The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-12
DID SPANISH OFFICIALS BLOW
UP THE MAINE?

Was the Maine blown UP outside?
What fool thinks otherwise? Was 1t
destroyed by a mine planted previous
ly by the Spanish government or Of
ficials. The gallant and sighted Cap
tain Sigsbee says it was. Did h
S~paniards place the ship over a plant
ed mine when it was taken to it's an
chorage upon arrival? We cannot
doubt it. Captain SigSbee refrains to
charge directly the destruction of the
doomed ship to Spanish officials, but
was so done. His recent testimony be-
fore the house committee on foreign
affairs is certainly i~lluminative. He
distinctly stated that his vessel was
anchored by the Spanish captain of
the port in the most unfrequented part
Of the harbor, and that the Maine
could be fired into by both forts and at
the same time. Take this evidence, and
the revelations OF the wreckers, and the
testimony taken before the court of in
vcJtigation, and what the Englishman
said as to his manufacturing mines for
the Spaniards, and the general bad
character of the S~paniards, their
cruelty, their treachery, their hatred
Of the American people, and there is
crtainly an immensely probable case
established of the destruction of the
Maine by Spanish officials. Then there
come from fresh testimony from Lieu
tenant Commander J. C. Colwell, of the
limited States MA wv that iS vary ciO-
nificant n important. 1t is 50 start
ling and certain that any genuine Am
erican will he fully justified to believe
in Spanish guilt when it is taken in
consideration with all other evidence
bearing upon the completely of the
Spanish government.
What is the evidence freshly revealed
by Lieutenat Commander Colwell? 1T
| gives the lie direct to the denial of the
Spanish officials as to the harbor of
Havana being entirely free from all
mines. Weyler and all who have fol-
lowed him in denying that mines had
been planted have lied deliberately,
openly, pertinaciously and specifically.
The information obtained now is to the
effect that Spain bought mines on two
occasions Of Lattimer, Rhodes & Clark,
! of London; that the last purchase from
them was in 1S96-possibly not more
thar eighteen months agO-and that
some of these mines were sent to Ha-
vana. The witness who tells this con-
firmatory statement is ]. p. Gibson.
who is superintendent of the torpedo
department of the firm. The fact o
stares Spain out of countenance and
out of character. The truth of all this
has been concealed and general lying
has been resorted to that SPANS guilt
INC ignominy in blowing up the great
American cruiser might be shielded
J from the public view. But as murder
will out" so crimes committed against
civilization and honor and all virtue
will be exposed sOon or late. The fac
that the mines bought required three
tensifies certainty and makes tht
damning act the more CONSPICUOUS. TIL
three keys must be in possession O.
those on shore who would explode thu
mines. If the combinations were no
perfectly understood there could be NJ
explosion from the shore. The govern
ment alone held the secret. This Ough
to convinc the most stiff-necked scep
tic and pull the wool from the eyes o.
a bandaged Mckinley.