The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-20
CAPTAIN SIGS9EE TALKS.
His Experiences After the shock--jen-
kins Ran TO His Gun.

HAVANA, February l9.-Captain c. d.
Sigsbee. OF the battleship Maine. In an
interview to-day with the correspondent
Of the Associated Press. described In de-
tail the explosion which destroyed the
great ship. -,
ION the night OF the explosion" said
Cantain SIgsbee. II had not retired. |
was writing letters. 7 find 1t Impossible
10 describe the sound or shock. but the
imnression remains of something awe
inqpiring. terrific, OF noise rending, VI
bratin,. all-pervading. There Is nothing
ln the former experience OF anyone on
hoard 20 measure the explosion by.
AFTER the first great shock-l cannot
myself recall how many sharper oe,oia-
lions | heard, not more than two or tilree
i knew my ship was gone. In such
structure as the Maine the enects OF
such an explosion are not Tor monieh'
IN doubt .,
81 made my way through the long pas
sage. in the dark. cropping from sac 10
side to the hatchway, and then 10 inc
noon. being among the earliest TO reach
that spot. So soon as 1 recognized inc
Ulcers I ordered the high explosives 10
be flooded. and | then directed mat me
boats available be lowered TO rescue inc
wounded or drowning.
PERFECT DISCIPLINE.
discipline, perfect in a measure pre-
vailed There was no more confusion 'nd'
a call to general quarters would prouuco'
not as much.
81 soon saw. by the light OF the flames,
that an my officers and crew left alive ana
on board. surrounded me. l canot form
any idea OF the time. but II seemed hve
minutes from the time l reached the
noon until / left, the last men, 1t was
passible to reach, having been saved. IL
must have been threequartcrs OF an hour
or more however from the amount OIL
work done
ur remember the officers and men work
al together lowering the boats. and that
the zig took some time to lower. / did
not notice the rain Of debris described
by Lieutenant Blandin or others. VINO
were on deck al the time Of the hrst eN-
plosion. but I did observe the explosion
Of the fixed ammunition and wonder tnat
more were not hurt thereby.
without going beyond the limits or
what was proper I'm the harbor ~ a
friendly power. I always maintained pre-
cautions AGAINST attack. and the quarter
watch was ordered 10 have ammunition
for the smaller guns ready to hand, so
that in the improbable event Of an at
tack on tie ship It would have been
found ready. II was this ammunition
exploded as the heat reached it,
JENKINS FIRST THOUGHT.
II is known that Lieut. jenkins. who is
among the missing was alive after tho
explosion 4 co'ored mess attendant, now
AT Key West met jenkins running for
ward. lie evidently thought. IN the con-
fusion that the Maine had been fired on
and he was rushing 10 the forecastle,
where was located the six-inch gun Of
which he was I'm charge.
The United States nag IS floating at
half-mast from the poop OF the Maine to-
day and the two divers with six assist
ants are an work about the wreck under
the direction Of Captain Sgsbee. II APP
pears that the preliminary work Of the
divers will be directed toward salvage
only.
When the investigation into the cause
OF the disaster commences tho Spanish
government, IS is said here, will collabor-
ate.