davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07
TOLD BY WITNESSES.
Extract Of Important Testimony
Taken by the Court.
Lieut.. Powelson's Story Told on the
Third Day of the Sessfon-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 q great deal of the diving
In reply to 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 ITO de-
grees to the vertical with the top of the
coming tower in board. Continuing, he
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

what is the condition a. the starboard
turretT witness was asked.
ITO my knowledge 1t has not been found.
SIR" was the reply
He understood something had been found
under the place where the turret formerly
was. but its exact character had not been
determined.
Impressions of Ensign Hewelson.
what impression is produced upon your
mind by the reports. as far as you have
quoted them?" Ensign Powelson was asked
From reports alone or from the appear
ance of the wreck?'
EITHER from such reports or the condi-
lions which you believe to exist"
THE impression produced upoa me-" re-
piled the witness. lis that an ex plosion took
place well to port of the midship line and
at point in the length about opposite the
coming tower"
Witness in reply to further questions said
his opinion was based upon the observation
of things above water. He gave no weight
to Mr.. Morgan's statement about falling
into hole on the port side because Nor
gan might have been mistaken about It
Referring to his notes made OF things ON
the Maine, Ensign Powelson said that the
arc OF the engine room telegraph and the
shaft OF the steering gear coming down
through the armored tube (turreD was bent
from port to starboayd. The port side Of
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

use at the time of the disaster, but for
auxiliary purposes only with compare
lively low pressure Of steam, and being
tended by a reliable watch. These boilers
could not have caused the explosion of the
ship The four forward boilers have since
been found by the divers. and are In fair
condition.
On the night of the destruction of the
Maine everything had been reported Sc
cure for the night at eight p. m. by re-
liable persons, through the proper author
tiles. to the commanding officer. At the
time the Maine was destroyed the ship was
quiet, and therefore least liable to accident
caused by movements from those on board.
Were Two Explosions.
3. The destruction of the Maine occurred
at $40 p. m. on the 18th day Of February,
1888. in the harbor Of Havana, Cuba. be-
ing at the time moored on the same buoy to
which she had been taken upon her ar
rival.
There were two explosions Of a distinctly
different character with very short but
distinct interval between them, and the
forward part Of the ship was lifted to a
marked degree at the time of the first ex-
plosion.
The first explosion was more In the ma
ture of a report, like that of a gun, while
the second explosion was more open, pro-
longed and Of greater volume. This sec
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

1. That the United States battleship Maine
arrived in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, on
the 18th day Of January, 1898. and was taken
to buoy No. 4, in from five anc half to six
fathoms Of water by the regular govern
ment pilot. The United States consul gen.
eral at Havana had notified the authori-
ties at that place the previous evening Of
the intended arrival of the Maine.
discipline Was Excellent.
2. The state of discipline on board the
Maine was excellent, and all orders and
regulations in regard to the care and safety
Of the ship were strictly carried out.
AL ammunition was slowed away In ac-
cordance with instructions, and proper care
was taken whenever ammunition was
handled.
Nothing was slowed In any one of the
magazines or shell rooms which was not
permitted to be slowed there
The magazines and shell rooms were al
ways locked after having been opened; and
after the destruction of the Maine the keys
were found In their proper place In the cap
tain's cabin, everything having been re-
ported secure that evening at eight p. m.
Temperature Was Normal.
The temperatures Of the magazines and
shellrooms were taken daily and reported.
The only magazine which had an undue
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

