The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-30

The dry guncotton primers and
detonators we're slowed in the cabin
aft and remote from the scene of the
explosion
Waste was carefully looked after
on board the Maine to obviate danger
Special orders in regard to this had
been given by the commanding Of
fcer.
Varnishes, dryers, alcohol and other
combustibles of this nature were
slowed on or above the main deck,
and could not have had anything to
to do with the destruction of the
Maine.
The medical stores were slowed
aft under the ward room and remote
from the scene of the explosion.
No dangerous stores of any kind
were slowed below in any of the
other store rooms
The coal bunkers were inspected
daily. OF those bunkers adjacent to
the forward magazines and shell
rooms. four were empty, namely,
"B3," "B4," "B5," "B6." "Al5'
had been in use that day and "A16"
was full of new river coal. This
coal had been carefully inspected be-
fore receiving it on board The
bunker in which it was slowed was
accessible on three sides at all times,
and the fourth side at this time, on
account of bunkers "B4" and "B6'
being empty. This bunker, "Al6, "
bad been inspected that day by the
engineer officer on duty.
TIE Ere alarms to the bunkers
were in working order, and there had
never been case of spontaneous com
bustion of coal on board the Maine.
The two after boilers of the ship
were in use at the time of the disas-
ter, but for auxiliary purposes only,
with comparatively low pressure Of
steam, sud being tended by reliable
watch. These boilers could not have
caused the explosion of the ship
The four forward boilers have since
been found by the divers and are in
fair condition.
On the night of the destruction of
the Maine everything had been re
| ported secure for the night at 8 p. m /,
by reliable persons, through the prop
er authorities, to the commanding Of
fcer. At the time the Maine was
destroyed the ship was quiet, and
therefore least liable to accident
caused by movements from those on
board.
3. The destruction of the Maine
occurred at $40 p. m. on tie 18th
day of February, eighteen hundred
and ninety-eight, in the harbor oi
Havana, Cuba, she being at the time
moored to the same buoy to which
she had been taken upon her arrival
There were two explosions of dis.
tinc.ly different character, with very
short but distinct interval between
them. and the forward part Of the chip
was lifted to marked degree at the
time Of the hrss explosion.
The first explosion was more in the
nature of g report like that of gun ;
while tbe second explosion vas more
open, prolonged, and of greater volume
This second explosion was, in the opin-
ion Of the court, caueed BY the partial
explosion Of the forward magazines Of
the Maine
4 The evidence bearing upoa this.
being principally obtained from divers,
did not enable the court to form q def
mite conclusion of the wreck, although
it vas established tha. the after part Of
the ship was practically intact, and
sank in that condition very few min.
u.es alter the forward part.
The following facts in regard to the
forward part Of the ship are, however
established by the testimony:
That portion Of the por. side OF the
protective deck which extends from
about frame Al was blown up, aft, aDd
over to port The main deck frou
about frame 80 to about frame Al was
blown up. aft, and slightly over to star
board. folding the toward part of the
middle superstructure over and on TOP
of the after part.
This was. in the opion Of the court,
caused by the partial explosion Of swe
or more of the toward magazines Of the
Maine.
5 At frame II. the outer she'll o.
the ship, from point eleven and one.
hali feet from toe middle line of the
ship, aud six feet above the keel when
in its normal position, has been force.
up so as to Ee uow about four feel
above the surface of the water there
fore, about shirty-four feet above where
it would be had the ship sunk aninjuf-
ed.
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