The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-20
THERE IS No REPORT
Moreover, Nobody Knows
When There Will be.
STORIES OF SURVIVORS
Are Told Secretary Long and
the President,

Washington, March 19.-The keenest ex-
pectancy was apparent in all official quar-
tiers today in anticipation Of the early
receipt Of the report from the court OF
inquiry on the Maine disaster. Warlike
preparations continued with undated
vigor at the war and navy departments,
but the main interest of officials cen
tered in the forthcoming report. The in
terest was so intense that many reports
gained circulation to the effect that the
official document would be in the hands Of
the president within the next "a hours
but these conjectures, on inquiry in au-
thoritative sources, were found TO be in
accurate. A cabinet officer stated that
it would be here early next week. Be
yond this he could not go. II was stated
definitely that no advance intimation as
90 the character of the report had been
received here. One rumor had it that
Lieutenant Blow had brought to WaKsh1
ington an abstract of the conclusions but
this was dismissed after Lieutenant Blow
had been in conference with Secretary
Long and other naval officers.
SURVIVORS VISIT LONG.
The chief development Of the morning
was the arrival of four Of the survivors
of the Maine disaster, who held a long
conference with Secretary Long, and later
were taken by the secretary 10 the White
House. for talk with the president.
These survivors are Lieutenant Holman,
navigator Of the Maine; Lieutenant
George P. Blow, Lieutenant A 3. Catlin,
in command of the marines OF the Maine.
and Boatswain Larkin, one Of the non
commissioned officers of the wrecked bat
tleship. These men had passed through
the fearful ordeal of the explosion and
had been at Havana since it occurred.
There had been no announcement of their
being detached from Captain Sigsbee's
command in Havana and their coming
was a complete surprise except to few
officials.
CONSTRUCTOR HOOVER KNOWS.
With them was Naval Constructor
Hoover, who was sent by Secretary Long
from Washington a few weeks ago to
make a technical inspection of the wreck
of the Maine. He was the naval con-
structor who for months was engaged in
actual work on the Maine while she was
on the stocks, so that, he is in a position
tok now every plate remaining of the ILL
fated ship. The divers had found great
difficulty in identifying some of the twist
ed and battered plates from the bottom
of the Maine and it was believed that
Constructor Hoover's technical knowledge
would be able TO make this identification
complete.
The conference between Lieutenant
Blow and CatIin and Secretary Long
lasted for some time, Captain Crownin-
shield, of the bureau of navigation, and
other officials, being called in 1t was
stated authoritatively after the confer
ence that the main subject Of converse
ton was the explosion itself. comprising
a detailed narrative of the officers and a
narrowing description of the calamity.
Whether the cause of the explosion was
under discussion could NOT De learned. 1t
was naturally inferred that these officers,
with their complete personal information
Of the explosion and their subsequent Wis
its 20 the wreck, would give Secretary
Long the benefit of their personal views
on the cause of the disaster.
BUT HOOVER WON'T TELL.
Att he same time, with the court Of
Inquiry having complete jurisdiction of
the subject, it was felt that the question
of cause might be open TO mach reserve, |
even as between these naval officers and |
the secretary of the navy. SO far as Off !
cial warrant was given to the purposes of !
the conference it was said TO be confined !
strictly TO narratives OF the story of the |
wreck.
Constructor oHover refused absolutely !
TO talk about his trip TO Havana or TO |
give any information concerning the work |
of the board OF inquiry or the condition |
of affairs in Cuba. He said that his lips |
were sealed by the conditions imposed |
upon him and that he did not feel free |
10 discuss any phase OF the Cuban ques- |
ton or the Maine incident. He will leave |
tonight or tomorrow for New York
WHEN THE REPORT MAY COME.
Senator Chandler was in conference |