The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-29


On the night of the destruction of the
Maine everything had been reported Sc
cure for the night. at s p. m, by reliable
persons through the proper authorities,
to the commanding officer. At the time
the Maine was destroyed the ship was
quiet. and. therefore, least liable to ac-
cident caused by movements from those
on board.
Explosions.
3. The destruction of the Maine occurred
at $40 p. m on the 18th day of February,
1898. in the harbor of Havana, Cuba she
being at the time moored to the same
buoy to which she had been taken upon
her arrival.
There were two explosions of a dis
tinctly different character, with a very
short, but distinct, interval between them
and the forward part of the ship was
lifted to a marked degree at the time of
the first explosion
The first explosion was more In the ma
ture of a report, like that of a gun; while
the second explosion was more open, pro-
longed. and of greater volume. This sec
ond explosion was, in the opinion of the
]
of two or more of the forward magazines
of the Maine.
4. The evidence bearing upon this, being
principally obtained from divers. did not
enable the Court to form a definite con-
clUsion as to the condition of the wreck
although it was established that the af-
ter part of the ship was practically intact,
and sank in that condition a very few
/ minutes after the destruction of the for
ward part.
/ The following facts in regard to the for
ward part Of the ship are, however, estab-
lished by the testimony:
That portion of the port side of the pro-
tective deck which extends from about
/ frame 80 to about frame IL was blown up,
aft. and over to port. The main deck
from about frame 80 to about frame Il
was blown up aft. and slightly over to
/ starboard. folding the forward part of the
. middle superstructure over and on top of
the after part.
This was. in the opinion of the court,
caused by the partial explosion of two or
| more OF the forward magazines of the
Maine.
D. At frame II of the outer shell OF
the ship. from a point eleven and one
half feet from the middle line of the ship
and six feet above the keel when in its
normal position, has been forced up, sc
as to be now about four feet above
the surface of the water; therefore
about thirty-four feet above where il
would be had the ship sunk uninjured
The outside bottom plating is bent int
a reversed V-shape, the after-winl
of which about fifteen feet broad an(
thirty-two feet in length (from frame
II to frame 20 is doubled back upon it
self against the continuation of the sam'
plating extended forward.
At Frame IS the vertical keel is broker
in two and the fat keel bent into an an
gle similar to the angle formed by tn
outside bottom plating. This break i
now about six feet below the surface o
The water and about thirty feet abov
its normal position.
in the opinion of the court. this effec
could have been produced only by tn
explosion of mine situated under tn
bottom OF the ship. at about Frame Is
and somewhat under the port side of tn
ship
G. The court finds that the loss of tn
Maine. on the occasion named, was no
in any respec. due to fault or negligence
on the part of any Of the officers o
members Of the crew of said vessel
= In the opinion of the court. tn
Maine was destroyed by the explosion 0
a submarine mine. which caused tn
partial explosion Of two or more OF he
forward magazines.
8. The court has been unable to oh
tain evidence fixing the responsibility TO
the destruction Of the Maine upon an
person or persons.
w T. SAMPSON, Captain, L. s. N,
President
, a. MARK, Lieut.-Com. L. S. N,
Judge Advocate.
The court having finished the inquir
it was ordered 20 make, adjourned at ]
= a. m. to await the action Of the conven
ing authority.
= ". I. SAMPSON. Captain, u S. N
President.
A MARK. Lieut.-com. U. S. N,
J Judge Advocate
U. s. Flagship New York, March 2.
1898 off Key West, Fla.
] The proceedings and findings of tn
Court of Inquiry in the above case ar
approved.
NJ sICARD.
Rear Admiral, Commander-in-Chief q
the U. S. Naval Force on the Mort