The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-17
NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY
BELIEF THAT TT HAS REACHED 4
 DEFINITE CONCLUSION.

Captain Sampson and Judge Advocate
 Mark Hold Long Consultation With Ad-
 miral Sicard-Number of Officers of the
 Maine Are Allowed to Leave for Home
 One Says Maine Was Blown Up From
 Outside.
 Key West, Fla, March 16-The arri-
 val of the court of inquiry from Ha-
 vana on the Mangrove to-day was not
 unexpected; but the extreme mystery
 which has surrounded the behavior of
 its members during the day is in strong
 contrast with their former conduct at
 Key West. The most definite state
 ment obtainable was from a member of
 the court who, after stipulating that
 his name should be suppressed, said:
 T do not know whether we will hold
 session here, but I suppose we will"
 The only definite development which
 followed the courts arrival was the re-
 lease of the leave orders of seven of
 the Maines officers, a matter which
 has been lying at the pleasure of the
 court for more than a week. The other
 officers vii remain here, although the
 only apparent reason for their attend
 ance is that they may testify further.
 One of them said to the correspondent:
 "Those of us who are to be left behind
 are probably wanted to testify as to
 the minute parts of the Maine previous
 to the explosion. For instance, sworn
 evidence as to the exact location of
 some particular angle iron might be required to make the finding techni- cally correct. Personally, I am con- vinced that the court has come to a definite conclusion regarding the explo- sion.''
 Unless the unexpected happens it is safe to say that the court will convene tomorrow and hear testimony. But < the Maine officers expect to get away , by Sunday. The general impression is that the evidence thus far received was
 carefully gone over to-day and the S points requiring additional testimony < were marked out. Captain Sampson and Judge Advocate Mark had long consul tations with Admiral Sicard, after which the officers from whom further testimony was deemed unnecessary g were given their leave orders. Captain Sampson and Judge Advocate Mark 1unched together on the Iowa, which ] lies six miles off. They did not return to land. No session of the court was < held on shore, but it is understood that consultation took place between the & officers of the court and that Rear Ad- e miral Sicard's wishes were communi- cated to those who had not talked with q the fleet commander personally.
 Among naval officers and others it # is generally believed that the court of inquiry has come to the definite conclusion that the explosion was ex- ternal and the court is now only busted $ over minor technical details This is, < however, only an opinion, for with the < exception of the members of the court Rear Admiral Sicard and Commander # West no one here has any real clue to the final decision. One officer said: 1T believe the Maine was blown up from the outside but judging from the ques- < tions asked by members of the court when previously here, am utterly un- able to ascertain whether they have even countenaced such 6 solution of the disaster. I have talked wiz fel-
 low officers, and passing their opinions $ on the character of the questions asked they, too were bound to confess that < they were just as much in the dark # Amid cheers from their fellow survi-
 vors and friends the following officers of the Maine left tonight on the Plant
 line steamer Olivette, via Tampa, for 5 their homes: Lieutenant G. F. w.
 Holman, New York; Lieutenant John x J. Blandon, Baltimore; First Lieuten- x ant of Marines A. w. Catlin, New
 burgh, N. r.; Lieutenant George Blow. A Chicago; Cadet Washington, Colds
 boro, N. C.; Cadet Crenshaw, Green
 vile, Ala; and Boatswain Larlzin, Phil < adelphia. All expressed the keenest x pleasure at starting for their homes < after the terrible experience of the ex-
 plosion and the wearisome delay that < has followed it. With the exception of Lieutenant of Marines Catlin they are
 ordered to their homes to await or
 ders. Lieutenant Catlin is to report by a telegraph to Washington.
 S The steamer Comet of the Mallory < line arrived to-day from New York with ammunition for the fleet and re- $ lief provisions for the reconcentrados. Tomorrow the Detroit will take am- < munition and stores to the fleet and the
 Fern will take provisions to Matanzas < and Sagua la Grande.
 THE NEVIS FROM HAVANA.