Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-05
A proposal ,s Raise the Maine.

tVHOSSs
The successful raising of the Maria
Teresa by Hobson has caused wide
spread satisfaction to Americans. To
rescue the proud flagship of Admiral
Cervera after 1t had been sunk by
American shot and shell, and add it to
the American navy to sail the seas
manned by Yankee tars and flying the
Stars and Stripes, Is no mean achieve
ment. 1t was a noble accomplishment
for Lieutenant Hobson in the face Of
all the wiseacres, official and civil, who
said it could not be DONE The general
public is deeply disappointed that the
government is not to supply him with
the necessary money to continue the
work so well begun. He declares that
he can raise the Colon and Reina Mer-
cedes and possibly one of the others,
but for some season the naval board is
unwilling to give him the opportunity,
and if the work is done at all it will
be done by private contract. The same
is true of the fleet of Montejo sunk by
Admiral Dewey in Manila bay. Every
consideration of patriotism. sentiment
and economy demands that as many
of these vessels as possible be saved
and added to our navy.
But a project in which the American
people are even more interested is that
of raising the mangled Maine from the
Shiny waters Of Havana harbor. The
breaking out OF the war prevented any
steps being taken in this direction after
the work of the board of inquiry was
completed. 1t was generally thought,
in fact, that the wreck was so complete
deep, that the battleship could never
be raised. A proposition is now made,
however, by one of the largest and
most responsible wrecking companies
in the country, the Acme Wrecking
Company of San Francisco, to raise the
Maine, and it is worthy of careful con-
sideration. Representations are made
by the company of it's ability to per-
form the task, and the compensation
asked is either the value of the vessel
when it is brought to the United
States, to be established by condemna-
ton proceedings. or if the government
did not want the ship the company
would keep it and exhibit it in the
large seacoast cities. If the company
fails to raise the vessel no compensa-
ton is demanded This is certainly
only reasonable, and anything that
promises to raise the Maine is worth
trying.
Many things of import have hap
pened since that fated ship was sunk
at Havana eight months and a half
ago. War has come and gone, two
Spanish fleets have been destroyed and
Spain has been deprived of almost all
her colonies. Would all this have hap
pened had the Maine not been blown
up? We scarcely believe it, for it was
that explosion that added strength to
the cries Of the war party and gave
them plausibility. Impartial history
will record that the United States was
rushed into the war by the shouts
of Remember the Maine'V as well as
by the pleadings of humanity.
We wonder if the Spanish patriots"
who conspired to anchor that ship over
a mine and then blew her up look back
with satisfaction upon their work! Or
was it Cuban patriots that did the
| dastardly deed, thus hoping to bring
on war that would give freedom to
Cuba? Whether or not the truth con-
corning that conspiracy, if there We're
| a conspiracy, will ever be,revealed is
| impossible to say, but there is no doubt
| that the American people would like to
have that vessel raised if it can be
| done. The Maine herself might tell a
part of the story and make clearer that
portion Of the report Of the boardsof
inquiry which. left. the exact cause ,of
the external explosion in doubt. The
Acme Wreeking Company should have
permission to try its skill The Maine
shoulds be- raised 5fs.any human agency
| can do it, 4, - ~ &S&