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2 TIMES WEEK VOL. 48 * ■ HE ■ Naval Court to Begin Its Inquiry at Once. DIVERS’ WORK DIFFICULT. Men Experienced in Deep Sea work Needed. BOILER MAY HAVE BURST. Wreckage Seems to Support the Theory. Washington, Feb. 20.—The naval court of inquiry appointed to Investigate the Maine disaster will begin its work at Ha vana to-mor.ow. This news came to the navy department this morning from Admiral Sicard at Key West. He simply telegraphed as follows: "The court of Inquiry sail for Havana, 2<)th, by lighthouse steamer Mangrove. Marix arrived to-day.” This prompt action is undoubtedly due to the express direction from Secretary Long sent yesterday to have the investigation begun at the earliest possible moment. The telegram was dated yesterday, so the board should have arrived there Ixefore nightfall and be ready to begin its work to-morrow morning. By an error Incident to the haste with which the orders were gotten out, the first accounts placed Lieut. Commander Seaton Schroeder on the board as the third mem ber, while as a mutter of fact Lieut. Com mander Potter, the executive officer of the flagship New York, holds that place. The board undoubtedly would have start ed previously but for the necessity 'of the arrival, at Key West from ' Washington of Lieut* Commander Marix, • a naval officer well skilled in matters ma ' rlne, who is to be Judge Advocate of the . court. , Capt. Sigsbee was heard from late last ! night, but the telegram was not delivered at the navy department until this morn ing, His message goes to confirm the press reports of the events of yesterday in Havana harbor so far as they relate to the exploration of the wreck. Il reads us follow*: "Havana, Feb. 19.—Only most experienc ed wrecking divers can do effective work on the Maine. In the upper works I can use service divers. Did some work to-day, but with little success. Will do better to-morrow. Parts of the Maine, espec ially the aurperatructure, and connections are one confused mass of metal." Another brief telegram from Capt. Sigs bee read: "Havana, Feb. 19.—Bache,” (which means the const survey steamer), "has ar rived nt Havana bringing on board all wrecking apparatus sent from squadron.” The statement relative to experienced divers, it la explained nt the navy depart ment, Is no reflection on the men engaged now In the work, they being enlisted men belonging to the nnvy. It is the practice on board men-of-war to assign a few men, Always volunteers, on account of the haz ardous nature of the work to duty as div ers. The scope of their work la the exploration of the ship's bottom generally, the disen- , tanglement of cable* from the propeller shafts and sometimes the search for a lost torpedo or anchor. Such work rarely carries them d*e|MT than twenty-live feet Into the waler and It la said that for op erations In deeper water, such ns would l*e Involved In examination of the Maine's bottom, their training hue not fitted them. They are nlso lacking in that kind of skill necessary to enable n diver to grope hla way safely through the internal parts of n mighty ship like the Maine, and torn and dismembered ns she is, and this work is highly dangerous. Creeping through narrow iron-bound passages and groping from the doors of the numerous water tight bulkheads which divide the hull into many compartments, on slimy floors and In perfect darkness, requires the highest expert skill, ami that Is why Capt. Sigs bee, with only his sailor divers nt com mand. hatl not been able to do much so far towards unravelling the mystery of the Maine's untimely end. It is Io meet just this emergency that the navy department is making every ef fort to hasten the beginning of the work of recovery of goods, and perhups the raising of the hull by professionals. To that end Capt. Lemley, the Judge advocate general of the department, was at work to-day in hl* office with represen tative* of wrecking companies trying to draw up contracts for the immediate irowcutlon of the work. He hns been at the task now two days and it has not been easy to dispose of. This is owing to an apparent disposition on the part of at least one of the concern* to drive a hart bargain, leaving the department in the dark as to the amount of money to l«e paid for their servlets. But it is believed that the obstacles have now been sur mounted and that the contracts can be signed to-morrow. It ls the Mflxar of Capt. Lem lev to hur ry thia work, and to that end he Is ar ranging to have two of the companies combine their forces. They will t-o jut k) on the scale of day's work, with a pro vlslon for a bonus if they succeed in raising the vessel, thus ensuring the re- I covery of a* much of the valuable equip ment as Is possible. should it not be prac- Bcable to float the Maine again. Great difficulty la expected