Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-29


fiaring up of the lights before the expio-
sion, but a sudden and total eclipse. Gap
tain sigsbee said he examined the tenn
perature OF the magazines himseir. ana
conyersed with the ordnance oincer as
TO the various temperatures ana tnc con-
tents of the magazines, and according
to the opinion Of this officer, as wen as
that OF Captain Sigsbee. the temperatures
were never at the danger point.
At the time OF the disaster the TWO
after-boilers In the after-hreroom were
in use. because the hydraulic system was
leaking.
RELATIONS WITH SPANISH.
Speaking generally of his relations with
the Spanish authorities. Captain sigsDee
stated that with the officials they were
outwardly cordial.
When asked whether there was any de-
monstration OF animosity by people afioat,
Captain Sigsbee said that there never
was on shore, so far as he was informed
but there was afioat. He then related that
on the first Sunday after the Names ar
rival, a ferryboat. crowded densely Win
people, civil and military. returning from
a bull-hght in Regla. passed the Maine,
and about forty people on board induigeu
in yells. whistles. and derisive calls.
During the stay in Habana, Captain
Sigsbee took more than ordinary precau-
tions for the protection of the Maine.
THE EXPLOSION.
The Maine at the time OF the disaster
was heading approximately northwest
He was writing at his port-cabin table AT
the time Of the explosion, and was dress
ed. He then went into description OF the
explosion. when he felt the crash. He
characterized il as a bursting, rending,
crashing sound, or roar, OF immense
volume. largely metallic in its character.
1t was succeeded by metallic SOUND
probably of falling debris, trembling
and lurching motion Of the vessel, then
an impression Of subsidence, attended by
an eclipse of the electric-lights and In
tense darkness within the cabin. lie
knew Immediately that the Maine had
blown UP. and that she was SINKING As
soon as he arrived on deck, sentries were
ordered placed about the ship, and the
forward magazine was ordered 10 DE
flooded. If practicable. Then came faint
cries and he saw dimly. white, floating
bodies in the water. Boats were at once
ordered lowered, but only two were found
available. the gig and the whale-boat
They were lowered, and manned by of1-
49, ~ fraf g
tions. they left the ship and assisted In
saving the wounded. jointly with other
boats that had arrived on the scene. FIRE
amidships by this time was burning fierce
w. and the spare ammunition In the
pilot-house was exploding. AT this time
Lieutenant Commander wainwright Wills
pered to the captain that he thought the
lO-inch magazine forward had been
thrown into the burning mass. and might
explode in time. Everybody was then di-
directed to get into the boats over stern
which was done, the Captain getting
into the gig. and then proceeding to the
City OF Washington. where he found the
wounded in the dining saloon being care
fully attended by the officers and crew
OF the vessel. Various Spanish officials
came on board. and expressed sympathy
and sorrow for the accident. The repre-
sentatives of General Blanco and of the
admiral Of the station were among the
Spanish officials who ten~e.- their re-
spects.
AS TO THE MAGAZINES.
About eighty-four or eighty-iive men
were found that night who survived. In
reply to the direct question whether any
of the magazines or shellrrooms were
blown up, the Captain said 1t was ex-
tremeIy difficult to come to any conclu-
sion. The centre Of the explosion was be-
meath and little forward Of the coming
tower on the port side. In the region Oh
the centre or axis of the explosion wss
the 6-inoh reserve magazine, which con-
tained very little powder, about 800
pounds The 10-inch magazine was In the
same general region, but on the starboard
side. over the 1O-inch magazine is the
loading-room OF the turret, and in the ad-
Joining passage a number Of l0-inch shells
were permanently placed.
According to Captain Sigsbee, It would
be difficult to conceive that the explosion
involved the 10-inch magazine, because OF
the location of the explosion, and that no
reports show that any 10-inch shells were
hurled into the air because of the explo-
sion.
DISCIPLINE OF SHIP EXCELLENT.
He said the discipline of the ship was
excellent. In the engineers department,
the vessel was always ready and always
responsive. He paid tribute to the crew,
and said that a quieter, better-natured
lot Of men he had never known on board
any vessel in which he had served.
on his examination by the court, Cap
tain Sigsbee said that the highest tenn
perature he could remember was 1l2, but
that was in the after-magazine, the tenn
perature in the forward magazines being
considerably lower. There was a lot Of
powder kept in the magazine. All the
coal-bunkers were ventilated through air
tubes. examined weekly by the chief en-
gineer, and were connected electrically
with the annunciator over his cabin
door. The forward coal-bunker on the
port side was full. The forward coal
bunker on the starboard side was half
full, and II was being used at the time OF
the explosion.
Captain Sigsbee gave II as his opinion
that If Coal-Bunker A i6 had been so hot
as TO be dangerous to the 6-inch reserve
magazine, this condition would have been