OL. XXXI. NO. 15.
WILMINGTON, N. C, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2b, 1893.
S1.00 PER YEAR,
FURTHER EVIDENCE
OP THE MAINE'S WRECK BY OUT
SIDE EXPLOSION
The Roller Kxploalon Theory Kplodd.
Condition of Forward Plates Kcgatire
Explosion orothe Magazine Submarine
Mines Extated3bellFoand Uncxploded.
Suspicions Facts as to Blooring of the
Teasel Belief Ihat it Was Work of Spac.
Isn Officers
Washington, February 22. All the
government departments were closed in
Washington today, save the navy,
where a few of the officials assembled
to receive any dispatches that might
arriv and to close the contract wirh
the wreckers for the recovery of the
effects on the Maine anvl the vessel
herself, if that be practicable. Tlie
signing- of the wrecking contract was
the most Important even of the day,
and, this concluded, the officials closed
up rfhop and went home to enjoy a
respite from the rush of the past week.
Captain Sigsbee was heard from in a
dispatch, which indicates that close at
tention would be given the coal bunkers
by the naval court of inquiry at Ha
vana. Officials unquestionably have
leen for some time preparing for any
emergency that may arise, but appear
ances at the department today would
indicate that necessary orders have al
ready been given and that the situation
was not one calling for immediate ac
tivity at Washington. The1 Castine
and the Cincinnati, in accordance with
orders made known some time ago by
the Associated Press, are to move fur
ther north to West Indian waters, and
at 'Norfolk the monitor Terror lias
been ordered to be in readiness and
may be sent to New York later.
The senate passed a 'bill to add two
artillery regiments to the strength of
the army. This measure has ibeen
urged for many months 'by officials of
the war department who foresaw that
while congress of late years had taken
measures for the protection of our
coasts by considerable appropriations
for defensive works and great guns,
it had not provided the men necessary
to operate these engines of war. Should
the house pass the bill it will enable
the department to carry out plans it
has long had in view. Criticisms lately
passed upon the state of the army and
our fortifications have caused increas
ed activity in military matters and "to
some extent this is responsible for re
ports arriving from various quarters
of movements at army posts. A. re
port was circulated that General Miles,
as commander of the army, had is
sued additional orders for troops at
all forts to be on the alert and ready
for immediate action, but this was
promptly denied by the general's chief
of staff. 'Nothing whatever of a sen
sational character occurred in Wash
ington and on the whole the day was
free of rumors by comparison with its
immediate predecessors for the past
eek or more.
HURRYING UP TUB WRECKING
COMPANIES.
The plans of the wrecking1 expedi
tion for the relief of the Maine were
completed today after long conferences
'between Secretary (Long and the rep
resentatives of the Merritt and Chap
man Company, of New York, and the
Itoston Towboat Company. The com
panies had expected to begin work in
Havftna harbor in about a week, but
at the last moment Secretary Long
insisted that a provision should be
made for sending forward at once at
least one large wrecking1 boat, with
divers and equipments. This was
agreed to, and a dispatch was sent to
the captain of the sea wrecker Right
Arm, now at Key West, to suspend
his private work there and proceed jt
once to 'Havana. If the Right Arm
has started nort'h, a torpedo boat will
be sent after her with orders to pro
ceed to Hvana. At the same time a
dispatch was sent to the New York
offices of the company to send two of
the most experienced -divers by train
to Key West, where they will go to Ha
vana and join the divers and wreckers
on the Right Arm.
The commander of the Right Arm is
ordered to place himself, with his diver-?
and machine, under the orders -?f
Captain Sigsbee, who thus will be free
to avail himself of their services in
the recovery of bodies or any particu
larly desirable piece of equipment or
property before the regular wrecking
operations begin. These are emergency
steps which precede the main wrecking
expedition, which will be outfitted at
Boston, New York and Norfolk, with
a view to begrrnnmg extensive opera
tions within a weeSc.
TE RIMS OF THE CONTRACT.
