Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-25
THE MAINESITUA
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PACED

under the harbor OF Habana. leading
from subterranean passages, and known
70 nave existed for years between Fort
capanas, MORO Castle, and this port,
'he spaniards explain that for over a
century subterranean passage about
TWO miles long and eight feet at it's mar
roWest diameter, capable OF giving pas
sage TO a column OF troops has existed
from the navy-yard TO Castillo del Prin-
cipe. The Spaniards also assert that the
existence Of this passage was not known
10 the present authorities, or those who
nave been In power for many years past.
The entrances and exits. Il IS added. have
peen closed for years by thick walls, now
covered with debris and their exact lcca-
tlon Is said to be lost.
Al the same time. Il Is admitted that
records regarding The subterranean pas
sage can be found in old documents in the
archives Of Habana.
Finally the Spaniards insist that this
passage does not 90 under the harbor at
any point
INSURGENT DARING.
On Saturday last party OF about forty
guerlllas left a fort on farm near
Aguacate, about forty miles from this
city, "as was their custom" TO dine at
neighboring place. During the absence OF
the guerillas a detachment of about fifteen
insurgents occupied the fort, and when
the garrison returned from dinner the
insurgents fell upon them with machetes
and killed twenty-five of the forty gueril-
las. The remaining fifteen members of
the government force succeeded in es-
Gaping.
The session Of the court of inquiry this
afternoon was devoted TO taking the tes-
timony of two civilians, Americans, who
saw the explosion from the deck OF the
Ward-Line steamer City OF Washington,
that was moored a few hundred yards
from the Maine, and Of two divers, who
have been at work on the wreck for seve-
raj days.
COURT MAY RETURN TO HABANA.
Although it is probable the Mangrove
will leave for Key West tomorrow, Cap
tain Sampson, is not yet certain. 1t is
believed the court will return to Habana
after hearing the Key West witnesses
but no official confirmation of 'nis re-
port can be obtained. With the depar-
ture of the court the centre of interest
will probably be at Key West, although
the officers will maintain the same re-
serve there as here.
The news given out by the court is
strictly confined to that already sent by
this correspondent and is very scanty at
the best
The explosion is no longer the sole topic
Of conversation. The public here appears
to be content to await the report Of the
court of inquiry, and 10 be well assured
that nothing except surmise Is possible
until the report IS made.
WOUNDED DOING WELL.
The coast survey steamer A. ID. Bache'
after many delays, left for the Dry Tor
tugas this evening, with three wounded
all doing well. Owing to the American
quarantine regulations the wounded.
having been in hospitals here and exposed
TO fever, must be taken to hospitals IN
the Tortugas for quarantine. The names
of the wounded on the Bache are John
Hebron. of Freemanstown, n. j.; Ihomas
]. Watts Of Philadelphia, and Jeremiah
Shea. of Haverhill. Mass.
The other wounded are doing well late
tonight Even Holzer. though sorely
wounded, is better, and is making a gal
liant fight for life.
No bodies were recovered to-day from
the wreck. Recent orders from captain
sigsbee strictly forbid all officers OF the
Maine to give out any information ex1
cent TO those officially empowered TO ask
If The order is generally understood 10
apply to all official matters, though some
think II affects only matters connected
with the disaster.