Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-21
SURVIVORS FEEL BITTERLY.
Maine's Wounded Sailors Anxious 10
Avenge Their Comrades.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, February ga
special to the Times-Union and Citizen
from Key West, Fla, says:
Sailors of the battleship Maine, suffering
from wounds in the Key West hospital. are
smarting over the delay of the government
in furnishing what they term a Spanish
outrage
In their minds there is no doubt to the
cause of the explosion, and they explain
the delay in taking summary action by
saying that the President is morally Ger
tain that there was no accident and. wish
ing to inspire the Spaniards with feeling
of security. is using the short time to make
the necessary preparations to enforce his
ultimatum. II no action is taken, they say.
not a man among them will again pace the
deck Of an American man-of-war; but
business is meant, it would take a strong
force to keep them from hurrying to the
front, wounded though they are, to take a
hand in what they look upon a personal
vengeance.
Warned Not to Go 10 Havana.
1--WE were warned not to go to Havana"
one said today, being told that danger
awaited us there. When We got there We
were again told, and it was current rumor,
that the harbor bottom was honeycombed
with mines. We first chose our anchorage
and rested there for several hours. but the
harbor master compelled US to weigh and
proceed to a spot marked by a bjy. We
were reviled the streets of haTana
sneered at until our blood boiled and found
out for our own safety that 1t was neces-
sary for us to make our visits to the city
in force. No man dared to go IL alone
There was no knowing what would happen
to him.
THE explosion itself is the best evidence
that IT was a mine or torpedo. There were
two sharp and distinct reports The first
was like a peal of thunder close at hand
a sound as of ripping parchment, a quick
report, followed by a tremendous and aw-
full roar, and then darkness and chaos.
made more horrible by the screams OF dy-
ing men, the fierce shouts of those hghtinG
for egress and the means of those who
were hemmed in to die by fire or by drown.
ing.
No Searchlight Used.
.The Spanish warship was lying close at
hand, and Morro Castle was not a pistol
shot away. Both have searchlights, but
none was turned upon us TO help the work
of rescue. and because of The darkness
many brave men who could have been res
cued went down to Davy Jones locker.
SAW A BOAT APPROACH MAINE.
Statement of Mr. Carthin, Passenger
ON Havana Steamer.
NEW YORK, February 2i.-The Ward
lire steamer Seguranica arrived at quar-
antine today from Tampico and Havana
The Seguranica arrived at Havana at 10
o'clock on the morning after the disaster 10
the Maine and passed close by the wreck.
The Seguranica's passengers said that great
excitement prevailed at Havana, and at
the time Of sailing the foreign population
were generally of the opinion that the
Maine was destroyed by design.
They cited. among other things. In ssp-
p<rt OF this theory. the fact that the Span
ish man-of-war Alfonso XII, which was
anchored near the Maine. changed her
mcorings just previous to the disaster.
One Of the passengers. VIM. L. Carthin.
went 20 far AZ to say that he saw boat
90 near the Maine q short time previous 20
the sxplesioa- He said ~ would - r.