davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09
Scale l-32 inoh to one foot.

held fast and bent that deck downward
Witness here exhibited two sketches to thu
court showing diagram of various parts OF
the sunken ship and explained them to the
court.
The witnesses evidence about the strIp
on the starboard side of the outside plat
ing of the ship which was folded and
rolled back, was recalled to him, and Pow
elson said he could see plate underneath IL
was bent outward, as he could see It, as 1t
was only two feet under water where the
shear occurred.
Witness had taken soundings and had
found five fathoms of water on both sides
of the Maine down to the mud. Taking a
l4-pound lead line and dragging with
wherry for distractions on the port side
dragging close to where he thought the wa
ter ways would be found. ne found no OBJ
structions whatever On tho starboard side
he found distractions for ~ feet where he
had reason to believe the waterways had
originally been.
In answer to questions he said there was
nothing left of the port plating at ALL He
dragged along the outside to see If anything
had fallen out and found nothing. Wit
ness thought the ship on the port side was
entirely gone opposite point indicated on
diagram handed the court. 1t was en-
tirely blown out.
This concluded Ensign Powelson's tes-
timony on the third day.
Divers story.
Chief Gunner's Mate Olsen, of the United
States steamer Iowa, told how he had been
sent to Havana for the purpose of doing
diving duty on the wreck. He had descend
ed four times, making about eight or nine
hours of total examination
Olsen told how on his first descent he
went over the forward part of the ship.
10 use his own expression, he said II
found the wreck all blowed up. found q
lot of crate bars down there" The second
time he went down further forward and
there located lot of ten-inch shells. For
ward OF these the plates were bent inboard
over them.
Asked IL he imagined himself looking for
ward he stated that he did. Going over the
with the sings on them Going to the right
witness stated he found lot of wreckage
IL seemed to have been blown over the star
BOARD. olsen stated that he put his hand
, siw 'o one cranks and brought out several
The next time he went down, Olsen testi-
nee ned ne went outside the ship, forward Of
bottom along and found that The shin's
slue was blown cupboard and along The
crane II could be walked on.
AZ me part where she is blown up COM
plates are turned up. Then You follow the
potion from there up, and the plates are
blown outboard At the top and underneath
bent in. About three feet forw9 pd OF t dnf
,spot there Is piece OF iron laid along the
55uik iie The skin OF the inside OF the
COUPLE bottoms Is curled like sheet CT pa
per inpoard from stem to stern
"Amidships on the same place there is an
nrmor piate, one plate complete the top OF
the plate standing up. The plate is inclined
up with the thick part OF the plate Sown'
board"
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09

That portion of the port side of the pro-
tective deck which extends from about
frame 80 to about frame Al was blown up
aft and over to port The main deck
from about frame 80 to about frame Al
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.
Plates Forced Up.
5. At frame H. the outer shell of the ship,
from point liz feet from the middle
line of the ship and six feet above the keel
when In its normal position, has been
forced UP so as to be now about four feet
above the surface of the water, therefore
about "a feet above where 1t would be had
the ship sunk uniniured. The outside bot
tom plating is bent into reversed V
shape, the after wing OF which, about Is
feet broad and 80 feet in length (from
frame IL to frame 2O, is doubled back upon
itself against the continuation of the same
plating extending forward.
AT frame Is the vertical keel is broken in
two, and the fiat keel bent into an angle
similar to the angle formed by the outside
bottom plating. This break is now about
SIX rect below the surface OF the water and
about 80 feet above its normal position.
Caused by n Mine.
In the opinion of the court, this effect
could have been produced only by the ex-
plosion of a mine situated under the bot
tom OF the ship at about frame Is, and
somewhat on the port side of the ship.
0, The court finds that the loss OF the
Maine, on the occasion named, was not in
any respect due to fault or negligence on
the part of any of the officers or members
of the crew of said vessel.
q In the opinion of the court the Maine
was destroyed by the explosion OF sub
marine mine, which caused the partial ex-
plosion of two or more of her forward
magazines.
8. The court has been unable to obtain ev-
struction of the Maine upon any person or
persons.
w. T. SAMPSON,
Captain. u. 8. NJ, President.
A. MARK,
Lieutenant Commander, U. s. N, Judge
Advocate.
The Findings Approved.
The court, having finished the inquiry II
was ordered to make, adjourned at IL a. m
to await the action OF the converting au-
thority.
w. T. SAMPSON,
Captain. U. S. N, President.
A. MARK,
Litutenant Commander, u. s. N. Judge
Advocate.
U. 8. Flagship New York, March %. $685.
OF Key West. Fla.-The proceedings and
findings of the court of inquiry in the above
A. sIcARD,
Rear Admiral, Commander in Chief of the
Y. s. Naval Force on the North Atlantic
Station.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09

