Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-03-29
NAVAL COURT REPORT.
Responsibility for Wreck Of the
Maine Not Placed.
pEsTRovEp M SUBMARINE ZINE.

rressaess Mckinley sssds shs Report 10
csssrsss Ae-.~psssea ~ Me...s. ssd
psrsess rhss the cs.eIssssss 81 the ceurs
sf ssqusvy ~ sent 10 tire Queen Rss~.s
sfspsis-Tess 10 the Rspsss-ressimosy
% 1mpsstsss Wis.essss
TO the Congress os the United States:
For some time prior TO the visit Of the
Maine To Havana harbor our consular
representatives. pointed out the advan-
esees To Few from the visit of national
SHIPS 20 the Cuban waters. In accustom-
ing the people 20 the presence Of our
NAG ~ the symbol 81 good will and ~
our ships In the fulfiIlment Of the mis-
sion 81 protection to American inter-
ssts. even though no immediate need
therefore might exist.
Accordingly on the ,tth Of January
last. after conference with the Spanish
minister. In which the renewal Of visits
NJ our war vessels 10 Spanish waters
wes discussed and accepted. the penIn-
suisr authorities at Madrid and Hav-
ana were advised % the purpose ~ this
government To resume friendly naval
visits NJ Cuban ports and tha&1n that
view the Maine would forthwith cali at
the port % Havana. This announce
ment was received by the Spanish COW
eminent with appreciation Of the friend.
" character ~ the visit % the Maine
AMI with the notification ~ Intention 10
return the courtesy by sending spanish
snlns 10 tire principal ports % the
Masss Ess~vs usvsss Hssss..
Meanwhiie the Main. entered the nor,
81 Havana on the 18th 20 January. her
arrival being marked with m special
Incident besides the enc hanxe Of Gus
trmsry statutes and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued In the harbor 20
Hevsna during the three weeks follow
ING her srrtvsl No appreciable ex-
element attended her stay: on the con-
usry. feeling "a relief and confidence
followed the resumption % the long In
terrupted friendly Intercourse. So no
tlrrshle was this Immediate eifert %
her visit that the consul general strung
" urged that the presence 20 our ships
IN Cuban waters should he kept Up by
retaining the Maine at Havana. or In
the event of her recall by sending an
osher vessel To take her place. At for
" minutes rsst In the evening ~
the 18th 20 February the Maine was de-
stroyed by an explosion. by which the
entire forward rart of the ship was ut
t~rS wrecked In this estastrpph.. tvo
officers and go 20 her crew persisted.
those who we're rot killed outright bv
her explosion heing penned between
decks by the tanxis 20 wre,kag. and
drowned by the immediate sinking Of
the hull
Ass,.ssree wss rrsmrs.
Prompt assistance was rendered nv
the nsighboring vessels anchored in the
hsrbor. aid being especially given hy
the beats ~ the spanish cruiser A.
phonso MI and the Ward line steamer
City % Washington. which lay NOT FAR
distant. The wounded were generous
" cared for by the authorities OF Ua-
rnns. the hospitals being freely opened
70 them. while the earliest recovered
bodies ~ the dead were Inferred by the
municipality In q public cemetery in
the city. Tributes of grief and SYM
patty were offered from all official
quarters % the island.
The appalling calamity feII upon the
people ~ our country with crushing
force and for a brief time an in,ens.
excitement prevailed. which IN a com.
rurity less lust and seIf-cnntrn,led
than ours. might have led To hssty acts
81 blind resentment. THIS spirit, how
ever. soon gave way To the r,lner
processes 81 reason and To the resolys
10 investigate the facts and await m.
material proof before forming a iuds-
ment as 10 the cause. the Responsible
i,y. and ~ the facts warranted, the
remedy due.
Court ss s~awisy Organized.
This course necessarily recommended
Wsef from the outset To the executive.
for only In the light ~ a dispassionate,
" ascertained certainty could II defer
mine the nature and measure Of Its fIlI
duty IN the matter. The usual proceed
ure was followed. as In all cases OF
casualty or disaster To national vessels
~ any maritime state. A naval court
% inquiry was at once organized. CONT
posed of officers well qualified by rank
and practical experience To- discharge
the cnerous duty Imposed upon them.
Aided by strong force 20 wrcrkers
and divers the .rt proceeded to mai.
thorough investigation on the spnt-
employinr every available means for
the impartial and exact determination
of the causes ~ the explosion. Its
operations have been conducted with
the utmost elaboration and judrment
snd while Independently pursued. no
source ~ Information was neglected
and the fullest opportunity was MI.
lowed tor a simultaneous Investigation
by IN. spanish authorities
tisSssxs ~s the C.wr,.
The nndirc ~ the court - InauIry
VAS reached after twenty-three ,,avs
~ continuous labor. on the sir II
March and having been approved an
the ga Nv the comma nd.r -in-chief -
the United states naval fore. on IN.
north Atlartic station. Was transmitt.,,
Co the executive.
u 10 herewith laid before the congress
together eth the vuluminous tsstir,on. :,
takcr h~for- the court Its purprrt