The sun., 1898-02-18
The STORY OF DEATH
Eyewitness Describes the
Names Destruction.
INTERVIEW WITH SIGiBEE
A Graphic Description of an Explo-
sion Which Shook the
Civilized World.

xllC nbITlUV cAptDSNul III IIdi'
bor which has shaken the whole civil.
lied world is graphically described by
the representative of the New York
Evening Sun, who resides in Havana.
He was sitting in Central Park OF that
city talking to some friends, when the
skies over the bay were seen to be bright
ly illuminated for about ten seconds.
Then a most terrific explosion was
heard which shook the whole city and
threw it into great CONSERVATION. Know
ing that something unusual had occurred
the man took cab and hurriedly drove
to the wharves from which direction the
detonation had come. On arriving there
he noticed that all the lights in the
streets, as well rs in the neighboring
houses, had been extnguished, but the
bay was brightly lit by the flames of the
burning ship, which was easily dlstln-
guished rs the Unfortunate Maine by its
weLl-known mast, one having already
fallen, due to the explosion.
Screams and cries were heard coming
from the sinking ship, for she went par
tally down ten minutes after the cXplo.
sion. MingIing with the echoes OF the
walls of the wounded and drowning
sailors were heard the shouts OF ''Niva
Espanan ~ "NIueran las Americanos y
Manana Tenderness buena pesca en Ba-
hia n' ("We shall have good fishing in
the bay tomorrow and such remarks
coming from the Spanish rabble, who
We're congregatins in great numbers
around the wharves and seemed greatly
delighted at the misfortune which had
b fallen the Americans.
1t was then that for the first time the
suspicion of foul play came to the re-
porter's mind. Having induced a boat
man to take him to the side of the burn
ing vessel the reporter succeeded in see
ing sight most horrible and not pos
sibe to describe. Near the ship were
already two boats OF the Maine with a
few officers and men who were rcscuing
their shipmat,s The Alfonso NlI., not
far distant had also sent some OF her
boats, which were doing likewise
Some of the sailors who were rescued
were taken to the Alfonso Kill, others
to the City Of Washington, some to
Regla, the steamship Colon and to the
wharf OF the Machina. Of these it is
marvellous how some could sw i'm as they
were nearly all very severely hurt. One
had both legs fractured. another had an
ankle shattered, and the most were
severely burnt.
All these got the best possible aten.
tion at whichever place they were taken
The sanitary corps Of the Fire Depart
ment, as well as OF the Spanish marine
corps, stationed themselves at the Ma
china and there gave the first medical
attention to the men as they were
brought in. After receiving treatment
the men were carried in lit1ers or ambu-
lanccs to the hospital of San Ambrnsio
or to the Alfonso Nil The Maine i'm
mediately after the explosion began to
burn liercel y. Every few minutes a
shell would burst, scattering the burn
ing debris all around. Notwithstanding
the immediate danger OF being struck, II
boat OF the Main was &c instantly en- nc
ling the ship ookin; for any one who
might be in the water.
A few tiremen got on board and res
cucd two sailors. Unr OF the tremen ad
his clothes and hair burned. AlthOu ,h
more than 2JO men were still on board,
not sound of Il living being could be-
detected on the ship Just then All
officer on one Of the Maine boats APP
Irolched the ship, and with voice that
could be heard far away in the Stiffness
of the night called out If there is any
one living on board, for Gods sake say
so
All waited for tir expected answer,
but none came save the echo from >lr re,
which repeated '(r Gods sake
Seeing th;t it was useless to try tU
save any more near the vessel, which
was already the iron coffin Of nearly 3OU
men the reporter Departed from the
scene and went on board the City OF
Was lington, where Captain Sigsbce was.
Tie face of the Captain showed tic
menta! suffering he was undergoing and
although he was burned abort the head
he never complained.
When ne was asked about tie cause oI
the explosion he said:
II cannot tell you. All was right on
board, he continued. The men had jus,
retired. The keys Of the magazine were
all in my room. little while after tina,
Consul Lee and Nice-CJnsuI Springer ar
rived ard St,r aving talk with then
Capt. SisSbee shut himself in one Of the
stateroons on the City of Washington
refusing to sec anyone else.
On board the City Of Washington were
several officers and men who wore onl,
their under clothing, having had no time
to dress themselves
From the Washington the reporter
went to the Palace. where all the author
tiles both civil and military, had congrc.
gated around General BIanco.
As the reporter was going up the steps
of the palace he passed group OF Off
GERS, who were discussing the incident
One Of them said, II guess this vii
bring on war, that We all wisl.' Atth'
palace everybody said that the cause o
the expulsion was the bursting of tor
Jedo hat one Of the Mainc's men wa
cleaning.
This was absurd. Eycrybmly kn"v
that no otorpedocS are eyer cleaned at II
O'cIo' X at night.
A great many rnmorS are Crculatln
concerning the cause Of the explosion
The most prevalent one Is that Il smal
torpcdu was placed against the vessel
and that concuS>iun caused the rXpio
sion OF the gnnr.'ttun magazine. Thi
theory is sustained by the fact that rrr
were twJ III 'tin'C rx pI,-inn-. Tine frs
one was not very Innd. All the mornin
the buy wa- warming with little b rat
searching 70" the bodies About ten ha
been 70 md 4, a,ing in the water at
Oclo.k
The wind ,ws and doors Of many huilt
ings facing the buy were shattered. TIL
Cafe Luz was damaged to the extent {
$500. The f,re deck Of the Maine wa
like the crater OF u vocan,. 1t was sti