The terms of he contract as con
cluded and signed today provide for
the payment to the wrecking compan
ies of the stun of $871 per ay for their
regular plant, and an adtEional pay
ment of $506 per .day for the use of the
Monarch, while rthe latter 5s actually
employed. An express prevision is
made that the (government may ter
minate the contract at any moment.
It is also provided that the tiompensa
tion shall not exceed the sumsof money
($200,000) appropriated by congress for
rthis purpose in the joint resolution
passed yesterday. .Finally, it is pro
vided that if the companies suc-eed in
raising1 the Maine and towing ier to
Norfolk they shall reeeive a iboaus of
S100.000. m
In view of the large first cost . the
Maine, about $5,000,000, .id the nation
al desire that she shall 'be raised, as
evidenced by the prompt and unani
mous action of congress upon the J5at
resoto tion, Secretary Lng ;belleres
that he Is fully justified in making tte
above terms with the wreckers, though
At first thought the per diem, compen
sation eems large. It must 'be borne
in mind, however, he said today, that
this will constitute the largest wreck
ing expedition ever equipped in this
sountry, 1A clause of the contract re
quires the companies to proceed with
all dispatch and! in a business -tike
manner with the work of the wrecking
and though this haste adds to the cost
l the work, it t believed to be neces
sary. In view of the possibility of the
early appearances of yellow fever at
Havana harbor with the . approach of
the rainy season next month.
PLAIN'S OF THE WRECKING COM
PANIES. Captain Humphreys and Mr. Chap
man, representing the two companies
who will do the work, explained to
the Associated Press the plans they
will adopt in raising the 'Maine. In ad
dition to the emergency work to be
prosecuted by the Right Arm, the main
expedition will be made up of about
100 men, including six skilled divers,
the wrecking steamer Underwriter, of
Boston, of GOO horse power, the wreck
ing steamer, John G. Jones, of Norfolk,
of similar power; the iron barge Lone
Star, of Boston, capable of carrying
3,000 tons; the floating derrick Mon
arch, capaible of lifting 260 tonsthe
largest floating derrick In the country,
aind another derrick, capable of lifting
thirty tons, The fvrwardni 9t the.
boats, derricks and men will begin at
once. Telegrams were sent today to
begin the outfitting, the taking on of
coal and assembling of men and equip
ment. The boats are ready to start
at any time, but it will take a day or
two to get together the exceptional fa
cilities required for this large under
taking. The wrecking companies' of
ficials say it will be impossible to as
semble thi3 material and get it into
Havana harbor ready for work for a
week. They will make every effort,
however, to expedite the work. The
Underwriter has a crew of seventeen
men, including her own staff of divers,
who are veterans in this line of work.
The Jones has a like crew and equip
ment of divers. The crews are avail
able for wrecking work, but, aside
from these men there will -be forty ex
perienced wreckers. Each wrecking
vessel has a large complement of
pumps, anchors, iron masts with heavy
hoisting gear, cables, etc. Who will
command the expedition has not been
determined thus far, as the companies
have several experienced wrecking
masters available, ''he wrecking mas
ter will be in com ete charge, as the
government will trust entirely to the
experience of the wreckers, although
a naval officer will be detailed to In
spect the werk as it proceeds.
The officers of the two wrecking com
panies said today that after the ex
pedition was assemlbled in Havana har
bor a complete inspection of the work
would be made and the exact line of
work determined upon. The facilities
will be so ample that all of the divers
will be able to work at one tiros on
different parts of the wreck. Most of
the lifting will be done by the smaller
derrick, which is of sufficient capacity
for the lighter upper works of the
Maine, but it will take the monster
derrick, Monarch, to lift the huge tur
rets of the Maine and the guns mount
ed within them.
TO LIFT TURRETS AND GUNS TO
GETHER. Captain Humphreys stated Inat the
purpose was not to separate the b'g
guns from the turrets, but to lift them
as a whole. This will be a tremendous
undertaking, as the combined weight
of each turret and guns is 166 tons.