in recover ing the big ten-Inch turrvnt guns, each worth IkKOA’, ow.ng not only to their own weight, fifty tons a piece without ear- w e c Hi n ft ttre. < THE MORNING NEWS. 1 < iCstablishea 1850. - -Incorporated 1888. > I J. H. riages, but to the enormous turrets, en closing them with 100 tons of steel. It is doubtful if the tops of these turrets can be removed, as was first supposed, by cutting off the bolt heads that fix them to the sides, as these large bolts are prob ably counter-sunk and the heads below the surface of the metal, while the con fined space within the turrets would make it very difficult to operate there on the inside ends under water. It is hoped that it may be feasible to raise the turrets entire with the guns If lifting apparatus of sufficient power can be applied. The newspaper reproductions of photo graphs taken of the wreck were studied with much Interest by the naval officers here to-day. Great surprise was express ed at the extent of the wreck, and the vast mass of steel and iron heaped in the for ward part of the ship was a particular ob ject of attention. The experts who had first ventured the theory of a bursting boiler as the cause of the destruction, claim to find strong re-inforcemcnt in the pic tures for that belief. The great mass of metal appears to be thrown up over the boiler space, and not over the forward magazine, while the forcing apart of the forward body of the hull, they say, might have been accomplished by the enormous expansive power of the high pressure steam carried in these boilers with their shells, more than an inch thick. As to what caused a boiler to explode; whether a dis guised bomb in the coal, low water or faulty construction, they do not now un dertake to say. Secretary Long said this afternoon, af ter looking over his telegraphic and mail correspondence, that it contained nothing of importance beyond the dispatches above given. The Secretary referred with satis faction to the dispatch stating that the court of inquiry would assemble at .Ha vana to-morrow. The plan had been for the court to meet first at Key West, and after doing such work as was possible there, to proceed to Havana. But Mr. Long thought It was desirable to have the court proceed at once to Havana, where the inquiry could begin on the actual scene of disaster, and where personal inspection would aid in an intelligent judgment. On this account, the Secretary sent orders yesterday for the court to proceed direct to Havana, and the response of Admiral Sicard is in accordance with these orders. When Mr. Long’s attention was called to reports that he had taken official cog nizance of Capt. Sobral’s criticisms of 'he American navy, the secretary said that he had called the attention of the state de partment to the subject, with a view of having an inquiry made by that branch. The particular expression to which /he secretary had directed the attention of the state department was the following, at tributed to Capt. Sobral: “It was the re sult of an explosion inside of the ship, which took place in one of the forward magazines. The fact of the matter is that the discipline and the waten observed on the ship were very lax. This, as one Eng lish newspaper the other day declared, is the case on American warships generally. This sort of thing has occurred on previ ous occasions on American war vessels." The secretary said that he had not called attention to the other features of Capt. Sobral’s alleged Interview, In which he re fers to the possibilities of war, and to the information he had gained while naval at tache of the Spanish legation. As a whole, Mr. Long does not treat the Sobral matter as profoundly serious. (Assistant Secretary Day would not dis cuss (he Sobral matter. It is understood, however, that the state department does not attach deep significance to the report ed remarks of Capt. Sobral, owing to his minor position.. It has developed (hat Capt. Sobral** services as naval attache at Washington were officially terminated by Siwiin about four weeks ago, and it is said he at pres ent occupies the position merely of a pri vate citizen. Mr. Dubose received no advices of im portance from Havana to-day. Ho ex pressed his satisfaction with the plans by which the divers were operating, and said there was no justification for talk about friction. Perfect harmony existed he sukl, and on both sides, so far ns he could see. there was every disposition to give the amplest facilities for investiga tion. Mr. Duboac feels that the assembling of the court of Inquiry n> Havana to-morrow is quite desirable, owing to the rapid rate Ht which the hull of the Maine is sinking in the soft bottom of the harbor. NIGSIIEE HASN T TALKED. The Captain Cables That lie Ilan Wot Hxpresaed an Opinion. Washington, Feb. 20.