proper sum to be asked. The ship itself cost about $3,000,000, and the
fittings several millions more. The indemnity should, of course, cover
not only the material loss of the vessel, but the loss of life and the
injury done to our Government.

* * * * *

The divers at work on the wreck of the _Maine_ have been steadily
hampered by the difficult situation of the vessel. In the first place,
the hull is sinking into the mud at the rate of a foot a day, and a week
after the disaster the divers had to wade through mud up to their
waists. Then, too, the water is so dirty that they can hardly see below
the surface.

Nevertheless, they have succeeded in bringing up many valuables, among
others the paymaster's safe containing $2,700.

* * * * *

The opinion seems to be growing that we may never be able to discover
the cause of the disaster. The fact that the forward half of the ship
has been completely destroyed adds probability to this view. The after
half, however, is reported to be practically intact.

As for the submarine mines, it may be that their existence will also
remain problematical. A prominent naval officer has explained that such
mines consist merely of big metal cases filled with gun-cotton, and that
their explosion would blow them into atoms.

* * * * *