The 'Monarch can lift 260 tons, so there
is an ample margin of lifting power.
The wreckers were loath to express an
opinion as to their ability to raise the
'hull of the Maine. "Mr. Chapman and
Captain Humphreys stated that noth
ing 'but a close personal inspection
wrould permit a decision on that point.
They are hopeful, however, that the
ship can be brought to the surface.
The iron barge Lone Star will be used
to receive the turret guns and wreck
age and as fast as loads are made up
she will 'be towed to the Norfolk navy
yard. NO CABLEGRAMS OVER-NIGHT.
The most potent sign that the first
and exciting stage of the Maine dis
aster has been passed was the fact
that not a single cablegram was re
ceived over-night or this morning at
the navy department relating in any
manner to that event.
Acting Secretary Day spent some
time at his office, but he had little
news to communicate. He had re
ceived only one dispatch, since yester
day from Consul General Lee and that
related to the shipment of Cuban -tobacco
to the United States. The de
partment had heard nothing of the
reported revival of the Weyler edict
prohibiting the exportation of tobacco
from Cuba. On the contrary, General
Lee's reports show that the movements
are in regular progress, or at least, had
not been checked up to the 9th instant.
Judge Day had received no news of
the rumored capture of the Dauntless,
and in fact, the above telegram was all
that he had had from Havana in the
last twenty-four hours.
MOVEMENT OF SOUTH ATLANTIC
SQUADRON.
The naval officials assert that the re
port to the effect that the movements
of the South Atlantic squadron now
under way are with a view to the
early assembling of the vessels near
Havana Is without foundation. This
movement, they say, is in direct accord
with the plan outlined in December
last by Captain Chester, of the Cincin
nati, In command of the squadron, and
approved toy the department. This
plan is about as follows: After the
smaller vessels were docked at Buenos
Ayres he would assemble the squadron
and proceed up the coast of South
America for squadron drill, visiting all
the ports -wvere American interests ex
ist, going as far as Para. Upon the
return of the squadron from the
north he would make a long visbt to
'Rio Janeiro, with all the vessels. Near
Rio Janeiro is the harbor of Isle de
Grande, where the vessels wouTd have
target practice and other squadron ex
ercises. Thus would also give the small
er vessels an opportutuiy for torpedo
practice. t
In further explanation of the move
ment of the two ships of the So&th At
lantic squadron, it is said at t&e nvy
department that some time ago word
came that they were in nsted of coal,
but that yellow fever prevailed at Para
where they were then and south of
them in Brazil. They were authorized
to proceed to some healthy port for
their coal, and this, it Is stated, is Jkw
they came to go to Barbadoes.
THE MONITOR TERROR.
In explanation of the order given
yesterday to the Norfolk navy-yard of- 1
ficials to have the Terror in condition
for service, Secretary Long said this
order had been given to . replace the
Maine, it heing deemed desirable that
the armored fleet should not fall below f
a certain number. There was very"
little work to be done on the Terror;
and forty-eight hours should suffice to J
finish it. The Terror is our most pow- t
erful double-turreted monitor and, al- :
though not as effective as a sealxfat i
as a battleship. In the smooth waters
of a harbor she probably would . be-
able to hold her own against almost
any craft.
A CABLEGRAM FROM SIGSBEE.
The following telegram was receiv
ed by the navy department this after
noon from Captain Slgsbee:
"Send to Forsythe for Sigsbee for a
transverse sectional drawing of the
Maine through forward 10-inch maga
zine and shell room, showing 'pocket
coal bunkers."
This request was Immediately com
plied with. It is supposed that Cap- j
utin iMgsoee wants mere arawings to
assist in the work of wrecking the
ship, as they would be of great aid to
the divers. They will fbe useful also
as the ibasis for the testimony now be
ing taken hy the court of inquiry at
Havana. The fact that it is deemed
essential that the drawings shall show
the pocket coal 'bunkers, which a butt
on the magazine, is evidence that Cap
tain Sigsbee has in mind the sponta
neous combustion theory, though it
does not follow by any means that he
is committeed to it.
