The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-03-31
cantain sigsbee,s Story.

Nartdtn oASbpC0 . 1oOAys
CAPTAIN Sfgsbee in testifying stated
that he had assumed command of the
Maine in 1897. He narrated the arrival
of the battleship in Havana. In describ-
ing the surroundings when first moored
to his buoy Captain Sigsbee stated that
the Spanish man-of-war Alfonso XII
was moored in the position now occu-
pied by the Fern, about 250 yards to the
northward and westward of the Maine.
The German ship Gneisenau was anch-
ored at the berth now occupied by the
Spanish man-of-war Segaspe, which is
about 400 yards due north from the
Maine. He then located the German
man-of-war Charlotte, which came into
| the harbor a day or two later, which
was anchored to the southwark of the
Names berth about 400 or 500 yards.
He then stated that he had been in
Havana in 1872 and again in 1878. He
| could not state whether the Maine was
! placed in the usual berth for men-of-
I war. but said that he had heard re-
marks since the explosion, using Cap
| tain Stevens, temporarily in command
| of the Ward line steamer City of Wash
ington, as authority for the statement
that he had never known in all of his
experiences, which covered visits to
Havana for five or six years, man-of-
war to be anchored at that buoy; that
he had rarely known merchant vessels
to he anchored there, and that 1t was
the least used buoy in the harbor.
In so far as the regulations regarding
infammables and paints on board Cap
tain Sigsbee testified that the regula-
4 tions were strictly carried out in regard
! to stowage and that the waste also was
subject to the same careful disposition
AS to the situation of the paintroom, he
fixed it as in the "eyes of the ship, just
below the berth deck, the extreme for
ward compartment. AS for the disposi-
ton of infiammables, they were slowed
in chests. according to regulations, and
when infiammables were in excess of
chest capacity they were allowed to be
kept IN the bathroom or the admirafs
! cabin.
Regarding the electric plant of the
Maine, Captain Sigsbee said that there
was no serious grounding or sudden
/ fiaring up of the lights before the explo-
sion, but a sudden and total eclipse.
| During the stay in Havana Captain
Sigsbee took more than ordinary pre-
cautions for the protection of the Maine
by placing sentries on the forecastle and
poop. quartermaster and signal boys on
the bridge and on the poop.
He said he had given orders to the
master at arms and the orderly sergeant
to keep a careful eye on everybody that
came on board and to carefully observe
any packages that might be held, on
the supposition that dynamite or other
4 high explosives might be employed. and
afterward to inspect the route these
people had taken and never to lose
sight of the Importance of the order. he
stated that very few people visited the
ship, Lieutenant Commander Vain
wright being rather severe on desultory
visitors
Roar of Immense Volume.
The Maine at time of explosion was
heading approximately northwest
pointing toward the Shears He was
writing in the port cabin at the time
of the explosion and was dressed. He
then went into description of his ex-
perience when he felt the crash. He
characterized it as a bursting. rendins
and crashing sound or roar of immense
volume, largely metallic in its charac-
ter. 1t was succeeded by metallic
sound probably of falling debris; a
trembling and lurching motion of the
vessel. then an impression of subsi-
dence, attended by an eclipse of elec-
trio lights and intense darkness within
the cabin.
He knew Immediately that the Maine
had been blown up and that she was
sinking He hurried to the starboard
cabin ports, but changed his course to
the passage leading to the superstruc.
ture. Then he detailed the manner oi
meeting Private Bill Anthony, which is
much the same as has been published.
The center of the explosion was be-
| meath and a little forward of the
coming tower on the port side. In the
region of the center axis of the explo-
sion was the 6-inch reserve magazine
which contained very little powder
about 300 pounds. Then the 10-inch
magazine was in the same general re-
gion but on the starboard side. Over
the i0-inch magazine in the loading re-
gion of the turret and in the adjoining
4 passage number of 10-inch shells were
permanently placed. According to Cap
| tain Sigsbee, it would be difficult tc
conceive the explosion involved the 10
1 inch magazine because of the location
of the explosion and that no reports
show that any 10-inch shells were hurl-
ed into the air because of the explo-
sion.
He said the discipline of the ship was
excellent. The marine guard was in ex-
cellent condition. and reports of the
medical department show that about
one man and a quarter per day were or
the sick list during the past year.
Ensign PoweIson's Evidence.
Ensign w ". N. Powelson testified
that he had been present on the Maine
every day from the arrival Of the Fern
( and during a great deal of the diving
4