The herald., 1898-03-03
NO TWO AGREE
On the Agent Used to
Wreck the Maine
ONLY ONE OPINION HELD
CONCERNING THE DECISION OF
THE COURT
whatever THE EXPLOSIVE
Naval Officers Believe the Cruiser
Was Destroyed by Mine Placed
for the Purpose
whatever THE EXPLOSIVE
Press Special Wire


HAVANA. via Key West, March g.
Without adding unnecessarily to the Hood
of surmises, conjectures and prophecies
concerning the finding Of the court Of In
quiry, it is fair to say that, as matter of
fact, most of the naval officers here and
at Key West incline to the opinion that
the court will find that the disaster to the
Maine was caused by the explosion OF a
floating submarine mine under the port
side of the ship forward. Opinions differ
as to whether the mine was made Of high
explosives, such as wet and dry guncotton.
or ordinary gun powder.
Opinions agree, not only as to the exist
ence of mines in the harbor, but also that
this one was laid purposely near the buoy
where foreign vessels were directed to
moor and was fired from an electric bat
terry on shore.
1t is believed barely possible that the
explosion of the mine was the result OF
carelessness or ignorance of Spanish Of
licers in charge of the station keys when
testing the circuit, but the latter supposi-
ton is not felt to be probable. 1t is further
regarded as settled by the evidence before
the court that the port side of the hull
forward was completely blown to pieces,
and that the only explosion on the Maine,
except of isolated cases Of fixed ammuni-
tion was that of 20C0 pounds of saluting
powder, stored forward, and of which no
trace can be found.
These views are gathered from officers
who talk with great reserve and only upon
the assurance that their identity will never
be revealed. The fact remains that only
the members of the court OF inquiry kno"
all the testimony elected and no one is au-
thorized to make matters public in advance
of the final judgment.
A good deal of surprise was expressed
by Americans here at learning that the
Spanish divers were to be permitted to
make an examination of the wreck OF the
Maine, especially as 1t was also said Amer
lean naval officers would give such divers
all consistent facilities and would throw
no obstacles in the way of thorough
submarine inspection. 1t was not at irst
understood, as it came later that tne
Spanish search was to be entirely inde-
pendent, and while 1t was being made the
American investigation would proceed
under Captain Sigsbee's supervision. AS
understood here. the Spanish request made
Immediately after the disaster for joint
investigation was promptly refused at
Washington, but after cabinet consulta-
tion it was agreed that the Spaniards had
a moral and international right to discover
the cause of the wreck for themselves If
possible Therefore, permission for an In
dependent examination was granted on the
ground, as understood here. that 1t could
not be refused to a friendly power In her
own harbor. That the permission was not
accorded until after the court of inquiry
had finished its work here and gone to Key
West Is regarded as significant. 1t opens
wide field for speculation.
Some assert that the court now has no
objection to a Spanish inquiry for one of
two reasons: Either the court has suf-
fcient evidence already of accident or
malice-evidence that cannot be contro-
verted by the Spaniards-or. after dill
gent search. the mystery remains as deep
as ever, and the court does not think the
Spanish will reach conclusion where the
Americans have failed. OF course, all this
refers principally to inspection Of parts
of the ship other than the hull. Until the
guns, decks, engines and debris of all
kinds have been removed and the mud has
been pumped from the hull, it cannot be
examined thoroughly by anyone. Some
good authorities think it will be neces-
sary to build a cofferdam around the
wreck, plies being driven, etc.
That any important testimony before the
court has found its way to the public Is
very unlikely. Some of the witnesses
have told certain correspondents of alleged
testimony. but in every case investigation
has showed their stories to be wildly i'm
probable and controverted by known facts
or else absolutely irrelevant. Some of the
correspondents have tried to extract in
formation from members of the court or
from naval witnesses putting what were
deemed by the questioners clever hypo-
thetical interrogatories, but the question
ers were not experts in naval architecture,
and the questioned were, and SO the results
were unsatisfactory. Probably the court
lxp hefOrn II left Havana Koxy oct
whether the ten-inch magazine STAR
board, forward, did or did not explode, but
the members gave no sign, and the divers,
when they talk at all, contradict each
other. Doubtless even the contractors for
the removal of the inner debris and the
raising of the hull do not fully appreciate
the difficulties to be encountered. Ger
tainy the tug Right Arm has been of little
value thus far, her captain not having suf-
hcient authority until Monday to employ
the necessary help or to hire the needed
lighters.
While criticsing the naval divers for
their slowness, it must be remembered that
theirs Is grim, dangerous and difficult
work. In muddy, foul water through IA
mass of riveted steel, bent iron, shattered
gratings and ladders, over upturned
matches, scattered ammunition, guns.
chests, machinery and electric wires, they
must make or cut their intricate way.
They must exercise great care lest their
air tubes will be severed by sharp projec-
tiles. Already many have had bad falls
in the uncertain light and difficult pas
sages.
Nothing need be retracted, however,
from the former statement that all the
haste possible is greatly to be desired.
The huge weight of the wreck causes it
to sink daily deeper into the soft mud of
the harbor making the task Of raising II
the more herculean.
While no outsider is allowed on the wreck,
the patrol lines are not so rigid as formerly.
and the boats of visitors are allowed to
sail quite close to the mass of debris.
DANGER TO AMERICANS
The question is frequently asked: "Are
Americans in danger In Havana?'
The only truthful answer given by q
well informed resident or American official
or layman is: 1--WE think not; we don't
know"
/, OF course, Spanish officials who will talk
on the subject deprecate any idea Of dam
ger. but they are as much In the dark ns
the rest.
A well informed Cuban of high social
position and on good terms with the gov
ernment. said to the correspondent Of the
Associated Press: "Of course, In the low
dives and saloons there are constant boasts
BY irresponsible nof1ouS - Us What thaa