Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-05
THE COURT.
Admiral Sicard's Order Creating it
and Naming It's Duties.


cards precept converting the court OF
inquiry now investigating the disaster
to the battleship Maine, has been re-
ceiVed by the Navy Department and
was made public to-day 1t is i'm
portant mainly in showing the exact
scope OF the inquiry and the extent to
which the report will go. Aside from
the usual orders directing the court
to report both findings and fact, ana
its opinion on these findings, Admiral
Sicard directs the court to record any
information as to the person or per-
sons, not connected with the navy OF
the United States, who are, in its
opinion, responsible, in part or Who'll
~, directly or indirectly. for the eX-
plosion and loss Of the Name with
names and the degree of responsibility
III each case.
The orders are dated at Key West
Fla, February 10, 1855, and are di-
rected to Captain Sampson, president
OF the court. The text is as follows:
A court of inquiry consisting Of your
self Capt Sampson) as pTdesident, and
Capt. f. e. Chadwick and Lieut. Com
mander William f. Potter as addi-
tlonal members, and of Lieut. Com
mander Adolph Mark, as judge advo-
cate, is hereby ordered to convene at
noon on Monday, February q, 1898,
or as soon thereafter as practicable,
for the purpose Of inquiring into the
circumstances connected with the loss
by explosion of the United States bat
tlpSbln Mainn in hn ho, ~ #
Havana, Cuba, on the night of Tues
day, February Is, 1898. The court is
authorized to hold its sessions on
Loard any ship Of the North Atlantic
squadron, or in the city of Key West.
Fla, or in the harbor of the city of
Havana, Cuba. The attention of the
court is invited to the instructions
concerning the particulars to be in
vestigated in the case of the loss or
grounding of ship of the navy, CON
tanned in the United States naval regu-
lations.
The following described papers re-
lating to the loss OF the United States
steamer Maine, on the occasion refer
red to, are attached to aad made part
of this precept
THE copy Of a telegram sevt by
Captain Charles Sigsbee, at Havana,
Cuba, to Commander James NJ For
syth, Q. S. N, at Key West, Fla, with
out date, but probably sent on the
night of February Is, as it was re-.
ceived at Key West, Fla, by Lieut..
Commander William S. Cowies, L. S.
n, at one O'Clock a. m, of February
IS, 1898, and by the commander-in-
chief at $50 a. m, Of February 16,
at Dry Tortugas, Fla.
GA telegram sent by Capt. c. d.
Sigsbee, L. S. n, to the commander
in chief at Key West, Fla, dated Ha-
vana, Cuba, February 16, 1895
The court will diligently and thor
oughly inquire into all the circumstan-
ces attending the loss of said vessel
on the date named, and upon the con-
clusion Of the investigation will report
to the commander in chief its pro-
ceedings, all the testimony taken. and
the facts which it may deem establish
ed by the evidence adduced. together
with its opinion as to what further
proceedings, if any, should be had in
the matter. The court will also report
whether or not the loss of said YES
sci was, on the occasion named, in any
respect due to fault or negligence on
the part of any, Of the officers or mem
bers of the crew of said vessel, and if
so, the names of such officers or mem
bers of the crew, and in what respect
and to what extent any or either OF
them were so at fault or negligent.
IF the court shall be Of opinion that
further proceedings should be had in
the matter, it will include in its report
a succinct statement as to the person
or persons against whom and the spe
eific matter upon which such proceed
ings should be had. The court Will
also report its opinion as to the cause
or causes of the explosion, or other
incidents that bore directly or indi-
rectly upon the loss of the Maine.
1T will also record any information
that it may be able to obtain by testi-
mony and evidence, as to any person
or persons not connected with the
navy of the United States who are, in
its opinion, responsible, in part or
wholly. directly or indirectly, for the
explosion and loss of the Maine, and
will include their names in its opinion
together with the degree of such re-
sponsibility in each case.
(Signed) m. SICARD,
"Rear Admiral, commandments
Naval Force North Atlantic Sta
ton