—Capt. Sigsbee to day sent two telegrams to the navy de partment on the subject of interviews with him. The first merely said: "I have con sistently refrained from expressing r.r.y opinion on the Maine disaster." Later in the day he wired: "No news paper divers have been used on wreck of Maine. One man engaged by me was sub sequently bought up by a newspaper I declined his services. Subsequently. on his being unconditionally released. I might have used him, in charge of an officer, in recovering bodies, but decided not to do so. Any interviews with me, if printed, nre untrue." The navy department to-night received the following telegram from Capt. Sigs bee : "Following is the condition of our wounded in Havana hospitals: "Api'twntice Koehler, shght improvement condition still grave. •’Alien, slightly improved, condition grave. "Heffron, Shea, Mattison, favorable. "Loftus, convalescent. "Cahill, improved, but grave. "Mack. Waters and Weber, favorable.” The report on the same subject from Capt. Forsyth at Key West says; "Ma.ne survivors ail in good condition this morn ing. Surgeon reports wounded doing well." The following telegram was received by Secretary Long to-day from New York: "When I arrived at New York. 1 heard of the Maine disaster. We feel very deep sor row and send our conikxlenves for the dead •nd their families. (Signet!) Eulale, Cap tain Si'anlsh Cruisst* Vlxcaya." The published statement that Senator Proctor of Vermont, who is now on his way to Florida, was going to the interior of Culmi as a special agent of President McKinley to report on the condition* m the island, was denied to-night at the I White House. «pniu look« for Improved Relation*. London, Feb. XL—The Madrid corre spondent of the Standard says: "The government is now convinced that the Maine dieaster. instead of estranging. v. ill tend to improve the relations between Spain and the United State*.** SAVANNAH. MONDAY. FEBRUARY 21, 189< MANNING COAST DEFENSES. Gen, Miles' Recent Order Not Due to the Nlaiue’s Disaster, Washington, Feb. 20.—Referring to Gen. Miles’ recent order to Gen. Merritt, com manding the department of the east, to immediately detail men and officers to all coast defense points where modern guns are mounted, it was said at the war de partment to-day that while the order was issued as reported it was nothing more than following out the plan of the war de partment formulated several years ago when the present system of coast defense was Inaugurated. The order calls for at least twenty men and the necessary of ficers to take charge of such coast de fense emplacements as have been complet ed and turned over to the war department. These defense points are planned and con structed by the engineers corps, and the guns furnished by the ordnance depart ment. As soon as completed they are turned over to the war department and men are at once detailed to care for the expensive works and ordnance. It is said that a detail of twenty men so far from being an effective fighting force is barely sufficient to care for the property. There have been a number of the coast defense works completed recently, and the order detailing men to care for them is merely a routine matter. In addition to detailing the men a special board is now in session in Washington preparing plans for perma nent quarters at the various new posts and work will be begun on these as soon as practicable. The men who are stationed at these new points will be drilled in the use of the new guns, and will form the nucleus ,of a permanent heavy artillery force, which will be augmented from time to time. It is for this service that the war depart ment has asked of Congress two additional artillery regiments, and the officials ex press great hope that their request will be speedily complied with, as there are at present not enough men to effectively man the many new works which in the devel opment of the modern coast defense sys tem are being rapidly completed and turned over to the department. CLAIM FOR INDEMNITY. Spain Responsible If She Didn’t Take Proper Precautions. New York. Feb. 21, 4 a. m.—The Herald this morning says: "Frederic R. Cou dert, formerly counsel for the United States before the Bering Sea Commis sion, and a well known authority upon international law, was interviewed re garding the matter of an indemnity if it can be shown that the Spanish authorities at Havana failed to take proper precau tions to insure the safety of the Ameri can warship Maine. "Spain should pay indemnity for the loss of the Maine," Mr. Coudert said, "provided the accident is found to be due to the negligence of Spanish officials. The vessel went to Havana on a friendly visit and was entitled to full protection. It was proper that extraordinary precautions should be taken to insure her safety. "It whs well known that there were in dividuals belonging to the Spanish nation who had ill feelings