The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-18
CONDITION OF WRECK.
only Fad of Names nIainmast Now Re-
mains Above Water.

mains Above Water.
Havana, February 1.-THE night of the
disaster to the Maine, light wind from
the southwestsswas blowing and her head
pointed in a southeasterly direction. she
was moored in about twelve metres OF
wAter forward and drew about thirteen
metres aft The Spanish cruiser Alfonso
Kill as about POO metres from the
American battleship
The correspondent of the Associated
Press was in the cable office filing a mes
say,e. when the explosion occurred. de
saw from the window of that office great
column of fire shooting upwards like
big blaze of fire works and he hurried TO
the wharf and the quarters OF Admiral
AIanterola. By that time the correspond
mt could see flames extending over the
whole ship, and, few minutes later the
Maine sank.
The explosion so disiointed and twisted
.he battleship that her remains now ap-
pear like pile of wreckage. All the up
per deck structure, tuvrets and guns, are
in "a heap and one boiler has been blown
out of its place, and at two o'clock yester-
day afternoon was still smoking on deck.
The foremost and bow of the Maine have
collapsed and now only the end of her
niainmast remains above water
The boats of the Spanish cruiser Alton:
50 XIII. have picked up quantity OF
wreckage, including boats and flag
and today ten more bodies were found In
the harbor and were taken to the morgue
Ii is impossible to identity them.
Captain Sigsbee went on board the Al
Jonso XIII. yesterday and thanked the
Spanish commander, Captain Manuel
elias for the service the Spanish sailors
had rendered upon the occasion OF the
great disaster.
Contrary to the reports current nero
yesterday, the divers have not yet made
III investigation of the wreck ana the
Ieneral opinion expressed in Spanish
ircles is that the explosion occurred IN
ide the Maine.
sEAMEN TO BE BURIED IN CUBA.
Washington, February 17.-Numerous
inquiries are being received at the Navy
Department from the friends of the sea-
ner on the Maine, asking whether the
bodies of the drowned will be brought to
his country for interment. The general
,eply is that it is not likely the remains
will be shipped here. The department, 1t
IS said, under ordinary conditions might
bring the body of an officer or sailor who
lies abroad to port of the United States,
but even after 1T reaches here there Is no
money available for transportation over
land to place OF burial
In the present raoldinary occasion
the bodies to the United States. The
probability is that a number Of the bodies
are more or less MANNED and unrecog-
nizahle and besides it is doubtful whether
any merchant steamer oculd be induced to
bring them here. The strongest reason
against shipping the bodies, however, is
based on sanitary grounds. 1t is probable,
said q naval officer today, that the bodies
Of the men will be buried in the cemetery
at Havana at the expense of the govern
nent
The family of Darwin R. Merritt, the
engineer officer who was lost from the
Maine, telegraphed the Navy Department
10 ask whether 1t was positively known
whether he had been drowned. The only
reply the officials were able to make was
that they understood such tosbe the case.
Secretary Long today directed that de-
spatches be sent to the commandments of
naval stations and the chief officers OF
United States vessels throughout the
world to display all flags at half mast I'M
til further notice, as mark OF respect to
the officers and men drowned from the
battleship Maine.
DIVERS VOLUNTEER.
Washington, February IA number
of kilograms have been received at the
Navy Department from persons engaging
in the diving business, Offering their SER
vices in the effort to recover the valuables
that are in the sunken battleship Maine,
md to assist in ascertaining the causes
which led to the explosion. Secretary
Long, however, has already invited from
several wreoking companies proposals to
undertake the work. In response to
kilograms sent by him offers have been
received from the Merritt & Chapman
Mrecking and Derrick company of New
York, the Luckenbach Wrecking company
of New York and one from the Boston
Tow Boat company to do the work, but
TO-
Replies from companies are looked for as
soon as more definite information is at
hand, as to just what amount of work is
30 be done and the probable time which
would be consumed in executing it. 1t
is not likely, however, that any offers
will be accepted until some word is re-
ceived from Admiral Sicard transmitting
tie report of the board of inquiry which
he has appointed to determine the exact
situation respecting the possibility of
saving any portion Of the vessel.
When the Detroit left New York for the
south February 5, she took few men
destined for the Maine.
The names of the men were e. R.
Hines. first class apprentice, Epps Lovett,
seaman, E. j. Noble. third class gunners
mate and Georpo P. Starr, seaman.
The commar ing officer of the Detroit
that the men were still aboard the
Detroit.
INJURED AT HAVANA.
Washington, February l7.-The first de-
spatch of the day direct from Captain
1igsbee at Havana reached the navy de-
partnent at 2.20 D. N. 1t gave the list
Of officers of survivors, in ured and unin
jured, now at Havana. The list of officers
WAS the same as that already given.
Omitting names already sent by Forsyth
from Key West, the list of Capt Sigshee,
is as follows, those followed by interroga-
ton marks being unidentified from the
departments muster rolls: C. II. Bul-
lock, Frank Rush, X. Kushida, W. An
thony, Harry jackson ~, Alfred j. Hol.
land, John Hubert, j. McDavitt, VIM.
Anderson, Benjamin r. Wilbur, T. j.
Waters, M V Webber, A. Anderson,
george Koebler, 4: yerickson; Henry
Thomas Mack, +. Coffee, W. Allen, Dan
eel Cronin, E. D. Cahill, Fred Jornee (?),
9. A. Smith, j. 4. Shea, A. B. Henress,
John Hefferon, ]. H. Bloomer, j. John
son (9), Carl Mathiason, G. T. Pitcher,
F. Choltzer (?), P. LOTUS, A. MoManus