amount of heat was the after ten-inch mag
azine. and that did not explode at the time
the Maine was destroyed
The torpedo war heads were all slowed
in the after part of the ship under the ward
room, and neither caused nor participated
in the destruction of the Maine.
The dry gun cotton primers and deton-
ators were slowed in the cabin aft and
remote from the scene of the explosion.
The waste was carefully looked after on
board the Maine to obviate danger. Spe-
cial orders in regard to this had been given
by the commanding officer.
Varnishes, dryers. alcohol and other COM
hustibles of this nature were slowed on
or above the Maine deck and could not
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09

the protected deck was covered with
greasy deposit, the starboard side being
comparatively free from II.
The forward smoke pipe, between the
main and superstructure decks. did not
show signs of the internal pressure Of
gases. on the main deck forward of the
coming tower where the fore and after
angle bulb beam was located the planking
was blown off on the only remaining plate
of the main deck on the port side while the
wood was still attached to that part on the
starboard side between the coming tower
base and the turrets. What witness saw
would indicate that the pressure lifted the
protective deck up on the port side, and
the protective deck on the starboard side
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09

ond explosion was, in the opinion of the
court, caused by the partial explosion of
two or more of the forward magazines of
the Maine.
Condition of the Wreck.
4. The evidence bearing on 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 1t was established that the after
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, es-
tablshed by the testimony:
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09

The evidence OF the divers establishes
that the after part OF the ship was prac-
tically intact and sank In that condition a
very few minutes after the explosion. The
forward part was completely demolished.
Upon the evidence OF concurrent external
cause the finding OF the court Is as follows:
AT frame II the outer shell OF the ship,
from a point liz feet from the middle line
OF the ship and six feet above the keel
when In its normal position, has been
forced up so as TO be now about four feet
above the surface OF the water; therefore.
about 81 feet above where II would be had
the ship sunk uninjured.
Plates Bent Inward.
1.-THE outside bottom plating is bent into
reversed V shape. the after wing of
which. about Is feet broad and 80 feet
In length (from frame II to frame 20. Is
doubled back upon itself against the con-
tinuation OF the same plating extending
forward.
AT frame Is the vertical keel Is broken In
two and the keel bent into an angle singu-
lar to the angle formed for the outside
plates. This break is about six feet be-
low the surface Of the water and about
80 feet above its normal position.
''In the opinion of the court this effect
could have been produced only by the ex-
plos!on OF mine situated under the bot
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09

been in use that day, and A 16 was full
of New River coal This coal had been
carefully Inspected before receiving 1t on
board. The bunker In which II was slowed
was accessible on three sides at all times.
and the fourth side at this time on ac-
count Of bunkers B and b being empty.
This bunker, A 16, had been Inspected
that day by the engineer officer on duty.
The fire alarms In the bunkers were IN
working ORDER and there had never been
q case Of spontaneous combustion of coal
on board the Maine.
After boilers Only I'm Use.
The two after boilers Of the ship we're In
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09
TOLD BY WITNESSES.
Extract of Important Testimony
Taken by the Court.
Lieut.. Powelson's story Told on the
Third Day of the session-Im-
portant Discoveries Made
Up to That Time.

