The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-04-02
MESSAGE 70 CONGRESS
THE DISASTER TO THE MAINE.
Testimony Taken before the Heard
Of InauiFy Accompanied the Re
port-spain Nstiiied That the Was
In Cuba Mast csaae-ceneentra-
tion OF unitea states Troops.

hNnuithSkDu tAAaNNu ~HsT~~A nN
ton was reached early this morning 10
send In the testimony taken before the
board u inquiry to accompany tbs report.
The members Of the foreign relations com
mittse Of the senate made vigorous pro-
tests against the former arranged pro.
gram. saying it would be great deal Of a
farce 10 refer TO that committee the find
ings II the court and withhold the lssti,
mohy. The committee desired the testi,
niony at the earliest possiLle moment II
Was also pointed out that Withholding the
testimony would he construed by some
persons to mean an attempt was being
made TO keep from congress and the peo-
pie all testimony regarded as sensational.
Ths Message.
To the Congress Of the United States;
foT some time prior 10 the visit Of the
Maine to Havana harbof our consular rep
re.entatiSes pointed cut the advantages
TO follow a visit u naval ships To Cuban
waters la aocust1Ining the people Ia the
presence 81 our nag as a synboi Of gossl
will. and 81 cur ships ia hiitllneat oi the
mission u ptoseelton to American inter,
csis, even though NO immssiiaio need
therefor might eAisI.
Accordingly. On the 25ih Of January
last, after a rgntrn-nee Aith the Spanish
minister, in which the renewal II the vie
Its II our asE vessels 10 Spanish waters
was discussed and accepted. the l'rnins,liaT
authorities at Madrid aud Havana were
advised Of the puFlss~e Of this government
a. Trslrn. iri.radiy naval visits AZ Cutan
Poft.. sad pi,h ,i,a, ,ira the Maine
woalA forthwith eaii at the port Of Ha,
NanA
APpaE~as FFtsnaIta~ss.
This announcement vas received By the
Spanish government with appreciation q
the friendly character 81 the visit oi the
Main~ aud Siih mobilization u the inisB
tton la return the courtesy by seeding
sPznlsA ships 10 she PStHrif,ai i.orts u lhe
0hlI~i States MuAaph lis the Maine en-
irfs,l the p-ost II ilAvsna un the 2Sth II
January. her arrival being raTk~si ~ iih
no st~yisl incident t-asl.ies the exchange
"t the customary salut-s aud cef-muntsi
vista
49, N'N~f'@- NHFHAAAAAANA IS AAf NaAtHAN 81 iva
vsnA Daring tbs lhrrs Wrrks following hsr
arrival No sPrr~4sbls etcitsfnrnt at
issidui her stay on the enntrary. tseling
Of Frisri aud canhd~He~ iolioas ,i the ~
sasnP,ioa VI tho long interrupted istrudly
tHirTrDsttar. ~ nutieuslir MS shis Imnar
dsslr sfs-s ui hrf visit that our consul
grnssal stEunRiy urged that the presence
81 our shirs In Cuban waters should b.
kept up by wiaining the Mainr 81 liz
vaHa. OF. In tho event IT her rr~Ali. hy
ssndiag aautksT Vs~-rl ,hetv Ca take hes
Piser.
The ratat NGGhI.
A. ~ minutes tssi In the O,snsns Of
Tho 18th II February The Maine vas De
siTuy~d by an explosion. BY which tho en-
iiTr iHusrd part 81 the Ahip vas utterly
wrecked. la this sutassrothc tao otllrrts
and ss1 Of her rrvu I@tishei. thosc u ho
u'ss not Killed 0atriehl by bet sKpIo.i,
hslnE psnnrd between drVks by the iAnsls
st ut~ckaRS and dro~ ncd by the Imms,ii
Ets sinking Of the hull
Prompt assistance WAS rendered by lhs
HesghtotiaR tv@s-l. Aashorv,i in the har.
Dor. AID eoing especially given by baats
Of The Spanish cruiser AlphoH.o NIiI and
the Ward line stsamrr city Of Washing
ton. which lay no, far distant. The wound
ID vcw GENEROUSLY catei for by ihs an.
tAoriti"" d Havana, hospitals bring trcvly
aPcnrd to them. While the earliest rrcpv.
etsd 81 the bo-iics Wcrp inferred by the
municipality in The public c~msiery in The
city. Tribute, Of grief and sympathy Wcrc
offered from all official quarters II tho
island.
EJECT 90 the Nation.
The appalling calamity fell upon the pco-
pie 81 our country with crushing fore and
for q brief time intcn-r excitement Pre-.
vailed. which In a community les. Just, OF
selHShly controlled. must have led ca hasty
acts Of blind resentment This spirit, how.
evrT. sOpn gave way To the ealmcr prpccss.
~ of reason and a resolve 10 investigate
the taeis and await material proof before
forming n Judgment a. to the cause. rc.
sPonsibility. aud. II the acts warranted.
the remedy due This course necessarily
recommended itself from the outset 10 the
executive. for only In the light Of a dis
Passionatcly ascCrtained certainty could
IL determine the nature and measure Of lie
full duty in the matter.
Appointment OF tar Ceurt.
The usual procedure was followed as in
cases If casualty or disaster 10 The nation.
81 vessels Of any maritime state. A naval
court Of inquiry was at once organized,
composed Of officers well qualified by rank
and practical experience 20 discharge tho
encrous duty imposed upon them.
Assisted by a strong force Of wrrckers
and divers, the court proceeded TO make
thorough investigation on the spot, en-
ployinR every available means for mn i'm.
partial and exact determination cf the
cause Of the explosion. Its operations have
been conducted with the utmost delibem.
ton and Judgment, and. while indepeAd.
emily pursued, no source Of information
was neglected, and the fullest opportunity
was allowed fer simultaneous investiRa.
ton by tho Spanish authorities.
The finding Of the court Of inquiry was
reached, after % days continuous labor, on
the 2lst Of March, and having been ap.
proved on the 22d by the commanded. In.
chief Of the naval force Of the North Al.
lantic station, was transmitted TO the ex.
ccutlve.
Il is herewith laid before congress, to.
gether with the voluminous testimony