toward the United States. If any danger was known to ex ist in Havana harbor, it was to be expect ed that Spain should inform the captain of the Maine of the fact and use every means to prevent any accident to the ves sel. "If on the other hand a man with a bas ket of dynamite should have come aboard the Maine and blown up the vessel, the fault plainly would have been with the of ficers of the vessel. It is their duty to keep th® strictest watch over everybody who comes on board. “The destruction of the Maine, by acci dent or by the act of irresponsible indi viduals, would not justify a declaration of war. Carnot, for instance, was assassi nated by an Italian, yet France did not blame Italy. Italian subjects were killed by a mob several years ago at New Or leans. Italy was justified in demanding an indemnity, which she received, because the men when slain were in charge of of ficer* of the law, who should have made every effort to prevent their prisoners from being killed. But it did not result in war." QUEEN BIDS BERNABF. FAREWELL. Minister Woodford to Deliver McKln. ley's MessHMe of Thank*. Madrid. Feb. 20.—T0-day the Queen Re gent gave n farewell audience to Senor Polo y Bernabe, the new minister to the United States. To-morrow she will receive United States Minister Woodford, who will pre sent President MoKinley'a message of thanks for Spain's expression of sympa thy with the United States in the misfor tune that befell the Maine. REQUIEM AT BERLIN. Mrninrlnl for Hie Maine tetlnis at the liner lean < hnreh. Berlin. Feb. 90.—United States Ambassa dor White and the American colony in Berhn were present at the American Church at a requiem service for the vic tims of the Maine. A commetnorative dis course was delivered by the Rev. Mr Dickie. HEARD EXPLOSIONS IT HAVANA. I’SMeagm on the Olivette Confirm the Story. Tamp*. Fla., Feb. 20.—Officers and pas sengers arriving on the Olivette to-night say that the report is true that was sent out from Key West last night in regard to their hearing explosions shortly after leav ing Havana harbor Saturday afternoon. There were two explosions nl>out one min ute apart. The impression prevailed on the ship that the Maine had been completely destroyed to keep the real cause of the first explosion from being known. WORK ON THE MONITORS. Operation" (on:laued Tbronßhouf Sunday. Norfolk. Va„ Feb. 20.—Workmen at the Norfolk navy yard have been engaged rli uay on the repairs on the monitors Terror and Puritan. A draft of men for the lat ter vessel arrived this morning. One cf their number d»ed en route. Naval offi cers do not discuss rumors of trouble. fflOFMffl. Cruiser at Anchor Off Staten Island. SALUTES AND IS SALUTED. Puts Flag at Half-mast for the Maine's Dead, CORDON GUARDS CRUISER. Marines and Police on > Duty on Tugs. New York, Feb. 20.—The Spanish cruiser Vizcaya, in command of Capt. Eulale, came through The Narrows this afternoon and anchored off Tompkinsville, Staten Is land, where she is closely guarded by navy yard tugs and police patrol boats: The Vizcaya has been lying outside of the bar since Friday night, and was una ble to come into the harbor, owing to the dense fog and rain storm which have pre vailed for over forty-eight hours. The Spanish cruiser has been expected to arrive here since last Monday, and the unfortunate catastrophe by which so many American sailors and marines lost their lives in Havana harbor last Tuesday night, aroused more than the ordinary interest in the arrival of the visitor. The feeling which prevails among a great many people in this vicinity that the American battleship was destroyed delib erately by enemies of the United States, prompted the naval authorities to guard; against any possible harm being done to the visiting Spaniard at the hands of fa natics. Rear Admiral Bunce, commandant of the New York navy yard, received orders from Washington last week to establish a care ful and well-appointed patrol to guard against any such emergency. The com mandant immediately put himself in com munication with Chief of Police McCul lagh and appointed Lieut. John A. Dough erty of the navy to take charge of the pro tective patrol. Chief McCullagh respond ed immediately and informed Rear Ad miral Bunce that he had instructed Capt. Smith of the harbor police to hold himself in readiness and supply the desired num ber of patrolmen to assist in guarding the visiting vessel. The navy yard tugboats Nina and Narkeeta were immediately placed at the disposal of Lieut. Dougherty. Lieut. W. C. Neville of the Marine Corps received instructions to take command of thirty-eight men. This body will relieve each other in four-hour watches during the entire stay of the Spanish cruiser. By special permission a representative of the Associated Press was allowed to go aboard the Nina, on which tug Lieut. Dougherty established