The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-20
Took Precautions to Flood the High
Explosives Before Lowering Boats
and Leaving the Vessel.
APPEARANCE OF THE WRECK
NOTHING BUT FLAME-CHARRED,
TANGLED DEBRIS ABOVE WATER.
Divers at Work Examining the In
terror, Their Efforts Being Direct
ed Towards Salvage Only.


HAVANA, Feb 19.-Captain c. d. Sigs-
bee, of the battle ship Maine, in an inter-
view to-day with the correspondent of the
Asso'' ed Press, described in detail the ex-
plosion, which destroyed the great ship.
'On the night of the explosion said
Captain Sgsbee, Il had not retired was
writing letters L find it impossible to de-
scribe - sound shock, but the impress
sion s of something awe-inspiring.
terri: of noise rending, vibrating. all
pervs .Ig. There is nothing in the former
experience Of any one on board to measure
the explosion by.
after the first great shock-I cannot my
self recall how many sharper detonations
heard, not more than two or three--I knew
my ship was gone In such a structure as
the Maine the effects of such an explosion
are not for moment in doubt.
II made my way through the long passage
in the dark, cropping from side to side, to
the hatchway and thence to the poop. being
among the earliest to reach that spot SO
soon as 1 recognized the officers / ordered
the high explosives to be flooded and then
directed that the boats available be lowered
to rescue the wounded or drowning. Dis
ciplne in a perfect measure prevailed
There was no more confusion than call
to general quarters would produce. not so
much.
st soon saw, by the light of the flames
that all my officers and crew left alive and
on board surrounded me- cannot form
any idea of the time, but It seemed FIVE
minutes from the time reached the poop
until left, the last man it was possible to
reach having been saved. II must have
been three-quarters of an hour or more
however, from the amount Of work DONE
I remember the officers and men worked
together lowering the boats and that the
gig took some time to lower.
II did not notice the rain of debris de-
scribed bv Lieutenant Blandin or others
who were on deck at the time of the first
explosion, but l did observe the explosion
of the fixed ammunition and wonder that
more were not hurt thereby.
without going beyond the limits of what
was proper In the harbor of a friendly
power 1 always maintain precautions
against attack and the quarter watch was
ordered to have ammunition for the smaller
guns ready to hand, so that in the inn
probable event of attack on the ship IL
would have been found ready. 1t was this
ammunition which exploded as the heat
reached it,"
Captain S1gSDe0 ana all the American OF
ficers here are very anxious for news from
the United States as to public opinion
there. The captain has done all he can to
calm the excitement in the United States
and to induce the public to wait for the re-
suit of the official investigation before
forming a judgment as to the cause Of the
explosion.
HOW THE WRECK APPEARS.
AS the Olivette entered the harbor early
this morning the passengers crowded
to her upper decks, not to see the
yellow forts and long lines of walls manned
by soldiers, the beauties of palm-crowned
hills, or the thousand sights new to many
eyes. All interest centered in the first view
Of the wreck Of the ill-fated battle ship,
and the sight was ghastly enough, when
reached to satisfy all who were desirous OF
witnessing horrors. The wreck is the CEN
trail figure of an otherwise bright picture,
and it is as sad as it is terrible. The huge
mass of f1ame-charred debris forward looks
as If 1t had been thrown up from a sub
terranean storehouse of fused cement, steel,
wood and iron. Further aft, one military
mast protrudes at a slight angle from the
perpendicular while the poop, on which
gathered the band, offers a resting place for
the workmen or divers. OF the predoml-
nant white which marks our vessel not q
vestige remains In it's place is the black
ness of desolating death.
1t is known that Lieutenant Jenkins. who
is among the missing, was alive after the
explosion. A colored mess attendant now
at Key West met Jenkins running forward.
He evidently thought, in the confusion.
that the Maine had been fired on. and he
was running TO the forecastle, where was
~. f,,,l Il
charge
The United States flag is floating at half
mast from the poop OF the wreck to-day.
and two divers, with six assistants, are at
work about the wreck, under the direction
of Captain Sigsbee. 1t appears that the
preliminary work of the divers will be di-
rected towards salvage only. When the in
vestigation into the cause OF the disaster
commences the Spanish government, it said
here will collaborate.
FUNERAL MASS
There was a funeral mass this morning
at the Mercede Church for the repose OF the
souls of the late Colonel Joaquin Ruiz. the
aid-de-camp of Captain General Blanco.
who was put to death by order of the late
insurgent leader Aranguren. in December
last for entering the camp OF the latter
with propositions for the surrender OF
Aranguren and his followers. The church
was splendidly decorated for the occasion
and the service was attended by the cap
tain general. the colonial ministers. Consul
General Lee. Vice Consul Springer. Gems
PARADE, valderana and Garrica, Admiral
Manterola, the military and civil authori-
ties and representatives OF all classes Of so-
ciety.
Dr. Mas said at the hospital to-day that
all Of the eight patients from the Maine
under his care are doing very well. and