The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-17

washington, FEB. 17.-After a day OF
Intense excitement at the navy depart
ment and elsewhere growing out of the
destruction OF the battleship Maine in
Havana harbor Tuesday night, the sit
uation at sundown, after the exchange
OF number. of cablegrams between
Washington and Havana, can be summed
up in the words OF Secretary Long, who.
when asked as he was about to depart
for the day whether he had reason to
suspect that the disaster was the work
OF an enemy. replied Il do not In
that l am influenced by the fact that
Captain Sigsbee has not yet reported to
the navy department on the cause. He
is evidently waiting to write full re-
port. SO long as he does not express
himself, / certainly cannot. i should
think from the Indications, however.
that there was an accident-that the
magazine exploded. How that came
about l do not know. For the present
at least, no other warshlp will be sent
10 Havana"
The appalling nature OF the disaster
and the gravity of the situation that
would arise should investigation give
basis for the undercurrent Of sus-
picion OF treachery and foul play that
ran through the minds had a SOLDERING
effect on public men OF all shades OF
political opinion. The fact stands forth
and is little less than remarkable that
not a single resolution was introduced
or a single speech made in either house
of congress bearing on the disaster, save
a resolution of coincidence with the fam
flies of those killed offered by Mr..
Boutele and adopted by the house OF
representatives.. Public men expressed
their opinions with reserve when ap-
preached for interviews, but everywhere
there was demand for an investigation
and full details in the light of which the
horror may be justly viewed.
Secretary Long undoubtedly summar-
lied the general opinion of the majority
Of the naval experts I'm finding il i'm
possible just now TO state the cause OF
the destruction OF the Maine. There
are great number of theories, but most
OF them are of n character that makes
IL easy to prove or upset them by
simple investigation by a diver. Sec
retary Long has taken immediate steps
10 make this investigation. Late yes
terday afternoon he telegraphed to
Admiral Sicard at Key West TO appoint
a board OF naval officers TO proceed at
once TO Havana, employ divers and
make such inquiry as the regulations
OF the navy demand shall be made in
the case Of the loss of n ship. II is
expected that this work will take some
time. and while there are officers who
say that in their opinion IL will not bit
possible. owing to the probably dis
ruptcd condition of the hull of the ship,
to make out the cause of the explosion,
the opinion OF the majority is that the
question will be easily settled by the
simple observation of the condition Of
the ships hull plates in the neighborhood
of the hole which sank her--whether or
not they are bulged, as would be the
case II the explosion came from the in
side, or whether they were driven in,
as would result from the attack of tor
pedo, or the explosion Of a mine beneath
the ship. The large majority Of naval
officers are inclined to the belief that the
explosion resulted from spontaneous
combustion Of a coal bunker: the over
heating Of the partitions between tn
boilers aud the magazine. or from the
theory finds little support.
The naval constructors. in the LIGHT
OF the dispatches thus far received. say
that II is by no means certain that the
Maine cannot be raised and again carry
the flag. They say that while she is a
big ship, others as large have been
raised. end at Havana the new dry
dock would receive her If she could once
he gotten above the water. Captain
SieSbee evidently Is taking an interest
in the future OF the ship, for he sent
telegram to Commander Forsythe at
Key West that was promptly trans
mittcd 60 Secretary Long. suggesting
that a lighthouse vessel or some such
small craft be stationed In Havana har-
Dor on watch over the wreck. The
latter, even IL beyond resurrection. con-
tains valuable ordnance and other prop
erty that doubtless can be secured by
divers.
II Is said at the navy department that
this disaster is the greatest Of the kind
IN naval history since the sinking of the
bie British warship Victoria, by COL
lision with the Camperdown in the Med
iterranean sea or Malta I'm June 1893
Ry that accident the British admiral
commanding, % officers and 236 men lost
their lives. The spanish legation was
early advised Of the horror by Captan
General Rlanco who expressed hls pro-
found regret and added that the occur
renee was an accident. tho undoubted
cause being the explosion Of the boiler
ffft.a