The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-17
THEORY MAKERS ARE BUSY
How Washington Authorities and
Everybody Else Account For Et


theory 10 account for the destruction Of
the Maine. Perhaps a majority are in
clined TO the belief that the explosion was
purely accidental; another considerab BILE
number feel that a torpedo was exploded
under the vessel, and a third theory is
that some Internal machine was snug
gled aboard the ship and set of. In the
present lack of knowledge il is not
thought to be possible TO say 10 which
theory the balance of probability inclines
An examination by diver of the hull Of
the Maine would demonstrate instantly
whether or not torpedo had been used,
for in case * had. the plates of the hull
would surely be driven in. on the other
hand, protruding plates would be an evil
dence that the explosion was purely in
ternal.
There was no smokeless powder on
board the ship and the ten-inch gun am
munRion was made up of brown prismatic
powders. Not only is this powder care
fully packed in hermitically sealed copper
cases, but its heat-resisting qualities are
so great that il cannot be ignited by the
fame OF a match, COO degrees Fahrenheit
being the amount Of heat that must be
applied for some time 10 set off the pow
der. On the other hand il is readily ig-
nIted, as in the case Of the charge in the
gun, by the explosion OF a good quantity
of fulminite Every precaution is adopted
aboard ship to safeguard the magazine.
In it's vicinity a. sentry stands on duty
continually. The doors are closed herme-
tically except when the ship is cleared for
action. At s o'clock every night the tenn
perature is taken and the keys of the
locked door are placed in the captains
hand for the night. The records OF the
navy department show that 81 degrees
was the maximum temperature in the
Names magazine during the past month.
very low and safe temperature. These
facts make it extremely difficult to ac-
count for the explosion.
The department within recent years has
been greatly troubled BY complaints OF
spontaneous combustion of coal in the
ships bunkers. which have endangered
the lives OF the crew and the safety Of the
ships. The Cincinnati. twice at least. has
been obliged to food her magazines TO
prevent their blowing up during fires OF
this kind and the cruiser Boston has been
in the same condition. In some OF these
cases shelving in the magazines which
separate the powder charges have been
charred by the heat caused by the burn
ing coal IN the adjacent bunkers. Al
though the bunkers are inspected under
the regulations at frequent intervals, 50
numerous have been these cases Of spon-
taneous combustion that the navy depart
ment only recently had the special board
investigate the subject with the view of
applying preventive measures. Unfortun-
ately this board was prevented from max
ing the thorough investigation necessary
because no funds were applicable 10 the
purpose.
Even empty bunkers have exploded. In
the case Of the Atlanta some years ago
the bunkers exploded with great violence
and the only explanation that could be
given was that 1t probably was caused
by the ignlting of the vapors arising from
the new paint applied 10 the lining of the
bunkers.
The theory advanced by the Spanish al
thorities that the disaster might have
been caused by the explosion Of the boiler
is accepted at tho navy department as
within the bounds OF crcdib!ity. The
Names boiler was separated from the
powder magazines at the nearest point
BY a space OF about four feet. usually
filed with coal AT least one boiler IN
doubtedIy was kept under almost fun
steam in order TO run the dynam0s and
move the ship in case Of need. The ex-
plosion Of such a boiler might easily
drive through the buiknead and FIRE the
magazine.
Inasmuch as suspicion exists Ia some
quarters that torpedo was used against
the Maine IL may be said that majority
Of the naval officers believe that the char
acter Of the explosion was hardy such as
could be attributed 20 torpedo 10
latter, charged with about Io5 pounds ~
roxder or gun cotton. 1t - believed, would
have torn a large hole ia TIE bottom ~
side Of the Maine and would be scafe1iy
lfkely 10 FIRE the magazine. which 10 r'-
near the bottom
II is said a. the navy department mar
there Is no lack o. precedent i's --.1 e-s-
aeters as shat sustained - trs Blaine
sr ~ which can he traced 70 aerii-i.'a4
csuee4 In lss5 .ha Elsf.d States u4a1-'i-
~ Missouri. then yias 90 a.ars-'ar' VS.
fatally wrecked hy tAe explosion ~ A'
-..g-gs-s Another case famous IN naval
a.
,,is...rv te that o. ncr majesty ari2 i'D-
-e-e, In lss7 shs vaz iT.uE AZ anct1f ~
.s,,s--z Arenas l1 the straits ~ Magellan
An eYefae.au wired the snip ~ tae face
- .t. yxasers and Jeff almost bone ~ Bag
80 alive 7rfs xas another case ~ mag
ez,-e rzplo-Isn. lH2sEa 81 n4g have of-
fg,natsa in the coal b4nzers q o9ts-z-
..r.ala s.Estses sF.-t re.er,. - vel
q.
.As,- row ia-llre strc1Ey 20 the te'set
ts..t tas exp.osioa ~ss ~ latsrnal Drfgs--
roth agree tssr sac force - y Vaa io
,hs forward part - TIRE sst2 ard ts-a ~
borne cat oy me escape ot q majority ~
The ofecers = hose quarters ass ~. ana
fas he4vy css-zal.tlas amE rs~ ere~.
sieep.Ex forward Prsta.F i1 fae --i-
ease the ae4ta 3.sf so.il fart efsa eafr
large nut far rte fs~f t1at f1e ia
having % fs1-erst--1s-.i5rs t.rw1r1 "a gre
nsasn deck q p1rGlga q the ere~ ~sFS
chartered -ae-4 sd se es1 f1e s-
fence - ere eEairs.asa as fe.t 80 fae aTfa
ss-E fx51z -hesE I1e &aHa Bed t1ras
r-arzzla~a- TIA o-e te-~sF< 49, -ss4
fsr tse storage ~ a-1-Ha ES
e - -.auass TBS elaEtit5 - sze
Is ~ ssrzs t- 81. go. ssrz- e h-e ea
srsrrssr f-eaese sr u4s s-sars-a trs so
aauar bs1-. 81 beard - bare 4s~s
s.sl taas r.1zaz-.e szsl-s-zs4 s-zsreE
ssrsssr CAV of aE l
ssuagisaa Is lhas tas aasg s-eas H.l
xigs e4rsszI Az1 lAsgs-xa -l.&z--4s =