The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-29
TESTIMONY IN MAINE CASE
4 ABSTRACTS FROM THAT OF LEE,
SIGSBEE AND POJVELSON.

portant In Immense Mass of Evidence
Sigsbee Testified That Bitter Feeling
Existed Against American Ships and
Americans--The Tell-tale Plates-Be
plosion Was From Outside-An oficial
at American Consulate Testified to In
formation Received Anonymously Tend
ing to Show That Conspiracy Existed.
Washington, March 2S-The immense
court of inquiry was sent to the senate
to-day and with the presidents mes
sage and the findings of the court re-
ferred to the committee on foreign re-
lations. The testimony was taken on
eighteen different days, the fourteenth
day, however, being devoted to viewing
the wreck. Every witness who was
known to have any information that
could throw light upon the great disas-
ter was called to give his testimony.
The story of the destruction of the ves-
sci is told not graphically, but in a
manner that gives all the obtainable
facts. No technical detail was omitted.
Every movement and incident connect
ed with the Maine from the time she
left Key West until the last diver ex-
amined the wreck slowly sinking in the
mud of Havana harbor is given. 1t Is
a story intensely interesting to the
American people. Those who read it
can have little doubt as to whether
there was an internal or external ex-
plosion. Perhaps the most significant
testimony is that showing the bottom
plates on the port side of the ill fated
Maine were bent inward and upward,
result that hardly could have followed
anything save an explosion from the
outside. A mass of testimony is sub
mitted showing the care exercised on
board the ship by Captain Sigsbee and
his officers and the apDarant impossi-
bility of the accident occurring from
any internal cause, such as the heating
of the bunkers, spontaneous combus-
tfon, or from other causes upon which
so many theories were based.
The testimony of Captain Sgsbee is
of the greatest Importance and is per-
haps of more general interest than that
of any other man called before the
board. With great care and minute
ness he gives an account of the man
agement of the ship, how she was hand
led, what was done from day to day on
board, how she sailed into Havana,
her anchorage and what he knew about
it and, in fact, every point upon
which the government and the country
desires to be informed. Nothing in
Captain Sigsbee's testimony shows that
the anchorage was changed or that it
was considered dangerous by any one.
Second in Importance to the testi-
mony of Captain Sigsbee is that of En-
Z sign Poweison, who had charge of the
divers and knew from day to day what
these divers found. This officer was
minutely informed as to the construc-
tion of the Maine and everything about
\ her. His testimony was to a certain
I extent technical, bearing upon the con-
struction of the ship, her plates, ETC.,
but it was from these plates and this
E technical understanding that he was
able to declare that the explosion took
place from the outside
The divers, Morgan, Olsen and Smith,
all contributed important evidence.
They testified that the plates We're bent
I inward on the bottom port side and
Il outward on the starboard side.
The story of the explosion is told by
Il different witnesses and adds little to
3 what Captain Sigsbee and Commander
q Wainwright related.
4 Nothing in the testimony fixes re-
! sponsibility, no conspiracy is apparent,
no knowledge of the planting of mine
is shown. Captain Sigsbee states that
( somewhat bitter feeling existed
/ against the American ships and Ameri-
4 cans generally and witness whose
1 name Is suppressed tells of overhear-
\ ing a conversation among Spanish Of
ficers and citizen indicating a fore
4 knowledge of the destruction of the
Maine by intention to blow her up. An
81 official of the American consulate tells
Z of information received anonymously
tending to show that a conspiracy ex-
Il listed. But nothing is definitely stated
81 which fixes any responsibility upon
III Spain or her subjects.
General Lees Testimony.
a Consul General F1tZnugn Lee ap-
n peared before the court on March s.
A3 His testimony related OF the official
VI formalities preceding the Names ar
ii rival On January "a he received q
4 message from the state department
n saying that the Maine would be sent
III to Havana on a friendly visit to re-
= sumo the regular status of naval re-
XII lations between the two countries, and
NJ he was ordered to make arrangements
Il at the palace for the interchange OF
III official courtesies. After a call at the
II palace he sent the state department g
ii cipher message, saying:
4 Authorities profess to think the
III United States has Interior purpose ir
Ell sending the ship. Say it will obstruct
autonomy and produce excitement an6
4 most probably a demonstration. Ash
i that it not be done till they get instruc.
/ tons from Madrid. Say that if fol
| friendly purpose, as claimed, delay i:
unimportant.'
fi 1t was too late, however, the Maine
had already sailed. She arrived mex
day and Lee reported her arrival to thu
state department.
81 Captain Sigsbee.
Captain Sigsbee in testifying sait
that he assumed command of tht
Maine on Anril 10 1907 and thar hi,