davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The bee., 1898-03-31
Scale l-ss inOh to one foot.

held fast and bent that deck downward.
Witness here exhibited two sketches to the
court showing diagram OF various parts OF
the sunken ship and explained them to the
court.
The witnesses evidence about the strip
on the s;arboard side of the outside plat
ing of the ship which was folded and
rolled back. was recalled to him, and Pow
elson said he could see plate underneath II
was bent outward, as he could see 1t, as It
was only two feet under water where the
shear occurred.
Witness had taken soundings and had
found five fathoms OF water on both sides
Of the Maine down 10 the mud. Taking
H-pound lead line and dragging with
wherry for obstructions on the port side,
dragging close to where he thought the wa
ter ways would be found, he found no OBJ
structions whatever. On the starboard side
he found distractions for 20 feet where he
had reason TO believe the waterways had
originally been.
In answer to questions he said there was
nothing left OF the port plating at all. He
dragged along the outside to see II anything
had fallen out and found nothing. Wit
ness thought the ship on the port side was
entirely gone opposite point indicated on
diagram handed the court 1t was en-
tirely blown out.
This concluded Ensign Powelson's tes-
timony on the third day.
! A Divers story.
Chief Gunner's Mate Olsen, of the United
States steamer Iowa, told how he had been
sent to Havana for the purpose of doing
diving duty on the wreck. lie had descend
ed four times. making about eight or nine
hours of total examination.
Olsen told how on his first descent he
went over the forward part of the ship.
To use his own expression, he said: II
found the wreck all blowed up. / found a
lot OF crate bars down there" The second
time he went down further forward and
there located a lot of ten-inch shells. For
ward of these the plates were bent inboard
over them.
Asked II he imagined himself looking for
ward he stated that he did. Going over the
plates he struck into lot OF six-inch shells
with the slings on them. Going to the right
II seemed to have been blown over the star
board. Olsen stated that he put his hand
into the cranks and brought out several
six-pounder shells.
The next time he went down, Olsen testl-
fled he went outside the ship. forward Of
the crane on the port side. He followed the
bottom along and found tiat the ships
side was blown cupboard and along the
crane Il could be walked on.
AZ the part where she Is blown up com
plleteiym witness said, part Of her bottom
bottom from there up, and the plates are
blown cupboard. At the top and underneath
the bottom, they are blown inboard and
spot there Is piece of iron laid along the
hulkhead. The skin OF the inside Of the
double bottoms Is curled like sheet OF pa
per inboard from stem TO stern.
"Amidships on the same place there Is an
armor plate. one plate complete, the top OF
the plate standing up. The plate Is inclined
up with the thick part OF the plato down.
II Is Inclined forward. aud over to star
board"
The bee., 1898-03-31

use at the time OF the disaster. but for
auxiliary purposes only with a compare
lively low pressure of steam, and being
tended by a 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 reported Sc
cure for the night at eight p. m. by re-
liable persons, through the proper author
tiles, to the commanding officer. At the
time the Maine was destroyed the ship was
quiet, and therefore least liable to accident
caused by movements from those on board
Were Two Explosions.
3. The destruction Of the Maine occurred
at 9:40 p. m. on the 18th day of February,
1898, in the harbor Of Havana, Cuba, be-
ing at the time moored on the same buoy to
which she had been taken upon her ar
rival.
There were two explosions of q distinctly
different character with very short but
distinct interval between them, and the
forward part of the ship was lifted to
marked degree at the time of the first ex-
plosion.
The first explosion was more in the ma
lure of a report, like that of gun. while
The second explosion was more open, pro-
onged and of greater volume. This Sec
The bee., 1898-03-31

