The Forrest City times., 1898-04-01

Of Havana This announcement was received
BY the Spanish government by appreciation of
the friendly character of the visit OF the Maine
and with notification OF intention to return the
courtesy by sending Spanish ships to the prin-
cpal ports of the United States. Meanwhile
the Maine entered the port of Havana on the
18th OF January, her arrival being marked with
no special incident besides the exchange Of
customary salutes and ceremonial visits
The Maine continued in the harbor OF Ha-
vana uring the three weeks following her ar
rival No apprecIable excitement attended
her stay: on the contrary. a feeling OF relief
and confidence followed the resumption OF the
long-interrupted friendly intercourse. So no.
tceable was this immediate effect OF her visit
that the consul general strongly urged that the
presence OF our ship in Cuban waters should be
kept up by retaining 1t at Havana or. in the
event OF her recall, by sending another vessel
there to take her place. AT forty minutes past
nine in the evening OF the 18th of February. the
Maine was destroyed by an explosion, by which
the entire forward part of the ship was
utterly wrecked In this catastrophe two
officers and 260 Of her crew perished those who
were not killed outright by her explosion being
penned betwe n de ks by the tanglc OF wreck
age and drowned by the immediate sinking OF
the null Prompt assistance was rendered by
the nelghborfng vessels anchored in the harbor
aid being especially given by the boats OF the
spanish cruiser AlphOnse XII. and the Ward
line steamer City OF Washington, which lay not
iar distant The wounded were generously
cared for by the authorities of Havana. the hos
pitals being freely opened TO them while the
earliest recovered bodies of the dead were in
erred by the municipality in public cemetery
IN the city Tributes OF grief and sympathy
were offered from all Official quarters OF the is
land.
Inc appalling calamity fell on our people
win crushing force, and for brief time an IN
tense excitement prevailed which, in a COM
Hunlty less Just and self-controlled than ours,
might have led to hasty acts of blind resent
mehI This spirit, however. soon gave way to
eaimer processes OF reason and the resolve TO in
.estigate the facts and await the material proof
peiore forming a judgment as to the cause,
.ae responsibility and, II the facts warranted,
'ne remedy due. This course necessarily recon-
Ienaed Itself from the outset TO the executive,
.or only In the light of a dispassionately ascer-
ahed certainty could it determine the nature
ahu measure OF its full duty in the matter. The
usual procedure was followed, as in all cases Of
easualty or disaster to national vessels OF any
maritime state. A naval court of inquiry was
~ once organized, composed OF officers we'll
suaiiheo by rank and practical ex-
pctiehee to discharge the onerous
duty imnocaa - 49,, Aiaad
py strong force OF wreckers and divers the
.our' .se proceeded to make thorough investiga-
.oa On the spot, employing every available
leans ,s lor the impartial and exact determine
,.u son ol the cause of the explosion It's opera
,as ons nave been conducted with the utmost de-
Soe'atlon and judgment. and, while indepen-
eehtiy pursued, no source of information was
ieseeted ana the fullest opportunity was al
Su sSseo ior simultaneous investigation by the
spanish authorities
Ane hndlng of the court OF inquiry was
issAeo aiter twenty three days OF continuous
,aoor, on the 2lst Of March, instant and having
sss ssen approved on the 22d by the commander-ln-
~ Vi the United States naval force on the
as. Atlantic station. was transmitted to the
executive
r.. herewith laid before the congress to-day
~. sn the voluminous testimony taken before
wourt Its purport is in brief. as follows:
con,a' the Maine arrived at Havana she was
h1ueeed oy the regular government pilot to
e. NO l. to which she was moored in from
st,,s uu ohe-half to six fathomS OF water. The
~ " uiScipline on board and the condition
oi magazines, boilers coal bun1ers and
wS,h compartments are passed in review,
,an.se sne conclusion that excellent order pre-
an - anu that no indication OF any cause for
A4serhai a, explosion existed in any quarter.
Il ssnt o'clock in the evening OF February
was quiet - Asfei'eN sSN - --N
xasa'.sy minutes past nine o'clock the vessel
ra suddenly destroyed
brIss We're two distinct explosions, with o
tbs interval between them. The tirsG lifted
ths sard ard part OF the ship very percepti6ly;
winch was more prolonged. is s>