The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-01
R:TAlN THEIR SILENCE
DIVERS EXAMINED MORE FULLY
THAN EVER.
EXISTENCE OF sUBTERRANEAN PASSAGES
Spaniards Deny that the Mine Galleries Ex-
tend Under the Harbor-. Cuban In
surgents Fall Upon and Kill
Twenty i've EuarrilIas
Twenty Five GuerriIIas.

Havana, Feb. 24.-The Court Of In
quiry held its usual sessions to-day.
Captain Sampson reports that Chaplain
Chadwick was examined lis To his per-
sonal experiences at the time Of the
disaster to the Maine, and that the tes-
timony was taken of the Captain OF 4
British bark in the harbor and the SUI
~perintendent of the West iadian Oil
Works, across the bay at Resla, both
Of whom witnessed the explosion. Mr..
Rolf. the British engineer of the float
ing dock in the harboE wrote Il letter
to the court, but, it is said. did not add
anything material to what was known.
At the afternoon session the divers
We're examined more fully than before.
Their testimony IS taken from day to
day. The court expects now to finish
here to-day and to sail on the Mangrove
for Key West, where the other officers
and men will be examined.
The wrecking tug Right Arm did not
90 north. :S was expected yesterday.
She is now moored beside the poop of
the wreck. and will salvc the smaller
portions as far as possible in advance
OF the arrival of other tugs with better
facilities for heavy work.
Chaplain Chadwick reports that Ill the
wounded here are doing we'll except
Frederick c.. Holzer, of New York, who
may die ut any moment
THE TESTIMONY GUARDED.
Neither the officers of the Court OF
Inquiry nor the witnesses will give the
slightest indication OF the testimony or
the conclusions deducible from it. and
al say that the men employed on the
wreck have been warned to observe an
equally strict r%eticence. This course is
regarded us eminently wise by the Am
erican and all Intelligent Spanish Off
Gals as there is no telling what pas
rions might be aroused or what evil
results might be brought about by talk
ING freely on official matters in the pre-
sent state of public feeling in Havana.
InuS far Americans are treated with
the utmost courtesy and kindness; and
it seems the special care of the residents
of I1aVana to show friendllneSS.
Consul General Lee says there is no
truth in the report hat be had asked
Captain General BlancO II dismiss from
Cuba certain newspaper men for sending
sensational stories to the United States.
On thc contrary General Lee has never
intcrfercd with the American newspaper
men in any way.
To-day the principal streets and build
ings are gaily decorated with flags and
bunting in honor of the Spanish soldiers,
2.029 l~nfantryman under the command
of Jose Amador, who arrived this morn
ing by the steamer Montevideo, from
Barcelona.
Gen. SOlanO. the second chief of staff,
to-day returned on board the MangrOve
the visit of the Court of Inquiry, acting
rs the representative of the Governor
General. Admiral Manterola personal
ly returned the visit paid to him by the
court. The Thursday reception of Cen
eral Rlanco was resumed this evening.
THE NINE GALLERIES.
In connection with the claim made by
the CubanS that there are mine gal
leries under the harbor of Havana, lead
ing from subterranean passages, and
known to have existed for years betWeen
Fort Cabanas. MORO Castle and this
port, the Spaniards explain that for over
Il century 4 subterranean passage abou
two miles long and eight feet at it's mar
rowcSt diameter, capable of giving pass
age to a column of troops has existed
from the Navy Yard to Castillo del
Principe. But, the Spaniards further
assert, the existence of this passage was
loD hllpN IL ~ tit lIOSNAiC 49, ~
to those who have been in power for
many wears past. The entrances and
exits. it is added. ave been closed for
years by thick walls now covered with
debris and their exact location is sad
to he lost. At the same time. 1t Is ad-
mitted that records regarding the sub
terranean passage can be Ound IN old
documents in the archives of Havana.
Finally. the Spaniards insist that this
passage does not so under the harbor at
any point.
On Saturday last a party Of about
forty gucrillas left a fort on a farm
near Aguacate, about forty miles from
this city as was their CUSTOM, to dine
at a neighboring place. During the alb
sence 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 macleteS and killed twenty-five
out of the forty guerillas.
The remaining fifteen members Of tho
government force succeeded II "Sc1pl 1S.
PATIENTLY AWAIT REPORT.
Havana. Feb. 24.-The session of the
Court Of Inquiry this evening was de
voted to taking the testimony of two
civilians. Americans. who saw the eN-
plosion from the deck of the Ward Line
steamer Clty or Washington, tnaI WIS
moOred Il few hundred yards from the
Maine. and of two divers. who have
ieen at work on the wreck for several
days.
Although it is probable the Nangrove
will leave for Key West tomorrow, Cap
tain Sampson is not Yet certain. 1t Is
believed the court will return to Hal
vana after hearing the Key West wit
ncsses. but on official confirmation of
this report can be obtained. With the
departure of the court the centre of in
terest will probably be at Key West, az
though the officers will maintain the
same reserve there as here.
The news given out by the court is
strictly confined to that already sent
this correspondent, and Is very scan
ty at the best.
The explosion is no longer the sole