Fv
4 n@y Proven yoH d aD out Responsible cannot eFned

The evidence OF the divers establishes
that the after part OF the ship was prac-
lically intact and sank In that condition
very few minutes after the explosion. The
forward part was completely demolished.
Upon the evidence OF concurrent external
cause the finding of the court Is as follows:
AT frame IL the outer shell OF the ship,
from a point 11ih feet from the middle line
of the ship and six feet above the keel
when In SITS normal position. has been
forced up so as to be now about four feet
above the surface of the water; therefore.
about 81 feet above where It would be had
the ship sunk uninjured.
Plates Bent Inward.
1.-THE outside bottom plating is bent into
a reversed v shape, tho after wing of
u'hioh ehaiu TX o.. broad and so feet
In length (from frame II to frame 20, Is
doubled back upon itself against the con-
tinuation OF the same plating extending
forward.
AT frame IS the vertical keel Is broken in
two and the keel bent into an angle singu-
lar 10 the angle formed for the outside
plates. This break is about six feet be-
low the surface OF the water and about
30 feet above Its normal position.
I'm the opinion of the court this effect
could have been produced only by the ex-
ploslon OF mine situated under the bot
The bee., 1898-03-31

1. That the United States battleship Maine
arrived in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, on
The 18th day of January. 1898. and was taken
~ buoy No. 4. In from five and a half to six
fathoms of water by the regular govern
ment pilot. The United States consul gen.
eral at Havana had notified the authori-
lies at that place the previous evening of
the intended arrival OF the Maine.
Discipline Was Excellent
2. The state OF discipline on board the
Maine was excellent, and all orders and
regulations in regard to the care and safety
OF the ship were strictly carried out.
All ammunition was slowed away In ac-
cordance with instructions, and proper care
was taken whenever ammunition was
handled.
Nothing was slowed In any one OF the
magazines or shell rooms which was not
permitted to be slowed there
The magazines and shell rooms we're al
ways locked after having been opened; and
after the destruction of the Maine the keys
we're found In their proper place in the cap
lain's cabin, everything having been re-
ported secure that evening at eight p. m.
Temperature Was Normal.
The temperatures of the magazines and
shellrooms were taken daily and reported.
The only magazine which had an undue
The bee., 1898-03-31

That portion OF the port side OF the pro-
fective deck which extends from about
frame 80 to about frame IL was blown up
aft and over to port. The main deck
from about frame 80 to about frame IL
was blown up aft and slightly over TO
starboard, folding the forward part OF the
middle superstructure over and on top of
the after part.
This was. in the opinion OF the court,
caused by the partial explosion OF two or
more of the forward magazines of the
Maine.
Plates Forced Up.
s. AT frame II. the outer shell of the ship.
from d point liz feet from the middle
line of the ship and six feet above the keel
when in its normal position. has been
forced up SO as to be now about four feet
above the surface OF the water, therefore
about 81 feet above where II would be had
the ship sunk uninjured. The outside bot
tom plating is bent into reversed v
shape. the after wing of which, about is
feet broad ard so feet in length (from
frame IL TO frame 25), is doubled back upon
itsclf against the continuation Of the same
plating extending forward.
At frame Is the vertical keel is broken In
two. and tie fiat keel bent into an anglo
similar 20 the angle formed by the outside
bottom plating. This break is now about
six feet below the surface OF the water, and
uDOdh " iN@t dbONc It's lOTIndi DOSlllOn.
Caused by n Mine.
In the opinion of the court, this effect
eould have been produced only by the ex-
plosion of mine situated under the bot
tom of the ship at about frame IS, and
somewhat on the port side OF the ship.
6. Tho court finds that the loss of the
Maine. on the occasion named, was not In
any respect due to fault or negligence on
me pam Of any Of the officers or members
OF the crew of said vessel.
z. In the opinion of tho court the Maine
was destroyed by the explosion OF sub
marine mine. which caused the partial ex-
ploslon of two or more OF her forward
magazines.
g. The court has been unable to obtain ev-
slence fixing the responsibility for the de-
struction OF the Maine upon any person or
persons.
W. T. SAMPSON.
Captain. u. s. NJ. President.
A. MARK,
lieutenant Commander. u. s. N. Judge
Advocate.
The Findings Approved.
The court, having finished tho inquiry II
was ordered to make, adjourned at II a. m.
TO await the action of the converting au-
thority.
VT. SAMPSON.
Captain. u. s. N. President.
A. MARK,
Litutcnant Commander. U. S. ~. Judge
Advocate.
u. 8. Flagship New York, March %, 1898,
on Key West. Fla-The proceedings and
findings of the court OF Inquiry In the above
" '' A. sIcARD.
Rear Admiral, Commander In Chief of the
U. g. Naval Force on the North Atlantic
Station.
The bee., 1898-03-31

