The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-22
So Say Those Returning
From Havana.
PLEASURE, NOT GRIEF,
Was Shown Over the Destruction
of Battleship Maine.
sOBRAL SAYS HE WAS MIsQuOTED

NtW 1oThs FeD. lZ.--1 -1dSScnEcTS WnO
arrived Monday afternoon on the Ward
line steamer Seguranca from Havana
said that great excitement prevailed In
Havana. and at the time of sailing the
foreign population was of the opinion
that the Maine was destroyed by de-
sign. 1t was cited among other things
that the Spanish man-of war. which
was anchored near the Maine, changed
her mooripgs previous 10 the disaster.
One of the passengers, w. l.. Carbin,
went so far in his statements as 10 say
lhat he saw a boat go near the Maine
short time previous to the explosion,
and said he would go to Washington TO
make a statement before the proper au-
thorities. h
G. T.. Holcomb OF Newcastle. Del, gen.
eral manager OF a street railroad in
Philadelphia, was outspoken in his be-
lief that the investigation at Havana
would reveal startling circumstances.
Il went to Havana" said Mr.. Holcomb,
not at all IN sympathy with the in
surgents. but on Wednesday. when we
got TO Havana, / believe many OF the
Americans on board were I'm mood to
commit murder. The flags of the Span
ish warship were not at half mast. The
vessels OF all other nationalities had
paid this slight tribute TO the dead. 1
had "A telegram to bring back the re-
mains OF Apprentice GlaZier. who is the
son of my bookkeeper. 1 found that he
was among the saved. The contrast be-
tween the bearing OF the Spaniards and
Cubans is strong. AT the funeral OF the
Names seamen the Cuban women in the
streets were almost all dressed in mourn
ing. while the Spanish ladies wore colors.
The only American flags i saw in the
whole procession were two small ones
about three by six inches. went aboard
the Alphonso XII and was received po-
ljtely. The only expression OF regret ]
heard there was from an officer, who
complained that the force OF the Maine
explosion had broken his toilet bottles.
There can be no mistal<ing the ndiffer-
ence OF t\e Spaniards in Havana over
the loss OF the warship and those on
board On Thursday while driving To
the cemetery with two American friends
j was assailed with jeers, and someone
threw large stone at our carriage
+. w. Bobbett of this city, who said
that he was with Mr.. Holcomb in the
carriage, added That's perfectly true
In fact one or two children yelled after
us that they had blown up the .Ameri-
cano. and they were glad OF il. did
not hear a single expression OF regret
for the terrible loss of life from any
Spaniard during the time l was in Ha-
Vana."
Frank Weinheimer of this city an eye
witness of the explosion told the fol-
lowing story: "On Tuesday evening I
strolled down TO the river front for a
breath of fresh air. A number OF per-
sons were walking about the pier near
the custom house. Out in the harbor
could see the dim outlines OF the Maine
and, close by, the Spanish warship. /
was about 800 yards from the Maine.
The first intimation had of an explos-
ion was crunching sound. Then there
came a terrible roar. Immediately
pieces OF debris flew skyward from the
Maine. Some of them must have been
thrown at least 500 feet 1t looked as
though the whole inside OF the ship had
been blown out. Many persons on the
pier were nearly thrown from their feet
by the force of the explosion The air
became sitting with smoke. The crowd
on the pier rushed back toward the city.
The wreck burned for about two hours.
and by its iaring light we could see the
NOEh VI ItSN ut III the Udy, uul were un-
able TO render. any assistance" Mr..
Weinheimer said he heard an excited
Spaniard declare shortly after the ex-
plosion that If the Americanos' sent
another warship IL also would be blown
up.
NJ. j. Naghton. an insurance man of
Chicago. was seated in front OF the hotel
when the explosion occurred II was
folinVyaI he CT tod bx, 4
much louder one. 1--WE thought the
whole city had been blown to pieces"
said Mr.. Naghton. Some said the in
surgents were entering Havana Others
cried out that MORO castle was blown
up" Continuing his description of the
panic which existed In Havana shortly
after the explosion. Mr.. Nashton said:
'On the prado is large cab stand. The
minute after the explosion was heard
the cabmen cracked their whips and
went rattllng over the cobblestoncs like
crazy men. The fire department turned
out and bodies of cavalry and infantry
rushed through the streets. There was
no sleep in Havana that night. The
Spanish officials were quick to express
their sympathy and' acted very well as
a who'll. but think their expressions OF
regret II sked the spontaneity and
warmth which would have been charac-
teristic OF an American city had such a
disaster occurred under similar circum-
stances"
William l.. Carbln. the passenger who
professed TO have important informn-
ton about the explosion. refused TO make
further statements than he made at
quarantine. The other passengers on
the Seguranca did not take Mr.. Carbin
rs seriously as he took himself