The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-29

Assistant Engineer Morris testified
that he had made the usual inspection Of
the port forward coal bunker. and said
there was no unusual heat there. lie
was sitting on the quarterback at the
moment of the explosion, just abaft the
after-turret. He was thrown from his
chair and practically overcome by escap-
ing gases from the smoke-stack from
live boilers. and was not conscious OF
anything further until he gained the
poop-deck. He saw fire and felt the ship
going from under him.
The ChapIain's Evidence.
Chaplain John p Chadwick was called
and said he was in his room aboard the
Maino the night the ship was blown up,
Tic heard loud report and almost i'm
mediately everything became dark. The
lights were out and there was a crash
ing sound of things falling. lie then
rushed on deck He got on the captains
poop and saw the captain there giving
his orders. After trying TO cheer UP
the men who were crying out in the
water for help" said Chaplain Child
wick, Il was ordered by Lieut. Jungen
to get into a boat, which did. We
rowed about the ship and picked up one
man. Then, at the orders Of the cap
tain we pulled off for the City of Wash
ingt0n.
Chaplain Chadwick said he noticed a
list to the port when he experienced the
first shock of the explosion. BY the time
he reached the deck the large explosion
had taken place and the forward part
of the ship was then a1lame.
The court was then ordered cleared.
Upon reassembIing, the judge advocate
said:
Capt. Sigsbee. the court was cleared
in order to permit me to tell the Court
what steps l had taken TO ascertain
what mining had been done in the har-
Dor of Havana. and the difficulty ex-
perienced in obtaining any, testimony on
that subject; also to submit TO the
Court certain letters. which cannot be
used as evidence, but which also bear on
the same subject, and 10 receive instruc-
tions of the court in regard to this mat
ter
Lieut.. Hood.
Lieut.. John Hood, United States Navy.
senior watch officer in charge Of the
powder and torpedo divisions, was called.
He did not know of any matter being
slowed in the shell rooms or magazines
which was prohibited by ordnance in
solutely sure that there was nothing
done beyond the ordinary work in the
shell rooms or magazines on the night
of the explosion. Chief Gunner's Mate
Brafelt was acting in the gunner's place
on the night of the explosion and Lieut..
Hood stated he had every confidence in
him. The magazines were opened on
the day of the explosion to take the tenn
perature, routine duty on board the
ship.
Lieut.. Hood said that while he was
officer of the watch he never noticed any
hostile demonstration afioat in the man
ner of boats approaching the ship.
No torpedo warheads were fitted at the
time of the explosion. nor were any out
of the torpedo store room The reserve
six-inch magazines struck him as being
practically empty. He was on deck at
$50 ON the night of the explosion on
duty as officer of the deck. The men were
on watch and all sentries posted and the
officer of the deck was on duty The
ship was riding in a direction that he
never remembered seeing her ride before
in Havana He gave a description of
the explosion. After the second explosion
the ship began to go down instantly.
The first explosion was as if something
had exploded beneath the ship. on the
starboard side. 1t was that side he saw
blow up.
First Officer George Cornell.
On the tenth day First officer George
| Cornell, of the City of Washington, was
examined.
| II was standing on the gangway and
| giving the quartermaster orders TO call
the men at o'clock in the morning" he
| said when l heard a rumbling sound
and we saw the Maine raise UP forward.
| After that the explosion occurred and
| stuff was flying in the air in all diree-
tons. She sank Immediately at the for
| ward end"
between the rumbling noise and the ex-
| plosion. About sixteen or eighteen Sc
| conds,' was the answer.
Did a large piece of cement drop on
your deck?"
Yes, sir" The piece of cement was
| brought into court and identified by the
! witness.
| you heard the first noise" was asked
she lifted most nearly all out of the
water"
Lieut.. Blow.
Lieut.. George p Blow swore to two dis
tinct explosions, or shocks. such as a
| submarine mine produces, and describes
his experiences in getting on deck. He
also told of the fact that the Maine had
never occupied the exact position she did
until the night of the explosion.
| Lieut.. Carl w. Jungen said that the
| ship had entered Havana harbor ready
for action; was not surging in the direc-
ton she usually did. and that the expio-
sion was a dull roar at first, followed by
| deafening crash. His testimony all
went to show that the Maine was blown
up by a mine. Mr.. Jungen thought the
ship had been torDedOed.
The testimony of Cadets Bronson and
Boyd both bore out the evidence of the