The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-18
STORY OF THE DISASTER.
~ HATANA BAT AND
uoNG the CITY FRONT.

xrIde The Brave WORK OF MOSQUE
u.,,v, Feb. 10, via Key West, Feb. 17.-At
al, o'clock last night, as THE SUN reporter
,,,,irs in the Central Park talking to somo
.,..a, the skies over the bay were seen to DO
.',-,,,, illuminated for about ten seconds
simultaneously
r.,, , most terrific explosion was heard
-,,oh ,hook the whole city and threw 1t Into
transformation knowing that something
.,u.usl had occurred, the reporter TOOK q cab
49,, a.ovs IN the wharvcs from which direction
the detonatlon had come.
Nm arriving there he noticed that all the lights
h, thu streets, as well as in the neighborinR
,orsos had been cxtinguishcd. but the bay was
..,rh,,v III by the flames OF the burning ship,
xhicb was easily distinguished as the unfortu-
,,,c Maine by its wcll.known mast ono having
already fallen. due to the explosion. screams
aud cries we're heard coming from the sinking
,bip. for she went partially down very soon after
the explosion.
Ninrling with the echoes of the walls Of tho
sounded and drowning sailors were heard tho
.houts OF sylvia Espahal' Mueran los Ameri-
,anos,' "Mahana tendrcmos buena pesca en- la
h.bia,' owe shall have good fishing in the bay
tomorrow and such remarks coming from tho
snnnish rnbble, who were congregating in great
rumbers around the wharves and seemed greatly
de,ipb,ed at the misfortune which had befallen
the Americana.
II was then that for the first time the sus-
piclon Of foul play came to the reporters mind.
Having induced a boatman to take him to the
aide of the burning vessel the reporter saw q
tight most horrible and not possible to describe.
Near the ship were already two boats Of the
Maine with q few officers and men who were
rescuinR their shipmates. The Alfonso XII,
not far distant, had also sent some OF her boats,
which were assisting. some Of tho sailors who
were rescued were taken to the Alfonso Kill,
others to tho City OF Washington, some to
Regla, the steamship Colon, and to the wharf Of
the Machina. 1t is marvellous how some OF
them could SWIM. as they were nearly all
very severely hurt. One nan had both legs
fractured, another had an ankle shattered, and
nearly all were severely burned. All Of them
received the best possible attention wherever
they were taken.
The sanitary corps of the Fire Department, az
well as Of the Spanish marine corps, stationed
themselves at the Machina and there gave the
frst medical attention to the men as they were
brought in. After receiving treatment the men
were carried in filters or ambulances to the hos
pital Of San Ambrosio or to the Alfonso XII.
The Maine Immediately after the explosion be-
gan to burn fercely. Every few minutes q shell
would burst. scattering the burning debris all
around.
Notwithstanding tho imminent danger of
being struck, Q boat Of the Maine was constantly
~sncircllng the ship looking for any one who
might DO In the water. A few firemen got on
board and rescued two sailors. One of the fire.
men had his clothes and hair burned.
Although over 200 men were still on board,
not q sound Of q living being could be detected
on the shin. Just then an officer on one Of tho
Maine boats approached tho ship. and with .
voice that could DO heard far away In the still
nesof the night called out:
III there is any one living ON board, for Gods
baks say sol"
All waited for an answer. but nom came, save
theeehofrom the shore. Seeing that it was useless
70 Try to save any more near tho vessel, which
was already the iron coffin Of hundreds of men,
the reporter departed from the scene and went
on board the City of Washington, where Capt.
sigsbee was,
The face Of the Captain showed the mental
suffering he was undergoing. and although he
was burned about the head he never complained.
When he was asked about the cause of tho or
plosion he said:
y" l cannot tell you. All was right on board"
be continued. The men had Just retired. The
Keys Of the magazine were all in my room"
little while after that Consul Lee and Vice.
SUUbul SDrln1aF arrival aA --f--
e@ik with them, Capt. Sigsbee shut himself in
y VI .ne staterooms on the City of Washing
son' refusing to see any one else. On board the
S"." washington were several officers and
= VINO wore only their underclothing, having
Haa no time to dress themselves.
.ro% the washington the reporter won't to
-. rAiaee' where all tho authorities both civil
su n'hsary mad congregated around Gen.
I~e Asthe reporter was going up the steps
y raiaoe he passed a group of officers who
discussing tho incident. One of them said:
wish" " " "o oA
A.lne Palace everybody said that the cause
oApioaion was the bursting of O torpedo
sla' oae OF the Names men was cleaning. This
hAsufu' everybody knew that no torpe-
ever cleaned at 10 o'clock at night.
As'0"' many rumors are circulating concern.
~ u cause OF tho explosion. The most preya-
ohe ID mat q small torpedo was placed
rxAn'tt he vessel. and that conclusion caused
'Ap'osloh OF the guncotton in one of tho
magazines. This theory seems to DO sustained
s. 'no TACT that there were two distinct explo.
"" Inc hrst was not very loud.
,,,,i' inc morning the bay was swarmins with
h'as boats searching for the bodies. About ten
~ oeeh found floating in the water at 0 o'clock.
,.ai Io windows and doors of many buildings
-. - inc Day were shattered. The Cafe Luz
nav, ."asea 10 the extent of $4,000. The
A. = tue deck OF the Maine that was still
IT, wafer was like the crater of q volcano.
~ n"as sun smoking at 10 o'clock this morning,
iospi,sI Gniuwick Is with the wounded at the
to,d :" Inc Maine had 354 souls aboard. all
,n,r mere were l0l survivors. The Spanish
OF ,wo report this morning that the bodies
tts ohcefS were found. They are supposed
n = jenkins and Merritt.
,.m 'e wounded four will certainly die
nv sailors are held here to identity hodiss
n . VIII be secured as soon as possibI.
horror was saved. Havana Bay usualIv
plo.,". win sharks. At the sound of tbe ex-
W.rs d,.pe' were frightened away. Cannon
turning. a"S 10 Keep them from re-
surer'n"' In the hospitals are bearing their
IA h ling with great courage. Not a comnIaint
ths, They all talk fight. and tbev h~Iiovs