Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-02-26
TIE SPAN|ARDS MUST WAIT.
MAINE EXPLOSION INQUIRY.
rnited states Authorities Will
,..t,e the Initial InvestiEatiOn-
Request Respectfully Declined
CAPTAIN sigsbee VIII Direct the
Operati0ns.

Washington, Feb. 20.-Secretary Long
and Assistant Secretary Day of the state
Jona,tment had an interview with the
president yesterday lasting nearly an
bonr Mr.. Day read cablegram from
Consul General Lee at Havana transmit
.;po a eSuest from the Spanish outhori-
ties in G., ba that Spanish officials be per
mitted to join with our people in making
an investigation into the cause of the dis
aster TO the Maine.
The matter was discussed at considera-
ale length and the conclusion reached,
and Lee will be so notified, that while this
government is willing to afford the Span
18Th authorities all reasonable facilities for
conducting the investigation. yet it is
thought best that the first inquiry shall
he made by our own commissioners. The
request of the Spanish authorities, there
fore. will be respectfully declined.
The apparent difficulty of sending down
divers to the Maine was relieved, if not
entirely removed. by the statement by
Senior Dubosc of the Spanish legation,
that a complete and harmonious under
standing between Captain Sigsbee and the
authorities at Havana had been reached
on the matter of divers. and that the
Spanish authorities viewed the Maine as
part of the sovereign territory of the
United States the same as the United
States legation situated in foreign terri
tory.
The waters of Havana harbor are, of
course. Spanish territory and some con
fusion has been aroused by the idea that
this jurisdiction over the waters attached
also to the wreck in its present helpless
condition at the bottom of the bay.
Captain Sigsbee will be recognized as
the one to direct the operations and to
send down the government divers for
such inspection as he sees proper to make.
Senior Dubosc feels assured. however,
that Siesbce will extend equal facilities
to the Spanish divers so that the inspec-
lions may proceed together.
Expert Opinion.
Washington. Feb. 20.--The opinion of
one of the leading experts i'll the use of
high explosives, Professor Agler of the
ordnance bureau, was today asked as to
AS to the question of the cause of the
Names explosion, we know that no tor
pedo such as is known to modern war
fare can of itself cause an explosion OF
the character of that on board the Maine.
We know Of no instances where the cX-
plosion of a torpedo mine under a ships
bottom has exploded the magazine with
in. 1t has simply torn a great hole in
the ships bottom, through which water
entered and from which the ship sank.
Magazine explosions on the contrary, pro
duce effects exactly similar to the effects
of the explosion on board the Maine In
seeking the cause of the explosion of the
Maine magazine. we should naturally look
not for improbable or unusual causes, but
those against which we have had to guard
in the past. The most common Of these
is through fire in the bunkers. Many of
our ships have been in danger at various
times from this cause, and not long ago
fire in the Cincnnati's bunkers actI-
ally set fire to fittings, wooden boxes,
etc. within the magazine, and had it not
been discovered at the time it was it
would doubtless have resulted in catas-
trophe on board that ship similar to the
one on the Maine. | shall again empha-
size the fact that no torpedo exploded
without a ship has ever produced OF &C
cording to our knowledge can produce
an explosion of magazine within"
Fatality in the Disaster.
Washington, Feb. 20.--The navy depart
ment has compiled the following sum
mary showing the total results of the
Maine disaster from available official in
formation up to tonight: Total mum
Der of officers and men on board the
Maine, 355; total number of officers, 20;
total number of men, 800; total number Of
officers saved "a total number of officers
lost, q; total number men lost, 246; total
number officers injured, none; total num-
Der men injured, 81; total number men
saved, rs; doubtful (men), 7.
The seven men appearing as doubtful
probably represent that number or less
whose lives have been saved, but who can
not be identified at present on account OF
errors in transmission of kilograms. The
81 appearing as injured are included in
the 76 appearing as saved. Two men re-
ported as having died in the hospital are
included in the total of 246 appearing
above as having been lost.
Senator White to II etire.