The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-02

steel varying I'm thickness from 2 l-2 70
inches and the theory OF her designer.
Admiral Ammen was that this armor
plate could not be struck directly oy
shot ffOm another vessel. and that any
such sIOt would be harmiessly detected
by The slopiug steel Ieek. IN achOD the
coming tower and smoke sack are
about AL OF the snip that would prtsent
mark. The former IS made OF steel is
inches thick. The KatahCin is a ran pure
and simple having In me way oil weap-
ons OF otense no,hlng except h,r SHarp
steel beak and a few small rapid hre
guns to keep of boarderers or torpedo
boats. When she was designed her sp ed
was placed at a very high mark. but she
did nos realize expectations owing 10 her
peculiar constructive under water model
Her personalle will he as follows: Cap
tain. Commander Wide, at present naval
secretary of the lighthouse board; Execu-
tive officer. Lieutenant Lowe, Navigator,
Lieutenant Culver. chief Engineer Beig,
and Ensign Campbell.
The two vessels have crews respectively
OF 80 and 80 men. II was learned az the
Navy department to-day why the Maine
was tied up 90 a buoy In Havana har6or.
instead Of archOring. a fact that had
boon the basis for some Of the theories
as 10 the cause OF the dlsasetr
WHY SHE DIDN'T ANCHOR
II Is stated that not only IS man
OF war at n buoy IN much better place
for unlck service than when anchored.
but &, appears that II snip casts her
anchor I'm Havana hartCr. so FOUL anu
polluted with yellow fever and Other
disease germs. Is re mud that after an
anchor Is hosted. q ship must 90 'n'o
quarantine upon her return 10 any
Florida port
The call for the assistance q exrerts
Is taken as an indication that the court
OF inquiry Is ether far from reaching any
conclusion or else is disposed with a
view Il making future discoveries. es en-
tial or otherwise II has already been
2 matter Of comment that win all the
ability comprised in this court it has one
weak spot namely. The lack 81 pracich
experience Of the constructor OF a snip in
IT'S memi ers J lis Is no part or the
duties of a lire officer. so that no re-lec-
tion is carried by t,e statement
10 rcu edy their Shortcomings the 'onrt
has called upOn the department u SEND
10 their aid u constructor and "a carpen-
ter and In compliance with the reqreFt
Secretary Long has directed Naval n
structor Hoover and Carpel ter Helm 10
report 10 the court at Key West
IL rs expected that they Will 20 TO fa-
vana. when the Court returns there. anj
from ,hcir familiarity with the structure
Of the Maine. on which both Of these
men worked when she was built in the
New York Navy Yard they will be Or
great assistance no, only in suggesting
easy methods Of work for the diYers. but
also in identifying portions Of the wreck.
The latter consideration Is one Of the
greatest importance In view OF the state
ments that have come from Havana that
some of the ships bo.tom plates have
been found i'm the debris above water.
II IS said at the Department that If this
Is lrue the fact VIII be OF importance.
and ii was added that IL would not neccs-
sarily be conclusive evidence az 10 the
source Of the explosion for II IS con-
ceivable that II the deck was blown up
10 might easily have pulled up with 1t
some of the frames and the bottom plat
ing which are rigidly attached by rivets.
Without doubt the two experts vii be
much better qualified than the line OFF,
GERS or divers to identify any such pieces
OF p.a.e.