Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-03-12
i. EXPLOSION WIS EXTERNAL.
,rsrrIIoF THE INVESTIGATION
yo,bing discovered by the Later
: work .Of the Divers to Change
the Evidences First Gathered as
10 the Maine Battleship's Disaster.

The divers have continued their work
during the absence of the board at Key
West They have discovered nothing to
change the evidences first gathered, which
showed, apparently, that the explosion
was external Their examination this
week has extended alongside the plates
and they have penetrated forward well
into the bow. All they find is merely
eOnfrmatory of what was previously dis
covered.
Captain Sampson and his associates
were especially anxious to await further
; work by the divers to determine whether
or not mistakes had been made in any
particular. Nothing has been found to
indicate a mistake. On the contrary, the
more thoroughly the hull'is examined, the
more convincing appears the original evil
dences of explosion from without. How
+ long the board will take to formulate its
conclusions on this point can be better
Judged in Washington than in Havana.
spaniards i'm No Hurry. -
Notwithstanding the permission given
by the United States government for
Spanish divers to examine the wreck, the
investigation by the Spanish authorities,
of the condition of the ship proceeds slow
ly. They seem to be in no hurry to learn
the facts about the hull, magazines and
other matters, which were first to engage
the attention of the naval board, The
government has, however, taken consid-
cradle testimony of persons who were in
the harbor on the night of the explosion.
1t gives much weight to the testimony of
those who say they saw flames issuing
from the Maine before the ship was wreck
ed by an explosion.
VIII Exonerate sigsbee. y :
4 The understanding in Havana is. that,
the naval board will be emphatic in exon
Grating. Captain Sigsbee and the officers
of the Maine from the implication of neg
ligence, lack of discipline or responsibility
for the disaster. 1t has been almost for
gotten that, until the board reports on
the subject, Captain Sigsbee is nominally
ftlnder d CLOUD. The secrecy with which
the investigation has been conducted has
not prevented the testimony on, the sub
iect from becoming known. b..
The board will be able to go further and
show that there was not only no accident
which could have been prevented, but also
kae basis for the theories of accident from
an unknown cause How far it Will go
in the assertion of positive proof that the
Maine was blown up is for the present
speculative question g -Rata
The prevalent impression is that the
board has evidence of the deed, without
1.-THE means of finding out who committed
VT 1t is incumbent on the Spanish gov
eminent to find that out. The denial
credited to Senior Du Bose in Washington
that mines existed in Havana harbor. does
not receive the weight that would be Civ
en- an official declaration from Captain
-.General Blanco or Premier Sagasta on
y The same subject.
The Spanish Attitude. t..s-.
In official circles it is the evident pur-
pose to combat the finding of the naval
board, but not aggressively. The Spanish
attitude seems to be that an accident was
probable and that the United States is not
v justified in making demand for repara-
tion when the proof of foul play is not
positive. The assumption will be that
the two governments, after taking evil
aence, win be unable to agree in their
conclusions. However, there has been
4. nothing in the nature of a joint investiga-
alton.
From the present outlook Madrid and
Washington are the places where the
consequences of the Maine explosion will
be determined Little more than already
known can be learned here. The wreck
promises to remain in the harbor for an
Mindefinite period. The wrecking compan-
les will be able to raise the guns of the
Maine. The hull is an asset of no value
10 any government.
The temper of the Spanish classes to-
ward the United States finds some exhibit
,sion at present, but not in the form of
Hostile demonstrations. 1t is rather in
the shape of fervent protests and actions
of loyalty to the mother country The
arrival of the warship Vizcaya has caused
an outpouring of the loyal spirit, though
it was not exactly spontaneous for the
demonstration was arranged in advance.
:. Apparently large proportion of the
populate are gratified to see the Vizcaya
anchored not far from the other war
ships, which are to come. and with the
torpedo feet. Havana and the ports of
Cuba are safe from an American fleet.
Spain Buys ships.
London, March 5.4-Spain has purchased
two cruisers which the Armstrcsgs have
been building for; Brazil. the Amazonus
and a sister Ship unnamed, Of 400 tons
each, % knots and 10 guns. Spain is also
9gotiating for and will probably secure
two cruisers of.siInilar type which have
been building. in, France for Brazil. q The