The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-03-31
AN EXTERNAL EXPLOSION

WAshISaros. u. e. March .S-Ths
fre.ideit today seit The follow ias
message TO Congress
Tothe Congress Of the usited ssAi~s /:
For some time prior TO the visit Of the
Maine TO Havana harbos our consular
representative pointed oui the advan-
faEes 10 fow from the sisit OF national
ships 10 the Cuban waters. In soeu.-
foming the people To the preseno- Of
our dag as the y mbol OF good will and
OF our ships in the fol6limens of The
mission OF protection TO American In
t~r-st-, even though no imm~diai.
needtherefore might exist.
Accordingly, on the 2sth Of January
last, after conference with the spanish
Minister, in which rene ual of visits of
our war vessels 10 spanish waters was
discussed and accepted, the peniu.ulas
authorities at Madrid and Havana were
advised OF the purpose of this govern
ment to resume friendly naval visit. NJ
Cuban ports and that in that view the
Maine would forthwith call q, the port
of Havana.
This announcement VAS received by
the Spanish government with apprr-
ciation Of the friendly character Of the
visit Of the Maine and with notihca-
ton Of intention To return the court~.y
by sending Spanish ships 10 tn. prin-
cIpal ports of the United States.
Meanwhile the Maine entered the port
OF HSvana on the 25th Of January. her
arrival being marked with no special
incident besides the exchange Of Gus
tomary salutes and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the bar Dor
OF Havana during the three weeks fol-
lowing her arrival. No appreciabIe
excitement attended her stay; on the
contrary . feeling OF relief aud conf
dence followed the resumption of the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
SO noticeable was this immediate effect
Of her visit that the Consular General
strongly urged that the presence OF our
ships IN Cuban waters should be kept
up by retaining the Maine at Havana,
or. in the event OF her recall, BY send
ing another vessel there TO take her
place.
The blowing up Of the Maiss,
At forty minutes past nine in the
evening OF the 18th of February the
Maine was destroyed by an explosion
by which the entire forward part Of
the shi p Was utterly wrecked. In this
catastrophe two officers and two hum
dred and sixty -four Of her crew per-
ished, those who were not killed out
right by her explosion being penned
between decks by the tangle Of wreck
age and drowned by the immediate
sinking of the hull.
Prompt assistance WAS renderded by
the neighbOring vessels anchored in
the harbOr, aid being especially given
by the boats and Spanish cruiser Al
phOnsO XII., and the Ward Line
steamer City Of Washington which
lay not far distant. The wounded
we're generously cared for by the au-
thOrities of Havana, the hospitals be-
ing freely opened to them, while the
earliest recovered bodies Of the dead
were inferred by the municipality in
public cemetery in the city. Trib-
utes OF grief and sympathy were Of
fered from all official quarters OF the
island.
The appalling calamity fell upon
the people of our country with crush
ing force, and for brief time IN in
tense excitement prevailed which, in .
community less just and self controlled
than ours, might have led TO hasty acts
of blind resentment. This spirit, how
ever, soon gave way to the cslmer pro-
ceases of reason and to the resolve to
investigate the facts and await mate
rial proof before forming . judgment
as to the cause, the responsibility and
| il the facts warranted, the remedy due
This course necessarily recommended
itself from the outset to the Executive
for only in the light Of q dispassion.
ately ascertained certainty could IL
determine the nature and measure o
its full duty In the matter.
| Cour, Of Ing airy Formed.
The usual procedure Was followed .
in all cases Of casualty or disaster Il
national vessels Of any maritime State
A Naval Court Of Inquiry Was 1t ono
qualified by rank and practical expert
ence tn discharge the enormous dut!
imposed upon them. Aided BY stronl
force Of wreckers and divers, the cour
proceeded to make thorough investi
CATION on the spot, employing ever.
/ available means for the impartial an,
exact determination ofthe causes Of tn
explosion. Its operations haze bee
! conducted with the utmost deliberatio
!. and Judgment, and while independent
ly pursued, no source Of information
!, was neglected, and the fullest oppoSta
nifty was allowed for simultaneous In
: vestiKation By the Spanish authoritie'
The finding Of the Court Of Inquir
was reached after tive enty three days q
continuous labor, on the 2lst Of Marc
instant, and having been appoved o
I the 220d BY the COmmander-in- Che
. of the United states Naval force Of th
q North Atlantic Station, WAS transmit
ted to the Executive.
It 10 herewith laid before the Cor
gress, together with the volumin ot
testimony taken before the court.
YindisE Of Court II Brief.
:. Its purport is, in brief, as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Hsvan
= she was conducted BY the regular 20
= ernment pilot to buoy No. 4. to whis
she Was moored 10 from five and on
L. half to six fathoms of water.
The State of discipline on boaI
!, anu the condition Of her mag
J, zines, boilers, coal bunkers and storsl
!, compartments are passed in revie
with the conclusion that excellent o
der prevailed, and that no indicsti,
- of any cause for an external expiosis
. existed in any quarter.
At O'Clock in the evening" Of Febr
ary Is, everything had been report
secure and all Was quiet.
+ vessel Was suddenly destroyed.
Ie There were two distinct explosio,
r with . brief interval between1the
ID The first lifted the forward past2of {
!. ship very perceptibly; the secos
p which Was more 0pee, prolonged o
It Of greater volume, 10 attributed,, by {
ID court to the partial explosion Of &
n or more Of the forward magaxines.
10 The evidence Of the divers estsblil