The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-29
THE REASONS GIVEN
BY COURT FOR THE
EXTERNAL EXPLOSION THEORY

The Purpert Of The Finding is that the Main
Was Conducted by the Regular Government
Pilot to Buoy No, a, to Which She Wa
Moored-. Excellent Order Prevailed and N
indication of Any Cause for Internal Explo
son--There Were Two Distinct Explosions
the First Ii ting the Forward Part Of th'
Ship he Verdict Of the Court at Length.
Washington, d. c., March .2S.-Th,
President to-day 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
representative pointed out the advan
tages to flow from the visit of national
ships to the Cuban waters, in accustom
ing the people to the presence of oul
flag as the symbol of good will and oi
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 24th of January
last. after conference with the Spanish
Minister, in which renewal of visits OF
our war vessels to Spanish waters was
discussed and accepted, the peninsulaI
nf Ix&s1 IIax
advised of the purpose of this govern
ment to resume friendly naval visits al
Cuban ports and that IN that, view the
Maine would forthwith call at the port
of Havana.
This announcement was received by
the. Spanish government with apprecia-
ton Of the friendly character of the visit
of the Maine and with notification of
intention to. return the courtesy by send
ing Spanish ships TO the principal ports
of the United States. Meanwhile the
Maine entered the port OF Havana on
tine 18th of January. her arrival being
iiiarsTd with no special incident besides
the exchange of customary, salutes and
ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor
Of Havana during the three weeks fol-
lowing her arrival. No appreciabIe ex-
citement attended her stay: on the con-
trary, a feeling of relief and confidence
followed the resumption of the long in
terrunted friendly intercourse SO no.
ticeable was this immediate effect of her
visit that the Consular General strongly
urged that the presence of our ships in
Cuban waters should be kept up by re-
tanning the Maine at Havana. or. in
the event of her recall. by sending an
other vessel there to take her place.
THE BLOWING UP OF THE MAINE
At forty minutes past nine in the
evening of the 10th of February the
Maine was destroyed by an explosion
by which the entire forward part of the
ship was utterly wrecked. In this ca
tastrophe two officers and two hundred
and sixty-fOur of her crew perished
those who We're not killed outright by her
explosion being penned between decks
hy the fangle of wreckage and drowned
by the immediate sinking of the hull.
Prompt assistance was rendered by
the neighboring vessels anchored in the
harbor, aid being especially given by the
boats and Spanish cruiser Alphonso
NIL. and the Ward Line steamer City
of Washington which lay not far distant.
Tie wounded were generously cared for
by the authorities of Havana, the hos
pitfalls being freely opened to them. while
the earliest recovered bodies of the dead
were inferred by the municipality in n
public cemetery in the city. Tributes
Of grief and sympathy We're 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 ex-
citement prevailed which in community
less just and self controlled than ours
might have led to hasty acts of blind re-
sentiment. This spirit, however, soon
gave way to the calmer processes of rea-
son and to the resolve to investigate the
facts and await material proof before
FORMING Judgment as to the cause. the
responsibility and if the facts warranted.
the remedy due. This course necessari-
~ recommended itself from the outset
10 tlie Executive. for only i'm the light of
d nlspasslonately ascertaIined certainty
c"uld " determine TIE nature and meas
'ife OF ITS full duty III the matter.
COURT OF INQUIRY FORMED
ne usual procedure was followed as
III All eases of casualty or disaster to
aatlonai vessels of any maritime State
A Naval Court of Inquiry was at once
organized, composed of officers well
qualified by rank and practical exneri
eilce TO discharge the enormous ,tutY i'm
posed upon them. Aided by a strnno
force of wreckers and divers. the CONT
proceeded to make a thorough inyestiea-
tloli on the spot. employing every avail
able means for the impartial and exact
dissemination of the causes of tbe ex-
plosion. It's operations have been con.
Quoted with the utmost deliberation ana
judgment, and, while independently pur
sued, no source of information was ne
elected. and the fullest opportunity wae
allowed for simultaneous investiga
zion by the Spanish authorities.
The finding of the Court of Inouir,