his headquarters. This boat, as well as the Narkeeta. was in readiness to go down the bay and meet the Vizcaya from the moment tjiat the latter was sighted off the Jersey coast last Friday, but it was not until 2 o’clock this afternoon that the weather conditions per mitted the naval guards to proceed down the bay. About that hour word was re ceived at the navy yard that the Spaniard was on her way over the bar, and the ma rines were immediately ordered to board the Nina. Lieut. Aaron Ward, representing Ad miral Bunce, lost no time in boarding the commandant's steam barge \ T ndine and the three vessels left the navy yard at ten minutes to 3 o'clock. There was a nasty northeast wind blowing at the time, which was accompanied by a continuous downpour of rain and a light fog. The tug Nina led the way and as she rounded the battery, a large crowd had assembled in the vicinity of Pier A, where the little vessel was to take the harbor police aboard. As soon as the Nina got along side the pier Capt. and Lieut. Dougherty exchanged greetings as well as official documents. Two roundsmen and eight patrolmen were immediately put aboard and the tug once more turned her nose In the direction of Staten Island. Just then through the thick fog could be heard the booming of cannon, which was the salute given by the Vizcaya Ms she came through the Narrows. This sa lute was answered from the guns at Cas tle William on Governor’s Island. As the Nina neared the Staten Island shore, the Spanish cruiser loomed up out of the mist and Lieut. Neville ordered the marines to stand at attention and salute the vis as the tug passed on her starboard side. The police officers on board also stood at attention and saluted the visitor, and the salute was answered by the officers and I men who were grouped on the Vizcaya’s deck. The Spaniard was still under way at the time with Pilot Gillespie on the bridge. At 3:35 o'clock the big vessel reached her anchorage ground and dropped her mud hook. As soon as she was anchored several boats in the vicinity made toward ; her, but they were quickly warned off by j the naval vessels and backed away to a respectful distance. The Undine, with Lieut. Ward aboard, then made its way alongside and that offi cer, cressed In full uniform, ascended the gangway, which was lowered on the port side. As soon as he reached the deck l.e was greeted by the Spanish commander, to whom he tendered in the name of Ad miral Bunce, the courtesies of the post which is a usual formality whenever a for eign war vessel arrives in American wa ters.- Lieut. Ward remained on board about a quarter of an hour, and as he descended the gangway on his return to the Undine, the royal Spanish ensign was put at half mast. This was the first sign that the spectators afloat and ashore were given that the visiting craft was aware of the disaster in Havana harbor. Capt. Eulale ordered the flag at half-mast as a token of regret for the death of the American sailors. Meantime, the marines, who were to take up the first watch, were taken from the Nina to the Narkeeta, as were also four policejnen and a roundsman. A rowboat, containing three men, two of whom were rowing, and the third sitting in the stern, came out from Tompkinsville and headed directly for the Vizcaya. The Nina intercepted the little craft, and, in response to inquiries, the man in the stern said that he had a telegraphic dispatch for the commander of the cruiser. .When this information was transferred to Capt. Eulale, the latter told Lieut. Dougherty to let the boat come alongside, and also said that he would see any newspaper le porters who wished to come aboard. As soon as this was made known to the press boats, which were hovering around, half a hundred newspaper men accepted the invitation, and in less than ten min utes were all aboard plying questions to the commander and officers of the cruiser. While all this was going on, the crowd on shore became larger and the keenest interest was taken in every movement of the different vessels. Lieut. Dougherty will remain in the vicinity of the cruiser while she remains in port, and will direct every detal regarding the protective watch. From 4 o’clock this afternoon until mid night to-night the Nina and Narkeeta pa trol led the waters in the neighborhood of the big vessel. They were relieved at midnight by the tugs Daniel S. Lamont and Scout, in command of Capts. Thomas A. Key and T. P. Coffey. These boats are provided by the supervisor of the port. They took on the police and marine guards and will remain on watch until 8 o’clock to-morrow morning. At that hour four police launches, manned by policemen and marines will go on duty and stand by until 4 o’clock to-morrow afternoon, when the naval tugs will take up the same positions which they assumed this afternoon. These are the plans so far as arranged by Lieut. Dougherty, and they are not likely to be changed. All mentioned will remain off Tompkinsville until the Viz caya leaves her anchorage and points out to sea. In case the cruiser comes through the upper bay and anchors in the North river, the patrol boats and tugs will ac company her and the same arrangements will maintain. CLASH AMONG THE CONSULS. Kicking Over Relief Supplies Being Confined to Havana. Havana, Feb. 20.