In reply to en- inquiry as to whether
| he meant with reference to their original
! positions Ensign Powelson replied aflirma-
| lively. The beam supporting the pro-
| tective deck few inches abaft of the ar
mored tube, to port of the midship line.
was bent up to starboard of the mid
| ship line. Just forward Of the coming
| tower. underneath the deck, two beams
| met at right angles; one beam was broken
and pushed from port to starboard. A
| grating was found on the poop awning
| just forward of the after searchlight-
a piece of the side plating just abaft
of the starboard turret was visible. This
plate was bent outward and then the for
ward end bent upward and folded back
| ward upon itself. This plate was sheared
from the rest Of the plating below the
water line. This plating below the water
line has been pushed out to starboard."
The armored gratings of the engine room
hatch were blown off. A composition
strainer was picked up from the bottom
on the starboard quarter at point about
| opposite the poop capstan and about 70
feet from 1t. The chief engineer thought
the strainer was from the firemen's wash
room. 1t was not a strainer in the ships
side.
Near the piece Of outside plating to
which witness referred above he said there
were pieces of red sheilaced planks. On
these pie nks was bolteo a composition
track two inches wide and an inch thick
Ensign Powelsop then asked IL the court
meant for him to say anything about what
the divers reported or just what he saw.
The judge advocate replied that he would
like to have him state any important dis
coveries which might lead the court to
draw some conclusion as to the cause,
and III diver gave such information to
state the divers name. Before doing so
the judge advocate asked witness to state
If the forward and after part Of the ship
were In line. Ensign Powelson replied
that as far as he could judge they were
not. The end where the explosion oc-
Cured seemed to be pushed from port
to starboard from five to ten degrees. he
should judge, with the apex to the star
board. The divers reported to witness that
at point where the ten-inch shell room
should be they discovered ten-inch shells
regularly arranged. but the ship had sunk
down so much that some of the shells were
In the mud
Gunner Morgan reported that in walking
on the bottom he fell into hole on the
port side and went down in the mud. He
also reported that as far as he could judge
everything seemed to be bent upward in
the vicinity of this hole. He also reported
that the plates seemed to have been pushed
over to the starboard and then bent down.
Ensign Powelson then said that six
inch powder tank that he saw appeared to
be an empty tank broken by the explosion,
as IT was not badly denied and merely
ripped the length of the seam. ten-inch
tank was badly battered out OF any con-
ceivable shape.
Continuing, the witness said the divers
up to the night before he was then on the
stand had not been OF the outside Of the
ship. The mud was too deep for them to
walk on the bottom.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

the protected deck was covered with q
greasy deposit, the starboard side being
comparatively free from it.
The forward smoke cipe, between the
main and superstrucrure 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 bulo beam was located the pIanking
was blown off on the only remaining plate
of the main deck on the port side while the
wood vas 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 Geek up on the port side, and
the protective deck on the starboard side
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07
Scale l-32 inch to one foot.

held fast and bent that deck downward
Witness here exhibited two sketches to the
court showing diagram of various parts OF
! the sunken ship and explained them 70 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 sad he could see plate underneath II
was bent outward, as he could see 1t, as II
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
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, he found no OBJ
structions whatever. On the starboard side
he found distractions for 70 feet where he
had reason to believe the waterways had
originally been.
In answer to questions ne 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 bad been
sent to Havana for the purpose of doing
diving duty on the wreck. He had descend
ed four times, making abeut eight or nine
hours of total examination.
Olsen told how on his first descent he
went over the forward part of the ship.
To use his own expression, he said: II
found the wreck all blowed up. ] found a
lot of CRATE bars down there" The second
time he went down further forward ana
there located a lot of ten-inch shells. For
ward of these the plates were bent inboard
over them.
Asked If he imagined himself looking for
ward he stated that ne Gid. Going over the
plates he struck into lot Of six-inch shells
with the SINGS on them; Going to the right
1t seemed to have been blown over the star
board. Olsen stated that he put his hand
into the cranks and brought out several
The next time he went down, Olsen testi-
Ned he went outside the ship. forward of
the crane on the port side. He followed the
side was blown cupboard and along the
crane 1t could be walked on.
AT the part where she Is blown up COM
plates are turned up. Then you follow the
bottom from there up, and the plates are
blown outboard. At the top and underneath
the bottom they are blown inboard and
spot there Is a piece Of iron laid along the
bulkhead. The skin of the inside OF the
double bottoms is curled like sheet of pa
per inboard from stem to stern.
"Amidships on the same place there IL an
armor plate, one plate complete, the top OF
the plate standing up. The plate is Inclined
the Sck pspt o s na as%n
board"
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

described with close detail the condition
under the main deck on the port side. The
fixtures were completely wrecked, while
fixtures in the same position on the star
board side were IN some cases almost in
tact The port bulkhead between the main
and berth decks at the coming tower sup
port had been blown aft on both sides, but
a great deal more on the port than on the
starboard side. The fireroom hatch inme-
diately abaft of the coming tower had been
blown in three directions-aft, to star
board and to port. The protective deck
under the coming tower supports was bent
in two directions the plates on the star
board side being bent up and on the lar
board side bent down.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

