The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-25
FURTHER EVIDENCE
OF THE NAMES WRECK BY OUT
SIDE EXPLOSION
The Boiler Explosion Theory Exploded
Condition of Forward Plates Negative
Explosion OF uthe NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Mines Existed--Sh ellis Found Un<xploded.
Suspicious Facts to Mooring OF tho
.vessel-Belief That 1T Was Work of Spar.
fsh Officers

.vessel-BelIef That 1T Was Work of Spar /.
fsh Officers
Washington, February 22.-All the
government departments were closed in
Washington today, save the navy,
where few of the officials assembled
to receive any dispatches that might
arrive and to close the contract with
the wreckers for the recovery Of the
effects on the Maine and the vessel
herself, if that be practicable Tie
signing Of the wrecking contract was
the most important even Of the dav
and, this concluded, the officials closed
up shop and went home to enjoy d
respite from the rush of the past week.
captain SigSbee was heard from in a
dispatch, which indicates that close at
tentiOn would be given the coal bunkers
by the naval court of inquiry at Ha-
Vana. Officials unquestfonably have
been FOR some time preparing for any
emergency that may arise, but appear
ances at the department today would
indicate that necessary orders have al
situation
was not one calling for immediate ac-
tivtty at Washington. The Castine
and the Cincinnati, in accordance with
orders made known some time ago by
the Associated Press, are to move fur
ther north to West Indian waters. and
at Norfolk the monitor Terror has
"Deen ordered to be in readiness and
may be sent to New York later.
The senate passed a bill to add two
artillery regiments to the strength of
the army. This measure has been
urged for many months by officials of
the war department who foresaw that
while congress Of late years had taken
measures for the protection Of our
coasts by considerable appropriations
for defensive works and great guns
1T had not provided the men necessary
to operate these engines Of war Should
the house pass the bill it will enable
the department to carry out plans it
has long had in view. Criticisms lately
passed upon the state of the army and
our fortificatiOns have caused increas-
ed activity in military matters and 70
some extent this is responsible for re-
ports arriving from various quarters
OF movements at army posts. "A re-
port was circulated that General Miles
as commander of the army, had is
sued additional orders for troops at
all forts to be on the alert and ready
for immediate action, but this was
promptly denied by the generals chief
of staff Nothing whatever of sem
satiOnal character occurred in Wash
ingsOn and on the whole the day was
free OF rumOrs by comparison with its
inamediate predecessors for the past
week or more.
HURRYING UP THE WRECKING
COMPANIES.
The plans of the wrecking expedi~
tion for the relief OF the Maine were
completed today after long conferences
between Secretary Long and the rep
resentatives OF the Merritt and Chap
man Company, of New York, and the
Boston TOwbOat Company. The COM
panies had expected to begin work in
Havana harbor in about a week but
at the last moment Secretary Long
insisted that provision should be
made for sending forward at Orce at
least one large wrecking boat, with
divers and equipments. This was
agreed to, and a dispatch was sent to
the captain of the sea wrecker Right
Arm, now at Key West, to suspend
his private work there and proceed at
once to Havana. If the Right Arm
has started north, torpedo boat will
be sent after her with orders to pro-
dispatch was sent to the New York
offices Of the company TO send two of
the most experienced divers by train
to Key West where they will go to Ha-
vana and join the divers and wreckers
on the Right Arm.
The commander of the Right Arm is
ordered to place himself with his div
ers and machine, under the orders II
Captain Sigsbee, who thus will be free
al Nf no, ny1
the recovery of bodies or any particu-
larly desirable piece of equipment or
property before the regular wrecking
operations begin. These are emergency
steps which preeede the main wrecking
expedition. which will be outfitted at
Boston. New York and Norfolk, with
view to beginning extensive opera
tions within a week.
TERMS OF THE CONTRACT.
The terms of the contract as con-
cluded and signed today provide for
the payment to the wreckng compan-
les of the sum OF $S71 per day for their
regular plant, and an adtGOnal pay
ment of $500 per day for the use of the
Monarch, while the latter is actually
employed. An express prS%iSlOn Is
made that the government may ter
inmate the contract at any moment.
1t is also provided Ehat the tompersa-
tion shall not exceed the sum eof money
(s2OO, 0OO) appropriated by congress for
this purpose in the joint resolution
passed yesterday. Finally, it is pro-
exrided that if the companies SUCCEED in
raising the Maine and towing s1er 20
Norfolk they shall receive bobus or
$Ia0, 900.
In view of the large first cost g the
Maine, about 5000, 900, and the nation
al desire that she shall 'be raised as
evidenced by the prompt ana unenl-
mous action Of congress upon the 3eant I
resois tion, Secretary Long believes
that he is fully justified in making the
above terms with the wreckers, thougb
at first thought the per diem compen-
sation seems large. It must 'be borne
an mind. however, he said today, that
This will constitute the largest wreck
ing expedition ever equipped in this
country, "A clause OF the contract re
o,,ires the companies to proceed with
all dispatch and in business like
msnner with the work Of the wrecking.