The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-04-02

emily pursued, no source Of information
was neglected, and the fullest opportunity
was allowed for simultaneous investiga-
ton by the Spanish authorities.
The finding of the court OF inquiry was
reached, after 20 days continuous labor, on
the 2lst of March. and having been APP
proved on the 22d by the comma nder-in-
chief of the naval force of the North At
lantic station, was transmitted TO the ex-
ecutive.
II is herewith laid before congress. to-
gether with the volnminous testimony
taken before the court. It's pufport is in
brief as follows:
Investigation and Findings.
When the Maine arrived at Havana she
was conducted by the regular government
pilot to buoy No. 4, TO which she was
moored, IN from five and half to six
fathoms of water.
The state of discipline on board, and the
condition of her magazines, boilers, coal
bunkers and storage compartments are
passed in review, with the conclusion that
excellent order prevailed and with no in
dlcat'on that any cause for internal ex-
plosion existed in any quarter.
At o'clock in the evening of February
10 everything had been reported secure
and all was quiet. At 40 minutes past 9
o'clock the vessel was suddenly destroyed.
There were two distinct explosions with
a brief interval between them. The first
lifted the forward part of the ship very
perceptibly; the second. which was more
prolonged, is attributed by the court to
the partial explosion of two or more of the
forward magazines.
The evidence of the divers establishes
that the after part of the ship was plae-
tically intact, and sank in that condition
very few minutes after the explosion. The
forward part was completely demolished
Upon the evidence of concurrent exter-
nal cause, the finding of the court is as
follows:
At frame II the outer shell of the
ship, from point liz feet from the mid
die line of the ship and six feet above the
keel. when in normal position, had been
forced up so as to be about four feet above
the surface of the water, therefore about
"a feet above where it would be had she
sunk uniniured. The outside bottom plat |
ing Is bent into reversed "N" shape, the |
after wing OF which, about 10 feet broad |
and 81 feet in length from frame Il to
frame 25), is doubled back upon itself |
against the continuation of the same plat
ing extending forward.
AT frame is the vertical keel is broken
and bent into the singular angle formed
for outside plates. This break is about
six feet below the surface of the water and
about 80 feet above its normal position.
In the opinion of the court this effect
could have been produced only by the ex-
plosion of mine situated under the bot
tom of the ship at about frame Is and I
on the port side of the ship.
The conclusions of the court are:
That the loss of the Maine was not in
any respect due to the fault or negligence
on the part of any officer OF member of
her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by the ex-
plosion of a submarine mine, which caused
the partial explosion of two or more of
her forward magazines; and that no evi-
tence has been obtainable fixing the re-
sponsibility for the destruction of the
Maine upon any person or persons.
l have directed that the finding of the
court OF inquiry and the views of this gov
eminent thereon be communicated to the
government of her majesty the queen of
Spain, and l do not permit myself to
doubt that the sense of justice of the
spa nish nation viii dictate course of ac-
lion suggested by honor and the friendly
relations of the two governments.
Ii is the duty of the executive to advise
congress of the result. and in the mean
lime deliberate consideration is invoked.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion, March 2s, 1898.