The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-02-23
253 Brave American Sail
orS Dead.
DETAILS OF THE GREAT
DISASTER IN HAVANA
HARBOR.

AaxeoO
Washington, Feb Is After day
OF intense excitement at the navy
department and elsewhere growing
out of the destruction of the battle
chip Maine in Habana harbor last
night, the situation tonight after the
exchange of a number of cablegrams
between Washington and Habana
can be summed up in the words of
Secretary Long, when asked as he
was about to depart for the day weth-
er he had reason to suspect the dis.
aster was the work of an enemy, re-
piled:
81 have not. In that l am infu-
eoced by the fact that Capt. Sigsbee
has not yet repor,ed to tbeAnavy de-
partment on the cause He is evi-
dently waiting to write full report.
So long as ne does not express him
self, certainly cannot. think from
indications, however, that there was
an sccident-tbat the magazine ex-
ploded How that came about |
don't know. For the present at least
no other warship will be sent to Ha-
bana."
The appalling nature of the dis
aster and the gravity of the situa-
tion that would arise should in-
vestigation give a basis for the
undercurrent of suspicion of treach.
cry and foul play that ran through
all minds had a sobering effect
on public men of all shades of
polisical opinion. The fact stands
forth and ia little less than remar-
kable tha: not single resolution was
introduced or single speech made
in either house of congress save one
of condolence with the families of the
killed. adopted by the house of re-.
presentativee. Public men expressed
their opinions with reserve when ap-
preached for interviews, but every
where there was demand for investi.
igaticn and full details in the light
of which the horror can be justly
viewed.
Secretary Long undoubtedly sum-
married. the general opinion of the
majority of the naval experts in find
ing it impossible just now to state
the cause of the destruction of the
Maine. There are great number of
theories, but most of, them are of q
character that makes it easy to prove
or upset them by single investiga-
ton Of diver.
Secretary Long has taken immedi-
ate steps to make this investigatidp.
Late this afternoon he telegraphed to
Admiral Sicard at Key West to ap.
point q board of naval officers to
| proceed at once to Habana, employ
divers and generally to make such
inquiry as the regulations Of the navy
| demand shall be made in the case of
the loss of a ship. 1t is expected
that this work will take some time.
aud while there are officers who say
that in their opinion it will not be
possible owing to the probably dis
rupted condition Of the hull to make
out the cause of the explosion, the
opinion of the majority is that the
question will be easily settled by the
simple observation of the condition
of the ships hull plates in the neigh
borhood of the hole which sunk her,
whether they are bulged out, as would
be the case if the explosion came
from the inside. Or whether they are
driven in as would result from the at
tack Of torpedo or the explosion of
a mine beneath the ship.
The large majority of naval officers
are inclined to the belief that the ex.
plosion resulted from spontaneous
combustion of the coal buoker, the
overheating of the iron partitions be-
tween the boilers and the magazine,
or from the explosion OF a boiler,
though the last theory finds little
support
The Presiden. aud several of his cab.
met associates held conference about
nooo. 1t was oct a cabinet meeting, as
DO notice had been cent out, and only
Secretary Of the Navy Long, Secretary
Gage. Attorney General Gfiggs. Post
master General Gary and former At
torDey General MeKeuua were pres
cut.
The disaster to the Maine was the
ouly topic considered 1t was deter
nipeo to abandon the reception at the
white house tonight and also the rd-
cepsion TO the general public to morrow
night.
At IL o'clock the cabinet ef1icers
n