The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-16
A HORROR OF THE CENTURY
Ihe United States Cruiser Maine Suddenly Blown to
Pieces in the Havana Harbor.

[ navy department thinks it is possible
that they were on shore at the time of
the accident The secretary of the
navy received another dispatch from
Key West at the same time with the
above, but it's contents are not made
public. The orders for the lighthouse
! tenders We're at once sent to Key West
in plain language, thus avoiding the
delay that would have arisen from the
use of a cipher.
Paymaster Charles w. Lttlefield, who
Maine, has recently been replaced by
Paymaster Ryan. Littlefield is now in
Washington.
The Maine was built in New York I'm
1890 at a cost of $2.5sSo0 900. She had a
steel hull and a complement of S74 men,
Secretary Long received Captain
Sigsbees dispatch but few minutes
before the associated press dispatches
were handed him. He received the
news with apparent calm, and his first
act was to comply with Captain Sigs-
bees request that assistance be sent
from Key West. He Immediately wired
Captain Forsyth at Key West to pro-
ceed with the naval tender Fern to Ha-
vana harbor.
Discussing the News.
Secretary Long then sent for Captain
Dickens and the two discussed Captain
Sigsbee's brief telegram. No other naval
officers were present. and besides the
secretary and Captain Dickens. the naval
colony here is ignorant of this disaster
the greatest which has befallen the
American navy since the disaster in Apia
many years ago.
The secretary is inclined to believe that
most of the officers of the Maine were on
shore at the time of the accident as it
was still early in the night. While neith-
er they nor Captain Dickens are inclined
to discuss the probable cause of the acci-
dent, several suggestions were ventured.
They believe that it may have been caused
by fire i'm the bunkers. heating the bulk
head near a magazine. or that an acct
dent may have occurred while inspecting
high explosives for torpedoes OF course.
this is mere speculation and the secretary
is anxiously awaiting more detailed re-
Poit "a tdpldil solBSD6P.
Later the secretary sent another teIe-
gram to Key West directing that the ten
der Mangrove be also sent to Havana.
Breaking the News to Mckinley.
Captain Dickens, after carrying out
the instructions of Secretary Long with
regard to relief measures for the sur
yivors of the Maine, went at once to !
the white house, where the president
was aroused and informed of the dis.
aster. President Mckinley received
the news calmly and expressed his deep
sorrow, but said nothing further ex-
measures adopted by the navy depart
ment.
Secretary Long retired at o'clock |
and gave orders that all further dis
patches should be transmitted to Cap
tain Dickens
1t is learned that Secretary Longs
second dispatch from Key West. which
Captain Forsythe. confirming the mes
sage from Captain sigsbee.
why the Maine Went.
Late in January-it was on Monday.
January 24-this country experienced
mild sensation as the result of the news
hat as the outcome of a special meeting
If President Mckinley's cabinet, held
hat morning, the battleship Maine was
actually on its way to Cuban waters
Curiosity was quickened to know what
his sudden sending might mean
Promptly the word was sent oat that
he presence of the Maine at Havana
simply meant the resumption Of friendly
elations with Spain. 1t was explained
hat 1t is customary for naval s,esseis of
riendly nations to pass in and out of
he harbors of other countries with
Which they are at peace, thai british
nd German warships had recently y sit
d Havana and that the president had
attended for some time TO send a ship,
ut something had happened 10 post
one it.
For their part the turbulent elements
n Spain tried to raise disturbance
ver the presence Of the Maine at Hav-
ma. but these noisy people were al
angth effectively silenced by the re-
eated assurances given out by the
ministry at Madrid that the sending Of
he Maine was friendly act to which
pain responded by sending a warship
, visit several harbors on our Atlantic
cast.
The Maine Described.
The Maine was a battleship Of the !
econd class and was regarded as one
t the best ships in the new navy. She !
as built at The Brooklyn navy yards i