testified that the plates were bent Inward
on the bottom port side and outward on the
starboard side.
The story of the explosion is told by diff
ferent witnesses and adds little TO what
Capt. Sigsbee and Commander Wainwright
related.
Nothing In the testimony fixes RESPONSE
bility, no conspiracy is apparent, no knCwl-
edge of the planting OF q mine Is shown.
Capt. Slgsbee states that a somewhat Bit
ter feeling existed against the American
ship. and Americans generally, and witt
ness whose name is suppressed tells OF
overhearlng conversation among Spanish
officers and citizen indicating fore
knowledge Of the destruction Of the Maine
by intention to blow her up, An official OF
the American consulate tells of informa-
ton received anonymously tending to show
that conspiracy existed. But nothing is
definitely stated which fixes any response
bllty upon Spain or her subjects.
Gen. Lee Testines.
Consul General Fitzhugh Lee appeared
before the court on March 8. His testi-
mony related TO the official formalities pre-
ceding the Names arrival. On January "a
he received a message from the state de-
partment saying that the Maine would be
sent TO Havana on q friendly visit to re-
sumo the regular status of naval relations
between the two countries, and he was
ordered to make arrangements at the PAL
ace for the exchange of official courtesies.
After a call at the palace he sent the state
department a cipher message saying:
Authorities profess to think the United
States has Interior purpose In sending the
ship. Say 1t will obstruct autonomy and
produce excitement. and most probably
demonstration. Ask that 1t not be done
til they can get Instructions from Mad
rid. say that If for friendly purpose. as
claimed, delay Is Important"
/, was too late, however, the Maine had
already sailed. She arrived next day and
Lee reported her arrival to the state de-
partment.
All Regulations Carried out.
Lieut.. Commander Richard Wainwright
testified that the regulations In regard to
paints and infiammables and all other pre-
cautions were strictly carried out on board
ship. Every possible care was taken to
avoid accident. All visitors were scru-
tinized before being allowed TO come on
board the ship. Nobody was allowed I'M
accomnanled- Social 'lookouts" were re-
The bee., 1898-03-31

what is the condition OF the starboard
turret? witness was asked.
ITO my knowledge 1t has not been found,
SIR" was the reply.
He understood something had been found
under the place where the turret formerly
was, but its exact character had not been
determined.
Impressions of Ensign Powelson.
what impression is produced upon your
mind by the reports, as far as you have
quoted them?" Ensign Powelson was asked.
From reports alone or from the appear
ance of the wreck7"
EITHER from such reports or the cond-
lions which you believe to exist"
THE impression produced upon me-" re-
piled the witness, 'Is that an explosion took
place well to port of the midship line and
at a point in the length about opposite the
coming tower"
Witness in reply to further questions said
his opinion was based upon the observation
OF things above water. He gave no weight
to Mr.. Morgan's statement about falling
Into hole on the port side because Nor
gan might have been mistaken about 1t.
Referring to his notes made Of things on
the Maine, Ensign Powelson said that the
arc of the engine room telegraph and the
shaft of the steering gear coming down
through the armored tube (turreD was bent
from port TO starboard. The port side of
The bee., 1898-03-31
THE HOLD PLANS OF THE MAINE.