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 ohviate danger. Spe-
cial orders in regard to this had been given
by the commanding officer.
Varnishes, dryers, alcohol and other COM
bustibles of this nature were slowed on
or above the Maine deck and could not
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07
Scale lilo inch to one foot.

been in use that day. and A 16 was full
Of New River COAL This coal had been
carefully inspected before receiving it on
board. The bunker in which 1t was slowed
was accessible on three sides al all times,
and the fourth side at this time on ac-
count Of bunkers Il and b being empty.
This bunker. A l6. 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
case of spontaneous combustion of coal
on board the Maine.
After Boilers Only I'm Use.
The two after boilers of the ship were In
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

Tho evidence of the divers establishes
that tho after part of the ship was prac-
tically intact ard 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 point liz feet from the middle line
of the ship and six feet above the kee!
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 it would be had
the ship sunk uninjured.
Plates Bent Inward.
1.-THE outside bottom plating is bent into
a 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 It's normal position.
'In the opinion of the court this effect
could have been produced only by the ex-
plosion Of a mine situated under the bot
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

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-
tablished by the testimony:
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

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 of any kind were
slowed below in any of the other store
rooms.
Coal Bunkers Inspected.
The coal bunkers were inspected. OF
those bunkers adjoining the forward mag
azine and shell rooms four were empty,
namely B 3, B 4, B 8 and B 6. A Is had
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

eminent thereon be communicated 20 the
government of her majesty. the queen. and
l 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.
It was the duty Of the executive to ad-
wise the congress of the result, and IN the
meantime deliberate consideration IL in
voked.
(Signed) WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion. Mach 2S. 1883.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07
THE COURTS REPORT.
Statements of Capt. Snmpson md
HIS Associates Based on Tes-
timony Taken.

The Following Is the full text of the re-
port OF the court of inquiry:
United States Steamship Iowa, First
,sae West, Fla, Monday, March a.
iS"nAiter full and mature considera ton
finds as follows:
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07
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.
have directed that the finding of the
court of inquiry and the views of this gov
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-02-17

McMaster's Magazine, containing the
/ first installment Of the article on
! Nicaragua, will be In the mail today
| Should ary OF the Guthrie subscribers
fail to receive il they will please
notify General Jamison and he will
see that they get 1t.
Attorney II. NJ. Carr, of Shawnee,
was in oklahsma City Friday, and Sc
J cured a writ of habeas corpus for Wiley
/ Hammond and May Logan, who are in
jail at Tecumseh on the charge of en-
| ticing from home a couple Of young
girls from Shawnee.
Embroidery sale at the Guthrie Cash
store today will continue through he
/ season. This line or embroideries and
iaces are the only goods in Guthrie i'm
ported direct from Switzerland for this
spring trade. Not an old piece 10 the
entire lot of 500, 900 yards.
The Rush is becoming famous not
only as a dry goods emporium but also
for marriages as there has been two
consecutive marriages in as many
nights in which their salesladies have
figures as brides Mr.. Smoot, the genial
manager. has decided to employ
homely old maids.
Ed Vanderpool and Harry Thurston
are very angry with each other. Van
derpool threw Thurston out OF his
store the other day, and ThuTston re-
fuses To 90 there any more. The two
men fell out over ap account relating
To the claim near Langston, over which
Vanderpool killed his contestant
W. A. Ramsey has bought the KIM
! ball Grocery company stock of gro
eeIies and will retain the present loca-
ton on East Oklahoma. Mr.. Ramsey
was formerly connected with THE
LEADER counting room. He is good
business man and an affable gentle
man, aud will make q very popular
grocer
Arrangements have been completed
TO give a grand exhibition OF the Edi-
son projectoscope at the opera house
next Tuesday evening. This instru
ment is the successor OF the vitascope
which commanded such unique atten-
tiou few months ago. Several SO.
cieties are interested in the sale OF
tickets. Board opens Monday morn
ing at usual place.
While Johnny Davidson, aged IL, a
son OF Thomas Davidson, was p'owiug
ia field near Lehigh one day last
week two negroes, riding horses,
stopped at the feaee, hitched their
horses and walked into the field
They went to the wagon and picked
up the boys shotgun, valued at $50,
and ordered the boy TO keep quiet;
then mounted their horses and rode off
with the gun in their possession.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-02-17
ID Sen Camp NnppIu.