Some of the employees of the navy
department have been making estimat
es of the amount of money that will be
required to meet the demands of the
joint resolution which Mr. Boutelle
proposes to introduce in the house al
lowing a year's sea pay to the families
of the dead sailors and money for lot
clothing and effects, not to exceed a
year's pay, to the survivors. They fix
the sum at not to exceed $150,000.
THE TERROR TO SAIL TODAY.
Norfolk, Va., February 22. The re
pairs on the monitor Terror were com
pleted tonight and it is understood she
will sail for New York in the morning.
Repairs on the torpedo :boats Foote
and Winslow are also practically com
pleted and they are ready to leave the
drydock. The Puritan will hardly be
ready to leave the yard under ten days.
All of her boilers have been repaired
but one.
It is said that the gunboat Machlna
will be repaired at this yard and a
requisition for more men has oeen
made. The number of men at the yard
will probably be doubled 'by March 1st.
THE COURT OF INQUIRY.
Havana, February 22. Consul Gen
eral Lee and the members of the Unit
ed States court of inquiry into the loss
of the battleship Maine called this
morning on Captain General Blanco
and Admiral Manterola. When these
ceremonies were ended the court, re
turned to the United States lighthouse
tender Mangrove and resumed its ses
sion. The court opened at 10:30 o'clock
and took a recess at 12:30 o'clock. Lieu
tenant G. F. Holman, navigator and
ordnance officer of the Maine, was ex
amined at the morning session. The
court met for the afternoon session at
1:30 o'clock and Lieutenant Command
er R. Wainwright, executive officer of
the Maine, was called to the witness
stand. He has 'been In immediate
charge of the wreck since the explo
sion. THE DIVERS AT WORK.
Four divers are at work, two in the
forepart of the ship and the others aft.
The task is most laborious, and trie
men are naturally extremely careful,
and they have had to work in complete
darkness, and several have had bad
falls. Electric lights, worked from the
Mangrove, are now available, and
much good is expected from them.
Nearly all the possible salvage has
now been made from the cabin aft. The
efforts to reach the ward and mess
rooms are frustrated by some unknown
obstacle. It is expected to find -bodies
in those rooms. Two cases of 10-inch
ammunition have been found, the one
having exploded, the other full of pow
der. These were found forward. The
work of securing the bodies under the
hatch has been most difficult in the
dark, 'but it is hoped that the electric
lights will be of great assistance. The
'bodies are much mutilated and some
are partially burned.
The officers of the court of inquiry
paid another visit to the wreck today.
Captain Sampson, after the visits of
the members of the court to the cap
tain general and Admiral Manterola
this morning said the reception ex
tended them had been polite and cor
dial. The captain general and admiral
had expressed deep sympathy and the
hope that nothing would interfere to
prevent a thorough investigation. They
offered to give any help in their pow
er. Captain Sampson referred to the
visits as "tending to promote a better
understanding."
Among the salvage were the table
ware and silver service belonging to
the (Maine.
'An additional 10-inch casing charge
was found today exploded. A number
of such casings are believed to. be in
side the hull, hut it is not known
whether they exploded or not. The
divers have recovered, in- addition to
Captain Sigsbee's silverware, as al
ready cabled, some of his cutlery, his
rifles and a number of his books
George W. Koeler, of Brooklyn, died
today at the military hospital. All the
other injured show some improvement.
CRITICISM OF HAVANA PRESS.
La Lucha, in and editorial today,
comments upon the "unfairness of the
United States in making Captain Sigs
bee the advisor ?nd assitant of the
court of inquiry." The editorial is
evidently hased on incorrect informa
tion from the United States, as naval
officers here say It is Impossible under
ihe rules constituting naval courts of
Inquiry, that the captain commanding
the ship destroyed should -have any
thing to do with the findings of the
court, being in one sense on trial him
self. It is made Captain Sigshee's
duty to give all the testimony as to
the facts in his possession. La. Lucha
claims also that the court of Inquiry
is not constituted as it would he by
any other of the great powers, but in
this particular the paper is eviJenjly
laboring under misinformation.