—Some friction, it is re ported, has occurred between Consul Gen eral Lee and the other United Stales i consuls in the island over the distribution of funds and supplies sent from the Unit ed Slates for the reconcentrados. The complaint is made that, though food and money have been coming for several weeks, nothing has been distributed out side Havana province. Consul Barker of Sagua la Consul Brice of Matanzas, who came here to learn the particulars of the Maine explosion, left, it is said, without calling on the consul general. The reason given was that they felt they had not been treated fairly by the counsel general. Each expected aid for his district from the American supplies, but received none. The statement is made that it is their in tention to appeal directly to the Ameri can state department, and to ask that food be consigned to them instead of to the Havana consulate. The incident has caused some comment among Americans here, who regret it. Con sul Brice says he is sick at the sights forced on him during the last two years. He has reported the facts of the case to AV ashington and believes his district enti tled to share immediately in the aid of fered. Consul Barker says that a few days ago he found a man dead of want in the mar ket place of Sagua LaGrande. The minis ter took up a collection, appealing to ail classes, but so great is the general im poverishment that it yielded only $2.50. Both consuls say that this distress must grow daily and that death will keep pace with it unless relief is afforded. Consul General Lee, when these mat ters were brought to his attention, replied that there was not the slightest intention to neglect the reconcentrados in the east ern provinces, but he pointed out that Ha vana, being the largest city, was conse quently more in need of such succor. He asserted that he had written the consuls that everything possible would be done for sufferers in their localities as soon as supplies are available, but the re lief thus far has been nowhere near com mensurate with the necessity. He has deputed much of the work of distribution to Miss Clara Barton, who has the confi dence of all parties, and who is almost constantly at work in conjunction with the special agent of the consul general. FAIR CUBAN REBEL A PRISONER. Accompanied Maceo on One of ilia First Expeditions. Havana, Feb. 20, via Key West.—Senor Congosto. the secretary-general, is said to have asserted in a private interview that the government expected to be able to “buy up’’ several members of the New York junta. It is generally believed, however, that the statement was made in order to quiet discontent here arising from the mil itary failures of Gen. Bianco and Gen. Pando in the east. Senora Isabelle Rubio, owner of many tobacco estates in the eastern part of the island, and an active insurgent, has been captured by the Spanish in the province of Pinar del Rio. and Is now in the hospital. At the time of the Maceo incursion she induced half the province to join the in surgent cause. She accompanied one of the original Maceo expeditions to Cuba, then left the island, and after a time re turned with an expedition from Key West. Rumors have reached here of the landing of an important expedition near the River Numero. this province, but as yet the name of the vessel and the leader of the party is undisclosed. Hold I p nt Macon. Macon. Ga., Feb. 21. 3 a. m.—About 1 o’clock this morning John Grace was he’d up by two men on Third street, and robbed of s*»). He was on his way home and was seized while passing the mouth of an alley. The robbers escaped with policemen in hot pursuit. Sam Jones Would Make n Hot Raec. Quitman. Ga., Feb. 3).—The announce ment of Rev. Sam Jones for Governor caused considerable talk here, and it is the general remark that he would make a warm race. However, his announce tnent te generally believed to be a joke. I DAILY, $lO A YEAR. 1 7 5 CENTS A COPY. L ( WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK $1 A YEAR J WOUNDED AT KEY WEST. Names of the Men and Nature of Their Injuries. Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 2X>.