The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-05
Tie Maine Inquiry Board
Leaves Key West.
INFORMATION IS MEAGRE,
Is Not Yet Prepared TO Render
Decisive Verdict.
WORK OF AMERICAN DIVERS.

Key West, Fla, March 5.--After two
postponements of it's departure. the court
OF inquiry left for Havana last evening
on the Mangrove. 1t is believed by the
best informed here that the court will
complete its labors in the Cuban capital
within 10 days.
The inactivity here is still unexplained,
except by a semi-ofiicial statement that
Rear Admiral Sicard was awaiting in
structions from Washington. The ses-
sions. it is generally understood, de-
yeloped no evidence by which the court
could definitely determine the cause OF
the explosion. A naval officer i'm close
touch with the members OF the court
said: with one exception the wit
nesses who testified here We're Maine
survivors. The evidence. though in
most cases taking longer TO tell, can be
summed up In the words of an enlisted
man. who. when Judge Advocate Mark
as ed him what he knew about the ex-
plosion. replied: Sir. 1 was blowed up.
i was saved. and I'm here That was
all he could swear to-
One important fact has been learned.
members OF the court of inquiry may
have their individual theories, they are
by no means prepared as a body to rem
der a decisive verdict. The officer al
ready quoted said. 'If the court has
yet heard the testimony which would en-
able It TO decide intelligently that the
Maine was blown up from external
cause. am the most mistaken man in
xl .r11 p1f1 IIo..
sessions are over IL may secure such evil
dence, and possibly find the blowing up
was intentional. 1t will learn from the
divers the actual condition of the ship
after the explosion, as 1t has already
learned from the survivors most OF the
details of the ships condition before
the explosion. With these bases
thoroughly established, the court will
hear more expert theoretical testimony
and then reach a verdict"
This statement can be taken as more
worthy of reliance than that of the
Maine officer who said the other day
that he believed the court was bound on
evidence already heard to find the cause
OF the explosion external. It's conserva-
tism is also at variance with the opinions
OF other officers here. especially those
VI tNt yOunEcI SET anu ulTectly contrary
10 the belief of most OF the Maine sur
vivors that their ship was Intentionally
blown up. Before sailing Captain Samp-
son had long consultation with Ad-
miral Sicard.
Aside from the usual orders. directing
the judges to report both findings OF
facts and its opinion on these findings.
Admiral Sicard ordered the court to re-
cord any information as to person or
persons mot connected with the navy
OF the United States. who are. in its
opinion, responsible, in part or wholly.
directly or indirectly. for the explosion
and loss of the Maine. with the names
and the degree of responsibility in each
case or, whether or not the loss of
said vessel was on the occasion named
In any respect due to fault or negligence
on the part of any OF the officers or mem
bers of the crew of said vessel, and if
10. the names of such officers or members
of the crew, and in what respect and TO
what extent any or either of them,was
70 at fault or negligent"