Judge Feral, of the Spanish ad
miralty court, today has been taking
the depositions of the officers of the
Spanish vessels and the harbor officials
oni the subject of the disaster to the
Sfaine.
vThe military commander of Guana
liocaa has ordered the suspension of
public festivities as a mark of respect
t6 the .memory of the Maine's dead.
days, - I
XJunner Charles Morgan, of the
cruiser New York, who is in charge of
tfte Olivers. -TKill devote special atten
tion to examining the ammunition in
tile forepart of the Maine's hull and to
ascertaining the condition of the
plates, magazines and engines. He is
a graduate of gunnery and is regard
ed as entirely competent, as Indeed are
all the divers under his direction. He
Is Under strict orders not to give out
anything on the subject of his investi
gates except to the officers of the
court Inquiry when called upon.
The autonomist government has con
firmed the appointment of Senor Man
uel Rafael Angulo, as delegate of the ,
colonial government in Washington, to j
prepare a commercial treaty, according
to instructions, which he will receive
from Senor "Montoro and Senor Rodri
guez, colonial secretaries of the treas
ury and of commerce respectively.
"BODIES RECOVERED.
The bodies of twelve of the men
have been taken out from under the
hatch heading from the superstructure
fire room. "Nine were recognized and
all were necessarily dismembered in
course of removal.
On the Mangrove the sessions of the
court were held in the captain's cabin
aft. ' The officers were not- in full
dress, but in full uniform used every
day aboard ship. The proceedings
were very quiet, no one tout the wit
nesses and the shorthand reporter oe
ing admitted. The arrangement is that
the stenographer shall write out his
notes day 'by day, and the court will
adjourn from time to time to give hir.i
the opportunity, as was the case today,
when the court again visited the wreck
and spent some time in additional in
spectKU. The pomp and circumstances
of the tribunal are not as much as an
ordinal garrison court-martial would
sl.ow, but the high character of its
members and the evident earnestness
of their purpose to find the truth, if
possible, give dignity to the court of
inquiry.
HAVANA GAY.
This was the last day of the carnival,
and tonight the city is gay as far as
the parado and principal streets are con
cerned. 'But the display is not so
great as in former years, for many
are in mourning and others are poor,
or feel so. Of merrymakers, however,
in carriages and on foot, there was no
great lack.
ORDER FOR HOTCHKISS GUNS.
New Haven, Conn., February 22. The
American Ordnance Company of
Bridgeport, Conn., has received by tel
legrai h from its vice president at
Washington an order for forty rapid
firing .-pounder Hotchkiss guns. The
order is for quick delivery, and the
forgings for them have already been
called for. The guns fwlll all be deliv
ered in about three months. The
American Ordnance Company officials
say that they do not attach and sig
nificance to the order.
WAR MUNITIONS FOR THE NAVY.
Cleveland, C, February 22. 'Work on
the 'big government contract is now
under rapid headway at the Otis Steel
Works. Five enormous gun carriages
are being constructed there. They are
for 13-inch guns, to 'be used on United
States (battleships. A similar carriage
was completed some time ago and
shipped east, where it met the approv
al of the naval department.
'New York, February 22. The first
of the expected projectiles from the
Carpenter Steel Works arrived at the
Brooklyn navy yard today. There
were about 2,000 of them for the 6, 8
and 10-inch guns of the cruisers and
battleships. A number of torpedo
heads from New England manufactur
ers are expected, by tomorrow.
"The collection of ammunition," said
an ordinance officer, "does not mean
that we expect immediate war. These
supplies were ordered some months
ago, when some representatives said
in congress that we had not either
powder or shot enough to last the navy
a day. Powder has been arriving for
the last six weeks. More projectiles
are expected and when they get here,
we shall have ammunition enough on
hand to last during six months of
daily fighting."
