The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-20
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER
Concurrent Investigation and an
Independent Inquiry.
MAINE MUST BE RAISED
Naval Constructors Think That a Great
Saving Would Be Made by Rebuild
ing the Warship-Spontaneo
Combustion of Coal.

Washington, Feb. 19.-The interesting
feature of the days news at the navy
department was the decision of the
government to allow concurrent inves-
| ugation of the cause of the Maine dis
aster, for its own part making an inde-
pendent inquiry through the naval
court of inquiry already appointed,
! While permitting the Spanish author
1tles to make such investigation as they
desire, this arrangement commended
| itself to naval men alike as fair to all,
| and at the same time as calculated to
| develop the exact facts in a manner
| that could not be questioned. There
was a good real of talk among the Of
| measures for the benefit of the families
of the explosion victims. Under the
treasury rules the allotments of por-
tlons of pay to members of their FAM
| lilies made. by the men who perished in
the wreck must stop at once. 1t is not
doubted that congress will do as it
did in the case of the Samoan disaster,
provide for a years pay to the families
of the sailors who died at their posts
The difficulty, however, is that such a
measure cannot be passed at once. and
meantime some of the families of the
dead sailors may be in great distress
The subject has been taken up by
Mr.. Long, and he has called a meeting
for Monday to initiate the movement
1t happens that by the rare chance of
an unexpected change of payInasters
recently, very little of the savings of
the Names sailors went down in the
vessel. About two weeks ago Paymas-
ter Littlefield of the Maine was re-
lieved by Paymaster Ray. The for
mer came to Washington and has set
tied the accounts of the ship UP to the
time he left. The record shows that
Paymaster Ray had on hand in his
safe only $1,000 in cash. probably gold
and check for $4,000. which, of course.
is safe enough without his Endorsement
against loss.
Since the spontaneous combustion
theory has come so prominently to the
front as accounting for the disaster,
the officials have been looking over the
records to find a parallel case, as near
as may be. The flagship New York
was discovered to be on fire March g.
1896. Smoke was issuing from her
main-magazine. Thisszwas cleared of !
powder safely. and it was found that
the woodwork had been charred deep
ly. The cause was not at first percep-
utble. but it was soon discovered that
an adjoining coal bunker was burning
When the bunker was opened the coal |
on top was not hot, but as the men |
dug down it was found to be redhot in
side. There was no manifestation of |
heat on top of the bunker, nor in any |
save the one next the magazine. That /
startled the naval officers and the /
made a considerable air /
space between the bunkers and the +
In the designing of the new
battleship now on the stocks the les
son was kept in mind, and everything
possible was done to insulate the coal /
bunkers from the magazines.
Secretary Long has given orders that
with the expiration of this day there
need be observed no longer the order
TO all ships and commands to display
the national colors at half-mast.
There was no abatement of the talk
IF the expediency of raising the Maine
Chief Constructor Hichborn is one of
the most earnest advocates of the res
of the ship. He points out
hat the ship lies in a land-locked har-
Dor easy for the Wreckers to operate
n, and that if she can be rebuilt at a
cost of Sl,000,000 the government will
save s4,00o00O, the first cost of such a
oattleship with all her equipment.
treat Britain. he said, never aban-
ioned ship if there was the least
'hance to save her. and has not yet
ven abandoned the hope of raising the
ll-fated Victoria, sunk in collision with
he Camperdown off the coast of Syria
eVeral years ago. Commander Fran
rs Dickins, the chief of the bureau of
lavigation, and Secretary Longs
ight-hand man in the present emer-
The Maine must be taken to an
american port If there is enough of her
zones holding together to warrant re-
noval. and in all likelihood that will j
'e done. If the explosion were not
more disastrous than is now thought /
0 be the case, the hull is not wrecked
eyond repair. and rs much of the ma /
erial as can be procured will be
rought home and placed in a new j
daine. ,
1T is to be remembered that great ,
dyances have been made in ship /
uilding since the Maine was built and
finer ship to bear her name could be
uilt to-day, but it will take time, and
a new ship is built with modern bat
cry. etc. a magnificent vessel cannot :
e quickly secured
Chief Engineer Melville has decided
Jews in favor of the proposition to re-
uild the Maine.
Even suppose this costs 81 600 00O" :
lid he. "a new ship equal to the Maine /
ould cost nearly s5, 900 o00 The re- Z
airs could be made and the ship put 7
service again in year al the furth- 6
u. To build a new ship like her !
ouid take at least three years Y
the Maine is in a shallow spot. as n
rejected as a mill pond. and she is b
My 6.000-ton ship. The British ar n
or-clad Howe, of over 10000 tons. q
as raised off Ferrol. Spain, in the r
pen ocean. and H. Nj. S Sultan. of a
fer 5000 tons, was raised and saved
ter she sank in the comino channel :
Orders hive been issued for the en- Il
stment of coo men for the navy to fill i,
e vacancies caused by the destruction !,
the battieshin Maine and to complete a
e legal quota. The new men will be ?
mt TO receiving ships. whence they e