The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31
Captain Sigsbee and the Vessels
Crew Are Completely
EXOnerated.
THE PLATES BENT UPWARDS
Presidents Message to Congress
Does Not Mention Posi-
bility of War.
Transmits the Report to Congress
with No Startling Statement as to
His IntentiOn-Asks for De-
liberate Consideration.

Washington, March 29.-The president
Monday sent the following message to
congress:
To the Congress of the United States:
For some time prior to the visit of the
Maine in Havana harbor our consular rep
resentatives pointed out the advantages to
flow from the visit of national ships 10 the
Cuban waters, in accustoming the people TO
the presence of our flag as the SymDol Oh
good will and of our ships in the fulhliment
of the mission of protection 10 American in
terests, even though no immediate need
therefor might exist.
Accordingly, on the oath of January last.
after conference with the Spanish minister
in which the renewal of visits of our war
vessels to Spanish waters was discussed
and accepted, the peninsular authorities at
Madrid and Havana were advised OF the
purpose of this government TO resume
friendly naval visits at Cuban ports, and
that in that view the Maine would forth
with call a the port of Havana.
The Maine at Havana.
This announcement was received by the
SPANISH government with appreciation of
the friendly character of the visit of the
Maine and with notification of intention
to return the courtesy by sending Span
ish ships to the principal ports OF the
United States. Meanwhile the Maine en-
tered the port of Havana on the 25th OF
no speCial incident besides the exchange OF
customary salutes and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor of
Havana during the three weeks follow
ing her arrival. No appreciate excite
ment attended her stay; on the contrary,
a feeling of relief and confidence followed
the resumption Of the long Interrupted
Friendly intercourse. So noticeable was
this immediate effect of her visit that the
consul-general strongly urged that the
presence of our ships in Cuban waters
should be kept up by retaining the Maine
at Havana, or in the event of her recall
by sending there a vessel to take her place.
The Fatal Evening.
At 40 minutes past nine on the evening
of the 18th of February the Maine was
destroyed by an explosion, by which the
entire forward part of the ship was ut
terly wrecked. In this catastrophe two
officers and go of her crew persisted, those
who were not killed outright by her ex-
ploson being penned between decks by
the tangle of wreckage and drowned by
the immediate sinking of the hull. Prompt
assistance was rendered by the neighbor-
Ing vessels anchored in the harbor. aid
being especially given by the boats Of
the Spanish cruiser AIphonso XII. and tho
Ward line steamer City of Washington
which lay not far distant. The wounded
Were generously cared for by the authori-
ties of Havana, the hospitals being freely
TeCOE-
cred bodies of the dead were inferred by
the municipality in public cemetery in
the city. Tributes of grief and sympathy
were offered from all official quarters of
the island.
Caused Intense Excitement
The appalling calamity fell upon the peo-
pie of our country with crushing force and
for brief time an intense excitement pre-
vailed, which in a community less Just and
self-controlled than ours might have led to
hasty acts of blind resentment. This spir-
1t, however, soon gave way to the caImer
processes of reason and to the resolve TO in
vestiSate the facts and await the material
proof before forming judgment as to the
cause, the responsibility and, if the facts
warranted, the remedy due. This course
necessarily recommended itself from the
outset TO the executive for only in the light
of a dispassonately ascertained certainty
could it determine the nature and measure
of its full duty in the matter.
The usual procedure was followed as in
all cases of casualty disaster to national
vessels of any maritime state. a naval
court of inquiry was at once organized.
composed of officers we'll qualified by rank
and practical experience to discharge the
OnerOus duty imposed upon them.
Aided by a strong force of wreckerS and
divers the court proceeded to make thor
Cugh investigation on the spot, employing
every available means for the impartial
and exact deter;ninatio of the causes of
the explosion. Its operations have been
conducted with the utmost elaboration and
judgment, and while independently pur-
sued no source OF information was neglect
ed and the fullest opportunity was allowed
for a simultaneous investigation by the
Spanish authorities.
The Finding of the Court.
The finding Of the court of inquiry was
reached. after % days of continuous labGr.
on the 2lst of March inst, and having
been approved on the I'D by the COM
mander in chief OF the United States naval
force of the North Atlantic station, was
transmitted to the executive.
1t is herewith laid before congress. to-
gether with the voluminous testimony
taken before the court. Its purport is, in
brief, as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana she
was conducted by the regular government
pilot TO buoy No. 4. 10 which she was
noored in from ol2 to fathoms of water
The state of discipline on board and the
condition of her magazines. boilers coal
hunkers and storage compartments. are
passed in review. with the conclusion thar
excellent order prevailed and that no in
dication OF any cause for an internal explo-
sion existed in any quarter.
At eight O'Clock in the evening OF Feb
ruary Is. everything had been reported Sc
cure and all was quiet
At 40 minutes past nine o'clock the vessel
was suddenly destroyed.
Two Explosions.
There were two distinct explosions with
a brief interval between them The first
lifted the forward part of the ship very
perceptibly: the second. which was more
prolonged. is attributed by the court to the
partial explosion of two or more of the for
ward magazines