The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-26
SINKING INTO THE MUD
Little Salvage Work Has Been Done
on the Maine

~ l.
Little Salvage Work Has Been Done
on the Maine
Havana, Feb. 25.-The wreck of the
Maine is slowly but surely sinking into
the mud. Before the hull could be raised
il would be necessary to move the guns
and deck debris. For lack Of proper ap-
planes practically nothing in this line
has been accomplished. Aside from the
officers cabin effects the salvage thus far
has been pitifully small. The cloudy
weather and rain made the work of the
divers unsatisfactory today, and very lit
tie was done. It is said that a hole has
been made by the divers in one of the
forward matches, and it is hoped that a
number of bodies will be recovered.
The court Of inquiry sat longer than
usual today, the six divers being exam
ined more in detail than heretofore.
The time of departure of the Man
grove with the court for Key West has
not been determined. Captain Sampson
said today that it was doubtful if his
vessel would sail tomorrow; that all de-
pended on the developments Of the testi-
mony.
The Spanish cruiser Alphonso XII. has
been lowed to a buoy further within the
harbor to make room for the cruiser Viz
caya. which is expected here tomorrow or
the next day from the north.
No word has been received at the con-
suTs Office from Walter B. Barker, the
United States consul at Sagua La Grande
and it is believed that the report of Mr.
Barker's illness is untrue.
At the afternoon session of the court of
inquiry the examination of divers was
continued. A civilian whose testimony
is said to be of some Importance was
also examined. The name of the witness
and ali the particulars of the evidence
are withheld.
Late today the paymaster's safe, with
so. 500 and his papers. was taken from
the wreck. Beyond this no statement is
made as to the nature and value of the
contents. A large quantity of water ran
out when the safe was raised above the
surface.
The complaint is still made that the
electric lamps are Of little use 10 the div
ers. as the light is faint and uncertain,
and TO hold them takes one OF the divers
hands. They have assuredIy proved of
little value in the present investigation.
So far as reports made public go. the
workmen on the tug Right Arm. with the
assistance of the naval divers. are labor
ing hard to recover the bodies under the
hatch which led TO the fire room plat
forms. Snoring with timbers was neces-
sary and the divers had to wait for the
lumber today. It is hoped that the bodies
viii be taken out tomorrow.
The Havana papers print long extracts
from the American dailies. but of course
only Of delayed news. All the Americans
are anNiously awaiting the arrival Of to-
morrow's mail.
Consul General Lee says he has received
no news of Importance from the state de-
partment nor has he been notified 70 ex-
pect the arrival of any one of prominence.
It IS believed here that if any American
Of national reputation comes now to Ha-
vana it viii be 70 study the situation for
himself and not as an Official commits
sioner.
At O'Clock this evening. when this dis
patch IS sent. Holzer is stiH sleepInc IN
der the influence OF an opiate. He is no
worse than he was this morning, hut is
very low. Including him. there arc six
wounded left hero. and all are reasonably
certain of recovery except him Some diff
hculty viii arise IL removing them to the
United States. Tor all have been exn0sed
to contagious fevers, and the quarantine
laws forbid their being taken direct 10
Key West. These regulations were disre-
Earded in the case Of the first lot Of
wounded taken there on the Olivetta the
day after the explosion. hut only because
Of the extreme exigenctes Of the case.
London. Feb, Ga dispatch to the
Daily Mai, from Singapore says:
1T IS reported from Chinese sources. at
Hong Kong that French force has land
ed at kwan-Chueu-Wan 2to miles south /
west OF Hong Kong. and Informed the /
Chinese that it intends 20 erect build .
mss"
Tho Pekin correspondent Of the Times .
says
China having issued an Imperial de-
cree authorizing a Chinese svn5io,+s .,
construct with foreign assistance 0-ob- (
aoIy American. trunk lire from Ten
Ism to Chin klanS, through shan T,Ir- .
province, Baron Won NTeikir- The Ger
man minister interviewed on the ground
that Germany had been accorded The - /
fusal or the rirht 20 construct any rail /
way in shan TUng. The project. -5ers- /
fore. is blocked. This Is = ry-i~t,,al ss-
sumption hy Germany OF The railway no
nopoly in shan Tung"
London. Feb es-The Paris oo-rss,o,5- /
ent Of the Times SAYS:
Certain correspondents 90 -. s,--..
rrv~SF,ar, sa-S have haa-, -,-----