The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-03-02
NATION WAITING FOR THE FACTS.
EXCITEMENT SUPPRESSED.
The Responsibility for the Maine Disaster
Not Yet Determined.

No positive cause has as yet been as
signed for the explosion of the United
States battleship Maine. last Tuesday
night, in which 253 marines lost their
lives.
Although the theory of accident Is
secuted by all naval experts. yet the
fact of torpedo or underground mine
explosion has not positively been estab-
lished.
The government at Washington has
thus far been very reticent. and all
newspaper interviews credited either
to the president or members of his
cabinet have been denied.
The entire country Is In a ferment.
impatiently awaiting the conclusions OF
the board of inquiry sent to Havana to
investigate the hull OF the wrecked
.ruiser. .,
The leaders in congress are doing all
n their power to suppress the intro
iuction of any resolutions which would
TX the responsibility of the disaster on
Spain.
The Spanish ministry still adheres to
Its original claim of accident. The
exultant countenances Of the Spanlards
in Havana suggests to some Americans
that they had knowledge the deed
was to be committed.
L
that the government has positive in
formation that the Maine was destroyed
by torpedo, but does not think that
the Spanish government had anything
TO do with the disaster.
In an interview ex-Premier Crlspi. of
Italy, says: II am not a technical ex-
pert In matters of this kind. and there
fore cannot sit in judgment on the
cause of the Maine explosion. | ask
myself however and I cannot help do
ing So why such explosions do not take
place in ordinary and normal times.
II think there Is not a person in the
world who can really believe II was due
to simple accident. 1 admire the re-
s!gnation of the United States; but
with more energy the Cuban question
would have been settled a long while
ago. If now the rebellion should be
stihed in the blood of its upholders the
shame and disgrace will fall on the
head of the whole civilized world"
The Merritt and Chapman Company,
of New York. and the Boston Towboat
Company have secured the contract for
raising the Maine.
The terms of the contract as con-
cluded and signed last Tuesday provide
Tor the payment to the wrecking COM
panies of the sum of sS1l per day for
their regular plant and an additional
payment of $500 per day for the use OF
the Monarch while the latter Is ac-
tually employed. An express provision
Is made that the government may ter
inmate the contract at any moment.
It is also provided that the compensa-
tioh shall not exceed the sum of money,
500 900, appropriated by congress for
fhis purpose in the joint resolution
passed yesterday. Finally. 1t Is pro-
vided that if the companies succeed in
raising the Maine and towing her to
.t, to-.
,of sl0O,0OO
The court of inquiry opened last
Tuesday. Lieut.. G. F. w. Holman.
navigator and ordinance officer of the
Maine, was examined at the morning
session, and Lieut-Com. r. VAIN
wright, executive officer of the Maine.
was called to the witness stand. Lieut.
Com. Wainwright has been in immedi-
ate charge of the wreck since the ex-
plosion.
Four divers are at work. two in the
fore part of the ship and the others aft.
The task Is most laborious, and the
men are naturally extremely careful.
as they have had to work In complete
darkness and several have had bad
falls. Electric lights from the Man
grove are now available and much good
Is expected from them.
Gunner Charles Morgan of the cruiser
New York, who is in charge of the div
ers. will devote special attention to ex-
amining the ammunition In the fore
part Of the Names hull and to ascer-
tanning the condition of the plates,
magazines and engines. He Is a grad
uate in gunnery and Is regarded as en-
tirely competent. as indeed are all the
'ivefs under his direction. He Is under
trict orders not to give out anything
n the subject of his Investigations, ex-
ept to the officers of the court of in
.uiry when called upon.
The Investigations Of Wednesday
made 1t appear more conclusive than
,ver that the Maine was not blown up
by her own magazines.
The bodies of twelve firemen have
been taken out from under the hatch
leading from the superstructure to the
fire room. None was recognized. and
all were necessarily dismembered in
course Of removal.
The divers have recovered Capt. Slgs-
bees silverware, some Of his cutlery,
his rifles and a number of his books.
There Is now enough ammunition In
the Brooklyn navy yard for six months
OF daily fighting.
The Vizcaya was lavishly decorated
last Monday in honor Of Washington.