The news & observer., 1898-02-24

|
to his place.
A formal order was made out TINS
afternoon for Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright to take station at Havana
land look after the governments interests
| while the work of raising the Maine
progresses. 1t has been arranged that
ha shall he subsisted on board one OF
the wrecking steamers. The big double
lturretted monitor Terror remains under
lor1ers to stay in Hampton Roads until
| further notice. 1t is likely that she
win be sent to take the place Of the
| Maine in the North Atlantic squadron,
if not needed elsewhere Immediately.
The officials, however, are loath to EN-,
clmIbcr the battleshlps and speedier
craft with the Terror as she might re-
tard the execution of manouvers.
COURT OF INQUIRY STILL MUM.
Havana. Feb. 23.-The United States
| Court of Inquiry into the loss of the
Maine met this morning at ten o'clock
and examined DIR. Honeberger, Paymas-
ter Ray and Chief Engineer Howell, of
the battleship. There was a recess orr
deTed at noon, and it lasted until 30
p. m. Several witnesses whose names
are not now Obtainable, were examined
during the afternoon.
Another visit was made to the wreck
by Captain Sampson, President of the
court
The captain says he had no idea of
the length of time the court will re-
main in session here 1t all depends
{, upon the testimony and new features
requiring further investigation may de-
velop at any time.
Captain Sampson added that sooner
or later, every survivor of the Maine
will be examined by the court. which
seems to imply that sessions for that
purpose will he held at Key West.
Although this information is meagre,
| it is absolutely all that Capt. Sampson
will give to the press. The correspOn-
dent of the Associated Press sees him
| by appointment twice daily. but there
| is a rigid rule to observe silence until
the facts in the case have developed
through the Testimony presented.
! The Right Arm of the Merritt and
| Chapman Derrick and Wrecking Com
pany, is moored about 200 pards from
| the poop of the Maine. The wrecking
| tug looks powerful enough to move
a mountain. yet it is reported she is
not supplied. owing to her hurried de-
parturc or this port, with all the appar-
atus she needs for the work which IS
before her.
Captain AIcCiec. the commander of
the Right Arm. has reported to Captain
Sigsbec. as ordered by the Navy De.
| pantnlent and will act under Captain
| Sigsllee's orders. which are not yet
formulated, or at least, are not made
known.
Il i Al
rough and added to the difficulties of
the diykrs as the electric lights are
worked from a battery on board the
| lighthouse tender Mangrove, 200 yards
distant.
NAMES MEDICAL RECORD.
Washington, d. c.. Feb. 23.-A re-
minder of the Maine disaster reached
the Navy Department today in the shape
/ of Il water-stained and brine-favored
package. enclosing the medical journal
of the Maine. This document came
| through Consul General Lees mail
pouch to the State Department instead
of through the mails, from which it was
probably barred by its weight.
| The officials say the package was
under water for days. from its appear
ance, and it still bears evidence of that
fact, besides having an unpleasant
brackish odor. The blue mark lines
ruled on the paper by the government
printing office are nearly faded out, but
/ the reading in the journal in the me-
tallic ink used by the Navy is clear
and distant. OF course there rs moth
ing in the book bearing upon the dis
aster, but it is a tribute to the metho-
dical habit of Surgeon Heneberger, the
Names medical officer, that the record
wats brought up to the last moment be-
| fore the wreck of the ship, the last en-
try being February 18th.
| No orders have yet gone out to the
! big double turreted monitor Terror, so
the situation as to her remains as it did
| yesterday when Secretary Long stated
that she was being held for orders at
| Norfolk.
| Conesul General Lee, in the course of
| a friendly talk in Havana with Ameri-
cans may have expressed the view that
| there are at present other places more
| desirable as resorts for persons who
have no particular business there than
| Havana, but the State Department au-
| thorizes the announcement that it has
not yet been advised that he has either
| officially or semi-officially delivered him.
self of any expression on the subject
NO WARNING FROM LEE.
The Spanish legation also discredits
reports that General Lee has given any
such warning.
| 1t is also said at the department. that
no message has been conveyed to the
owners of American vessels ait New Or
leans or elsewhere, that it would not be
safe for them to visit Cuban ports at
| this time.
The battle ship Texas and the gun
boat Nashville, will leave Galveston,
Texas, today for Key West, where they
will rejoin the other vessels of Ad-
miral .Sicard's squadron at that point.
No orders for this movement were sent
by the Navy Department, as it is stated
that it is in accordance with the orders
| given several weeks ago, by which the
two ships were directed to remain at
Galveston from the 18th to the 23rd in
stant, to participate in the Mardi Gras
celebration there, and return to Key
West on the latter date. This was be-
fore the Maine disaster, so that the
present movement is said TO have no pos
sible significance on the recent occur
| renee.