New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-10
CITY OF WASHINGTON IN PORT.
HER OFFICERS STORY OF THE MAINE
DISASTER
SAT-. THE FIRST OF WHICH LIFTED THE
wARSHIP OUT OF THE WHARF.-THE
CREW THINK THE sPANIARDs

CREW THINK THE sPAN1ARDs
CAUSED TIE WRECK.
The New-York and Cuba Mall steamer City OF
Washington arrived yesterday from Havana ana
Mexican ports This is her first appearance al
fhs port since the Maine disaster. The city OF
Washington lay at anchor short distance from
the Maine when the explosion occurred Those on
board said yesterday that a great shock was fet'
but It was some time before they could realize
what II was Pieces % cement. etc. rained Gown
upon the steamer. one piece OF cement crashed
through the upper deck the starboard side ana
lodged below, telring away tho deck plahks'
piece of iron pipe stove the upper deck abreast oil
the pilothouse. another piece Of hying wreckase
stove boat, and other damage was caused IL
should be said that the general opinion OF inc
crew on the City Of Washington. as expressed 10
reporters yesterday. The Maine was blown
up by the Spaniards."
Captain Stevens. In speaking OF the explosion.
said 10 a Tribune reporter: The evening was fine
but dark. and many OF our passengers were on the
deck enjoying the cool breeze. Suddenly there was
an explosion. and the Maine seemed 10 leap out OF
the water. This first report was followed by
second and louder explosion. and then the air was
filed with flying missiles OF all kinds. As soon as
the nature Of the disaster became known | AT once
ordered the stHrboard boats lowered. The Maine
lay starboard side, about three hundred feet
away. Boats Nos. and had holes stove In them
by the falling debris but three feboas were found
on their work of
"Our boats picked up thirty-three men OF the
Maine. and the captain and his officers came on
board in the zig. Twelve OF the men were oady
injured and the saloon AZ once turned INTO
hospital The passengers gave some OF their
clothing 10 dress the almost nude survivors. and
our own officers and crew did everything possible TO
minister TO the comfort Of the injured Captain
General Blanco sent hls personal representative
aboard with messages OF coincidence, and he CHIEFS
OF the Police and Fire departments also came ana
expressed sympathy with Captain S!Gsbee in the
loss OF his ship and offered their ala IN caring 10Y
the rescued and wounded
The explosion took place just before O'CLOCK
and the supers.ructure and boats burned TOT some
time afterward Up 10 midnigh. single sTnah eH-
blossoms came from the direction Of the Name ana
the utmost fear prevailed that the fire or heat might
reach the big magazine aft. Had that been touched
] was informed there would he little left OF the
City OF Washington or any other vessel IN haV"ha
Harbor IA II vas. changed our position ana
anchored about half 4 mile from where the Maine
had blown up"
one Of the other officers Of the city Of Washing
ton gave this account Of the disaster; / was
standing on the deck az the time Of the explosion
or, more correctly speaking the Two enp,o,ium n 60
ha peer iSoEf al t the M 5appen iS M aenoH
mad been FIRST attracted TO her by the SINGING Of
the sailors who then had no tn tgs We Mere
lying only TWO hundred yards away from the
stern they would have touched The flrst ! Knew
OF the accident ,oud report and then the Dow
Of the Maine rose into the air. and fully foryf ee
Of her keel exposed. ] could easily see me
green paint her bottom. She then settled back
mo the water and before she was clear back 10
her proper position a second explosion followed .
The officer who made this statement was VII
ness before the Board Of Inquiry Chiei DHceT
Cornell who also a witness before the BOARD
made statements corroborating this interview. Sc;
era o, the officers Of the City Of Washnglo on said
that the Spanish vessel did not put her nag
at half mast until next day. and that
this was done long after the English and American
merchant vesse.s in ths harbOr had set the ex-
ample The Spanish merchant vessels did not do
so until late the next afternoon
Sigmuud Rothschild, tobacco merchant, OF No
al Water-st returned from Havana on the City
OF Washington. He board the vessel on
the night the Maine was wrecked. and brought
the deck OF thu Ward Liner. Mr.. Rotnschild said
ne had been A witness before the Board OF Inquiry
but that T. would he presumption for any one TO
hazard opinion 10 the cause OF the disaster
from wha: known Of the affair.
While no injured on the city Of Washing
ton from the flying debris following the explosion
several persons hal narrow escapes Chief En-
gineeT Gardiner sitting on deck Just outside
the engine-roOm gaDgway. a moment before the
explosion he called INTO the enelne-roon
He had hardly disappeared when a big piece Of
cement weighing fifty pounds struck the deck
where he had been sitting. de:nolishing his chair
and making big hole in the deck