The herald., 1898-03-02

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theory of her designer, Admiral Ammen.
was that this armor plate could not be
struck directly. by shot from another.
and that any such shot would be harm
lessly detected by the sloping steel deck.
In action, the coming tower and smoke
stack are about all of the ship that would
present a mark. The former is made Of
steel IS inches thick. The Katahdin is a
ram pure and simple, having in the way of
| weapons of offense nothing except her
sharp steel beak. and few small rapid
fire guns to keep off boarders or torpedo
boats. When she was designed her speed
was placed at a very high mark but she
did not realize expectations, owing to her
peculiar underwater model. Her per-
sonnel will be as follows: Captain, Com
mander Wilde, at present naval secretary
of the lighthouse board; executive officer,
Lieutenant Lowe; navigator Lieutenant
Culver; chief engineer, Being, and Ensign
Campbell. The two vessels have crews
respectively of $50 and 80 men.
1t was just learned at the navy depart
ment today why the Maine was tied up to
a buoy in Havana harbor instead of an
choring. fact that has been the case for
some theories as to the cause of the dis
aster. 1t is stated that not only is a man.
of-war at a buoy in a much better place Tor
quick service than when anchored, but II
| appears that If a ship casts her anchor
in Havana harbor, so foul and polluted
with yellow fever and other germs of dis
ease, is the mud that adheres to 1t when 1t
is hoisted that the ship must go into quar-
antine upon her return to any Florida port.
WITNESSES EXAMINED
KEY WEST, Fla, March 1.-The second
| days session here of the United States
court of inquiry into the loss of the battle
| ship Maine in the harbor of Havana, on
| February 18th, began in the United States
district court room shortly after 10 o'clock
| today.
| A good part of the time of the court of
inquiry today was devoted TO verltylng the
| testimony previously given. the stenog-
raphers reading their official transcripts
| of the evidence and the witnesses con-
| firming their correctness.
| Following the custom at the previous
| sessions of the court, all witnesses were
sworn not to reveal any part OF the pro-
ceedings of the court.
The court adjourned for lunch at 12:40
p. M, after examining four engineer offic-
ers and eight enlisted men Of the Maine.
| The engineers examined were Passed
Assistant Engineer Morris Assistant En-
gineer Bowers, Cadets (engineer division)
! Washington and Crenshaw.
The afternoon session of the court be-
| gan at / 80 o'clock and an adjournment was
taken about o'clock until 10 tomorrow.
The whole number of enlisted men exam
| ined during the day was ten. Admiral Sic
ard has requested DR.. Malloney, the mayor
| Of Key West, to prevent a local demonstra-
ton when the funeral Of the Names dead
| occurs. He has asked that In the event of
a parade formed by the residents only
| American flags shall be displayed.
| Mayor Malloney has promised to carry
| out Admiral Sicard's wishes as far as pos
sible, but doubts whether the strong Cuban
and anti-Spanish sentiment can be sup
pressed.
| All of Tho furarai orra rorcepts will he
under the direction of Commander Mccall
of the Marblehead.
AS now planned. small details of marines
will be landed from the vessels here and
at the Tortugas, and the astillery at the
barracks will join in paying the last honors.
WORK ON THE WRECK
| HAVANA, March 1.-The divers on the
Right Arm got to work this morning in
earnest. Capt. Everett. chief of the divers,
was in charge, and the water being lower
than usual it was seen that the steerage
hatch was partially clear though blocked
to some extent by one of the smokestacks.
The divers succeeded In entering the aft
compartment, where they hoped to find
the bodies of Jenkins and Merritt, as we'll
as members Of the crew. The officers men
toned were last seen in the aft torpedo
compartment, and up to today the divers
feared to enter 1t, there being great dan
ger that the air hose might catch in tho
wreckage about the smokestack.
The steamer Bache has been ordered to
leave for Dry Tortugas with five American
wounded, all that are now left here and
one body. Admiral Sicard intends to hold
q naval funeral over the bodies returned by
the Bache, but may postpone the ceremony
until others have been recovered, so that
all may be formally inferred at the same
time.
1t is said here that the court of inquiry
will return to Havana tomorrow, but the
report had not been confirmed when this
was filed.
This morning a collision occurred be-
tween a party of guerrillas and several
employees Of the street cleaning department
near Trillo park. Five policemen inter-
fered to preserve order and, meeting with
resistance, used their revolvers. Four of
the combatants we're shot and three po-
arrests were made. The affair, however,
was only an ordinary street brawl.
NAVAL PREPARATION
PHILADELPHIA. March The work
of preparing for SEA the war vessels now at
League island is progressing rapidly. A
naval officer stated today that the only one
to no into commission Immediately is the
monitor Miantonomah, and a large number
of men has been working on her contin-
| uo,lsly, With the exception Of receiving
her coal she is almost ready for sea. Steam
was gotten up in her boilers today In order
| to test her engines. which were found to
be in good working order. At present she
has only q skeleton crew on board, and q
full complement Of men y expected to-
morrow from Norfolk. New York and Bos~
i ton.
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