The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-04-02

forward or the transverse armor being
weaker than they are aft, the ship might
have been lifted up there by this cushion
pressure from further aft"
1T struck me-" continued Mr.. Powelson,
speaking OF the same part or the vessel,
that the mine there could not have been
very close TO those plates that were lifted
up because, as ! say. the plates are not so
much damaged OF bent In the form OF a
and raised up a vertical distance. II seems
TO me that the mine was somewhat re-
moved. aid the pressure came through the
water which produced that cushion sort OF
pressure"
Plates Identified.
Ensign Fowellson was recalled on Feb
ruary rs and showed the plans OF the
Maine, from which he had identified the
bottom plates that were blown up
through the upper deck. The finding OF
these plates on top OF the wreck clear
above water was among tho first and most
important points OF evidence clearly dis
proving the possibility OF an internal ex-
plosion.
After infinitely describing the bottom
plates. with their green coating or paint
and the other marks by which they were
identified, Powellson stated that they must
have been blown up 3S or ~ feet TO reach
their present position.
Beside the bottom plates. Powellson
found some powder from the bottom COM
partment lodged in the angle OF the bot
tom plates that protruded above the water
The berth deck over this bottom compart-
ment was also on top OF the wreck, aud 20
feet forward OF the plates, while this Sec
ton OF the main deck had disappeared.
The diver who had been working for Pow
ellison on this investigation Informed him
he had found the ammunition for the six
inch magazine pushed over TO the star
board side
Ensign Powelison was recalled on the
1ith day, and described the reports made
to him by the divers which were afterward
directly testified to before the board.
PowclIson's Sketches.
Ensign Powellson was recalled on March
rs and explained how he got the data for
his sketches. which played such an impor-
tant part In the work OF the court. He said
he sent divers down at various points along
the line OF the keel as II lay broken and
twisted on the barber bed. Then he got
In boat and located the points on the
keel by a lead line. on the wreck he es-
tablished stations at the main mast, the
port crane, the smokeStack and so forth,
and from these bases he would get the
bearings by angles OF his lead line as II
rested on the keel and other points OF the
wreckage under water Thus he was able
10 plat map OF the wreck both above and
below water that was mathematicaHy cor
rect. BY comparing this with theoretical
plans OF the vessel II was possible 10 tell
just how much and In what direction any
part OF the Maine had been distorted by
the explosion without relying on UNDER
water estimates by the divers.
March s." testified Powellson. Il sent
Olsen down TO the piece OF keel, the vertical
keel, 10 make further explorations or the
ten-inch magazine. lie went down 10 where
the keel became horizontal at frame %,
walked aft about % feet and climbed over
lot OF wreckage consisting OF plates and
bukheads standing upright. The upper
ends were ragged and he crawled over them
10 where he thought was part OF "A boiler
lie could not give definite details but no
thought IL was boiler.
"A little after this he walked out TO port,
clear OF the ship In tho mud. He was at
this time forward OF the break OF the ship
at frame Al. Returning about ten feet in
no found wreckage. He examined this plate
and found IL curved as IL II were part or
the ship. 1t pointed toward the starboard
bow, but Il was so dark he could not dis
tinguish the color. All the edges OF tho
plating were rough. The compartment
seemed 10 be about 2la or three feet wide.
Forward from this point no found six
inch tank. 1t was intact and was sent up.
II proved 10 be a full tank. lie found a lot
OF broken tanks split up on the seams and
In one tank at the cover which has holes In
IL lie found a lot OF mud which was
brought up and which looked like dissolved
powder. There was any quantity OF sim
liar mud In the same place The mud
around the tanks was black. that of the
harbor IL gray"
Testimony of Private Anthony.
Private william Anthony. OF the United
States marine corps, whose GOODNESS at the
time OF the explosion In reporting 20 Capt.
gigsbee has become the theme OF admira-
ton throughout tho world. was the next
witness. lie testified that no had the first
watch from eight to twelve o'clock on tho
night OF the explosion. There was drill that
day and II was not necessary 20 open the
magazines. In response TO questions Pri-
vate Anthony told his story.
II was standing on tho main deck just
outside tho door on the starboard side. l
first noticed trembling and "A buckllng OF
the decks and then this prolonged roar
not short report, but a prolonged roar.
The awnings were spread and where tho
wing awning and the quarterback awning
should join there was space OF at least
Is inches. looked out and saw an immense
sheet OF flame and then l started In TO
warn the captain"
Ibid you notice any pcrccptible list TO the
ship at the first shock7"
AT the first shock, the ship instantly
that is the quarter deck. whore l was
forward and TO port. just
like that indicating. IL apparently broke
IN the Wlluiei IKE tuAt VHulcAlllbDt anu
surged forward and thun went over to
port"
Witness said the upshoot OF flame he saw
was well forward. IL muet have been for
ward OF the superstructLre / could see
the debris going up with Il. do not know
what IL was, but / saw iirebrands going
up"
WAS II on the port or starboard slider"
1T looked more 20 port than II did 90
sharboard. IL looked IKE Il covered the
whole ship. IL was an immense glare that
illumined the whole heavens for the mo-
ment. as much as could see for the avn
ings."
did you see any water with III"
II didn't notice that. sir. started In
the cabin at once"
This closed the brave marine's testimony.
As Seen by the Chaplain.
Chaplain John Chadwick. OF the Maine,
was in his room on board the night OF the
occurrence. He said;
II heard loud report and everything at
once became dark. The lights went out and
there was crashing sound of things fall
ing. l rushed on deck and got to the cap
tains poop. where saw the captain giving
his orders. After trying TO cheer up the