The record-union., 1898-02-18
THE WRECK OF THE wARsHIP.
Catastrophe Described by a Pas
senger on City Of Washington.

KEY WEST, Feb. 1I.-JOSeph n.
Mann of New York, a passenger on
board the City of Washington, which
was moored near the Maine on Tues
day night at the time Of the disaster,
in describing the catastrophe to-day,
said:
While we We're conversing in the
cabin at about twenty minutes past
on Tuesday night. loud report startled
the company. They rushed to the port
holes, and saw an immense flash shoot
up in the air with a terrific report. De-
bris of all kinds and large number of
bodies were thrown upwards. 1t was
at first believed that the Maine was be-
ing fired upon, but afterwards, as the
City of Washington was struck by what
turned out to be falling debris and she
careened, it was thought she was not
being fired on. A second explosion
took place. and following it we heard
groans and cries of Help Help us.
The boats of the City of Washing
ton and those OF the Spanish cruiser
Alphonso XIII were hurriedly launch
ed. and went to the rescue. ] went
into one of the boats of the City of
Washington. and the scenes I witnessed
We're heartrending beyond description.
Two of the small boats on board the
City of Washington We're stove in by
debris from the Maine.
THE battleship sank even with the
water in about three minutes after the
explosion. The City of WASHINGTON
was converted into a veritabe hospital
Many of the rescued men We're brought
on board almost nude, and the passen-
81, III
officers of the City of Washington did
all in their power to make s.se rescued
men comfortable.
About half an hour after the ex-
ploson Consul-General Lee, the Civil
Governor OF Havana and Captain Gem
eral Blancos chief of staff came on
board General Lee remained with us
all night. The affair caused the most
excitement in Havana. Seven bodies
We're picked up and We're identified,
though horribly mangled."
Regarding the explosion, the officers
of the Maine are reticent They are
evidently under orders 10 keep quiet on
the subject, but the men talk more
freely, and they. including the petty
officers of the Maine, are almost unan-
imous in insisting that the explosion
was caused by large torpedo planted
before the Maine arrived at Havana
The naval men here say that it would
be possible, but is not likely The
anchorage of the Maine was designated
by a buoy and the location of the buoy
was fixed by the harbor officials 1t is
added that any of the officials, perfect
~ posted as to the currents and tides,
might plant a torpedo at night so tina t
under certain conditions of tide it wou,a
be under the forward part of the Maine
as she swung to her moorings. Once
placed. it is further stated here such
torpedo could be exploded from the
shore or from a boat at any time fixed
upon by those in the secret. All this.
however, is regarded as being unlikely
to occur, and as being almost impos-
sible to occur without the collision of
the Spanish officials.
The Maine, according to the reports
received here, was split open forward,
therefore, it is difficult to see how such
a result could be attained by torpedo
from the outside. 1t is pointed out
that the explosion seemed to have come
from within, although the keys of the
magazine We're in the hands of Can
tain Sigsbee at s p. m. When the keys