— A special to the Times-Union and Citizen from Key West, Fla., says: “The following are the wounded in-the Marine Hospital here: “G. J. Dressier of New York city, frac tured jaw, fractured knee cap, wound in breast and back. “George Fox, Grand Rapids, Mich., cut on head, right arm burnt, foot and hand cut. “Robert Hutchison, colored, New York, arms and face badly burned. “Frank G. Thompson, Austin, 111., dis located ankle, arm cut, bruise on side. “Carl Christenson, Sweden, right arm and leg bruised and burned, arms .and head bruised and badly shaken up. “William H. Thompson, New York back hurt, side bruised and both hands burned. “George Worth, Brooklyn, bruised on leg and neck. “Patrick Foley, Mount Vernon, N. Y„ cut on nose, eyes and mouth. He is the most seriously hurt and is in great pain. “Martin Larseen, Philadelphia, was in the hospital when the explosion took place, he has had continued fever, but is now convalescing. “The Marine Hospital men are the most seriously hurt, but none are in danger of dying. They are cheerful and keeping up good spirits. “The following men are at the United States barracks. The wounded at the hos pital could not be seen, but the command ant stated that none were dangerously hurt, but some are suffering pain from their wounds. Among those seen were William McNair of Pittsburg, who is slightly injured: George David, Island Malta, slightly in jured in back and hip. “Louis Moriniere, Newtonville, Mass., uninjured. “M. Lannahan, Louisville, Ky., unin jured. “Thomas Melville, Brooklyn, uninjured. He was on watch on the quarter deck, and felt a shock, followed by an explosion, ai d was thrown eight feet in the air and forty feet from the ship into the water. He swam back to the Maine and climbed aboard again. He then saved the lives of men floating in the water. “Edward McKay of Boston is uninjured. He was on duty on the poop deck, only heard the explosion, and was thrown from port to starboard side, and saved his rifle and ammunition. M. Mohen, uninjured. K. Kushida, Japan, uninjured. “F. Awo, Japan, slight scar in head and hands. “Westmore Harris, Charles City, Va., uninjured. “Peter Larsen, Norway,- uninjured. “A. Willis, Keyport, N. Y., uninjured. “John Turpin, Long Branch, uninjured. “D. J. Tcpfln, New York city, uninjured. "HMry McGann, Brooklyn, has a strain ed back. He was thrown overboard by the shock on the quarter deck, and swam bock to the ship and attempted to get the whaleboat out with the help of Mel ville, comrade. Many of the men on the quarter deck who had lost their presence of mind were thrown overboard by Mc- Cann and Melville, who afterwards suc ceeded in manning the whaleboat, which sunk from the suction of the ship going down. They then were rescued by the gig, and were afterwards complimented by the navigator and officers for bravery. “Martin Riorden. a, well-know n diver of Key West, serving on the Maine, was sav ed. He has been called to Havana by Consul General Lee and Capt. Slgsb?e to complete the investigation and dive under the ship to ascertain the true cause of the disaster, which will be evidence in the in vestigation. “M. Melville, Brooklyn, uninjured. “Oscar Anderson of Sweden, slightly cut. “The remainder of the men at the bar racks and at the hospital could not be seen nor their condition ascertained. “The hair-breadth escapes told by the survivors are almost miracles. Men who were between decks fought for their lives like demons to reach the decks. The wounded, who could not get out, met their deaths bravely. “As the water rushed into the ship the cries of the wounded men could be heard calling for aid. In a few minutes their doom was sealed. “No searchlight was thrown on the ter rible scene. It is not known why not, but a gentleman in the city who was in Ha vana at the time says that fifteen minutes after the explosion he wms looking toward' the wreck and waiting for a searchlight to be thrown on the ship, but none ap peared and the work of rescuing had to be done in the dark.” COURT OF INQUIRY SAILS. Lighthouse Tender Mangrove Starts For Havana. Key West, Fla., Feb. 20.—The light house tender Mangrove left for Havana at 4 o'clock this afternoon. She carries the members of the court of inquiry into the Maine disaster, Lieutenant Command er Adolph Marix, executive officer of the receiving ship Vermont, Judge Advocate; Capt. William L. Sampson, commanding the battleship lowa, president; Capt. F. E. Chadwick and Lieutenant Commander W. P. Peter of the New York and Lieu tenant Commander Schroeder of the Mas sachusetts. The Mangrove will stop at the Tortugas to take on board Capt. Henry C. Taylor of the Indiana. She carries also air pumps, electric lamps for the divers and other diving apparatus. COMPOSER A SUICIDE. Self Destruction Fowslbly Due to His Wife’s Departure. Chicago. 111., Feb. 20.