Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-02-23
wARsHIP MAINE DESTROYED.
ehghtfna Explosion Sends Her to the not
tom of Havana Harbor

tom of Havana Harhor.
havana, Feb. 16.--At a quarter o.
10 yesterday evening terrible explo
Sion occurred on board the United
states cruiser Maine in Havana har.
Dor Many were killed or wounded,
The wounded sailors of the Maine are
unable to explain it. II is believed
that the cruiser is totally destroyed.
The explosion shook the whole city.
The windows were broken in all the
houses
The correspondent of the Associated
Press says he has conversed with sew
eral OF the wounded sailors and under
stands from them that the explosion
took place while they were asleep, so
that they can give no particulars as to
the cause.
The widest excitement prevails in
Havana. The wharves are crowded
with thousands of people. 1t is be-
lieved the explosion occurred in a small
powder magazine. At a quarter of
II o'clock what remains of the Maine
is still burning.
Captain Sigsbee and the other Off
GERS have been saved.
1t is estimated that over hundred
of the crew were killed, but it is i'm
possible yet to give exact details Ad-
miral Mantereta has ordered that boats
Of all kinds should go to the assistance
of the Maine and her wounded.
The Havanarhremen are giving aid,
tending carefully to the wounded as
they are brought on shore.
| General Holano and the other gen.
erals have been ordered by Captain
General Blanco to take steps to help
the Names crew in every possible
way. The correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press has been near the Maine
in boat of the cruiser Alfonso XIII.
and seen others of the wounded who
corroborated the statement of those
first interviewed, that they were al
ready asleep when the explosion oc-
Cured.
Captain Sigsbee says the explosion
occurred in the bow of the vessel. lie
received a wound in the head Orders
were given to the other officers to save
themselves as best they could. The
latter, who were literally thrown from
their hunks in their night clothing
gave the necessary orders with great
self-possession and bravery.
The first theory was that there had
been preliminary explosion in the
Santa Barbara (magazine) of powder
or dynamite below the water.
Admiral Mantereta believes that the
first explosion was of grenade that
was hurled over the navy yard.
The report that Captain Sigsbee was
wounded was inaccurate Captain
Sigsbee, with other officers, went in a
small boat to the Ward Line steamer
City OF Washington Two officers and
more than 200 of the crew are missing.
Some of the crew who were able to
support themselves by swimming were
saved by the boats
DIX OF bAe wounded crew and one OF
the officers have been taken to the mil,
ltary hospital by General Blaneos
orders.
Washington, Feb 16.-The secretary
of the navy received the following tel.
egram from Captain Sigsbee:
'Msine blown up in Havana harbor
at o:4o and destroyed. Many wounded
and doubtless many killed and drown
ed. Wounded and others are on board
Spanish man-of-war and Ward Line
steamer. Send lighthouse tender from
Key West for crew and few pieces OF
equipment still above water Nc
one had other clothes than those upon
him.
"Public opinion should be suspended
till further reports All officers be-
lieved to be saved. Jenkins and Mer.
ritt not yet accounted for Many
Spanish officers. including representa-.
tives of Generol Blanco, now with me
and express sympathy"
The Maine was constructed in the
Brooklyn navy yard at a cost of So, 500.
600 and she was launched Nov 1s
1890, She was ais feet long, 81 feet
beam and "a feet draught
- % A