The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-29
PLATES BENT INWARD AND UPWARD
Significant Testimony Which
That the Explosion Came
Outside the Maine

marks since the explosion. using Cap
tain Stevens, temporarily in command
OF the Ward line steamer City of
Washington. as authority for the state
ment. that he had never known in all
his experience, which covered visits to
Havana for five or six years, a man-of-
war to be anchored at that buoy. that
he had rarely known merchant vessels
to be anchored there and that IL was
the least used buoy i'm the harbor. In
describing the surroundings when first
moored to this buoy. Captain Sigsbee
stated that the Spanish man-of-war
Alfonso XIII. was anchored in the po-
sition now occupied by the Fern, about
$50 yards to the northward and west
ward of the Maine. The German ship
Griesenau was anchored at the berth
now occupied by the Spanish man-of-
yards about due north from the Maine.
He then located the German man-of-
war Charlotte. which came into the
harbor a day or two later. which was
anchored to the southwark of the
Names berth about 400 or 500 yards.
The Surroundings.
In describing the surroundings at the
time of the explosion. Captain Sigsbee
stated that the night was calm and
still. The Alfonso XIII. was at the
same berth. The small Spanish dis
DdtCn DOdt, NdSDO, ndu tOlllt out the
day before and taken the berth occu-
pied by the German man-of-war the
Griesenau. which had left. The steam
er City of Washington was anchored
about 200 yards to the south and east
of the Names stern, slightly in the
port quarter. The Maine coaled at Key
West taking on about $50 tons, the coal
being regularly inspected and taken
from the government coal pile. This
coal was placed generally in the for
ward bunkers. No report was received
from the chief engineer that any coal
had been too long in the bunkers and
that the fire alarms i'm the bunkers
were sensitive.
The regulations regarding inflamma-
bles and paints, on board, Captain
Sigsbee testified were strictly carried
out i'm regard to storage and that the
waste also was subject to the same
careful disposition. Tne iniiammables
were stored i'm chests according to the
regulations. and when infiammables
were in excess of chest capacity, they
were allowed to be kept in the bath
, room of the admirars cabin. Regard
ing the electric plant of the Maine,
Captain Sigsbee stated that there was
no serious groundings nor sudden
fiaring up of the lights before the ex-
plosion. but sudden and total
eclipse.
ing of temperature of the magazines,
etc, Captain Sigsbee stated there was
no special regulation other than the
usual regulations required by the de-
partment He explained the tempera-
ture himself and conversed with the
ordnance officer as to the various tenn
peratures and the contents of the
/ magazines, and according TO the opin-
ion of this officer. as well as Sigsbee,
the temperatures were never at the
danger point. Il do not think there
was any laxity in this direction" said
the captain, replying to question Of
Judge Advocate Mark. He had no
recollection of any work going on in
the magazine or shell room on the day
of the explosion. The keys were called
for in the usual way in the day in
question and were properly returned.
At the time of the disaster the two
after berths in the after fire room were
in use because the hydraulic system
was somewhat leaking.
Speaking generally of the relations
with the Spanish authorities, Captain
Sigsbee stated that with officials they
were outwardly cordial. The members
of the autonomistic council OF the gov
ernment, however. seem to have
brought to the attention of the navy
department the fact that he did not
visit them. and that fact brought en-
barrassment to the government at
Washington. He took the ground to
the department that Ii was unknown
etiquette to call on the civil members
of the colonial government other than
that of the governors. Without walt
ing for such an order. Captain Sigsbee
made a visit afterwards, and, as he
states, was pleasantly received and his
visit promptly returned by certain
members of the council. A party Of
ladies and gentlemen called and the
president of the council made speech
which Captain Sigsbee could not un-
derstand. but which was interpreted
to him briefly, to which he replied.
My reply" said Captain Sigsbee,
was afterwards printed in at least
two papers in Havana, but the terms
made me favor the autonomist govern
ment in the island. 1 am Informed that
the autonomistic government in Ha-
vana is unpopular. among a large class
of Spanish and Cuban residents. 1
have no means of knowing whether my
apparent interference in the political
concerns of the island had any rela-
, tion to the destruction of the Maine"
Animosity shown.
When asked whether there was any
demonstration of animosity. Captain
Sigsbee said that there was never on
shore. as he vas informed, but there
was afioat. He related that on the
first Sunday after the Maine's arrival
ferry boat. crowded densely with
people. civil and military. returning
from a bull fight at Regla. passed the
Maine and about 40 people on board in
dulged in yelling. whistllng and de-
risive calls. During the stay in Ha-
vana. Captain Sigsbee took more than
ordinary precautions for the protection
of the Maine by placing sentries on the
forecastle and poop, quarterback and
signal decks, on the bridge and on the
poop. A corporal OF the guards was
especially instructed TO look out for
the port gangway and the officers of
the deck and auartermaster were es-
pecially instructed TO look out for the
starboard gangway and a quarter
watch was kept on deck all night.
Sentries' cartridge boxes were filed.
their arms kept loaded. a number Of
rapid-fire ammunition kept in the pilot
room and In the spare pantry and un-
der the after superstructure were kept
of ahall .ln af