Washington. March 2s.-The following are
portions of the testimony:
Ensign w. V. N. Powelson was called
the third day of the court He testified
that he had been present on the Maine
every day from the arrival of the boat
Fern and during a great deal of the diving.
In reply to a question to tell the court
all about the condition of the wreck, he
said the forward part of the ship forward
of the after smokestack had been to all
appearances completely destroyed. The
coming tower lay In a position opposite
the door leading to the superstructure aft
and to starboard. inclined at about 10 de-
grees to the vertical with the top of the
coming tower In board. Continuing, he
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09

eminent thereon be communicated to the
government of her majesty, the queen, and
| do not permit myself to doubt that the
sense of justice of the Spanish nation Will
dictate a course of action suggested by
honor and the friendly relations of the two
governments.
1t was the duty of the executive TO adj
wise the congress OF the result, and In the
meantime deliberate consideration is in
voked
(Signed) WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion, March 2S, 1898.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09

have had anything to do with the destruc-
ton of the Maine.
The medical stores were slowed aft I'M
der the ward room and remote from the
scene of the explosion.
No dangerous stores - any kind were
rooms.
Coal Bunkers Inspected.
The coal bunkers were inspected. OF
those bunkers adjoining the forward mag
aZne and shell rooms four were empty,
namely b 3, Il 4, Il 5 and Il g. 4 10 had
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09
THE COURTS REPORT.
Statements of Capt sampson and
His Associates BASED ON Tes-
timosy Taken.

The following Is the full text of the re-
port of the court OF inquiry:
United States Steamship Iowa. First
Rate.-Key West, Fla, Monday, March n,
lS9S-After full and mature consideration
of all the testimony before Il, the court
fnds as follows:
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09
tom OF the ship, at about frame IS and
somewhat On the port side of the ship"
Conclusions of the Court.

The conclusions of the court are:
That the loss of the Maine was not in any
respect due to fault or negligence on the
part Of any OF the officers or members of
her crew. ........
That the ship was destroyed by the eX-
plosion OF a submarine mine, which caused
the partial explosion of two or more of her
forward magazines and,
That no evidence has been obtainable fix
ing the responsibility for the destruction
of the Maine upon any person or persons.
I have directed that the finding of the
court of inquiry and the views of this gov
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15
Is 1T A MRLuEE.,

IT can hardly be doubted that President
Mckinley knows what is the conclusion
of the divers and other experts as to the
cause of the destruction of the Maine
OF course, this information has not come
TO him "officlally,", but doubtless. it has
come to him straight" And, Judging
from the hurried preparations that are
being made in army and navy circles, that
conclusion must be that our warship was
destroyed by mine; or, that the cause is
involved in a mystery that will probably
never be fathomed.
Certainly our arming and equipping our
selves for hostilities does not look as il
the President had any reason TO believe
that the loss of the Maine could or would
be attributed by the court of inquiry to
IN accident. 80 .tgt 3 q
But it does not follow that war will be
The result of our preparations. No. The
sJ0.O00.OOo appropriation may be a potent
factor for peace. Seeing that we are very
much I'm earnest, Spain may make terms
with her insurgent subjects. There were
rumors upon the stock market yesterday
that a new plan of autonomy. to be guar
anteed by the United States. would be,
brought forward. However that may be,
the opinion is widespread that the adj
ministration at Washington has a we'll
defined purpose in adding TO the strength
and effectiveness OF our military forces
and that its activity is either heavy
bluff" or prudential movement based
upon inside information as to what will
be the outcome OF the Maine investiga-
ton. II Is for this reason that without
understanding the situation clearly, the
country has given its approval to all the
warlike preparations that have been made
40 far.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15
FIGURE ACCORDING TO PIKE.

