Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-04-09
The Hresident,e Message.

For some time prior to the visit OF
the Maine to Havana harbor IN consul
there reported and pointed out the ad-
vantages to flow from a visit of ma
tional ships to Cuban waters, in ac-
customing the people to the presence
Of our flag as q symbol Of good will
and Of our ships in the fulfllment of
the mission Of protection to American
interests, even though immediate need
therefore does not exist.
Accordingly on the cath Of January
last, after q conference with the Span
ish minister in which n renewal OF
visits Of our wal vessels to Spanish
waters was discussed, and accepted,
the %peninsular authorities at Madrid
and Havana were advised OF the pur-
pose of this government TO resume
friendly naval visits at Cuban ports,
and that the Maine would forthwith
call at Havana. This announcement
was received by the Spanish govern
ment with appreciation of h friendly
character of the visit of the Maine and
with n notification Of their intention
to return tho courtesy by sending
Spanish ships to the principal ports Of
the United States. In the meanwhile
the Maine entered the port of Havana
the 25th Of January, her arrival being
marked by no special incident beside
an exchange of customary saiutcs ana
ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in harbor at
Havana during the three weeks follow
ing her arrival. No appreciable eN-
element attended her stay, on the
contrary, a feeling Of relief and con-
fdcnce followed the resumption OF the
long interruption Of friendly inter
course. So noticeable was this imme-
date effect of her visit that the consul
general strongly urged that the pres
ence 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 another vessel TO
take her place.
At forty minutes past 0 in the even
ing of the 18th of February the Maine
was destroyed by an explosion by
which the entire forward part of the
ship was utterly wrecked. In the ca
tastrophe two officers and two hundred
and sixty of her crew persisted and
those not killed outright being penned
between decks by tangled wreckage
and drowned by the immediate sink
ing hull. Prompt assistance was rem
dered by neighboring vessels anchored
in the barbor, The Span
ish cruiser Alphonso MI and
Ward liner City of Washington
which lay not far distant. The wound
ed was generously cared for by the au-
thorities Of Havana, the hospitals be-
ing freely opened to them, while the
earliest recovered bodies of the dead
were inferred by The municipality in
n public cemetery in the city. Tributes
OF gl,ef and sympathy were offered
from all official quarters OF the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of u country with a crushing
force and for n brief time intense eX-
element prevailed, which in a com
munity less self controlled than ours,
might have led to hasty acts of blind
resentment. This spirit, however,
soon gave way to the calmer processes
of reason and to a resolve to investi-
gate the facts, and await material
proof before forming n judgment as to
the cause of responsibility, and if facts
warranted, the remedy due. This
course necessarily recommended itself
from the outset to the executive, for
only in light of dispassionately ascer-
tanned certainty could it determine the
nature and measure of its full duty in
the matter.
The usual procedure followed as in
all cases of casualty OF disaster to ma
tional vessels Of any maritime state. A
naval court of inquiry was at once or
ganized, composed Of officers well quail
fled by rank and practical experience
to discharge the onerous duty imposed