The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-29
stories of Expert Divers Who Cares
fully Examined the sides and
Bottom of the Vessel.
CAPTAIN sIGsBEE'S EVIDENCE
GREATEST PRECAUTIONS WERE
TAKEN BEFORE THE DISASTER.
IntimatiOn that Conspiracy Waar
Hatched to Destroy the Maine
The Testimony in Detail.

WASHINGTON, March 2S-The immense
mass of testimony taken by the Maine couru
of inquiry, 100000 words or more, was sent
to the Senate to-day, and with the Presi-
dents message and findings of the court
referred to the committee on foreign rela-
tions The testimony was taken on eightee1
different days, the fourteenth day, however,
being devoted to viewing the wreck. Every
witness who was known to have any infor-
nation that could throw light on the great
disaster was called to give his testimony.
The story of the destruction of the vessel Ia
told not graphically. but in a manner which,
gives all tangible facts. No technical detail
is omitted. Every movement and incident
connected with the Maine from the time she
left Key West until the last diver examined
the wreck slowly sinking into the mud of
Havana harbor is given 1t is story il~
tensely interesting to the American people,
Those who read it could have little douh1
as to whether there was an internal or ex~
ternal explosion. Perhaps the most signiti-
plates on the port side of the Inflated Maine
to be bent inward and upward, result that
hardly could have followed anything save
explosion from the outside. A mass of
testimony is submitted, showing the care
exercised on board the ship by Captain Sigs~
bee and his officers, and the apparent im-
possibility of the accident occurring by any
thing internal, such as the heating OF the
bunkers, spontaneous combustion, frons
any other causes upon which so many
theories were based
The testimony of Captain Sigsbee Is of tho
greatest Importance, and perhaps is of more
general interest than that of any other man
called before the board. With great care
and minuteness, he gives an account OF the
management of the ship how she was
handled, what was done from day to day on
board; how she sailed into Havana her
anchorage and what he knew about it, and
in fact every point upon which the governs
ment and country desires to be informed.
Nothing in Captain Sigsbee's testimony
shows that the anchorage was changed, or
that it was considered dangerous by any
one.
Second to the Importance of the testimony
of Captain Sigsbee is that of Ensign Powel4
son, who had charge of the divers and knew
from day to day what these divers founds
This officer was minutely informed as to
the construction of the Maine and every-
thing about her His testimony was, to ii
certain extent, technical, bearing upon the
construction of the ship, her plates, etc.s
but it was from these plates and this tech4
nical knowledge that he was able to declare
that the explosion took place from the nHt@
side The divers, Morgan, Olsen and Smiehe
all contributed important evidence They
testified that the plates were bent inward.
the plate the port side being bent nu
and on the starboard side bent down.
The story of the explosion Is told by diff
ferent witnesses and adds little to what
Captain Sgsbee aad Commander Waial-
wright related Nothing in the testimony
fixes responsibility, no conspiracy is appar~
eat no knowledge of the planting of a mine
is shown. Captain Sigsbee states that q
somewhat bitter feeling existed against the
American ship and Americans generally
ard a witness, whose name is suppressed.
tells of overhearing a conversation among
Spanish officers and citizen, indicating q
foreknowledge of the destruction of the
Maine, by intention to blow her up An offf~
cial of the American consulate tells of in.
formation received anonymously, tending 10
show that a conspiracy existed. But noth-
ing is definitely stated which fixes any res
sponsibility upon Spain or her subjects.
One of the points brought out by the testi~
mony is the correction of an erroneous i'm.
preston which has prevailed all over the
country. The testimony proves that the
battle ships position was not changed after
she entered the harbor. She was moored
to a buoy and remained there until blown
up. The statement has been made repeated~
ly In the press that her position was
changed the night before the explosion by
direction of the harbor master of Havana