The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-18

starboard side and sat down there.
was feeling q biz glum and I'm fact was
So qtiict that Lieutenant j. Hood came up
and asked laughingly. II ! was asleep /
said. NO. 1 am on watch
Scarcely had spoken when there came
a dull sullen roar. Would TO Hou 'la'
could blot ont the sound and the
scenes that followed. Then came shaIp
explosion some say, numerous detoha-
lions. | remember only one. IL Se'itu
10 mo that the sound came from the
port side forward. Then came a perfect
rain Of missiles of an descriptions from
huge pieces Of cement 10 blocks OF wool
steel ratings. fragments OF grazing. ana
an the debris that would be dc'achaoie
in an explosion.
~ cement and Knocked down, but / was
not hurt. and got 10 my feet
I'm moment -~eutenant hoou
had run to the poop. and sup
posed. as I followed. he was dazed by inc
shock and about TO jump overheard.
hailed him and he answered that ne had
run to the poop to nelp lower the boats.
When / got there. though scarce
minute had elapsed. ] had TO wade III
water 20 my knees. ana almost Instantly
the quarter-deck was awash. On the
noon l found Captain SigsDee, as cool as
If at ball. and soon all the officers eN-
cept jenkins and Merritt. Joined us. me
Doop was above water after the Maine
settled on the bottom. Captain SlsSDee
ordered the gig lowered, and the oilceIs
and men. who by this time had assem-
bled. got the boats out and rescued
number in the water.
Captain Sigsbee ordered Lieutenant
Commander Wainwright forward TO see
the extent OF the damage and II any
thing could be done 10 rescue those ior-
ward or 10 cxtinguish the hames, which
followed close upon the explosion ana
burned fiercely as long as there was any
combustibles above water 90 feed them.
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright on
his return reported the total and awful
character OF the calamity, and Captain
Sigsbce gave the last sad order. Adam
don ship 20 men overwhelmed with
grief indeed, but calm and apparently
unexcited.
I'm the meantime. boats from the Span
lsh cruiser Alfonso XII. arrived. 10 be fol-
lowed soon after by those from the
steamer city OF Washington. The boats
lowered from the city of Washington
were found 10 be- riddlel with flying de-
hrls from the Maine and unfit for use.
Captain Sigsbee was the last man 10
leave his vessel and left in his own gig.
Il have no theories as 10 the cause OF
the explosion. cannot form any. An
minatiou hy divers may tell something
10 q court OF inquiry. I. with others, Lad
heard that the Havana harb0r was fun
OF torpedoes but the officers whose duty
~ was 10 examine into that reported that
they found no signs Of any Personally
do not believe that the Spanish had any
thing TO do with the disaster. Time may
tell 7 hope so.
1--WE were in n delicate position on the
Maine so far as taking any precautions
were concerned. We were friends In a
friendly. or alleged friendly. port and
could rot fire upon or challenge the APP
proach OF any boat boarding Us unless
convinced that her intention was hostile
1T wish To- Heaven ] could forget it,
7 have been In two wrecks now. and have
had my share But the reverberations of
that sullen get resonant roar. as Il the
bottom of the sea were grooming IN tor
ture. will haunt me for many day. and
the reflection Of the pillar Of flame comes
10 me when I close my eyes