Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-01
REMAINS A MYSTERY.
The Washington Officials Know Absolutely
Nothing
ABOUT THE CAUSE OF MAINE DISASTER.
Theories In Advance of the Findings OF
the Court of Inquiry Do
Ing Harm.

ana III spite OIL tiie bicdtst uhibuhNS 'h
the part of the chiefs charged with an
Inquiry into the affair, the cause of the
disaster is still shrouded in mystery SO |
far as any of the officials in Washing
ton know. Few officials acquainted |
with the formidable obstacles in the |
way of the operations of the divers are |
surprised at this state OF affairs, and
1t is beginning to be generally realized |
that upon the testimony of the divers
almost altogether will depend the sue
cess of the inquiry.
Meanwhile the officials of the navy de- |
partment have reached the conclusion
that harm is being done by the broach-
Ing of theories to account for the ex-
plosion, so notice has been served upon
the experts who have been heard from
in the press that 1t is expected that
they shall no longer discuss this mat
ter in advance of the report of the
court of inquiry.
one reason for this action was the
fact that the department was finding
itself committed involuntarily to the
support of the theory that the explosion
was of internal origin, while as a mat
Ter pl lutt DOtH s1GCItttly l<Olib uilu
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt have
been at great pains to show that the
department stood entirely neutral as
between the theorists. and Were pre-
pared to accept only the conclusions
of the court of inquiry as binding upon
1t. In consequence of this decision
there is disposition manifest among
the naval officers not to talk about the
Maine affair in any phase.
An Indication that the court of in
quiry is either far from reaching any
conclusion or else Is disposed, with a
view to meeting future criticism, to col
lect all possible evidence whether II be
deemed essential or not, is the call to
their assistance of experts. 1t has al
ready been a matter of comment that
with all the ability comprised in this
court of inquiry 1t has one weak spot,
namely, the lack of practical ex-
perience in constructing a
ship in is members. This
is no part of the duty of Il line officer.
so that no reflection Is carried by the
statement. To remedy their short
comings the court has called upon the
| department to send to their aid a con-
structor and carpenter, and in compli-
| ance with the request Secretary
Long has directed Naval Constructor
| Hoover and Carpenter Helm to report
TO The CONT at Key West. II is expected
| that they viii go to Havana when the
! court returns there and from their
familiarity with the structure of the
Maine, on which both Of the men
worked when she was built In the New
| York navy yard. they will be of great
| assistance not only in suggesting easy
methods of work for the divers but also
I in Identifying portions of the wreck.
The latter consideration is one of the
| statements that have come from Ha-
| vana that some of the ships bottom
| have hpnn In aI,rf q
above water. 1t Is said at the de-
partment, that II this is true, the fact
will be of Importance, though 1t is
added it Will not necessarily be con-
elusive evidence as to the source of
the explosion, for 1t is conceivable that
If the wreck was blown up it might
easily have pulled up with 1t some
of the frames and bottom plating
which are rigidly attached by
rivets.
Without doubt the two experts will
be much better qualified than the line
officers or divers to identify any such
piece OF plate.
No orders have gone out from the de-
partment to the vessels of the squad
ron today and the officials stamp as
without foundation the report that the
squadron was yesterday ordered to be
! held in readiness to sail for Havana.
Likewise, 1t is said that no selection
| has yet been made of a cruiser to pro-
| coed to Havana, but It IL likely. in
case the court of inquiry should desire
to make the return trip to Havana in a
cruiser that Admiral SicarG would be
allowed to make his own selection
from among She vessels of his fleet.
No advices have been received at
either state or navy department that
would warrant the statement that the
Spanish officials In Havana have at
tempted to interpose any obstacles to
the prosecution OF the work of the
wreckers on the Names hull. II is
said that the very latest phase of this
matter was sent out In the published
dlspatch Of Assistant Secretary Day
authorizing the Spanish government to
prosecute an independent investigation
by It's own divers into the cause of the
loss of the Maine. The department has
not withdrawn that permission.
COMPLETELY IN THE DARK.
Washington. March 1.-The meeting
of the cabinet today at which all Of
the members were present, disclosed the
fact that the government is still with
out news regarding the cause OF the
disaster to the Maine. Up to this time
the court OF inquiry has not indicated
in any way the trend of the investiga-
ton. The President and the members
of the cabinet are as completely in
the dark as to what the evidence so
far adduced discloses US they We're on
the day after the explosion.
The truth of this statement is
vouched for by authority not to DO
questioned. 1t is explained that, I'M
der the peculiar circumstances of the
case. Captain Sigsbee would not COM
municate his theories or knowledge of
the facts to any one except the court
conducting the inquiry. Consul Gem
eral Lee would be guided by the same
considerations. In any event neither
Of these officers has communicated to
the government anything bearing upon
the vital question at issue. The court
itself has been equally non-communi-
catlve and nothing IL expected from
this source until the inquiry Is COM
pleted and the findings sent to the sec
rotary of the navy. Nor has any In
timation been received as to the prob
able time which the inquiry win con-
sumo. AT today's meeting the cabi-
net discussed number OF theories
which have been advanced as to the
cause Of the explosion, but nothing
approaching n definite conclusion was
reached.
Another matter whic engaged the at
tentlon of the cabinet was the murder
recently of the colored postmaster and
his infant child at Lake City. $. c.. by
n mob of a hundred or more white
men. II was remarked by member
of the cabinet after the close of the
meeting that this most heinous crime
has beenpassed by almost unnoticed by