Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-16
are aft, and the heavy casualties among

the crew, sleeping IOrTaro.
At 1l:2O o'clock Secretary Long re.
ceived the following unsigned telegram
from Havana:
"Only two officers unaccounted for.
The explosion was forward. To all in.
dcations the magazine, but cannot tell
until an investigation had. The sentry
on the poop deck reports that there
were no boats in the vicinity when the
explosion occurred
Another telegram to Secretary Long
says:
'No excitement. All quiet. Only
feelings of sympathy and sorrow for
the accident"
Another telegram received at the
Navy Department stated that the mlss-
ing probably would number 27O.
The President has recalled his invita-
tions for receptions this evening and to
morrow night owing to the disaster
which has befallen the American navy.
The latest cablegram from Capt. Sgs-
bee says 236 men and 2 officers were
lost.
While Secretary Long was with the
President the following dispatch from
Capt. Sigsbee, commander OF the Maine,
was brought to him.
advise sending wrecking vessel at
once. Maine submerged except debris;
mostly work for divers now. Jenkins
and Merritt still missing. Little hope
for their safety. Those known to be
saved are Officers 81, unipjured; crew,
IS wounded now on board Ward line
steamer; in city hospital and at hotel,
50 so far as known. All others went
down Oh board or near the Maine ; total
lost or missing, 253."
Senator Perkins, Of California, says :
81 cannot conceive that such an ex
plosion could have resulted from an
accident The chances, it ems 10 me,
are 900 in 1000 that the calamity cid
not result from accident"
Senator Mills expressed the opinion
that the occurrence was the work of
torpedo. II would not say" he said.
that the Spanish were responsible for
| it, but some one must have been who
had free access to the waters of the
bay. | don't think it could have been
due to an accident ard 1 think Con-
gress should Immediately take the
matter up for a thorough inYestiga
ton"
A prominent member of the Senate
foreign relations committee said after
the close of the meeting this morning
that Spain would be expected to make
an explanation that would entirely
clear up the mystery, and that if she
did not this country would have right
10 demand such explanation. ''It is
too serious to talk about at present."
said Senator Lodge, while Senator Gull
lom ssil 81 am too mad to talk about
it," 10 which he added: 81 can't see
how the explosion could have been the
result Of an accident and 1 think the
time is rapidly approaching when this
country must do something"
Mr., Cummings, Of New York, mem
Der Of the naval committee, unhesita-
tingly gave it as his opinion that the
snip had been blown up by floating
torpedo. ut would have been easy"
said he, ''for some one to have tloated a
torpedo down upon the ship as she lay
at anchor. The torpedo would explode
as it swung against the ship. l believe
the Maine was blown up"
OF the crew of $50 men and officers,
only SO are known to have been saved.
Two members of the Cabinet who
spent some time with the President to-
day state that everything so far receiv-
ed indicates that the loss of the Maine
was due to accident.
The following dispatch was received
at LAO a. N.
HAVANA, February 16.
Assistant Secretary State, of Washing
ton:
All quiet. Great sorrow expressed
Ivy authorities. Sigsbee has telegraph
ed details to Navy Department. Not
prepared yet to report cause Of explo-
sion. LEE.
Among the officers of the Maine
were Captain Charles D. Sigsbee,
Washington; Lieutenant Commander
Richard Wainwright, Washington;
Lieut. John J. Blandin, Maryland;
Naval Cadet w. T. Cluverius, Louis
lana; Surgeon l.. G. Heneberger, Har-
risonturg, Va; Paymaster c. NJ. Ray,
Washington.
A private diipatch to Secretary Long
stated that the loss was over 27O, but
this was not official and Mr.. Long con-
sidered the estimate too high. This
was before Captain Sgsbee's dispatch
placing the lost and missing at 253, was
at hand. The cabinet officer stated
that there were many evidences that
the disaster was the result of accident.
Up to the present time, he said, no or
ders for sending another American ship
to Havana had been given. Consul
General Lee has cabled that the Span
ish authorities had expressed to him
their profound regret at the occurrence.
Another cabinet official stated that one
OF the dispatches stated that Capt. Sigs.
bee was the last man to leave the ship.
At about half past one o'clock it was
authoritively stated at the White
Honse that the information so far re-
ceived indicated that that the loss of
the Maine was the result of an acct
dent and that in the absence of evil
dence to the contrary this should be as
sumed to be the fact.
Opinion ofthe London Press.