The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1898-02-24
Government Divers Find No Trace Of
Internal Explosion Of the Maine.
THE TOTAL Loss Or LIFE REACHED 24e.
Evidence Accommodating 1'hdt the Vessel
Was Blown Up by the Spaniards
With Submarine Mine Court
of Enquiry at Work.

sent by the United States began Off
cial inspection Saturday. Theft first
discovery proves that the Maine was
wrecked from without. The stars and
stripes is floating at half mast above
the wreck of the Maine, and half a
dozen divers are at work tindef Captain
Sigsbee's direction.
The forward magazines, including
the 6-inch ammunition magazines, are
intact. This is proved by the condi-
ton OF the wreck, the magazines them
selves not having been actually
reached.
Only the small calibre shells In the
pilot house and some saluting charges
are now unaccounted for.
There is not an American officer in
Havana who is not satisfied that the
Maine was anchored over govern
ment mine, the explosion of which
did the awful work.
The elimination of the Names mag
azines from the explosion makes it
almost certain that greater amount of
explosive than any torpedo contains
was fred under the Maine.
The refusal of the American govern
ment to permit Spain to have any part
In our investigation, now generally
known here, has angered the populace
more than anything since the Maine
arrived. The government here has
not yet indicated how it takes the re-
fusal.
Details Of the Sinking.
The officers of the Maine state that
the explosion was in the central maya
| zine, and that the Maine was raised
out of the water and then went parti-
ally to pieces. All but the surgeon
were in the ward room at the moment
of the explosion. Then came the stu
pendous shock. All the officers below
rushed ON deck, but could get no
further forward than the middle SUI
perstructure on deck, Only very
pitiful few of the $50 jackies ever got
from below. The water rushed over
them and many were stunned and
drowned, but not mangled. The Off
GERS on deck narrowly escaped. In
the junior officers mess all had to
Chamber out through water and wreck
age waist deep. One ladder from the
after torpedo compartment was jam
med with men struggling for life. All
agreed that double explosion occur
red from the natural result of an un-
der-water explosion of the magazines.
Piteous Cries for Help.
Brass pipe, angle iron, ETC., fell in a
shower ON the decks of the City Of
Washington, 80 injuring two boats
that when lowered they were useless
Out of the dense smoke came anguish
ed cries for help. Simultaneously
with the cessation of falling fragments,
search lights were thrown on the
wreck and its load of agony. Spanish
boats from the shore joined those OF
the Washington alongside at once, but
the regular ferry boats, passing soon
after the explosion, did not stop to
offer aid.
Total Lost 246.
The navy department has compiled
the following summary, showing the
total results of the Maine disaster,
from all available official information
up to the close of the departments
Thursday night;
'Total officers and men on board
Maine, 355; total officers, 26; total
men, S29; total officers saved, "a; total
men saved, rs; total officers lost, q
total men lost, 246; total officers in
jured, none; total men injured, o.;
doubtful (men), 7.
''The seven men appearing as doubt
ful probably represent that number OF
less whose lives have been saved, but
who cannot be identified at present on
account of errors in the transmission
of kilograms.
1.-THE 81 appearing as injured are IN
cluded in the rs appearing as saved.
A Plot to Blow Up American Consulate.
The Associated Press correspondent
has secured circular printed din Ha-
vana, which shows up bitter plot to
blow up Gen. Lee aud the consulate.
1t follows:
s'Spaniards: The time has arrived
when the patience of the loyal has
vanished before the decided protection
that the Americans lend to the bands
of turbulent foragers who lay waste
our country. Death to them. The
moment has arrived to lower the colors
at the head of the Americans and prove
to them that our unconquerable nation
can reach the doors of the capitol at
. Washington, demand reparation for the
grave offenses which they daily infiict
upon us. Expel; yes, expel Consul
. General Lee, who, with his fame, is
nothing more than the miserable sec
retary OF the bandits. Away, away
with the Yankee consulate protector OF
criminals of the lowest degree. Every
moment the action Of Justice is I'M