The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-03-31
The Findings of Maine Board
of Inquiry.
TRANSMITTED TO CONGRESS-.
Accompanied by Special Message
From President Mckinley.
WRECKED BY OUTSIDE EXPLOSION

Blown up IN havana HafDOr Dy an
Explosive Force That Came From the
Exterfor-In That 1t Was a
Submarine Mine-Captain Sigsbee Fully
Exonerated-Te Testimony of the Principal
Witnesses In the Inquiry.
Washington. March 29.-The pres
ident yesterday sent the following mes
sage to congress:
To the Congress of the United States:
For some time prior to the visit of the
Maine to Havana harbor our consular
representatives pointed out the advan-
tages to flow from the visit of national
ships to the Cuban waters, in accus-
toming the people to the presence of our
flag as the symbol of good will and of
our ships in the fulfillment of the mis-
sion of protection to American inter-
ests, even though no immediate need
therefor might exist.
Accordingly on the oath of January
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister in which the renewal Of visits
of our war vessels to Spanish waters
was discussed and accepted, the penin-
sular authorities at Madrid and Hava-
ma were advised of the purpose of this
government to resume friendly naval
visits at Cuban ports and that in that
view the Maine would forthwith call
at the port of Havana. This announc-
ment was received by the Spanish gov
ernment with appreciation of the friend
~ Of he nj
and with notification of Intention to re-
turn the courtesy by sending Spanish
ships to the principal ports of the Unit
ed States Meanwhile the Maine enter
ed the port of Havana on the 25th Of
January, her arrival being marked with
no especial incident besides the ex-
change of customary salutes and cere-
monial visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor of
Havana during the three weeks follow
ing her arrival. No appreciable excite
ment attended her stay On the con-
trary, a feeling of relief and confidence
followed the resumption of the long in
terrupted friendly intercourse. So no.
ticeable was this immediate effect of
her visit that the consul general strong
ly urged that the presence of our ships
in Cuban waters should be kept up by
retaining the Maine at Havana or in
the event of her recall by sending an
other vessel there to take her place.
The Fatal Explosion.
AT 40 minutes past 9, in the evening
of the 18th of February, the Maine was
destroyed by an explosion, by which the
entire forward part Of the ship was ut
terly wrecked. In this catastrophe 2
officers and 264 Of her crew perished,
those who were not killed outright by
her explosion being penned between
decks by the tangle of wreckage and
drowned by the immediate sinking of
the hull. Prompt assistance was rem
dered by the neighboring vessels an
chored in the harbcr, aid being espe-
cially given by the boats of the Spanish
cruiser Alfonso XII and the Ward line
steamer City of Washington, which lay
not far distant The wounded were
generously cared for by the authorities
of Havana, the hospitals being freely
opened to them, while the earliest re-
covered bodies of the dead were inferred
by the municipality in q public ceme-
terry in the city. Tributes of grief and
sympathy were offered from all official
quarters of the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of our country with crushing
force. and for a brief time an intense
excitement prevailed, which in COM
munity less just and self controlled than
ours might have led to hasty acts of
blind resentment. This spirit, however,
soon gave way to the calmer processes
OF reason and to the resolve to investi-
gate the facts and await material proof
before forming a judgment as to the
cause, the responsibility and the facts
warranted the remedy due. This course
necessarily recommended itself from the
outset to the executive, for only in the
light of a dispassionately ascertained
certainty could it determine the nature
and measure of its full duty in the mat
ter. rne usual procedure was followed,
as in all cases of casualty or disaster
to national vessels of any maritime
state. A naval court of inquiry was at
once organized, composed of officers well
qualified by rank and practical expert
ence to discharge the onerous duty i'm
posed upon them.
A Dispassionate Investigation.
Aided by a strong force of wreckers
and divers the court proceeded to make
a thorough investigation on the spot
employing every available means for
the impartial and exact determination
of the causes of the explosion. Its opera
tions have been conducted with the ut
most deliberation and judgment and
while independently pursued no source
of information was neglected and the
fullest opportunity was allowed for a
simultaneous investigation blythe Span
ish authorities.
The finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after % days of continuous
labor, on the 21st of March instant. and
having been approved on the 22d by the
commander in chief of the United
States naval force on the north Atlantic
station was transmitted to the execu-
tive.
1t is herewith laid before the congress.
together with the voluminous testimony
taken before the court
It's purport is. in brief, as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana,
she was conducted by the regular gov
ernment pilot to buoy No. 4, to which
she was moored in from 1--WE and one
half to six fathoms of water.
The state of discipline on board and