The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-17
Washington, Feb. 16, 1S9

After a day of intense excitement at
the Navy Department. and elsewhere
growing out OF the destruction of the
battleship Maine in Havana harbor
last night, the situation tonight, after
the exchange of number OF cable
grams between Washington and Hava-
ma, can he summed up in the words of
Secretary Long, who. when asked, as he
was about to depart for the day,
whether he had reason to suspect that
the disaster was the work Of an enemy,
replied:
Il do not. TN nhat I am influenced
by the fact that Captain Sigsbee has
not yet reported to the Navy Depart
ment on the cause. He Is evidently
waiting TO write q full report. So long
as he does not express himself l GER
tainly cann0t. 1 Should think from the
indications, however, THAT there was an
acCident-'that the magazine cxplode d.
How that came about 1 do not know.
For the present at least no other war
ship will he sent to Havana"
The appalling nature of the disaster
and the gravity of the situation that
a basis for the undercurrent CT suspi-
c:on OF treachcry and foul play that
ran through all minds had a SOLDERING
effect on public men of all shades of
political opinion The fact stands forth
and is little less than remarkable, that
~ ct,, wi
or a single speech made in either house
OF Congress bearing on the dlsaa;e er
save one of coincidence with the families
of those killed, offered by Mr.. Boutclle
and adopted by the House Of Il pre-
scntatives. Public men expressed their
opinions with reserve when aDprua cheu
for interviews. but evcryw,hcra there
was demand for an investigation and
full details in the light of which the
horror may be justly viewed.
Secretary Long undoubtedly summa-
r!Zed the general opinion of the maj0ri-
~ OF the naval experts in finding It i'm
possible Just now no state the cause of
destruction of the Maine There are n.
great number of thsories, but most Of
them are Of n character that makes it
easy to prove or upset them by n simple
investigation by a. diver Secretary
Long has taken immediate steps to
make this investigation. Latte this af-
ternoon he tclegrophed 10 Admiral ST.
card. at Key West, to appoint O. board
of naval officers 10 proceed at once f.,
havana. employ divers and generally
TO make such inquiry rs the regula-
mons OF the naNy d :mand shall be made
in the case Of the loss of n shin. Jt is
expected that this work will take scrnc
time, and. while there are officers who
say that In their opinion, it will not be
possible, owing 10 the probable dis
rupted condition OF the hull of the shin
10 make on: the cause of the eSppo-
sion, the opinion Of the ma iority is tha I
fhe question will be easily scttled nv
the simple observation Of the condi-
uoh or the ships hull plates in the
nelEhborhood of the hole which sunk
'ier' whether or not they are bulged
out, as would be the case if tho exn,o-
s'on came from inside. or whsEher they
were driven in, as would result from
the attack of a torpedo or the cxn,o-
sion or a mine beneath the ship.
The large majority of naval omcory
are inclined to the belief that thc cx
niosion resulted from spontaneous com
hustion OF a coal bunker; the oyer
heating of the lion partitions Between
| me boilers and the magazine or from
me explosion of a boiler, though the
i'H' 'heoiS hiuS little support The
Isis OF survivors that came 10 thc
| Navy Department this afternoon In an
| sWer TO telegram, was inaccurate and
| made out the loss of life eight mora
than the summary originally given by
| Carialn SigSDce In an earlier tele-
gram. 80 Secretary Long telegranhnd
| for another corrected list. and also nnr
that should show who were and who
were not wounded Of the survivors. II
! was found necessary to do this OWNS.
TO the great number of pitifm appe1js
| for information as 10 the safety of
some unfortunate on the Maine tha.
came from all parts OF the country.
| The naval constructors in the light
Of the dispatches thus far received. saw
| that 1t Is by no means certain tha:
the Maine cannot be raised and again
carry the flag. They say that while
she is big ship. others as large have
| been raised. and nj Havana the new
| floating drydock would receive her If
| she could once be gotten above the
| water. Captain Sigshee Is evidently
| taking an interest in the future of tn,
| ship for he sen; a telegram TO Com
mander Torya;hc, at Key West, .hat
| was promptly Transmitted to Secretary
| Long, suggesting that a light house
vessel or some such small craft be sta
| toned In Havana harbor to watch over
the wreck. The latter, even II beyond
resurrection. contains valuable ord