The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-29

tional ships 10 the Cuben waters i'm
accustoming the people to the pres
ence of our flag as the symbol of good
will and of our ships in the fulnllment
of the mission of protection to Ameri-
can interests, even though no immedi-
ate need therefor might exist.
Accordingly on the 2lth 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 penin-
suar authorities at Madrid and Ha-
vana were advised of the purpose of
this government to resume friendly ma
val visits at Cuban ports, and that in
that view the Maine would forthwith
call at the port of Havana This an
| nouncemcnt was received by the Span
ish government with appreciation of
the friendly character Of the visit of
the Maine, and with notification of the
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 25th of January, her arrival be-
ing marked with no special incident
besides the exchange of customary sa-
| lutes and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor
of Havana during the three weeks fol-
lowing her arrival. No appreciable ex-
citement attended her stay; on the
contrary, a telling of relief and con-
! fldence followed the resumption of the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
| So noticeable was this immediate eff
feet of her visit that the consul gen
eral strongly urged that the presence
of our ships in Cuban waters should
be kept up by retaining the Maine at
Havana. or in the event of her recall
by sending another vessel there to take
her place.
At 40 minutes past in the evening
of the 18th of February the Maine was
destroyed by an explosion, by which
the entire forward part of the ship
was utterly wrecked. In this catas-
trophe two officers and 264 of her crew
perlshed those who were not killed out
right by her explosion teing penned
between decks by tne tangle of wreck
age Ind drowned by the immediate
sinking Of the hull Prompt assistance
was rendered by the neighboring ves-
sells anchored in the harbor, aid being
especially given by the boats of the
Spanish cruiser Alphonse XII and the
Ward line steamer City of Washington,
which lay not far distant. The wound
ed 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
the public cemetery in the city. Trib-
utes of grief and sympathy were Of
fered from all official quarters of the
island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of our country with crushing
force, and for a 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
investigate the facts and await mate
as to the cause, the responsibility, and,
as the facts warranted, the remedy.
This course necessarily recommended
itself from the outset to the executive,
for only in the light of a dispassionate-
ly ascertained certainty could it de-
termine the nature and measure of its
full duty in the matter.
The usual procedure was followed,
as in all cases of casualty or 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
experience to discharge the duty inn
posed upon them. Aided by a strong
force of wreckers and divers, the court
proceeded to make thorough investi-
cation on the spot, employing every
available means for the impartial and
exact determination of the cause of
the explosion. It's operations have been
conducted with the utmost delibera-
tlon and judgment, and while independ-
emily, pursued no source of informa-
tion was neglected and the fullest op-
portunity was allowed for a stimuli
taneous investigation by the Spanish
authorities,
The finding of the court Of inquiry
was reached after 23 days of continu-
Gus labor, on the 2lst of March, and
having been approved on the 22d by
, the commander-in-chiefo of the United
States naval force on the North At
lantic station, was transmitted to the
executive.
1t is herewith laid before the con
gress, together with the voluminous
= testimony taken before the court.
Its purport is In brief as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana
I she was conducted to the regular gov,
. ernment pilot buoy No. L. to which she
was moored in from five and one-hali
TO six fathoms of water.
The state of discipline on board anC
the condition of her magazines, boilers
p coal bunkers and storage compart.
ments are passed In review, with the
conclusion that excellent order prevail
ed, and that no indication of any caus,
p for an internal explosion existed il
q any quarter.
At o'clock in the evening of Feb
10 everything had been reported secure
Z and all was quiet. At 40 minutes pas