Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-03-31

| There were two explosions Of distinctly
dinerent character, with very short
but distinct interval between them, and
the forward part Of the ship was lifted to
q marked degree at the time of the first
explosion.
The nrst explosion was moro in the nat
ure Of report. like that Of a gun;
while the second explosion was more
open. prolonged. and Of greater volume,
The second explosion was, in the opinion
OF the court caused by the partial ex-
plosion of two or more of the forward
magazines Of the Maine
Condition of the Wreck
T. The evidence bearing on this, being
principally obtained from divers. did not
enable the court to form definite con-
clusion as to the condition Of the wreck.
although 1t was established that the after
part of the ship was practically intact
and sank in that condition a very few
minutes after the destruction of the for
ward part.
The following facts in regard to the
forward part of the ship are. however,
established by the testimony: That por-
sion OF the port side of the protective
deck. which extends from about frame
80, to about frame A. was blown up aft
and over to port. The main deck from
about frame 20 to about frame 41 was
blown UP aft and slightly over to star
board. folding the forward part of the
the after part. This was. IN the opinion
Of the court. caused by the partial ex-
nlosion of two or more of the forward
maeazines of the Maine.
5. At frame IL, the outer shell of the
ship, from a point eleven and one-half
feet from the middle line of the ship and
six feet above the keel when in its nor
NAL position. has been forced up so as to
be now about four feet above where it
would he had the ship sunk uninjured.
The outside bottom plating is bent into a
reversed "V' shape, tho after wing Of
which about is feet broad and 80 feet
in length (from frame II to frame 25) is
doubled back upon itself against tho con-
tinuation of the same plating extending
forward.
At frame 1s the vertical keel is
broken in two and the fiat keel bent
into an angle similar to the angle formed
by the outside bottom plating. This
break is now about six feet below the
surface or tho water and about thirty
feet above its normal position. In the
opinion of the court this effect could have
been produced only by the explosion of
mine situated under the bottom of the
ship at about frame 1S and somewhat
on the port side of the ship.
Blown Up by a Mine.
Q. The court finds that the loss of the
Maine on the occasion named was not
in any respect due to fault or neglect on
the part OF any OF the O1QcerS or members
Of the crew of said vessel.
Z. In the opinion of the court the
Maine was destroyed by the explosion
of a submarine mine which caused the
partial explosion of two or more of her
forward magazines.
8.-The court has been unable to obtain
evidence fixing the responsibility for the
destruction of the Maine upon any person
or persons.
w. T. Sampson, Capt. U. S. N,
President
"A. Mark Lieut. Commander U. s. N.
Judge Advocate.
.rhe court having finished the inquiry it
was ordered to make. adjourned at II D.
M, to await the action of the convening
authority.
w. T. Sampson, Capt. U. S. NJ,
President
"A. Mark, Lieut.. Commander u 8. N.
Judge Advocate.
U. s. flagship New York, March %, '9s
off Key West.
The proceedings and findings of the
court of inquiry in the above case are
approved.
M. E. Sicard, Rear Admiral,
Commander-in-chief Of the U. s. naval
force on the North Atlantic station.