New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-29


enough explosive completely to destroy that part
OF that ship. would be similarly demolished. ne
replied that the violent explosive would cut mole
in the ship blowing out the part that was cut IN
small fragments.
Being shown sketches OF the forward magazines
and asked II their explosion or partial explosion
would leave the bottom OF the Maine in the con-
diton IT in shown by the sketches ne
stated that the distortion or the keel OF the Maine
was too far forward and too remote from the
magazines 10 have been caused by their explosion
He was OF the opinion that the bending OF the
plates on the bottom OF the Maine could be pro-
duced by the explosion Of submarine mine con-
tanning a large amount OF the lower explosives
gunpowder or slmlar-not In contact with tho
ship but some distance below &. perhaps on the
bottom. Continuing. he said that he had never IN
his experience any interior explosion that was
possible TO produce the effect made upon the Maine
do you think that necessarily there must have
been underwater mine TO produce these ex-
posons?'
Indications that underwater explosion
produced the conditions there" the reply with
further statements regarding the impossibility, IN
his opinion. OF internal explosion causing tho
Names wreck
LIEUTENANT BLANDIN'S EVIDENCE.
Lieutenant John J. Blandln. who was watch off,
on the deck OF the Maine the night OF the dis
aster. testified that the quarter watch was on
watch all night. When he took the deck at \
p. m. everything IN normal condition. Just be-
fore the explosion occurred he looked over the port
side. but noticed nothing. There were fewer boats
in sight than usual. He standing on the port
side OF the deck just abaft the after turret talk
ing 10 Lieutenant Hood when the explosion &C.
Cured. He thinks there two explosions. As
he went forward something struck him on the
head. nearly knocking him down. He reported 10
Captain Sigsbee who ordered the boats lowered
NJ 81
was useless 10 Try to do anything. few minutes
later Captain slgsbee gave the order TO abandon
ship. witnesses impression that the explo-
sion occurred on the port side forward. He saw
a fare but no actual flames He could not locate
definitely the explosion. He saw no water thrown
up by the explosion Within minute after the
explosion the forward part Of the ship was under
water In less than three minutes she was on the
bottom. Although he impressed by the idea
that there were two explosions. he could not dis
cover the difference between them. He noticed no
upheaval OF the ship
CONDITION OF THE WRECK.
Naval Constructor John B. Hoover Identified
three portions Of wreck forward OF the middle
superstructure. The frst was portion OF ship
frame L. the outside plating thrown up and dou-
bIed TO starboard. bottom platings thrown up and
doubled back The port frame is canted TO star
board The second object a portion OF the
port SIDE or the protective geek hDIedst "a N4io
chain-ocker II was six feet out OF the normal
position The third piece a portion OF tho
port ste OF the berth deck twisted around 20 star
board looking forward The lower portion Of the
ship. the keel a. frame Il. was thrown up
and abatt the same portion OF the ship at higher
deck. These pieces OF wreck were all on the port
side OF the original keel. but canted to starboard
and all 0: them-the bottom OF the ship the pro
tective deck and the berth deck-show above water
al present The forward part OF the 6-nch maya
zine is Just below the three pieces OF deck as these
originally we're Between frames II and p there
two magazines.
Lieutenant a. ". Catl,n, who was in charge OF
the marine guard said that when the ship went
into Havana Harbor two extra night sentnels
were put on. IN the forecastle and one IN the
poop. armed with rifles. They had special orders
10 challenge all boats which approached the ship
near enough for challenge. Their. was picked
man on the port gangway. The corporals guard
inspected the ship lights below every half-hour.
the patrol taking his place while gone.
Mr. Catln said he visited the sentries twice every
night. once before and once after midnight. while
In the harbor at Havana and always found them
,trilant and attending 20 business
He was sitting IN his AZ tho time or the
explosion He heard dull sound, loud concus-
sion and felt the shaking Of the ship The lights
went out and he Went on deck. ana as lie Ola 80
the whole heavens were full OF sparks. There
!
Lieutenant Carl Y. Jungcn testified that all the
ammunition was properly slowed the night or the
.xnioslon He said however that there WIS an
extra supply Of 1O-inch shells In the loading ana
\ passing room which had been got ready iW
immediate use the night we started over 'or III
vnna from Tortugas." He considered NeAson' d"
charr. NJ the hold q trustworthy man. He was n
| ~ ,neasroorn talking 10 Nj Jenkins and MI Iol-
man when the explosion occurred. He described
the explosion as dull. deafen!ng roar foHoweo
| Immediately by a tremendous crash. and II seemed
ca though the whole ship was gong 70 lt'eCrs
Lieutenant Holman jumped up and remarked " .
have all been torpedoed.' which was the genera
impression ell had"
WHAT LIEUTENANT HOOD SAW.
Lieutenant John Hood senior watch ofcer IN
| charge OF the powder division. said ne hao IN
spected the magazines and shellrooIns' ana lNeio
Was nothing stored there contrary 20 the ofu'a'.'
regulations He was absolutely sure ne s@'O' -
/ =, tho night Of tho explosion there was ho'H'"e
ho,ng done beyond the ordinary work down there
/ Tbese rooms had only been opened on the Gay OF
| thu exploson 10 take the temperature
! NJ Hood was officer Of the deck part OF the
| time and while acting In that capaclty lie Eau
not noticed any hostile demonstration aoa. :" $40
vav Of boats approaching the ship lie feIt Inc
| ox.ros,on rather than heard Il. i sounced anu
| ,i, lfk. an underwater explosion, and he was AZ
| .ha time under the impression tnat II came 'o"'
| ,ho cardboard forward. There were TWO eA-
rIos,ons following closely. Immediately fo"o"lhs
n. fall of objects he saw the water IN Ioani'
! much wreckare and many sroaning men ~,
/ Aret explosion was rs II something h'H eApo1e.
! ,,rda- the vessel He sitting far art ana
.unposed the explosion was on the StdIOoa'u ~
| So. .ba, WAS only an impression. as his We" Was
! ob.truc.ed At the second explosion there Wa a..
unshoot OF fame. His belief is that the ""o'e y.
the forward part OF the superstructure '''' - NV
! living on the starboard gangway was N '"e d.,
| when the second explosion occurred i"o ''o'
| av,iosi,n occurred the starboard slde.
| r,a,,,o.ont G p Blow was the officer OF the day
on the dav Of the explosion. and received the re-
ports at p. m. He said the usual reports 49,
made that the lights. fires and eVeFy'H"s W.
secure He said he had perfect commence " 80
reports OF his men. He Aeti'u a." .,.,, ,ba