Morris tribune., 1898-03-30
Intense excitement Resulted.

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facts warranted, the remedy due. This
course necessarily recommended itself
from the outset to the executive, for
only in the Hght Of a dispassionately
ascertained certainty could it deter
mine the nature and measure of its full
duty in the matter.
The usual procedure was followed, as
in all CAFES 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 expe-
rience to discharge the onerous duty
imposed upon them. Aided by strong
proceeded to make thorough investi-
cation on the spot, employing every
available means for the impartial and
exact determination of the causes
of the explosion. It's operations have
been conducted with the utmost
deliberation and Judgment, and
while independently pursued no source
of information was neglected and the
fullest opportunity was allowed for
simultaneous investigation by the
Spanish authorities.
The finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after % days of continuous
labor, on the 21st of March and having
been approved on the 22d by the com.
mander-in-ch of the. United States
naval force on the North Atlantic sta
tion, was transmitted to the executive.
Findings of the Board.
It is herewith laid before the con.
gress, together with the voluminous
testimony taken before the court. It's
purport is in brief as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by the regular gov.
ernment pilot to Buoy No. 4, to which
she was moored in from five and one.
half to six fathoms af water.
The state Of discipline on board and
the condition of her magazines, boilers,
coal bunkers and storage compartments
are passed in review with the conclu-
sion that excellent order prevailed, and
that no indication of any cause for an
explosion existed in any quar-
ter. At o'clock in the evening of Feb.
10 everything had been reported secure ]
and all was quiet.
At 40 minutes past O'Clock the YES
sci was suddenly destroyed.
There were two distinct explosions,
with brief interval between them.
The first lifted the forward part of the
ship very perceptibly; the second,
which was more prolonged, is attrib-
uted by the court to the partial explo-
sion of two or more of the forward
The evidence of the divers establishes
that the after part of the ship was prac-
tically intact and sank in that condi- |
ton very few minutes after the ex-
plosion. The forward part was COM
pletely demolished.
Outer Shell Forced Inward.
Upon the evidence of concurrent ex-
ternal cause the finding of the court is
as follows:
SAT frame II the outer shell, of the
ship from point 11h feet from the
middle line of the ship and feet above
the keel when in it's normal position,
has been forced up SO as to be now
about feet above the surface of the
water; therefore about 81 feet above
where it should be had the ship sunk
The outside bottom plating is bent |
into reversed "V'' shape. the after
wing of which, about 15 feet broad and
80 feet in length (from frame II to
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against the continuation of the same
plating extending forward. At frame
l8 the vertical keel is broken in two
and keel bent into an angle similar to
the angle formed for the outside plates.
This break is about feet below the
surface of the water and about 30 feet
above it's normal position. In the opin-
on of the court, this effect could have
been produced only by the explosion of
= mine situated under the bottom of
5he ship at about frame IL and some.
what on the port side of the ship.
Conclusions of the Court.
The conclusions of the court are:
That the loss of the Maine was not
n any respect due to fault or negl-
yence on the part of any officers or
members of her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by the
explosion of submarine mine which
caused the partial explosion of two or
more of her forward magazines; and,
hat no evidence has been obtainable
king the responsibility for the de-
of the Maine upon any per-
Jon or persons.
/ have directed that the finding of
he court OF inquiry and the views of
his government thereon be commun-
Gated to the government of her maj
,sty, the queen, and l do not permit
myself to doubt that the sense of jus
ice of the Spanish nation will dictate
course Of action suggested by honor
ind the friendly relations of the two
1t was the duty of the executive to
ldvise the congress of the result, and
n the meantime deliberate considera-
ion is invoked.
[Signed] WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion. March 1S, 1893.