The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-01
WILL RETURN TO HAVANA
The Court Will Take the Divers
Evidence There.
END Is A LONG WAY OFF
1t Will Be Several Weeks Before the
Court OF Inquiry Is Ready to Re-
port Its Findings-The Usual
Run of Rumors Denied.

Washington, Feb 2S.-At the close of
office hours a telegram came to the
| navy department from Admiral Sicard,
at Key West, in the following terms:
Court of inquiry will commence ses-
| sion at Key West to-day. They must
resume session at Havana to obtain
evidence of divers after further work
upon the wreck" The important feat
ure of this communication is the
declaration that the court will return
to Havana.
1t sets at rest the rumors that have
been current for days past that the
court was not to return to Havana,
for the reason that it had discovered
the cause of the sinking of the Maine.
which was not an accident, and that
they had no further business in Ha-
vana. One important deduction to be
drawn from the message was that the
report of the court of inquiry can
scarcely be expected for several weeks
to come. The court will be occupied
at Key West for some days at least
in taking the testimony of the surviv-
ors there. Then, upon the return to
Havana, it is expected that good deal
of time must elapse before the divers
can get through the mud which now
wreck of the Maine and examine the
bottom. After this is done the court
must deliberate in order to secure an
agreement upon their findings. The
prevalent belief at the navy depart
ment is that up to this moment the
court has not once undertaken to COM
pare notes and endeavor to reach such
an agreement.
A Cuban mail was received during
lo da.y nd ri ha aan nd which n
far characterized all his dealings with
the public in this matter, Secretary
Long caused it to be given to the news
paper reporters as soon as he had read
il himself. 1t was made up of one let
ter from Captain Sampson, dated Feb.
%, and although it is simply state
ment of events that had already been
reported by telegraph one fact is sig
nificant, viz: the statement that the
testimony of certain civilian witnesses
before the court would be of no i'm
portance. His letter, dated Feb. 49,
1885, is as follows: Sir: The court
has taken the testimony of all the Off
GERS of the Maine still here. To-mor-
row we will take such testimony as
the divers have accumulated. The
Right Arm arrived here this morning
and reported to Captain Sigsbee, ac-
cording to orders. l trust some wreck
ing company will be given the entire
job, as no other plan will be feasible.
There are two citizens in the harbor
who have signified their willingness to
testify, although they have nothing
important After taking this evidence
and that of the divers. Ispropose to
return to Key West and take the evil
dence of officers and men there. 1t
may be necessary to return here"
The reports that came to Key West
about unusual activity and the obsery-
ance of unusual precautions among
the few soldiers auartered there was
received with amusement at army
headquarters. 1t was said no orders
had gone forward to explain the hustle
but it is suspected that the command
ant was simply brushing DIP and put
ting his best foot forward against the
expected appearance there on his tour
of inspection of General Merritt, the
commanding general of the Depart
ment of the East
The gunboat Wilmington sailed to-
day from La Guayas for Barbados.
travelling over the ground covered a
few days before by the Cincinnati and
Castine. All of the boats are slowly
cruising around in the Caribbean and
will be so employed until April, when
they will go south again.
Secretary Long said at the close of
office hours that no orders had gone
out to send another warship to Hava-
ma reports to the contrary notwith-
standing At the white house the ut
most quiet prevails. Many offers have
come from organizations and individ-
uals of their services in case of con-
tlict. Some of the congressional call
ers have stated to the president that
their states We're ready to furnish full
quotas of men.
Secretaries Long and Alger and Rep
resentatiye Dingley We're among the
presidents visitors to-day, but it was
stated that they had nothing of i'm
portance on the Maine to discuss with
him. MIR. Dingley spoke afterwards in
strong terms against reports that
financial circles in New York We're be-
ing sounded as to the readiness with
which funds could be raised in an
emergency. The attention of Secretary
Gage was called to the published
statement that he was making prepara-
tions for bond issue and that the
bureau of engraving was preparing the
plates. The secretary pronounced the
statement unaualifiedly false. No such
action has ever been considered, he