The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-04-02
taken before the court. It's pnrport is in
brief as follows,
investigation and Findisss.

brief as foll0wsi
inSestiHation and Findings.
When the Maine arrived at Havana che
was conducted by the regular government
pilot TO buoy No. 4, 10 which she wa,
inoored, In from five and one. half 20 sia
fathoms Of water.
The state Of discipline ON board, and the
condition OF her magazines, boilers, coal
bunkeTs and storage compartments are
passed In review, with the conclusion that
excellent order prevailed and with no In,
dieation that any cause for internal ex.
piosion existed in any quarter.
Al . o'eloek in the evening Of February
Is everything had been reported secure
and all was quiet. Al 20 minutes past 9
O'Clock the vessel was suddenly destroyed
There were two distinct explosions with
u brief interval between them. The first
lifted the forward part Of the ship yer,
peTeeptiblyi the second, which Was more
prolonged. is attributed by the court "a
the partial explosion Of two or more Of the
forward magazines.
The evidence VI the divers establishes
that the after part Of the ship was pae-
tieally intact, and sank in that condition .
very few minutes after the explosion. The
forward part Was completely demolished.
Upon the evidence of concurrent exter.
nal cause, the fading VI the court Is a.
follows.
Al frame II the outer shell II the
ship. from a point ili feet from the mid
die line Of the ship and siK feet shove the
kesl, when In normal position. bad been
forced up 70 as 10 be about four feet above
the surface Of the water, therefl re about
- fest abSVe where il would be had she
sunk uniniuTea- The oatside bottom plat.
ing II bent into reversed ~" shape, the
after wing Of which. about Is feet broad
and II feet in length ttron frame " 20
frame 2Sl. is doubled back upon itsalf
agains, the continuation II ule same plat,
ing extending forward.
Al trans ~ the vertical kesl !. bFoken
aud beat into the singular sngie formed
for outside plates. THIS break is about
Nia test below the surface al the wairr aud
Ai-'at 10 iert above its normal position.
In the opinion ni the court this efYect
Soald have bern pToiuc~,d oriy by the e1
l'ia>iuH of mine situated under the bot
Insn u the SAip al about frame Is and
stine~ hat On the port side Of the ship.
The o0nSiusiuas oi the court are
That the loss u the Maine was not in
any T~sIport due 10 the fault or negligence
on the part 81 any officer OF member Of
her rFrw
That The ship was destroyed by the sx
pioslon ai ssihmsTine niar, which unused
the partial eKplosion 81 two OF more Of
her iorsaFd magazines. and that no esi
desrr has bc~h olrtAinahls fixing the re
sle'usihiil,y for tho destruction of the
Main. upon any prr-oh or persons.
have difr~ted that The dndins 81 the
court a inquiry and the Vicus Of this COY.
efatarnt shcT~on he communicated 10 the
government Of hsE majesty the quern Of
Srsin. sud ! do not t-Emil nyseli to
doubt that The sense oi Justice u the
Spanish nation ~ili dictate = ooufee u &c
iion suggested by honor and the friendly
relations Of the two governments
Il is thr duty Of the executive 10 adsi.e
congtrss 81 tho result. and In the mean.
tame deliberate consideration 10 invoked.
WILLIAM MKINLEY.
Executive Mansion. MArch -. ISIS,