ACTIVITY AMONG STATE TROOPS.
Newark, N. J., February 22. Com
mander Irving, of the division of the
east. New Jersey naval reserves, tele
graphed to the navy department in
Washington today offering his com
mand for immediate service should it
be required. There are several hun
dred men in the division.
Philadelphia, February 22. Major
General Snowden, commander of ihe
national guard of Pennsylvania, has
.'ssued general orders to every offic-ir
in the state, to recruit his command
up to the full quota required by law.
The officers were instructed to have
their men ready to march, fully armed
and equipped, at twenty -four hours'
notice. The national guard of Pennsyl
vania comprises nearly 9,000 men.
GLOOMY VIEW OF MADRID PRESS.
Madrid, February 22. A gloomy tone
pervades political circles on the re
ports of a split in the Cuban ministry.
The autonomists, Senor Giberga and
Senor Amblard, are, it is believed, se
cretly treating with the separation ists
in the direction of independence for
Cuba. Senor Govin, the Cuban secre
tary of the interior, is accused of
treason by The Imparcial, which pub
lishes a fac simile of a letter from
Senor Govin to a friend, in which tne
former says:
"How would you think that Saga.ta.
a man inferior to Canovas and liberal
only in name, has inspired my atti
tude and not my ideas and sentiments
as a Cuban? AIcKinley, as well as
Cuba, will determine whether I am a
Spaniard. Long live our country and
liberty!" -
El Pais says: "Spain should treat
with the rebels direct rather than tol
erate the traitor Govin."
El Correo Espanol asks: "How will
Senor Moret. the-patron of-Govin, and
Senor Sagasta, the patron of both
Moret and Covin, etand now that Go-
rls
vin is a traitor to hfs country? Who
ever supports a. traitor is likewise a
traitor!"
The official press on the other hand
counsels prudence and confidence in
the patriotism of the Cubans.
A squadron of torpedo boats has
left Cadiz for Havana harbor.
PROVISIONS FOR VICTIMS OF THE
MAINE.
Washington, February 22. Legisla
tive provision for the relief of the vic
tims of the Maine disaster occupied
the house committee on naval affairs
all day, a general measure being agreed
on late this afternoon similar to the re
lief measure that followed the Samoan
disaster In 1SS9. The resolution will
be finally passed on at a special meet
ing of the commfttee tomorrow morn
ing and will be immediately reported
by Chairman Boutelle and Its pasage
by the house expedited.
Any losses sustained by the survivors
will -be made good to the extent of not
exceeding twelve months' pay and
provision is to be made for bringing
the remains back to this country at
the discretion of the naval authorities.
Washington, February 23. The ar
rival of a mail in Washington from
Key West this afternoon bringing sev
eral letters from naval officers lately
attached to the Maine caused a wave
of excitement at the departments and
the capitol; for there were all sorts of
rumors as to the contents of the let
ters, very few of which rumors in point
of fact had any sound lasis. The only
feature so far as could 'be discovered
of real importance as throwing light
on the cause of the explosion, contain
ed in the letters, was the statement
that the two after boilers in the after
boiler space were all of the eight boil
ers of the Maine that were under
steam at the time of the explosion.
This fact had a negative value, for it
disposed at once of the theory that any
exploding boiler had caused the wreck.
