Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-03-31


External Explosion Caused One In In
terior-Discipline ON Board the Ship
port and Abstract of Testimony.
Washington, March 2S.-The president
today sent the following message to con-
gress:
To the Congress of the United States:
For some time prior to the visit of the
Maine to Havana harbor, our consular
representatives pointed out the advan-
tages to flow from the visit of national
ships to the Cuban waters, in accustom-
ing the people to the presence OF our flag
as the symbol of good will and of our
ships in the fulfillment of the mission of
protection to American interests, even
though no immediate need therefor
might exist.
Accordingly, on the oath of January
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister, in which the renewal of visits
of our war vessels to Spanish waters
was discussed and accepted, the PENN
sular authorities at Madrid and Havana
were advised of the purpose of this gov
eminent to resume friendly naval visits
at Cuban ports, and that in that view
the Maine would forthwith call at the
port of Havana. This announcement
was received by the Spanish govern
ment with appreciation of the friendly
character of the visit of the Maine and
with notification of intention to return
the courtesy by sending spanish ships
to the principal ports of the United
States. Meanwhile, the Maine entered
the port of Havana on the 18th of jan
uary, her arrival being marked with no
special incident besides lhe exchange of
customary salutes and ceremonial
visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor
of Havana during the three weeks fol-
lowing her arrival. No appreciable ex-
element attended her stay; on the con-
trary, a feeling of relief and confidence
followed the resumption of the long in
terrupted friendly intercourse. So no
ticeable was this immediate effect of her
visit that the consul general strongly
urged that the presence of our ships in
Cuban waters should be kept up by re-
tanning the Maine at Havana or, in the
event of her recall, by sending another
vessel there to take her place.
At $40 in the evening of the 18th of
February, the Maine was destroyed by
an explosion, by which the entire for
ward part of the ship was utterly
wrecked. In the catastrophe, two Off
GERS and 264 of her crew persisted, those
who were not killed outright by her ex-
plosion being penned between decks by
the tangle of wreckage and drowned by
the immediate sinking of the hull.
Prompt assistance was rendered by the
neighboring vessels in the harbor. aid
being especially given by the boats OF
the Spanish cruiser Alphonso XII. and
the Ward line steamer City OF Wash
ington, which lay not far distant. The
wounded were generously cared for by
the authorities of Havana, the hospitals
being freely opened to them, while the
earliest recovered bodies of the dead
were inferred by the municipality in a
public cemetery in the city. Tributes of
grief and sympathy were offered from
all official quarters of the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of our country with crushing
force, and for brief time an intense
excitement prevailed. which. in a com
munity less just and self-controlled
than ours, might have led to hasty acts
of blind resentment. This spirit. how
ever, soon gave way to the calmer pro-
cesses of reason and to the resolve to in
vestigate the facts and await material
proof before forming judgment as TO
the cause, the responsibility and the
facts warranted, the remedy due. This
course necessarily recommended itself
from the outset to the executive, for only
In the light of dispassionately ascer-
tanned certainty will IL determine the
nature and measure of its full duty in
the matter.
The usual procedure was followed as
in all cases of casulty to a disaster to
national vessels of any maritime state.
A naval court of inquiry was at once
organized, composed of officers well
qualified by rank and practical expert
ence to discharge the onerous duty i'm
posed upon them. Aided by a strong
force of wreckers and divers, the court
proceeded to make a thorough investiga-
tion on the spot, employing every avail
able means for the impartial and exact
determination of the causes of the ex-
plosion. Its operations have been con-
Quoted with the utmost deliberation and
judgment, and. while independently pur-
sued, no source of information was neg
lected and the fullest opportunity was
allowed for a simultaneous investiga-
ton by the Spanish authorities.
The finding of the court of inquiry was
reached after % days of continuous la
Dor, on the 21st of March. and, having |
been approved on the 22d by the COM /
mander-in-chief of the United States |
naval force in the north Atlantic sta
ton, was transmitted to the executive.
1t is herewith laid before the congress.
together with the voluminous testimony |
taken before the court.
Its purport is. in brief. as follows.
When the Maine arrived at Havana she
was conducted by the regular govern
ment pilot to buoy No. 4. to which she
was moored in from 81 TO six fathoms
of water.
The state of discipline on board and
the condition Of her magazines. boilers.
coal bunkers and storage compartments
are passed in review with the conclusion
49, .-Caf1ar,& n.Taw r,xox~o fIoa or.l ffae