The revised edition OF MIR. Cannon's
speech. introducing the bill appropriating
SQ,OoO000 for national defence. has APP
peared IN the Congressional Record. In
the original. Mr.. Cannon ignored the fact
that the sum In question would have to
90 taken out of the balance left from the
proceeds OF bond sales made by Mr.C Ieye-
land. 1--WE have not" he is quoted as
saying in the original, Ito present with
this proposition one to borrow monty or
10 Increase taxation; 10 which almost\any
other nation on earth would have hssn
obliged 10 resort" The revised edit,A
records him as saying: I'VE have got ,bA
money IN the Treasury TO meet this an
preparation IL IL is expended. and ths,
too, without resorting IN our opinion. 10
further taxation" And again: 1--WE are
satised that revenues to be yielded from
preseht revenue laws viii AFFORD sufficient
money to meet this expenditure, and IN
ADDITION thereto, the ordinary expend,.
lures CT the government"
AS we have always held, no one
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Whereas, on the 4th day of March, 1898,
Ned. Bland, the West Point Towing Com
pany. and Nordine NJ. Burke filed their
libels in the District Court of the United
States for the Eastern District of Vir-
ginia, against the UEion Dredge, No 2,
her boats, tackle. apparel, and furniture,
and four dump scows. machinery, tools,
and buckets. in a cause of action. civil
and maritime; and, whereas, by virtue of
process in due form of law, In each case.
to me directed. returnable on the sth day
OF March. 1898, | have seized and taken
the said Union Dredge. No. 2. and scows.
etc, and have her in my custody. Notice
is hereby given that district court will
be held in the United States Courtroom.
in the city OF Richmond. on the 18th day
of March, 1925 for the trial OF said premi-
ses, and the owner or owners, and all
persons who may have or claim any inte-
rest. are hereby cited TO be and appear
at the time and place aforesaid, to show
cause. If any they have, why a final de-
cree should not pass as prayed.
MORGAN TREAT,
NH 6tISi United States Marshal.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15

questions the wisdom OF Congress ~ APP
propriating the so,ooooo. But how Mr..
cnnnon-unless he has taken q course Oh
Dingrey's exclusive arithmetic-could have
made his optimistic revenue calculation.
passes comprehension. In the present
fiscal year the expenditures have already
exceeded the revenues by about U.s.
oOo,co0 and the Treasury showing would
BE- worse than 1t Ia, but for the racine
railroad deal.
we can raise, we believe, and ought
10 expend. all the money necessary to
carry on justInable war; but In the
name of commen-sense and of con-
science. let us not cause the people to
think lightly OF war by minimizing the
burdensome hereafter that the cost OF
war would entail. Let Us In this matter
figure according to Pike, and not accord
ing 10 Dingley.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15

The State Department has received
from the Government of Sweden and
Norway conditional acceptance OF the
offer made through the Washington au-
thorities by Mr.. Walter Welman to carry
free OF charge upon his North-Pole expe-
dition, which IS 10 sail from Tromso. Nor
way, on June 10th, party of Swedes to
search for Professor Andree. In Franz
Josef Land.
The letter of acceptance says that the
King of Sweden and Norway did not
expect to start out an expedition TO
search for Andree, but II no news shall
have been received from the aeronaut
by the time of the sailing OF the Wellman
expedition, the King and the Government
would feel gratifed II permitted to send
with the Wellman venture for the pur-
pose named party familiar with the
arctic regions.
Andree, Strendberg, and Fraenkel start
ed on their balloon voyage on the 1lth
of July last. Save message by carrier
pigeon, dated two days after their de-
parture, and which stated that they were
making good progress north. no trust
worthy intelligence frcm them has been
received.
The limit Of the time Andree and his
companions gave themselves to accom-
plish their voyage and get back to civili-
zation has already been far exceeded;
and there is a growing conviction among
aeronauts and arctic explorers that
neither the balloon nor any one of the
three men may ever be heard from again.
If, however, the slender hope as to the
safety OF the expedition shall materialize.
Andree and his companions will have a
wondrously interesting story to tell, al
though. as has been frequently said, 1t
is hardly possible that their experience
will enable them TO contribute much to
the worlds store of scientific knowledge
of the frozen zone. The contrary opinion
was not encouraged even by those who
were most sanguine that the voyagers
would succeed in crossing the pole in
their balloon.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH.
BY THE DISPATCH COMPANY.

