The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-06


was written to his friend in Portsmouth,:
Havana. Cuba, March /. 1898.
Dear Sil--It Is with feelings of deep
regret that | write to inform you of the
terrible catastrophe of The blowing up
Of the u. IS. S. Maine. am aware that
YOU are already acquainted with theSe
facts, but thought that you would like
10 hear from one who has seen this
affair
There was quite number OF the men
on the Maine from Portsmouth and
Norfolk, among them THOMAS Kane
and Mach!nist Rushwor;h.
We arrived here a few hours after 1t
occurred and a terrible sight we saw,
the bodies floating about the hlrbor,
many OF them being torn to shrcds,
headless, without legs and. in fact, torn
entirely 10 pieces.
On the Thursday following the dig
aster all the recovered bodies were bur
ied In the Catholic Cemetery poor
ltane's body being among those buried
The funeral was largely attended, be-
ing conducted by the Archbishop of Ha-
vana and Chaplain Chadwick, of the
Maine.
The chaplain is a Catholic priest and
deserves great credit and honor for his
unt!ring efforts in trying to identify the
dead
Not one OF the chief petty officers was
saved; there are sill about eighty bod
les in the wreck. Efforts are being
made to recover them to-day. The div
crs have been At work every day, but
make slow progress on account of not
being able 10 get among the tangled
mass of wreckage.
The board OF investigation finished
their labor here on Saturday and re-
q Is. i:-
putcd fact that 1t was not due to an
accident. She was blown up by n Span
ish torpedo, and the dirty dogs are re-
joicng every day over their trelcher-
Gus anu dastardly crime.
You cannot form any idea OF this
enormous loss hy reading the papers,
but seeing Il makes man shudder 10
think of two hundred and iifty-thrcc
poor souls blown into eternity without
moments notice. This loss, not count
ing those who have died since in hos
pitfalls. Captain Sigsbrc is staying on
the Fern, and it is sad to see how the
poor man feels owe: the affair. Our
officers when going ashore so in civilian
dresS to keep from being insulscd by
the Spanish mongrel towards. We are
here for an indefinite period and do not
know a. what moment We may meet
the same fate as the Maine, rs the har-
Dor Is mined from end to end.
The admiral, II appears seems tC
think it would be bad policy Ia send an
other battle ship here, and am of the
opinion that he il right The feet IS,
lying a Dry To:tugas, about eighty
miles from Havana, ready to sail al n
moments notice for anything that may
happen. and am assured If an oppor-
tunity offers our boys will nobly avenge
the Names loss with fury that will
make the Spanish ours think that the
devil and all his imps were after them.
| would be greatly obliged 10 you II
you would answer this and let ma know
what the feeling is in regard to the ter
rible catastrophe among the Ports
mouth people.
Please extend to the poor Mrs Kane
my heartfelt sympathy in her sad be-
reavement.
l had conversation with the chap
lain. and he says that Nane's body was
recovered and was given Catholic
burial Father Chadwick came ON
board the Fern las; Sunday morning
and administered Holy communion to
us. | have lots to tell you provided the
Spanish cut-thrOats 10 not blow US into
eternity before we can get out of the
pest hole of Satan. Yours, Sc,