In reply TO an inquiry as TO whether
he meant with reference to their original
positions Ensign Powelson replied afiirma-
lively. The beam supporting the pro-
tective deck few inches abaft OF the ar
mored tube, to port of the midship line,
was bent up to starboard OF the mid
ship line. Just forward Of the coming
tower. underneath the deck, two beams
met at right angles; one beam was broken
and pushed from port to starboard. A
grating was found on the poop awning
just forward OF the after searchlight.
a piece OF the side plating just abaft
OF the starboard turret was visible. This
plate was bent outward and then the for
ward end bent upward and folded back
ward upon itself. This plate was SHARED
from the rest of the plating below the
water line. This plating below the water
line has been pushed out to starboard."
The armored gratings of the engine room
hatch were blown off. A composition
strainer was picked up from the bottom
on the starboard quarter at a point about
opposite the poop capstan and about 20
feet from 1t. The chief engineer thought
the strainer was from the firemen's wash
room. 1t was not a strainer In the ships
eide.
Near the piece of outside plating to
which witness referred ABOVE he said there
were pieces of red shellaced plankss' On
these planks was bolted a composition
track two inches wide and an inch thick.
Ensign Powelson then asked IL the court
meant for him to say anything about what
the divers reported or just what he saw.
The Judge advocate replied that he would
ike to have him state any important dis
soveries which might lead the court to
iraw some conclusion as to the cause,
and II diver gave such Information TO
state the divers name. Before doing so
the Judge advocate asked witness to state
the forward and after part of the ship
we're In line. Ensign Powelson replied
that as far as he could Judge they were
not The end where the explosion &C.
cured seemed to be pushed from port
% starboard from five to ten degrees, he
Ihould Judge, with the apex to the star
board. The divers reported to witness that
It a point where the ten-inch shell room
should be they discovered ten-inch shells
regularly arranged, but the ship had sunk
1own so much that some OF the shells were
In the mud.
Gunner Morgan reported that in walking
on the bottom he fell into a hole on the
port SIDE and went down In the mud. Tie
also reported that as far as he could Judge
everything seemed to be bent upward In
the vicinity of this hole. He also reported
that the plates seemed to have been pushed
over TO the starboard and then bent down.
Ensign Powelson then said that a six
Inch powder tank that he saw appeared to
be an empty tank broken by the explosion.
as 1t was not badly dented and merely
ripped the length OF the seam. A ten-inch
tank was badly battered out OF any con-
ceivable shape.
Continuing. the witness said the divers
up to the night before he was then on the
stand had not been on the outside of the
ship. The mud was too deep for them TO
walk on tho bottom.
The bee., 1898-03-31
TIE INQUIRY TESTIMONY.
Facts Told by Witnesses to Off,
GERS of the Maine Court.
THEY ALL POINT TO SPANISH TREACHERY
Capt. sigsbee Took Extra Precau-
lions 10 Guard His Ship from
unrm-Consul General Lee
and others Testify.

Washington, March 29.-The immense
mass OF testimony taken by the Maine court
OF inquiry was sent to the senate Mon
day, and with the presidents message and
findings of the court referred to the COM
mIttee on foreign relations. The testimony
was taken on IS different days, the four
teenth day, however, being devoted TO view
ing the wreck. Every witness who was
known TO have any information that could
throw light upon the great disaster was
called to give his testimony. The story
of the destruction of the vessel is told, not
graphically. but in manner which gives
all the obtainable facts. No technical de-
tain is omitted. Every movement and In
cident connected with the Maine from tho
time she left Key West until the last diver
examined the wreck, slowly sinking In the
mud of Havana harbor, Is given. 1t Is n
story intensely interesting to the people.
Those who read 1t could have little doubt
as TO whether there was an internal or ex-
ternal explosion. Perhaps the most sig
nificant testimony is that showing the bot
tom plates on the port side of the Ill
fatcd Maine to be bent inward and up
ward, a result that hardly could have fol-
lowed anything save an explosion from the
outside. A mass of testimony is submitted
showing the care exercised on board tho
ship by Capt. slgsbee and his officers, and
the apparent impossibility Of the accident
occurring by any internal cause, such as
the heating of the bunkers, spontaneous
combustion or so many other theories were
based.
The testimony of Capt. Slgsbee is Of the
greatest Importance and perhaps Is OF more
general interest than that of any other
man called before the board. With great
care and mlnuteness he gives an ac-
count OF the management of the ship, how
she was handled, what was Gone from day
TO day on board, how she sailed into Ha-
vana, her anchorage and what he knew
about ~ and, in fact, every point upon
which the government and the country de-
slres to be informed. Nothing in Capt.
Sigsbee's testimony shows that the anchor
age was changed or that 1t was considered
dangerous by anyone.
Second to the Importance OF the testi-
mony of Capt. Slgsbee Is that of Ensign
Powetson, who had charge of the divers
and knew from day to day what these
divers found. This officer was infinitely
Informed as to the construction of the
Maine and everything about her. His
testimony was to a certain extent tech
meal. bearing upon the construction of the
ship, her plates, etc., but It was from these
plates and this technical knowledge that
he was able TO declare that the explosion
took place from the on. side.
The divers, Morgan, Olsen and Smith, all
contributed important evidence They
The bee., 1898-03-31