The DAILY DISPATCH is delivered to
subscribers at FIFTY CENTS per
month. payable TO the carrier weekly or
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The SUNDAY DISPATCH at A'So per
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Subscriptions in all cases payaDie ~
ndvance. and no paper continued are,
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tered letter. Currency sent by man WIN
be at the risk OF the sender. Subscribers
wishing their post-ofiiee changed must
give their old as we'll as their new post
office. Sample copies free.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15
Irvington, Va, March 10, lS9

| lrvington, Va, March 10, 1898.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
In an exhaustive review of the work OF
the recent General Assembly, published
in last Sundays Dispatch as an inter
view with a member of the Senate, are
found these items under the sub-heading,
ITO Increase Revenue:
| Probably the most important Is that
| requiring all floating property-water
craft Of every characterize be listed by
| court examiners for taxation. 1T is said
| that this law will add IS 100000 worth of
values, upon which nothing is paid at
present, to the property bearing its por-
ton of the burdens of taxation"
"The last of these three laws is that
which taxes fsh-nets, which have not
before been taxed. This will greatly add
| to revenue, but how greatly cannot be
| said"
The entire article is a good one, and
l agree with the statement that the fore
going excerpts refer to most important
revenue measures, but desire to correct
erroneous impressions in connection with
them which seemed 10 pervade the minds
of a majority of the members of the
General Assembly and which are here
with put into type.
Those who, with Delegate Withrow 0he
author of the bill, / believe), think that
the law NdtcT-CIdIl 10 De nSleu
will add s6000,0O0 worth of values to as
sessable property in the State are sadly
mistaken. They seem TO be unacquaint-
ed with the fact that the commissioner
of revenue assessment blanks contain
these schedules for listing:
"All boats or other water craft under
5 tons burthen, with their tackle. rigging.
and furniture and all else that pertains
to them
''All ships, barges boats, or other water
craft, of tons burthen and over, with
their tackle, rigging, and furniture, and
all else that pertains TO them"
The statement was made through the
press at the time of the introduction Of
the bill that this property had hitherto
escaped taxation. The records in the
Auditors Office show that much of this
property has annually paid the assessed
revenue. l am candid in saying, however,
that the method for listing to be pur-
sued under the new law is a good one,
and will in all probability increase the as
sessed values, and will embrace some
that has hitherto escaped the com
missoners of the revenue. But l am con-
WINGED that it will not reach anything like
the figures claimed by its advocates.
AS to the second item: A great injustice
has been done the fishing interests by
the assertion that they have never been
taxed before. The same statement was
made before the recent House FinaRce
Committee when the bill for taxing nets
was under consideration; and made, too,
by a lawyer of some repute, whose record
on water legislation should have better
posted him. Upon the occasion referred
to the committee was enlightened as 10
the fact that pound nets had always paid
81 to the clerk of the court. and purse nets |
S license tax-this in addition TO $40 |
license tax for manufacturing into ferti- |
lizer the fish caught with purse nets. (See |
sections 2OSG. 2O9S, 21O0, Code of Virginia.) |
The new law will increase the revenues |
from this source about sevenfold
w. MDONALD LEE.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15

Recently, in an article on the work of
the General Assembly, we said we were
encouraged to believe that its labors in
the matter of direct retrenchment and in
opening the way for further relief of the
treasury in future were going TO show UP
better than the public now expect.
The Peninsula Enterprise, in comment
ing on this, remarks that IT, as claimed,
the body's work will result In the saving
of 100000 annually to the State, that will
relieve us of the necessity of holding a
constitutional convention. incalculable
good will have been accomplished. and
our lawmakers will receive the blessings
of the people.
Let us, therefore, wait patiently for
the final summing up, and not run the
risk of doing injustice to ourselves and
to the Legislature by indulging prema-
turely in harsh criticism of its record.