The experts all say that by no possi
bility could the after-boiler explosion
have wrecked the forepart of the Maine
and left the after-part almost unharm
ed. Much interest was shown in a dis
patch received shortly before 3 o'clock
from Admiral Sicard. giving the re- I
commendation of Captain Sampson, of J
iiie tuuri ui inquiry, as 10 ine raisins
of the wreck. The view of naval offi
cers was that Captain Sampson and his
associates were giving this advice, not
as a court, but as officers in a position
to speak as to the best methods to be
adopted for raising the Maine. Va-
rious interpretations were put on the j
expression "forward half completely
destroyed." This was regarded as a J
partial confirmation of the theory that i
the forward magazine had exploded,
as that is one of the most important
portions of the forward half of the
ship. At the same time, it was held
by some naval authorities that the de
struction of the forward half of the
ship did not necessarily mean that the
forwTard magazine had exploded, as
this might be still intact, although a
part of the general wreckage, in the
absence of an explicit statement as to
the forward magazine there was a
disposition not to accent any implied
statement as to its destruction. '
Captain Sampson's recommendation
that a contract -be made with the best
equipped wrecking company, to re
move the material and lift the ship
without delay, was in line with the ac
tion already 'taken in closing a con
tract with the two largest wrecking
concerns in the country, by which
their combined facilities will le at the
service of the government. The con
tract contains a clause binding the
wreckers to use their utmose efforts
to expedite the work, so that the de
partment feels that everything has
been done to carry out the views ex
pressed by Captain Sampson. A clause
of the contract itemizes the amounts to
be paid for each branch of wrecking
work, viz: Wrecking tug Underwriter,
$150 per day; wrecking steamer Jones,
$200; lighter Seymour, $75; derrick
Chief, $75; barge Lone Star, $50; wreck
ing tug Right Arm, $200; Wreckmaster,
$15; wreckers, $4.50 each; divers, $30
each.
Evidently the president of the court
of inquiry is fearful of the effect upon
the public of ill-judged attempts to
account for the destruction of the
Maine, for he telegraphed Secretary
Long, doubtless having In mind certain
publications of this morning, as fol
lows: "Havana, February 23, 1898.
"Any reported interview with divers
is untrue. Every precaution has
been taker.-. An officer is always pres
ent." This brfef statement disposes of all
the allegations that have leen made
pro and con as to the blowing up of
tke forward magazines.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
THEORY.
The officers here are stiH thinking of
Captain Sigsbee's request of yesterday
to be furnished with the plans of the
Maine's section through the magazines
and coal bunker pockets. The refer
ence to the latter Is particularly in
teresting and leads to a desire to be
informed on the exact quantity and
quality of the coal supply at the time
of the explosion. It Is said that these
pocket-bunkers are rarely emptied, be
ing designed as much for the protection
of the ship against gunshots as for ca
pacity to hold coal. One expert said
that these bunkers in his own experi
ence have not been emptied In months.
All of this has to do with the sponta
neous combustion theory, as the bunk
ers abutt on the magazines and might
have set off even the safe brown pow
der, if the latter were exposed to a
degree of heat xve 600 degrees for
some time. Thfe request, besides, may
show that Captain Sigsbee Is not yet
satisfied as to the cause of the expio--sion,
notwithstanding the expressions
that have been attributed to him by
unauthorized persons.
One of the private letters received
here todAyrBriaking of the disaster,
says ft var all over in five minutes.
The writer wtcfashore and heard the
the noise. HM6tily took a boat and
started forHl aiaine, arriving there
In about tweflty-rlve minutes. Then a!l
was quiet andsmooth and. In fact, as
he said, in fire minutes after the
blast the Maine was in about her pres
eent condition.
Some solicitude was expressed at the
navy department "over the report of
Royal make tb food pare.
whole
delicl
mum
Absolutely Puro
Admiral Sicard's health. It is ;kf.
however, that there was no occasion
for relieving him now; that the Hag
t?hip New York Is not to bav Kojr
West, and even If she should. Captain
Sampson of Captain Taylor can as
sume charge of the squadron while
the admiral takes the two weeks' leave
to recuperate from his malarial fevrr,
which he was about to enjoy wlin he
voluntarily returned to his p!ao.
A formal ordrr was made out thi
afternoon for Lieutenant Commnnder
Wainwright to take station at Havana
and look after the government's In
terests while the work of raiding th
Maine progressed. It has loen arrang
ed that he shall le subsisted on lxarI
one of the wrecking steamers.
THE TERROR STILL AT NORFOLK
The big double turreted monitor Ter
ror remains under orders to stay In.
