Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-26
RELICS OF THE MAINE
Distribution of Souvenirs Re-
covered From Wreck.
DUTY OF JOINT Committee
Work Performed Under Direction of
War and Navy Secretaries.
SUPERVISION BY PRESIDENT
Number of Articles Allotted to
Washington-Perso Property
Restored.
DUTY OF JOINT committee
SUPERVISION BY PRESIDENT

Having given honorable burial to the
victims Of the Maine disaster and to the
hulk itself, the authorities have begun
the distribution of the personal effects
and pieces of equipment saved from the
wreck for preservation as relics of an
important event in the history of the
country. Under the law the distribution
OF these souvenirs is confined to surviv-
Ors. relatives of the victims, patriotic
organizations and municipalities. 1t is
specially provided that none of the arti-
cles SO distributed shall be disposed of
hereafter without permission of the
President That is done in order to in
sure that no part of the wrecked vessel
shall be sold or exhibited as a means
of profit
The Secretaries of War and Navy were
charged with the duty of distributing the
relics. Nearly all of them are at the
Washington navy yard, having been
brought there from Havana by the col
lier LeOnidas and the scout cruiser Biz
mingham. The Secretaries intrusted the
actual distribution to Col. Edward Burr.
Corps of Engineers, L. S. A., and Com
mander Richard H. Leigh, L. S. N.
These officers have had the matter under
constant study and consideration for sew
eral weeks past. 1t was soon established
that the number and character of the
relics will be entirely inadequate to meet
the flood of applications that have come
in from cities. organizations and individ
uals in all parts OF the country. The
principal demand was for guns and heavy
pieces of ordnance for monumental pur-
poses. Only four small guns were re-
covered, but there was a large quantity
of scrap brass and iron suitable for con-
version into tablets and other parts of
monuments.
Odd Pieces Only Available.
AS result the applicants. numbering
more than 1900. will have to be content
with odd pieces of the ships equipment
shells and armor, crockery, silverware,
etc. The joint committee already has al
lotted all of the principal relics and the
Secretaries of War and Navy have APP
proved it's action. BY special direction
Maine, with it's fighting top, will be
erected over the graves Of the victims of
the disaster in the Arlington national
cemetery. Action in that direction Is sus-
money will be available for the purpose
after the Maine cofferdam in Havana
harbor shall have been removed.
Also by direction of Congress the after
turret of the Maine, with its two ten
inch guns, has been given to the city OF
Havana and is to be erected as a monu-
ment in one of the principal parks in
that city. The other turret. with its big
guns, was blown overheard by the ex-
plosion and now lies deep in the mud OF
Havana harbor. 1t has been abandoned.
With the exceptions mentioned, the al
lotment Of all the relics Of the Maine has
been left to the special joint committee.
The keen competition for the steel fore
mast was one Of the first articles saved
favor of the Naval Academy, where it
will be erected as a monument This
mast was oneof the first articles saved
from the wreck during the recent opera
tons. It Is now at the headquarters of
the Atlantic Division Of the army, at
Governors Island, N. Y. 1t is smaller
than the mainmast, to be erected at Ar
lingtOn.