The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-05
Each Built to Contain 500 Pounds
of Gun Cotton.
FIXEDTOBE
Others Would Explode on Vessel
Hitting Them,

London. April "details have been OBJ
tanned by the Associated Press of the man
ufacture of submarine mines in London
for Spain, which was first brought to the
attention of the United States embassy
and cabled to the Associated Press on
March 5.
A man whose cards described him as
being an electrical engineer and whose
name was forwarded at the time to Wash
ington then said he sold to Spanish Of
ficers in London, several years ago, a large
number of mines, eight or ten of which
were placed In Havana harbor.
He said they were made in a special way
had a specially constructed cable, which
he can identify IL the smallest piece is pro-
duced, and he added that some of the
mines were fixed SO that they could be
fired from a fort. while two of them had
bulbs so arranged that they would explode
upon a vessel coming into contact with
them. The men added, however, that he
did not believe the bulbs would be used In
water as shallow as that of Havana hor-
bor
Finally the man exhibited plans of ore
of these mines, which he said was the
most likely to produce the effect deserib-
ed as causing the wreck of the Maine. 1t
was numbered o. and was constructed
to contain 500 pounds of guncotton.
Lieutenant Commander J. G. Colwell,
the United States naval attache. has since
investigated the matter and has made
report on the subject to the United States
government.
The facts learned strongly tend to show
that Havana harbor was mined. and they
unquestionably prove that Spain purchased
mines for that purpose.
The firm of Iattimer. Rhodes & Clarke,
electrical engineers, during 1ss7-sS filed
large order for Spain of lot of mines, in
which were used fourteen and half tons
of guncotton The work was done under
the surveillance of Gen. Fernandez and
Capt. Bustamento.
The latter was then the head of the
Spanish torpedo school. BY order of these
officers the mines were divided into four
consIgnments for Havana, Ferrol Cadiz
and Carthagena.
The mines were manufactured under
the direction of ]. p. Gibbons after Mr..
Gibbons patent, which are described in
Siemans book on torpedoes and mines.
Mr. Gibbons, from whom reporter OF
the Associated Press obtains the informa-
ton, and who furnished to
Lieutenant Commander colwell
a written statement Of the above facts,
and outlined his theory Of the explosion
which wrecked the Maine, was then en-
pIoyed by the firm as superintendent OF
the torpedo department. He also says
similar lot of tropedoes was manufactured
for Spain in 1896.
The manager of the Westminster Engi-
neering Company, which is the successor
of the aforementioned firm, and with
which Mr.. Gibbons is connected, confirms
the latters statement as to the manufac
ture Of mines for Spain.
Mr. Gibbons, who is a former sergeant
of engineers and government Inspector
of torpedoes, believes the Names first ex-
plosion was caused by what Is technically
called a ground mine, containing 600
pounds of gun cotton, several of which
were manufactured for Spain
He has experimental with these mines
largely at Portsmouth, and says that
once laid they retain their properties for
fifty years.
In addition, Mr. Gibbons asserts that IL |
is absolutely impossible for them TO ex-
plode accidentally as the electric cur
rents for their explosion are formed only |
by the manipulation of a complicated key |
board especially devised to prevent acci- |
dents.
Three keys are necessary, which are al |
ways kept in the possession of different |
officers and, even IL an outsider obtained |
possession of them, It would be impossible |
to manipulate the key board without in |
structions.
Mr.. Gibbons further says the mines and |
their connecting cables are numbered, and |
he asserts he would be able 10 Identify |
thaun II anv mart ia secured