Hampton Roads until furtht-r iotlce.
It is likely that she will be H'nt to
take the place of the Maine in the
North Atlantic squadron, ir tiot nedod
elsewhere immediately. The officials.
battleship and speedier craft with the
Terror as she might retard the exocu-
tion of manoeuvres.
A HINT FROM CONSUL (JBN'KItAh
LEE.
Consul General Lee, in the oure of
friomllv I a IL- In 1 1 h v n n a vi'llVi A mrl.
rnj mnv have x rin-iiil th. vinvv Ihit
there are at present other places more
desirable as resorts for irsons who
have no particular business th re than
Havana, lut the state department au-
thorizes the announcement that it has
not yet "been advised that he has either
officially or sernl-officially delivered!
himself of any expression on the sub
ject. The Spanish legatli also dis
credits reports that General Lee ha
given any such warning. It Is also
said at the department that no mes
sage has been conveyed to the owners
of American vessels at New Orleans
or elsewhere that It would not e afo
for them to visit Cuban ixrts at thls
time.
MORE WARSHIPS BOUND FOR KEY
WEST.
The battleship Texas and the gunboat
Nashville will leave Galveston. T?xas.
today for Key West, where they will
rejoin the other vessels of Admiral
Sicard's squadrn at that iiint. "No
orders for this movement were m-nt y
the navy department, as it Is statetl
that it is in accordance with tlv orders
given several weeks ago by which the
two ships were directed to remain at
Galveston from the 17th to th' 23rd
instant to participate In th Mrdi
Gras celebration thre and return to
Key Wes on the latter date. This woj
before the Maine disaster. s that the
present movement is said to have no
possible significance on the recent oc
currence? Simultaneous with the departure of
the Texas and Nashville from ta4 vert
ton for Key West, the Marbbiiead will
leave New Orleans and the I 1 r-i t will
leave Mobile for Key West. Thej
movements are also a part of th or
ders given early this month, before the
Maine disaster. The Montgomery l.
also due at Key West, having left
San I)mingo for Key West on the
16th. The result will h to bring to
gether again the large fleet of veMseb
under Admiral Sicard at Key West
and the Immediate vicinity. TheHr
will be the New York, now at Turtu
gas, the Indiana, Massachusetts. Tx
as. Iowa, Marblehead. Detroit, Nash
ville, Montgomery, Ericsson and Cu-:h-ing.
The torpedo boats Porter and
Duprnt are in drydock at Mobile, arwl
are not expected to be ready to go tt
Key West for several days. The
Brooklyn is also cruising in the West
Indies, at present en rout. from St..
Thomas to Vera Cruz.
The noon mail brought to Secretary
Long a letter from Admiral Sicard at
Key We?t. The admiral wrote that he
ha, not recovered his health and will
be unable to go to sea with the squad
ron. He will remain on shore at M
hotel In Key Went ami retain command
of the squadron from that place so long
as it remains In harbor there, relin
quishing It only when it leeoms ner-ea- .
sary for the vessels to go to s-a
squadron. - Should the squadron be
obliged to go to sea with the admiral
ill at Key West and the senior officer
of his fleet. Captain Sampson, engaged!
in the Investigation at Havana, prob
ably the command c the squadron
would devolve upof)4 Captain Tay
lor, now commandfj; the battle
ship Massachusetts, $nd commonly re
garded as one of the brightest ami
brainiest officers In the naval nervlce.
At the Spanish legation affairs have
again resumed their normal aspect.
Senor du Bosc has received no report?
of any character concerning the Maine
or the progress made by the SpanL'Jt.
authorities at Havana in investigating
the occurrence.
AID FOR FAMILIES OF THE VIC
TIMS.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt today
received a postal order for $1 from The
Evening Post Publishing Company, r
Bridgeport, Conn., wrth a statement,
explaining that It was sent by a pa
trlotlc little girl of Bridgeport. Confu
who desired to help some other little?-
(Continued on fifth page.)
Ml
HI