Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-29

16 was full. of New-River coal. This
coal had been carefully inspected before
being received on board. The bunker In
which IL was slowed was accessible on
three sides at all times. and the fourth
side at this time on account OF the
bunkers b and b G. being empty.
This bunker, a 49, had been inspected
that day by the engineer oocer on duty.
The fre-alarms to the bunkers we're in
working order. and there had never been
a case OF spontaneous combustion OF coal
on board the Maine.
1.-The two after boilers Of the ship were
In use at the time Of the disaster. but
for auxiliary purposes only. with com
paratively low pressure Of steam, and
being tended by a reliable watch. These
boilers could not have caused the ex-
plosion 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 secure for
the night at p. NJ. by reliable persons,
through the proper authorities. to the
commanding officer. At the time the
Maine was destroyed the ship was quiet
and therefore least liable to accident
caused by movements of those on board.
TWO EXPLOSIONS.
"3. The destruction Of the Maine oc-
February. 1898, i'm the harbor of Habana,
Cuba, she being at the time moored to
the same buoy to which she had been
taken upon her arrival. There were Two
explosions, of a distinctly different cha
racter. with very short but distinct
interval between them, and the forward
part OF the ship was lifted to a marked
degree at the time Of the first explosion.
The first explosion was more in the ma
ture Of a report like that of a gun, while
| the second explosion was more open.
more prolonged. and of greater volume
This second explosion was. In the opinion
| of the court, caused by the partial cx-
plosion Of two or more Of the forward
magazines OF the Maine
a. The evidence bearing upon this.
! Deing principally obtained from divers.
did not enable the court to form a def
mite conclusion as to the condition of the
| wreck although IL was established that
the after part of the ship was practi-
cally intact, and sank i'm that condition
very few minutes after the destruction
Of the forward part. The following facts
in regard to the forward part of the
ship are, however, established by the
testimony:
THAT a part Of this portion-the pro-
tective deck-which extends from about
frame 30 TO about frame IL. was blown
up aft and over TO port. The main deck
from about frame 80 to about frame A
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. I'm the
opinion Of the court, caused by the mar
tial explosion Of two or more of tho for
ward magazines of the Maine.
EVIDENCE OF MINE.
IS. AT frame II. the outer shell OF the
ship. from point eleven and one half
feet from the middle line Of the ship. and
six feet above the keel when i'm its normal
position, had been forced up so as to be
now about four feet above the surface
of the water; therefore. about thirty-four
feet above where 1t would be had tho
ship sunk uninjured. Ths outside bottom
plating is bent into reversed V shane
the afterwing of which, about fifteen
feet broad and thrty-two feet i'm length
from frame II TO frame 2j). Is doubled
back upon itself against the continuation
of the same plating extending forward
At frame Is the vertical keel is broken
in two, and the fiat keel bent into an
angle similar 10 the angle formed by
the outside bottom plating. This break is
now about six feet below the surface OF
the water, and about thirty feet above
its normal position. In the opinion Of the
court this effect could have been pro-
duced only by the explosion of a mine,
situated under the bottom Of the ship.
at about frame is. and somewhat on the
port side Of the ship.
NO FAULT OF CREW.
&C. The court finds that the loss Of the
Maine on the occasion named was not i'm
any respect due TO fault or negligence on
the part OF any of the officers or mem
bers of the crew of the said vessel.
81 In the opinion of the court, the
Maine was destroyed by the explosion
Of submarine mine. which caused the
partial explosion Of two or more OF her
forward magazines.
49, The court has been unable to OBJ
tain evidence fixing the responsibility for
the destruction of the Maine upon any
person or persons.
(Signed) "W. T. SAMPSON,
Captain United States Navy, President.
"a. Mark, Commander,
United States Navy, Judge-Advocate.
"The court having finished the inquiry,
it was ordered to make adjournment at
II o'clock, to await the action of the con-
vening authorities.
(Signed) "W. T. SAMPSON,
Captain United States Navy, President.
"A. Mark, Lieutenant-Command
United States Navy, Judge-Advocate.
United States Flagship New York,
March %, 1898. off Key West, Fla.
"The proceedings and findings Of the
court of inquiry in the above case are ap-
proved. (Signed NJ SICARD,
Rear Admiral.
"Commander-in-C OF the United
States naval force on the North Allan
tic Station"
HnTEI. MAN AGERS RENY IT