wreck, especially since all the work is
now mere routine work of salvage, while
the chaplain might remain to identify
the bodies when recovered, if possible
besides after April 1st we would all be
subject to tine rigid quarantine laws.
For myself 1 would like to get to Key
West and write up my report OF the dis
aster. AS yet L have not written line
While the court was inssession did
not want in any way to anticipate it's
report 1 have no idea what that report
is or whether am found guilty or not. :"
This last remark was made With a
smile.
A letter from Consul Br3ce at Matanzas
says Mr.. Saynor his successor advises
him that he expects to arrive in Cuba
about April 1st
ORDERED HOME AT LAST.
Havana. March 24.-Orders for the re-
turn home were received this afternoon
by Captain Sigsbee and the other officers
OF the Maine now here and all will 90
North except Lieut.. Commander VAIN
right.
Captain Sigsbee and his brother off
GERS expect to leave for the North by the
Plant line steamer Olivette on Saturday.
Two bodies were found this afternoon.
One. that of Japanese ward room boy,
had foated into the ward room; the
other, that of white man. was found
forward and may be the body of ma
chinist.
The mail steamer from Barcelona ar
rived tonight with 1400 Spanish regulars.
Burdock Blood Bitters gives man 8