The copper country evening news., 1898-04-15
WRECK OF THE MAINE.
General Lee Before Foreign ReIa-
tons Committee.
EXPLOSION WAS ON THE OUTSIDE.

Occurred and Found the Spaniard Crying
Over the Occurrence Opinion Expressed
That the Deed Was Done by n Spanish
Onioer of Much Experience.
Washington, April 15.-The testimony
taken before the senate committee on
foreign relations in connection with the
investigation into the relations between
the United States and Cuba has been
made public. The statement which con-
tains the greatest current interest is
that made by Consul General Lee, on
the 18th inst. In this statement Gen.
eral Lee said that he was informed on
good authority that the Spaniards had
placed two rows of torpedoes Just at
the mouth Of Havana harbor by MORO
castle within the last two months, or
subsequent to the Maine disaster. and
that the switchboard is in a room in
the castle. He said, however that he
had no Information of the placing of
any torpedoes before the Maine was de-
stroyed, and none In regard to the pur-
chase abroad by the Spanish authori-
ties.
Didn't Know Harbor Was Mined.
Have you any reason to suppose that
the harbor was mined at all before the
blowing up Of the Maine?" asked Sena-
tor Frye.
mo. sir; 1 had no reason to suspect
anything Of that sort up to that time"
with reference to the responsibility
for the destruction of the Maine, Gem
eral Lee said:
Il am satisfied the explosion was
from .he outside. cabled the state de-
partment few days after the board
assembled that 1t was almost certain
that the explosion was from the exterior
1 have always had an idea about the
Maine that, of course, ii was not blown
up by any private Individual or by any
private citizen, but was blown up by
some of the officers who had charge of
the mines and electrical wires and tor
pedoes In the arsenal there, who thor
oughly understood their business, for
1t was done remarkably well. do not
think General Blanco, the present cap
tain general of the island of Cuba, had
any thing to do with 1t. 1 do not think
he had any knowledge of 1t.
Blanco Was crying.
II saw him just shortly after the oc-
currence. / was sitting in my room at
the hotel and from the balcony of the
hotel / could hear this. / heard the
explosion and saw a great column Of
fire go up in the air. A few moments
after ascertaining that II was the Maine
L went right down to the palace and
asked for General Blanco. He came In
directly by himself. He had just heard
1t and was crying: tears were coming
out his eyes. He seemed to regret 1t as
much as anybody saw In Havana, but
/ think ii came from some Of the sub
altern officers who had been there un-
der Weyler and who were probably an
ti-Blanco, anyhow, and who had full
knowledge of the business"
General Lee said he had seen copy
Of a telegram from Admiral Manterolla,
dated In Havana, prior to the explosion
of the Maine. to the Spanish commits
sion in London, asking the commission
to hurry up the electrical cables"
No Lights Went Out.
Continuing his testimony. General
Lee said that ten minutes after the ex-
plosion he was at the palace talking
to General Blanco, and that the latter
gave him an order for a boat to take
him out into the harbor. Senator Nor
ter's edge he saw any lights burning
II did not notice that" said General
Lee, but / have made inquiries since,
and have ascertained that no electric
lights went out. sent for electric light
men and gas men,"
'Have you heard since the explosion
of the Maine any expression by Spanish |
officers in relation to 1t. indicating their |
pleasure at the fact2" asked Senator ]
Frye.
II heard two or three days after |
wards" responded General Lee, from |
various persons who came in that there |
was a good deal Of rejoicing among |
some of the officers. All reports 1 got |
said they were drinking champagne,
quite a thing to do in honor of the |
event, and in different portions OF the |
city officers were making merry. at |
tributed II. to the fact that what they |
considered almost an enemy's battle |
ship had been blown up. and 1t was
that much in their favor"
No Attempt on the Montgomery.
He said that he had not heard any |
threats of or illusions to the destruc- |
tion of the Maine previous to the ex-
plosion. Senator Lodge asked IL he had |
nedTu Oh an attempt OH the MOntSOm-
cry.
IT heard" replied General Lee. that
there was something of that sort one
evening, but / believe. upon investiga-
tion, il was found that ii did not
amount to anything"
The following colloquy between Sen
ator Foraker and General Lee brought |
out some further opinions of the gen.
eral in regard to the destruction Of the
Maine:
Senator Foraker-You think that no
novice could have destroyed the Maine?
General Lee-Oh, no. sir. The man
who did that work was an officer thor
oughly acquainted with explosives OF
all sorts, and who knew all about 1t.
II was we'll done.
Senator Foraker-A man who had ex-
pert knowledge, necessarily?
General Lee-Yes, sir.
Senator Clsrk-And who must have
had knowledge Of the location of the
torpedo?
IL Would Be an Easy Matter.
General Lee-Yes. / never have been
Il