The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-17

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4oreign relations in the senate during his
Service. said that it was decidedly strange
that American vessels have visited every
sort in the world and no accident befallen
them, but as soon as q vessel visited Ha-
Tana this great disaster should occur.
General Butler was of the opinion that
some bold men had gone aboard the
Elaine and placed a grenade with slow
match where it would explode the maya
zine. 1t is probable he thought, that
many people had been permitted TO visit
the warship and some one of the visitors
had carried grenade aboard.
very prominent naval official who did
not wish his name used because of the
present mea greness of details, expressed
the informal opinion that the accident oc-
CURED from spontaneous combustion in
me coal bunkers, the heat of which ex-
iloded the powder in the supplementary
magazines adjoining. Still another prom
ineHt officer was very confident that the
Forward magazine of the Maine could not
nave exploded. Had the magazine ex-
Dloded," said he, 1.-The ship would have
been blown TO finders
The news of the disaster created pro-
found impression at the capital Senators
and members Of the house as a rule ex-
pressed the opinion for publication that
the catastrophe was the result of an acct
dent and not of design, but there were
some opinions, generally expressed under
the breath with the admonition not TO
publish. to the effect that the affair look
e,,I k-
rule. senators expressed the opinion that
the department would and should make
thorough investigation and added that
for the present it would be unnecessary
for congress to take the matter up.
Senator Hale, chairman of the commit
tee on naval affairs and a member of the
committee on appropriations, said that he
had just come from an interview with the
secretary Of the navy and that he felt
confident that the navy department would
institute a thorough investigation into
the disaster.
There is no occasion" said the senator.
flor congress to take the matter up. Sure
~ something should be left to the depart
ment, and this is one of the things which,
I'm my opinion, should be left. 1t is of
course impossible, from the information
received 10 say how the accident occur
red, but I feel confident that the facts
when developed will show that it was
an accident. The Maine was, of course.
prepared for action in case action should
be necessary and had therefore many
vulnerable points exposed. A battleship is
little less than a volcano under the most
favorable circumstances and when legis-
lating for the increase of the navy 1 al
ways feel that a war vessel may prove to
be as dangerous to those on board as to
those whom 1t might engage in hostile
combat For this reason I am sure the
affair in Havana harbor will prove as
genuine a sensation in naval circles, as
deem any political aspect of it."
The senator expressed the opinion that
'Ongress would take steps to prevent the
decrease of the navy, but would not I'M
dertake to say that there would be i'm
mediate efforts to replace the Maine.
He said that, whatever could have caus-
I'd the catastrophe. he was sure that no
friend of Spain could have been guilty of
such conduct for the reason that if there
had been 10 higher motive the act would
have been very foolish and foolhardy
cue. He said the Maine had cost, ac-
wording to his recollection, between 3,000.-
DO and $4OO0.OOO.
Senator Fairbanks: 1.-The reports are so
neagre that it is impossible to determine
the cause Of the explosion or locate the
responsibility, If anybody is at fault"
"A thorough investigation doubtless will
De instituted by the proper authorities.
It is a most deplorable accident and one
which will awaken the most general SYM
pathy."
Senator Warren of wyoming: eff 1t
should develop that the Spanish had any
thing TO do with the occurrence. both the
United States navy and the army should
be summoned to take the matter up in
earnest. If it should prove to be an acct
dent, il should be carefully investigated
for it is high time that such accidents
were brought to a close. It has apparent
iy come to be true that our naval vessels !
cannot make any move, cannot go up
a stream. down stream. or out to sea.
without grounding or having some other
accident befall them I hope therefore
that no time will be lost in determining
the cause and placing the responsibility
for the occurrence, whether due to the
manu- VI AoiSIsHet VI d hieHIoeF VI our
own forces
Senator Pasco: TT is a deplorable occur |
renee. but II is impossible TO say whether
any one can he held responsible or blame |
worthy. Certainly a most rigid investiga-
ton should he made into the accident by !
The navy department. and if IL should !
subsequently appear that legislative ac-
zion is necessary, congress should take /
the matter in hand. For the present.
hawever. it is fair TO presume that the 4
president and navy department will take (
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