The state herald., 1898-04-01

dent to-day sent the following message
TO Congress:
To the Congress of the United States
For some time prior to the visit of th'
Maine to Havana harbor our consular
representatives pointed out the advan
tages TO follow visits of national ships
to the Cuban waters, in accustomini
the people to the presence of our ilat
as the symbol of good will and of oul
ships in the fultillmcnt of the mission
of protection TO American interests
even though no immediate need there
for might exist.
Accordingly. on the 18th of Janu
airy last, after a conference with tho
Spanish minister, in which the rencwa
of visits of our war vessels 10 Spanish
waters was discussed and accepted
the peninsular authorities at Madrit
and Havana were advised of the pur
pose of this government to resume
friendly naval visits at Cuban ports
and that in that view the Maine would
forthwith call at the port of Havana
This announcement was received by
the Spanish government with apprcci-
alton Of the friendly character of the
visit Of the Maine and with notiica-
tion of intention to return the cour-
tesy by sending Spanish ships to the
principal ports of the United States.
Meanwhile the Maine entered the port
a.. q
her arrival being marked with no
| special incident besides ihc exchange
of customary salutes and ceremonial
visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor
Of Havana during the three weeks fol-
lowing her arrival. No appreciablc
excitement attended her stay; on the
contrary. II feeling of relief and conf
dence followed the resumption CT the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
So noticeable was the immediate cf-
feet of her visit that the consul gen
cral 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 sending another vessel there TO take
her place.
At forty minutes past In the even
Ing of the 18th of February. the Maine
was destroyed by an explosion. by
which the entire forward part of the
ship was utterly wrecked. In this ca
tnstrophe two officers and 2GO of her
crew perished, those who were not
Killed outright by her explosion being
pcnned between decks by the tanglc
of wrcckagc and drowned by the i'm.
mediate sinking Of the hull. Prompt
assistance was rendered by the neigh.
boring vessels anchored In the harbor.
aid being especially given by the boats
OF the Spanish cruiser Alphonso MI.
aud the Ward line steamer City of
Washington. which lay not far distant.
The wounded Were generously cared
for 10y the authorities of Havana. the
hospitals being freely opened TO them.
while the earliest recovered bodies Of
the dead Were Inferred by the muni.
cipality in the public cemetery In the
city. Tributes Of grief and sympathy
We're offered from all official quarters
Of the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people Of our country with crushing
force and for n brief time an intense
excitement prevailed. which IN a com.
munlty less just and self-controlled
than ours must have led TO hasty acts
of blind resentment. This spirit. how,
ever. soon gave way To the calmer pro,
cesscs Of reason and TO the resolve Ia
investigate the facts and await the
material proof before forming a judg
ment ms 10 the cause, the responsibility
aud, II the facts warranted. the rene
dy due. This course necessarily rec
commended itself from the outset 10 IN,
executive, for only In the light of 4
dlspassionately asccrtained certalnt,
could II determine the nature ant
measure OF It's full duty In the matter
The usual procedure was followed
Ms In all eases OF casualty or disaster
To national vessels of any martIm,
state. A naval court OF inquiry wa,
nj once organized. composed OF officer
well qualified by rank and pracilcn
experience 10 discharge the oncroui
duty imposed upon them. Aided b,
n strong force OF wrcckcrs and divers
the court proceeded 10 make n thor
ough investigation on the spot, cm
ploylng every available means for th,
Impartial aud exact determination o
the causes OF the explosion. lis opera
tlons have been conducted with ih,
utmost dclibcratlon and Judgment. mn,
while Independently pursued. n,
and the fullest opportunity wns nj
lowed for n simultaneous investigation
by the Spanish authorities.
The finding OF the cour, Of inluIr.
Of continuous labor. on the 2ist q
March. instant. mud having been al
proved on the 22d by the commander
in.chlcf of the United States nayn
force on the North Atlantic station
wnr transmitted 10 the executive.
II il herewith laid before the Con
gtcss. together with the yoluminou
Testimony taken before the court. II
purpor, X. IN brief, MS follows:
When the Maine arrived nt lIaynn
she wns conducted by thc regular SO,
crnmcni pilo, bont to buoy No. 1. I