The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-19
REPORT OF COURT NOT READY.
CAPT. SAMPSON DECLINES TO VEN
TURE A sURMISE.

something Might Occur to Delay 1t
v,-tber Than Now Expected-NO
preIiminary Report Sent to Wash
.noton-Large Quantities of Ann
,,nitiOn Being Put on the War
.bins-DoubIe Harbor Watches
Enforced on the Battieships.
vor West Fla, March 1s.-The court of
,,ourv is diligently continuing it's sessions
an hoard the battleship Iowa, and judging
from statements made by members, it is
ouito problematicai how many more days
1.;u mass before the public learns its con-
clusions.
Py the courtesy of Rear Admiral Sicard,
.,o correspondent of the Associated Press
was to-day enabled to escape the rigor of
+be recent rule, forbidding correspondents
a. % on board warships, and was for the
srst time allowed to interview the mem
bars of the court of inquiry since they Sc
creted themselves on Wednesday on the
Iowa.
can't. Sampson received the correspond
ent on the poop of the splendid ship he
Commands. In the admirals cabin below
were Capt. Chadwick, Lieutenant Com
uander Potter and Judge Advocate Mark.
They had been in session since 10 o'clock
this morning with the ships writer acting
as clerk.
THE court is still hard at work." Capt.
Samson said. 'I have just left the con-
ferees. 1t is utterly impossible to say
when our report viii be ready. If I sur
missed the date and you reported It, am
afraid something might occur that would
defeat the expectation and only serve to
disappoint the anxious public. When the
report is ready it will not be for us to
make the announcement. Washington,
presume will do that"
If preliminary report has been sent
to Washington, Capt. Sampson apparent
ly knew nothing of it.
In the course of the afternoon, while the
court continued in session without once
coming out of the cabin, large quantities
Of ammunition were taken on board. The
same thing took place on the New York
Both ships are now better supplied with
ammunition than they have been at any
time before.
At o'clock this afternoon, the regular
hour during previous sessions of the court
for adjournment, Capt. Chadwick and
Lieut., Potter entered a gig and were rowed
to the New York.
Judge Advocate Mark is staying on
board the Iowa. The court will resume it's
sessions tomorrow.
Unusual precautions are observed on the
New York and Iowa, double harbor
watches being enforced. Every craft that
passes on its way into the harbor is sub
mitted to the closest scrutiny of search
lights. Both vessels are ready to pull out
at fifteen minutes notice, and special at
tention is being given to the instruction of
the sailors in small arms and firing prac-
tice.
Tomorrow the court will devote consid-
cradle time to the preparation of diagrams
Showing parts of the Maine as found after
the explosion
The United States cruiser Montgomery
arrived here this morning from Havana
ana the United States cruiser Detroit
Sailed this morning for the Tortugas Is
lands with provisions and ammunition for
the fleet
FROM the Tortugas the Detroit will pro-
ceed to Port Tampa to load ammunition.
Inc Morgan line steamer Aransas ar
rived here this morning from Havana with
senator Money and Congressman Amos j.
cummings and William Alden Smith on
board
lne United States cruiser Nashville sail
eu Tor the Tortugas with supplies stimuli
taneously with the Detroit
me Montgomery is, with the exception
ol the torpedo boats, the only warship in
harbor
Inc torpedo boat Foote arrived this af-
se.nooh from Charleston by way Of jack
sonye