described with close detail the condition
under the main deck en- the port side. The
fixtures were completely wrecked, while
fixtures In the same position on the star
board side were I'm some cases almost In
tact. The port bulkhead between the main
and berth decks at the coming tower sup
port had been blown aft on both sides, but
4 great deal more on the port than on the
starboard side. The fireroom hatch imme-
alatcly abaft of the coming tower had been
blown In three directlons-aft, to STAR
board and to port. The protective deck
under the coming tower supports was bent
IN two directions, the plates on the star
board side being bent up and on the lar
board side bent down.
The bee., 1898-03-31

amount OF heat was the after ten-inch mag
agine. and that did not explode at the time
tho Maine was destroyed.
The torpedo war heads were all slowed
In the after part of the ship under the ward
room, and neither caused nor participated
In the destruction of the Maine.
The dry gun cotton primers and deton-
ltors were slowed in the cabin aft and
remote from the scene of the explosion.
The waste was carefully looked after on
board the Maine to obviate danger. Spe-
sial orders In regard TO this had been given
oy the commanding officer.
Varnishes. dryers. alcohol and other COM
oustibles of this nature were slowed on
Or above the Maines(lac end rnnld not
The bee., 1898-03-31

md explosion was. In the opinion Of the
court, caused by the partial explosion OF
two or more of the forward magazines of
the Maine.
Condition of the Wreck.
4. The evidence bearing on this, being
principally obtained from divers, did not
enable the court to form a definite con-
elusion as to tho condition of the wreck,
although 1t was established that the after
part of the ship was practically intact,
and sank In that condition a very few
minutes after the destruction of the for
ward part.
The following facts In regard to the for
ward part OF the ship are. however. es-
tablished by the testimony:
The bee., 1898-03-31

y-nx.ezr~-- -----1zzz
the protected deck was covered with q
greasy deposit, the starboard side being
comparatively free from it.
The forward smoke pipe, between the
main and superstructure decks, did not
show signs of the internal pressure of
gases. On the main deck forward OF the
coming tower where the fore ard after
angle bulb beam was located the planking
was blown off on the only remaining plato
or the main deck on the port side while the
wood was still attached to that part on the
starboard side between the coming tower
base and the turrets. What witness saw
would indicate that the pressure lifted the
protective deck up on the port side, and
The protective deck on the starboard side
The bee., 1898-03-31

eminent thereon be communicated to the
government OF her majesty. the queen. and
/ do not permit myself to doubt that the
sense OF justice of the Spanish nation VIII
dictate course OF action suggested by
honor and the friendly relations OF the TWO
governments.
II was the duty of tho executive to ad-
wise the congress of the result, and In the
meantime deliberate consideration is In
voked.
(Sgned) WILLIAM MklNLEY.
Executive Mansion, March 2S. 1898.
The bee., 1898-03-31

oeen In use that day, and IS YES full
Of New River coal This coal had been
carefully Inspected before receiving IL 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 ac-
count OF bunkers b 4 and d being empty.
This bunker. a i6. had been inspected
that day by the engineer officer on duty.
The fire alarms In the bunkers were IN
working order, and there had never been
a case OF spontaneous combustion OF coal
on board the Maine.
After boilers Only I'm Use.
The two after boilers OF the ship were In
The bee., 1898-03-31
TOLD BY WITNESSES.
Extract CT Important Testimony
Taken by the Court.
Lieut.. PoweIson's story Told on the
Third Day of the sessfon-Im-
portant Discoveries Made
Up TO That Time.

Washington. March 2s.-The following are
portions of the testimony:
Ensign w. V. N. Powelson was called
the third day of the court. He testified
that he had been present on the Maine
every day from tho arrival of the boat
Fern and during a great deal of the diving.
In reply to a question to tell the court
Ill about the condition of the wreck, he
said the forward part Of the ship forward
Of the after smokestack had been to all
Appearances completely destroyed. The
coming tower lay In a position opposite
The door leading TO the superstructure aft
and to starboard, inclined at about ITO de-
grees TO the vertical with the top of the
coming tower In board. Continuing, he