The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-21
DIVERS ENTER THE MAINE.
THEY FlND THE KEYS OF THE MAC
AgINEs IN THEIR PROPER PLACE.

Capt. siEssee's Important Papers Are Recev-
~ered-Aner Three Trips Below the S1en
Gait for the Day-The Captain lie Very
WARMLY Greetca By Hts wounded saiisrs.
HAVANA, Feb. 20.-Tho American divers be.
gan their work to-day. Early in the morning
they descended into the Maine, but they were
not able to make moro than three trips. From
the storeroom OF Capt Siesbeo they brought the
drawer which contained the official correspond
ence OF Capt. Sigsbee. and also the secret tele-
graphic and letter code of the American Navy.
The divers also brought up other books. off,
cial accounts. and important documents that
are needed by Capt. Sigsbee: and. to the great
reiief OF the Captain. they brought up the keys
OF all the magazines. which. as previously
cabled to The Sun. the Captain declared had
been duly delivered to him at 8 o'clock on the
night OF the explosion. that is TO say, two hours
before the catastrophe occurred. This fact Is
or very great Importance to show that there
was no carelessness on the part of tho Captain
and crew of the Maine.
The divers also found Capt. Siesbee's watch.
The Captain told tho correspondent that this
was the third time his watch had been
under water In thirty years. 1.-THE first time.
he said, was in Japan, the second in Bahia Hon.
da. Cuba, when the Blake ran ashore and / had
eNsb ~ "dJoI, anu tnlS Ii the tn.rQ
time"
The divers brought also some money from the
Captains storeroom. and Sigsbee gave It to
them as q gift. At three o'clock this afternoon,
the divers being greatly ~fatigued, Capt. Sigsbee
ordered them to suspend work until tomorrow,
Many reports are circulating In town about
the discoveries made to-day, but Capt. Sigsbee
will give no further information about the days
results.
When the work OF tho divers was over Capt,
sigsbee went to the hospital Of San Ambrosio to
visit the wounded who remain there. They are
John Heffon, D. Shea. F. D. Cahill, Paul LOTUS,
william Mattisen, J. w. Allen %tcolorcd), George
Coehler. and F. G. Hotter.
The last-named man is deIirious and in a des.
perate condition. 1t was said by the doctors
that no can hardly live more than q few hours.
1t was one of the most pathetic scenes since
the terrible catastrophe took place. Capt.
sigsoee could not restrain his emotion at tho
slght OF his suffering and dying sailors. They
welcomed him with evidences Of great respect
and affection.
Inc Captain remained some minutes at the
oedside OF each OF the sailors and talked to
them. asking them questions about the disas-
Ter. Only three were abb to recall any details.
Inc others oil declared chat the affair was like
q nightmare. and that they remember only being
a. eho oootss VI III Inc hospital.
Cochler, though d~elirious. had a few quiet
moments when he recognized the Captain. He
stared at him. took both his hands and said:
captain, don't leave me- here. I know that
the Maine Is going TO New Orleans. For Gods
sake. Captain, don't leave me in Havana, don't
leave me here. / feel strong enough to make
the trip and perform ell my duties"
The Captain. with great emotion, answered
him:
Il promise you that when the Maine leaves
Havana I will take you with me-"
The poor sailor then lay back on the pillow, his
emaciated face bright with hope.
Coehler, in the opinion of the doctors, will die.
Hotter. who Is also in q very grave condition.
said:
How do you do. Captain Pardon me, Cap
tain, II l cannot shake hands. I don't know
where they are. These fellows here say that
they are all broken. 1 am very sorry. Captain,
that you lost your ship and your sailors"
The Captain thanked him and added, "You
chose the wrong Captain this time. my boy"
oh. no. no. Captain" vas the general an
swer from all the beds.
All the wounded sailors asked Capt. Sigsbee
to call again and not to forget them.
When he left the room the Captains eyes
were filled with tears. 1t is the first
time since the disaster that the corre-
spondent has seen him in such emotion.
He soon recovered himself and asked
an American reporter who speaks Spanish to
be his Interpreter while he talked to DR.. Muhoz
Eguren. who is the physician In charge of the
hospital.
II thank you. doctor" said he, "for the care
you are taking Of my poor sailors"
The doctor answered that he was only doing
his duty.
An interpreter has been appointed In the
hospital to be near the sailors. because 1t was
very hard for them, at first, to make themselves
understood.
The Diario de la Marina publishes a de-
spatch from New York quoting Lieut.. Sobral's
interview, In which he is said to have expressed
the opinion that in his opinion there was
great lack of discipline and much carolessness
on board Of the Maine. and that this was the
principal cause Of the disaster.
The despatch has caused q great deal of In
dignation among the Americans. At the same
time tho rabid Spaniards and some officials are
very Indignant against the American corre-
spondents here. and trouble may occur.
Tomorrow the Mangrove is expected here
with some moro divers and appliances. Those
now In use here are old and poor.
Miss Clara Barton went to Jaruco to-day,
where she was warmly welcomed.
She has established a new hospital there. The
reconcentrados cheered her with great en-.
thusiasm.
She has announced her intention to 20 to Ar
temisa. on the boundary between the provinces
of Havana and Pinar dol Rio. The misery OF
the starving people there 10 very great.
SUNDAY WORK AT NORFOLK.
Activity In Repairing the Vessels In the Navy