New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-23
SAW THE MAINE BLOWN Up.
REMARKABLE INCIDENTS OF THE DIS
AsTER TOLD BY BRITISH sEAMEN
THEY SAY PART OF THE BATTLE-sHrP's PAYROLL
WAS PICKED Up THREE MILES INLAND
IGNORANT sPANIARDs SHOWED JOY
AT THE DIsAsTER-A HUMANE
SPANISH OFFICER

The British steamer Olive Dean. which lay
in Havana Harbor at the time the Maine dis
aster occurred. arrived in port yesterday having
sailed the day after the disaster. She anchored
down the bay. and reporters who reached her
In a rowboat last night learned OF some curious
experiences in connection with the awful wreck
from her skipper. Captain Harrison. and her
two engineers. who were witnesses Of the
disaster. The engineers Albert Holdsworth
chief and J. Ladrow. nj sasslstant.
'Laidrow and myself were ashore when the
explosion occurred" said Mr.. Holdsworth to the
reporters last night I'VE were sitting at the
end Of kind Of recreation pier down there
where a ferryboat in from across the
bay This pier was only about half mile from
where the Maine lay at anchor.
"As we sat there terrific explosion which
shattered the windows of little cafe on the
pier occurred where the battle-ship lay.
lot Of Spanish soldiers who were bringing In the
cafe got UP and ran further inland in a hurry.
Bits Of wreckage from the explosion flew all
around. There no fire seen on the warship
for n minute but after a brief interval sheet
Of fame arose forward.
I'VE stayed on the pier excitedy discussing
what had happened Some time after the ex-
plosiop two Spanlards came up TO US carrying
the remains Of roll Of paper It was part OF
the Maine's payroll and the men had picked It
up three miles back in the hills. They could
not read English and they asked us what the
paper was. When they heard that It came from
the Maine and that It was the warship which
had blown up they danced for Joy.
"'You Americans sent dynamite 10 the rebels
to blow up with they said. and now your
fine ship has met the fate you intended for ms
THE men took for Americans" continued
Mr. Holdsworth "and wanted to lick us until
they found that English Then they
were nuieter but swore at Americans in general
as sympathizers with bandits and revolution
lists AS we talked with them the ferryboat
came in She had been only about eighth OF
a mile from the Maine when the explosion oc-
Cured and a lot of Spanish soldiers were
aboard her on their way to Havana. Many OF
them we heard were overioyed at the disaster
to the American battle-shlp. but one humane
officer a captain In the Spanish Army. pro-
tested against the ferryboat continuing her
trip. and called on the skipper TO turn back TO
aid the sufferers
To hell with them we heard he replied but
the officer called him poltroon and A coward
and insisted that he would whip him II the boat
didn't stop. But ne threatened in vain"
Captain Harrison told the reporters that he
saw the explosion from the deck Of his ship.
To the previous accounts Of eye-witnesses he
had little TO add. but he gave some interesting
details In regard to visit he made to the
wreck.
1.-The morning after the explosion he said,
II took boat and rowed near as could to
the Maine. An awful wreck she was. I noticed
that the lower parts Of her smokestacks were
intact and this makes me think that her boilers
cannot have blown up The forward mast was
blown entirely out apparently. If that mast
was stepped upon her keeson I think that
is a pretty good indication that the explosion
occurred beneath and outside the ship"