The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-29

Charles Morgan, who was I'm charge Of the
divers. was called on. On going dwon
in diving dress, he said he landed In
mass OF spllntered an broken powder
tanks of . and l0-lnch ammunition. He
found what he thought was the ceiling
and sides Of the magazine. The powder
tanks were split and crushed-some with
the heads knocked OF and most Of them
empty. There were twenty or twenty
five in all. They did not seem TO have
exploded. but being crushed open thu
powder had melted out by action Of the
water.
All the frames and plates found had a
list 10 starboard The hold at this point
was open 10 the outside OF the harbor.
and walking 10 theedge he fell of into
what seemed TO have been the same hole
in the mud described by Smith. Morgan
did not estimate the size OF the hole be-
yond saying the sides sloped and Il vas
"over waist deep
ACOOL MARINE
Private William Anthony. Of the United
States marine corps whose calmness a.
the time OF the explosion In reporting
TO Captain Sigsbee a theme OF admira-
ton throughout the world. was the next
witness. lie testified thar he had tho
first watch. from 10 u o'clock on tho
night OF the explosion. There was
drill that day and II was not necessary to
open the magazines. In response 10
questions, Private Anthony told this
story:
Il was standing on the main deck just
outside of the door on the starboard side
| first noticed a trembling and buckling
of the decks, and then this prolonged
rOar-not a short report, but prolonged
roar. / looked out and saw an immense
sheet Of flame. and then / started IN TO
warn the Captain"
did you notice any perceptible list 10
the ship at the first shock
AT the first shock the ship instantly
that Is the uqarter deck whore l was
standing dipped forward and toppled
just ike that indicating. II apparently
broke in the middlelike that 0ndicating)
and srged fOrWardu and then went over
TO port"
THE ANONYMOUS LETTER.
Henry Drain. a clerk In the United
States consulate at Havana. was examin-
ed as 10 the receipt OF on anonymous let
ter. warning of the explosion Of the
Maine. The letter was produced. dated
February 18th. There was not signature,
itbeing signed AN Admirer." Drain said
II seemed to be the document Of a fairly
well educated man. IL was written I'm
Spanish. The translation was produced
and was handed 70 the Judge Advocate
and read by him. The latter was re-
ferred 20 in the record as being marked
"F.," but IL was not appended.
In response to the question as 10
whether anything had been done TO as
certain the truth OF the statements con-
tanned I'm the letter, witness said that he
had asked General Lee 60 look into the
matter and he did not appear TO know
what to do, stating hehad no secret ser
vice money. A man by the name Of
Pope Taco was mentioned in the letter.
Witness aid he had tried 10 discover the
whereabouts OF the man. and the one
10 whom he spoke said the name was
"a mistake and that the man mentioned
had died "A few days before the eNplo-
sion OF tho Maine and that the letter re-
ferred to a Pope Barquin. that had also
died suddenly two or three days after
the explosion Of the Maine Witness de-
clared his informant was Mr. Charles
Carbonncll an American citizen.
HEARD A CONVERSATION
A witness was introduced whose name
was suppressed by an agreement between
him and the court. lie had 10 talk
through an interpreter The witness was
cossing about half past on the morning
OF the 18th from Havana 10 Reglas on a
ferrybOat. He was sitting near three
Spanish ofiicers-two OF the army and
one Of the nayy-and a citizen. They
were talking about the Maine. one Of th-
army officers said: That Is nearly ar
ranged"
The citizen asked II making explosions
I'm the bay would not endanger Havana
The officer said: mo" IL was arranged
so that Il would simply explode, open
the vessel and she would sink immedi-
ately. The other man ioyousy exclaimed.
f.L rIa . E.a an m
casion."
Someone came by and they suddenly
stopped the conversation ThCy said IL
was a shame she (the Maine) should be-
in the bay and they would blow her up
ANYHOW.