Fred Hoisington, general appraiser
OF abandoned military reservations,
has completed his apprRisenent OF the
land and improvemes Is of Camp Sup
ply, in Woodward county. He was
assisted by Joseph Weiglein, Of Camp
Supply, and william II, Smith, Of
Woodward. The work was begun last
Decembe The reservation will be
put upon the market by the interior
department at a date not yet deter
mined.
Mr.. Holsington said that the reser
vation contained about 10000 acres,
all Of which is good grazing land, and
had been appraised by him at from so
cents to 50 an acre, according TO the
advantages of water fronts. The to5al
value OF the land Is about Ss 900.
There are about 100 fort buildings,
such as barracks, officers quarters,
guard houses, corrRls, stables, quar-
termaster storerooms and traders
etOrae
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-02-17
coMM.rIEEs rAHLEn


territorial Central aud Erecnfise Commit
tees 10 Meet al RingIlshcr
70 the Peoples Party Central Commit
tee of OklAhcma Territory;
The time is now At hent for the
closer oigAniz ,tion ot tho Peoples
pariy in oklahoma FOR an aggressive
campaign More than a ye8r OF polit-
ical dormaucy has succeeded the mem
orable canvass Of 1895, during which
time the party machinery has been
permitted 10 he icle and subject to the
corroding Influences that are the usual
corollarics Of inactivity The dawn Of
another campA'g ga, scarcely second IN
importance to the conflict OF 90, is Low
rising upon our political horizon; and
70 the end that effective work may be
done it Is important that the wheels OF
organization be set in notion at ouce.
with the view OF considering this and
other matters OF vital interest to q c
party, hereby call meeting OF the
territorial and executive committees
OF the Peoples party to assemble at
the city OF Kingfisher, Oklahoma, on
Friday, the 4th day OF March, 1895. a,
10 o'clock IN. The attendance oil
every member is especially urged.
l. II LAvEBTY, Chairman.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-02-17
M,hlnIcns mnnf Onice.

The Mckinley family is we'll repre-.
sented in Oklahoma. Those who are
not now holding Office are working TO
that end William Mckinley, OF King
fisher, was here yesterday TO present
his claims for the postmastership ai
that place. He resembles his cousin,
President Mckinley, possibly more
than does r. E. Mckinley, receiver OF
the Guthrie land office, who is cousin
If both william Mckinley and the
president Mr.. Mckinley, OF King
Usher. believes that he will be made
postmaster OF his town The position
is worth about 81 500 year There
aye four or FIVE applicants for the
place.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-02-17

Make these long evenings pleasant
for the family At home by supplying
them with good reading matter See
this list: Ladies' Home Journal lOc,
Munsey's Magazine l0c, Demorest
Magazine Toe, McClure's Magazine l0c,
illustrated America lOc, Godey's lOc,
Carter'a Monthly l0e. Puck lOc, Judge
l0c, Life 10c, Truth SC, Black Cat SC,
Nickle Magazine SC, The Owl SC, We
have on sale at all time the leading
daily papers, periodicals and maya
zines and take subscriptions for them
to be delivered by mail or al our
store OF news stand at postoffiee. F
b. Lille & 90.
"Hindoo Head Hunters" February
II and IS.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-02-17

The United States civil service COM
mission has ordered that the regular
spring examination shall be held be-
tween March IS and April 25, 1898, for
the grades OF clerk carrier in Guthrie,
Oklahoma, postoffiee. All applications
for this examination must be filed
with the undersigned before the close
OF business March 1, 1898. Exact dates
for this examination cannot be given
at this time, but due notice will be
given through the daily papers. All
tions, etc, can be obtained at any
time by applying to
o. r. MONTGOMERY,
Acting Secretary Local Board, Guthrie
T. o.
Guthrie, q. T., Jan. 10. 1898.