The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-29

sxploslon. would make the two practi-
cally one and the same explosion. From
the noise alone. I could not tell whether
the magazines also went off,"
After a long description of the effect
or torpedoes. Commander Converse was
asked what his experience was In the
case OF tho explosion of submarine
mines' as to what became OF the mine.
lie replied that they were almost In
variably disrupted and lost, blown up,
and pieces OF them were rarely found
His experience did not allow him to re-
member a case where he saw any con-
siderable pieces remaining from sub
marine mine. or its iron case after it's
explosion. On one or two occasions
small fragments OF castiron thrown into
boat indicated complete demolition of
the case containing the explosive. When
asked II a sub-marine mine, exploded
under the bottom Of a ship and con-
tanning enough explosive to completely
destroy that part Of the ship would be
similarly demolished. he replied that the
violent explosive would cut a hole in the
ship. blowing out tho part that was cut
In small fragments. Being shown
sketches of the forward magazines and
asked II their explosion or partial ex-
plosion would leave the bottom OF the
Maine In the condition II was in as
SHOWN by the sketches he stated that the
distortion or the keel Of the Maine was
Too Tar forward and too remote from the
magazines to have been caused by their
explosion. He was Of the opinion that
the bending OF the plates on the bottom
OF the Maine could be produced by the
explosion OF a submarine mine con-
tanning large amount of the explosives.
gunpowder or similar. not In contact
with the ship. but some distance below
II, perhaps on the bottom He said that
ne had never In his experience seen any
inner explosion that was possible to pro-
duce the effect upon the Maine.
DO you think that necessarily there
must have been an underwater mine to
produce these explosions?
indications are that an underwater
explosion produced the conditions there"
was the reply. with the further state
ment regarding the impossibility In his
opinion OF an Internal explosion causing
the Names wreck.
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
testified to the examination of powder
tanks. Nearly all the tanks" he said
show signs of having been subjected
TO outside pressures as IL pressed against
the powder inside, and their ends are
also crushed I'm. i saw two six-inch
tanks that were opened at the seams
and were pressed down fiat as IL by eyer
tion OF considerable force"
witness was introduced whose name
was suppressed by agreement between
MIN and the court. This witness was
crossing about 7:30 on the morning OF
the 10Th from Havana to Reglas on a
ferryboat. He was sitting near three
spanish officers. two OF the army. one OF
the navy and a citizen. They were talk
Ing about the Maine One Of the armv
officers said: That is nearly arranged"
The citizen asked IL making explosions
in the bay would not endanger Havana
The officer said NO" 1t was 40 ar
ranged that it would simply exp,cse
open the vessel and she would sink i'm
mediateiy. The other man joyously ex-
ciaimed; Il will take plenty of beer on
that occasion Someone came by, and
they suddenly stopped the conversa-
ton. They had said 1t was a shame she
tthe Maine) should be in the bay, and
they would blow her up anyhow.
Henry Draine. a clerk In the United
States consulate at Havana, was ex-
amined as to the receipt of an anony-
nous letter received by the consul gem
eral In regard to the explosion of the
Maine. Witness produced the letter.
the date OF which was Feb. Is of the
present year. There was no signature
II being signed AN Admirer." Draine
said 1t seemed to be the document OF n
fairly well educated man. 1t was writ
ten In Spanish. In response to theoues-
ton as to whether anything ha& &heen
done to ascertain etruth OF the state
ments. contained In. the,letter@ witness
said that he hadr He asked General Lee
10 look into the matter and he did NOT
appear to know what to do. stating he
had no secret service money. Aman bv
the name OF Pepe Taco was mentioned
In the letter. Witness said he had tried
10 discover the whereabouts of the man.
and the one to whom he spoke said the
name was q mistake: that the man men
toned had died a few DAYS before the
explosion OF the Maine, and that the let
ter referred 20 Pepe Barquin, who also
had died sue ienly about two or three
days before the explosion of the Maine.
The cabinet session was held TO 60 over
The presidents message and particularly
TO consider the latest DEVELOPMENTS In
the negotiations now proceeding with
Spain. These had assumed a wide field
embracing no. only The Maine question.
but also the entire Cuban problem. The
answer OF Spain TO the firm note sent
through Minister woodford last week.
stating that the condition OF Cuban af-
fairs had become so intolerable that the
United States could not much longer re-
main inactive toward II. impressed the
president dni cabinet officers most fav-
orably, 50 much GO that after the meeting
IL was stated that the outlook was far
more assuring and that Spain had shown
such. conciliatoty tone that II was be-
lieved she would make concessions suf-
fcient to permit an amicable settlement
of the strained relations This was
qualified however. by the statement
that the danger point has not yet passed.
and that war, while no longer a proba-
bility. was yet a possibility. The presI-
dent distinctly disclosed to his asso-
ciates his purpo~a TO- avert war III A were