The sun., 1898-02-26
The Court Of Inquiry Departs for
Key West.
ENSIGN POWEISON TESTIFIES
As An Expert He Says Submarine
Mine Did the WOrk---Result OF the
Investigation.

iAN AAA, Tco 80 VIA Nty W vest -
The Court OF Inquiry is preparing to
leave Havana for Kew West. All the
important testimony is in its hands. Its
members are convinced that the Maine
was blown up by submarine mine. The
rest of the testimony, to be taken at Key
West, will be merely corroborative. No
single witness of importance remains to
be examined.
Captain Sigsbee Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright, Chaplain Chad
wick, thirty witnesses in all, have ap-
pearpd before the court. All the time,
divers were probing the mysteries of the
Maine and returning with discoveries
that bore out the officers belief of ex-
ternal explosive force.
But the last testimony taken by the
court was the most concIusive-that of
Ensign Powelson. He testified that the
forward part of the keel of the Maine,
with its ribs and plates, was stove up
wards SO far hat paris OF the shattered
double bottom show ont of water. In
places, he said, the green-painted outer
hull was visible.
This was irresistible proof that
tremendous blow was dealt to the Maine
on the bottom, upward. Only sub
marine mine, both from position and
prodigiols force, could rend heavily
ship in this manner.
The ship was hit at a point just tor
ward of the coming tower, about one
third of the way aft, and just aft of the
forward magazine.
This cleared up the mystery of the
powder cases found in various parts of
the wpckage The blow had been
delivered in just the place to rupture the
wall Of the reserve magazine, Just aft of
the big magazine.
The hole is very large. Part of the
bottom was knocked out of the ship,
explaining why the Maine went down
50 quickly that many of the sailors were
drowned in their hamnocks.
Ensign PoweIson was corrob,rated by
the divers. The ensign is himself an
expert on the subject Puwelson is now
attached to the Fern, but he was for
merry in the construction corps, and
took a two years special course in the
Glasgow School of Naval Architecture.
The report of the Court oi Inquiry will
probably not be sent to Washington be-
fore next "Wednesday The roundup OF
witnesses examined here included Mr..
Van Sickle, manager OF the Standard
Oil Works, who saw the explosion from
his home across the hlrbnr; Captain
reasdaIr, of the British bark Diva, and
two City of Washington passengers,
RothschId and WhitmOre.
Members of til. court will leave here
p ubably tonight or tomorrow.
WASHINGTON. Feb 23.-The result of
The invest cations of the Naval Board of
Inquiry into the Maine disaster is low
thoroughly known to the AdministrA-
ion.
The accident theory has been aban-
loned utterly in the light of the last
news sent to he President through the
Navy Department. Tie Naval Commits
sion has announced its unanimous belief
hat within a few days the Government
viii announce its attitude.
Congress is fully aware of the critical
tate Of affairs, and Representative is
for the statement that that
Iouse will pass a bill to place the SUN
# $500, 100000 at the disposal Of the
President whenever he deems il war an
'rOpriation necessary.
The official report OF the finding of the
'oard of Inquiry has not yet been placed
eforc the Government, but note fore
asting it has been forwarded to the de-
In clear, concise terms it
tatcs definitely that the Maine was
lown up externally.
MADRID, Feb. 25- S.nor Dlpuy De
.ume, former Spanish Minister to Wash
lgtpll, arrived in Liverpool today and
t once te,cg,aphed to Premier Sagasta.
Ie will come at once to Madrid.
When he reaches the city he will at
nee 60 in consultation with Sagasta,
ho eagerly awaits his report. Most
ital action on the part of Spain may be
le result.
The Impartial today. in discussing his
turn, bitterly assais the United States.
WASHINGTON, Feb 25.--The first appli-
'ton for a pension growing out of the
.aine disaster was filed today.
Mrs. Harriet Adams of tins city, the
Apcndcnt mother OF 5. }. +. ADAMS,
val passcr, Nho was killed, has made
,e claim. The indications are that the
)plication will be granted without the
ss of time.
L>xpoN. Feb. PA special dispatch
ON Madrid SAYS
.'rhc Cove trnincnt has np choice if the
nited States adopts II threatening atti-
de, for the prospect Of var is poplar
ith all parties, and the more cxcitable
'wspaperS are already urging the Gov
nmrnt to take measures to enable
,ain to Strikr the first and decisive
ow.'
KEY WEST, Fla. Feb. 25.--Scnator
'octor expects to leave on the Olivette
night for Havana.
WASHINGTON. Eel. 25.-'rhc first full
Getting OF the Cabinet in some weeks
as held today. ho;h Secretaries A ger
III sherman, who have been sick, being
rscn. The Cabinet talked about the
ainc disaster at some length as a cur
Mt topic IF vital interest. bat no action
any kind was taken nor any sngge~-
N of action made.
Feb. PA national leg
ator after he had a talk with the Pres
mt upon the Spanish sit alton to-day
d.
" rhe president thinks the situation is
c c,edingly grave" "Nar with
ain is not out OF the question by
y means"