The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-17

hub UIoNh up IA NAe 49, - - 1SA'O 49,
seen force In some inexplicable manner. That
Is all that is known now and probably all that
will be known until the board OF inquiry APP
pointed today makes Its Investigation and sub
mits a report. In the meantime theories arc
thick as autumn leaves.
Fow of the higher officials of the Administra-
ton and Of tho leaders in the Senate and House
nre willing to admit that they SEQ the evidence
Of Spanish troachery In this tragedy that has
followed the long chain Of dramatic incldents
connected with tho controversy between Spain
and the United States over the Cuban question.
In their hearts there Is grave fear and dark sus-
plcion. But the consequences Of fastening tho
guilt upon Spain would DO so serioua and the re-
t~aliation 80 prompt and severe that they hesitate
to make public the existence Of their mlsRivings.
President Mckinley. therefore,, has allowed
the impression to 60 abroad that he be-
lieves tho calamity for which the nation
mourns to DO due to an inscrutablo
act Of Providence, and his words are re- echoed
by his Secretary Of the Navy and other Cabinet
advisers. They would DO only too glad II they
felt their utterances to DO sincere. They desire,
above all things, to have the American public
suspend Judgment until tho facts can DO ascor-
tanned. II IL shell DO shown that the hand Of
Providence and not the hand of man caused tho
lamentable event that has sent q thrill Of hor-
ror throughout the world. no one will be moro
grateful than the Presidento of the United States.
II It shall DO learned that the deed was caused
by q treacherous enemy OF Cuba and Of her
friend, the United States. then the vengeance of
the Government will DO swift and sure. The
President has taken the public into his conf
denoe by directing that all Information shall be
given fully to the newspapers as soon as re-
ceived.
Congress has been held in check to-day by the
forced conservatism and tranquility Of the
President and the Administration officials. In
the Senate and House the desire TO take action
Of some sort was almost overpowering, but the
good Judgment of the cooler heads prevailed,
and It was decided to act In accordance with the
desires of the President and wait until the
truth comes to light.
Not since that midsummer day, nearly seven
teen years ago, when President Garfield was
shot down by an assassin az he was entering the
railway station In this city to start upon q holi.
day jaunt, has q public event caused so much
borror and excitement as the early morning
despatch from Capt. Sigsbeo which the Presi-
dent and Secretary of the Navy were awakened
from q sound sleep to receive. Tho White House
and State. War and Navy building have been
crowded with eager, anxious, and excited citi-
zens all day. There were no scenes such as
occurred at the Admiralty 0fico in London
after the Victoria disaster. when relatives and
IrlenuS Oh OIlCcES anu m6n VI tue lllluteu
battleship made distressing exhibitions of their
grief. but the space outside the Office of
Secretary Long was frequently packed solid
with people anxious to get the latest details.
Nearly every naval officer in Washington. in
Guiding q number on the retired list. hurried to
the department for information about the fate
of friends ON board the Maine. Not one of them
was without some shipmate who was numbered
among tho list of her officers. A fow mon who
had brothers or soma or other relatives in
tho crew asked for news at tho bureau Of
Navigation. but made no demonstration OF
feeling. Mrs. SigsfSe. the VITO OF tho COM
mander. and Mrs. Wainwright, the wife of
the executive officer of the Maine. had
been informed early in the morning that their
husbands were safe. Both women reside here.
They spent the day at their homes receiving
congratulations from visitors. kilograms were
sent by the Navy Department to the families of
all officers, except those OF Lieut. Jenkins and
Assistant Engineer Merritt. saying that these
two were the only officers missing. Inquiries
came by telegraph from the families of jenkins
and Merritt. and the department was obliged to
send the distressing news that they were re-
ported lost.
All work at the Navy Department except that
relating to the Maine disaster was practically
suspended during the day. The officials and
clerks Of the Bureau of Navigation were busy
enough preparing lists of officers and crew, an
swering dispatches from those who had rela-
tives and friends on the battleship, and attend
ing to the many other matters which required
immediate consideration on account of the dis
aster. In the other bureaus work was nearly at
a standstill. Everybody felt too unncrvcd to
attend to routine business. and the excitement
In the corridors spread to the Office rooms. or
1cials and employees of the State and War de-
partmanta lncata1 In the Rama huiliinU wara
not exempt from the general feeling and Joined
the crowds who waited for information.
Tho excitement in the corridors of the State,
War and Navy building was not due entirely to
the terrible nature OF the catastrophe. 1t was
based quito as much on the possibility that the
Names destruction would result in war between
Spain and the United States. Still 1t was not q
talking crowd. There was an atmosphere of
awe prevailing. which ofrectually suppressed
any desire to indulge in blatancy. The beauti-
full model of the Maine, placed in a glass case
Just outside the door to the Secretary Of the
Nays office, was the central point OF gather
ing. Every detail OF the Inflated battleship as
shown in the model was examined with inter.
est. Whenever q naval officer or some other
person familiar with the construction of the
ship would point out the position of the maya
zines and tho quarters occupied by the slauRh-
tered crew. the crowd would press closer. eager
TO boar every word. An official walking through
the corridor. hurriedly reading q despatch just
received, would be surrounded by curious peo-
pic, who would attempt to see what was in tho
message. They meant no o~ffence-interest had
simply overcome good manners. Occasionally
word would come from the Bureau of Naviga-
ton that there was Q telegram from Capt. Sigs-
bee. and the rush of newspaper men down the
corridor would be followed by n frantic move
ment In the same direction by the scores of curl