—L. O. Vincent, widely known in the South and West as a composer and producer of cantatas and amateur operas, died to-day at the Chi cago hospital. It is thought Vincent ended his life by swallowing a dose of morphine. He returned recently from the South, and it is said found that his wife had left the city. Mrs. Vincent is reputed to be wealthy. Schaeffer to Play Ives. Chicago, Hl.. Feb. 31—Jake Schaeffer, champion bllliardist of the world, and “Napoleon” Frank C. Ives had a lengthy conference in this city to-day, and decided to settle their differences by a ®O-po!nt game, 18-lnch balk, for the billiard cham pionship of the world. The game will be played in Central Music Hall, April 2. MONDAYS A ND —■? THURSDAYS •• I • h m i ■■ Sailors of the Ship Sure a Foe Blew Her Up. HARBOR HONEY - COMBED. Craw Warned That the Water Was Full of Mines, PLANS OF THE PRESIDENT. Ex-Superintendent Porter Tells a Sensational Story, Key West, Fla., Feb. 20,-Sailors of the! battleship Maine, suffering from wounds in the Key West hospital, are smarting over the delay of the government in pun ishing what they term “a Spanish out rage.” In their minds there is no doubt as to the cause of the explosion and they ex plain the delay in taking summary action by saying that the President is morally] certain that there was no accident, and, wishing to deceive the Spaniards with a feeling of security, is using the short timo to make the necessary preparations to en force his ultimatum. If no action is tak en, they say, not a man among them will again pace the deck of an American man of-war; but if business is meant, id would take a strong force to keep them from hurrying to the front, wounded though they are, to take a hand in whaU they look upon as a personal vengeance. “We were warned not to go to Havana,” 1 one said to-day, “being told that danger awaited us there. When we got there we were again told, *tnd it was burrent ru mor, that the harbor bottom was honey combed with mines. We first chose our anchorage and rested there for several hours, but the harbor master compelled us to weigh and proceed to a spot marked by a buoy. We were reviled on the streets of Havana, sneered at until our blood boil ed, and found out for our own safety] ! that it was necessary for us to make our visits to the city in force. No man dared to go it alone. There was no knowing] what would happen to him. “The explosion itself is the best evidence that It was a mine or torpedo. Thera were two sharp and distinct reports. Tha first was like a peal of thunder close at hand—a sound as of ripping parchment— a quick report, followed by a tremendous nnd awful roar, and then darkness and chaos, made more horrible by the screams of dying men, the fierce shouts of those fighting for egress, and the moans of those who were hemmed in to die by fire or by drowning. The Spanish warship was lying close at hand, and Morro castle was not a pistol shqt away. Both have searchlights, but none .was turned upon us to help the work of rescue, and be cause of the darkness many brave nun who could have been rescued went <lowti to Davy Jones.” SI IIE SHE WAS BLOWN I P. Robert I’. Porter on the Adminlstruw lion's Cui an Policy. Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 20.—The Inquirer will to-morrow print under Washington date a lengthy dispatch from Robert I’. Porter, ex-superintendent of census, giv ing what he believes to be the policy of the administration regarding Cuba. Mr. Pot ter thinks that Spain shall be asked to al low the Cubans to purchase their liberty by the issuance of Cuban bonds, this gov ernment to assume the responsibility of collecting the customs duties and thus sea that the revenues of the government are applied to the payment of the Interest on the bonds. Concerning the Maine disaster, Mr Por ter says there Is little doubt that she was biown up from without, “but ft will be difficult to fasten guilt upon the Spanish authorities.” He concludes that the situation is criti cal. and that the coming week may brln'» about a crisis. d NOT WRECKED BY THE MAGAZINE, Explosion Had Its Origin in Some Other Source. Havana, Feb. 20.—Lieut. Commander Barnett of the survey boat Bache. said to a correspondent of the Associated Press to-day: “You want the facts. I can tell you there are ninety-five chances out of a hun dred that the investigation will show that the forward magazine of the Maine d*d not blow up first, it it exploded at all, and that was not the cause of the terrific’con sequences that followed. The condition of the wreck, when first studied and a later careful scrutiny, make this an. almost ab solute certainty.” of the Maine has recovered considerable sums of money with letters and other personal property’ from the bodies taken from the wreck.’ Chaplain Chadwick is one of the hardest working officers, and upon him have de volved some of the most responsible duties of the situation. To-day divers recovered the cipher code book, the log of the Maine and many of ficial and private papers. . The wounded are doing well. Probably four or more will be taken to Key West to morrow by the Bache. NO. 15.